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Sgarioni AZ, Serafini P, Pereira A, Emmerich T, Pontes TPD, Machado DC, Ribeiro PR, Amorim DBD, Klafke G, Reck J. Molecular Survey of Haemosporidian Parasites in Procellariiformes Sampled in Southern Brazil, 2013-22. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:413-420. [PMID: 38294761 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The order Procellariiformes includes several species of seabirds that perform long-distance migrations crossing all the oceans. These movements may contribute to the dispersal and exchange of hemoparasites, such as haemosporidians. There is a lack of studies regarding the order Haemosporida in Procellariiformes, and, to date, only the genus Plasmodium has been reported. This survey investigated the occurrence of the three genera of haemosporidians, Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon, in samples collected between 2013 and 2022 from 95 individuals of 14 species of Procellariiformes from southern Brazil, including live animals in rehabilitation centers, individuals caught as incidental bycatch, and carcasses found along the coast. A total of 171 samples of blood and fragments of liver and spleen were analyzed, with extracted DNA being subjected to a nested PCR followed by phylogeny analysis. All animals were negative for Plasmodium spp. and Leucocytozoon spp., but one Black-browed Albatross (Thalassarche melanophris) and one Manx Shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) specimen were positive for Haemoproteus spp. The sequences obtained from positive seabirds did not show 100% similarity with other known lineages available in the MalAvi database and thus were probably novel lineages. However, one sequence clustered together with Haemoproteus noctuae, a parasite from Strigiformes, while the other was grouped with Haemoproteus columbae, which is classically related to Columbiformes. These results suggest that both positive animals may have become infected when beached or in rehabilitation centers by a spillover of vectors from local birds. This highlights the importance of surveillance of the health of Procellariiformes regarding the possibility of dissemination of new pathogens in different bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise Zabel Sgarioni
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, 92990-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Patricia Serafini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres (CEMAVE), Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Rodovia Maurício Sirotski Sobrinho s/n, Florianópolis, 88053-700, SC, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Contaminação Aquática e Imunoquímica (LABCAI), Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Rua João Pio Duarte Silva, 241, bloco F, Florianópolis, 88040-900, SC, Brazil
| | - Alice Pereira
- Projeto Albatroz, Rodovia SC 402, Km 2, Rio Vermelho, Florianópolis, 88061-500, SC, Brazil
| | - Tiffany Emmerich
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Avenida Itacolumi, 228, Penha, 88385-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Thamires Pires de Pontes
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Avenida Itacolumi, 228, Penha, 88385-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Douglas Coutinho Machado
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Avenida Itacolumi, 228, Penha, 88385-000, SC, Brazil
| | - Paula Reis Ribeiro
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9090, Porto Alegre, 90650-001, RS, Brazil
| | - Derek Blaese de Amorim
- Setor de Patologia Veterinária, Departamento de Patologia Clínica Veterinária, Faculdade de Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Bento Gonçalves, 9090, Porto Alegre, 90650-001, RS, Brazil
- Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos (CECLIMAR), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Avenida Tramandaí, 976, Imbé, 95625-000, RS, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Klafke
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, 92990-000, RS, Brazil
| | - José Reck
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, 92990-000, RS, Brazil
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Vanstreels RET, Chagas CRF, Valkiūnas G, Dos Anjos CC, Parsons NJ, Roberts DG, Snyman A, Hurtado R, Kirchgatter K, Ludynia K, Pistorius PA. Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls ( Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae. Parasitology 2023; 150:1286-1295. [PMID: 36951108 PMCID: PMC10941229 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202300029x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Haemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ~170 avian species, the majority of which are aquatic, including gulls, terns, auklets, murres and skuas, among others. In spite of the diversity of this avian group, there is limited known diversity of haemosporidian parasites, with only 4 recorded Haemoproteus morphospecies thus far. We examined the blood smears of 21 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) captured at a breeding colony in South Africa, as well as Haemoproteus-positive archival blood smears of 15 kelp gulls and 1 Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii) sampled while under care at seabird rehabilitation facilities in South Africa. Haemoproteus sp. infection was detected in 19% of wild-caught kelp gulls. All parasites from the gulls were morphologically identified as Haemoproteus jenniae, a species previously recorded in Lari birds at the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Rocas Atoll (Brazil) and Poland. Gene sequencing uncovered a new cytochrome b lineage, LARDOM01, which was closely related to the previously reported H. jenniae lineage CREFUR01. Additionally, we evaluated a hapantotype blood smear of Haemoproteus skuae, which had been described infecting a brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) in South Africa. We provide a redescription of H. skuae and discuss the morphological characters distinguishing it from H. jenniae. Further research is necessary to improve our knowledge about the host and geographic distribution, health effects and phylogeny of H. jenniae and H. skuae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph E T Vanstreels
- Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
| | | | | | - Carolina C Dos Anjos
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nola J Parsons
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - David G Roberts
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Albert Snyman
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Renata Hurtado
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katrin Ludynia
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Pierre A Pistorius
- Marine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
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Sgarioni AZ, Serafini PP, Pereira A, Emmerich T, Pontes TP, Ribeiro PR, Echenique J, Amorim DB, Klafke G, Reck J. A novel variant of Babesia sp. (Piroplasmida) as a hemoparasite in procellariiform seabirds. Parasitol Res 2023:10.1007/s00436-023-07894-4. [PMID: 37314510 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07894-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Procellariiformes includes pelagic seabirds that only use land for breeding; and also, these sites mostly occur in insular habitats. These peculiar habits make the investigation of hemoparasites a challenging issue. Thus, the data on the blood parasites of Procellariiformes are still scarce. In the order Piroplasmida, 16 species of Babesia have been described in terrestrial birds and seabirds. However, there is no register for Babesia spp. in procellariiform seabirds. Hence, the objective of this survey was to investigate the occurrence of Babesia spp. in these seabirds. A total of 220 tissue samples from 18 different seabird species were analyzed; the samples comprised blood and fragments of liver and spleen. The samples were obtained from live rescued animals and carcasses found along the southern coast of Brazil. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted, followed by phylogenetic analysis. Only one blood sample yielded a positive result, from an adult female Thalassarche chlororhynchos (Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross). The sequence obtained showed the highest identity with sequences of Babesia spp. of birds from the South Pacific, and the isolate was named Babesia sp. strain Albatross. In the phylogenetic analysis, the sequence was grouped within the Babesia sensu stricto group, and further still into a subgroup including Babesia spp. of the Kiwiensis clade (parasites from birds). The phylogenetic analysis also showed that Babesia sp. strain Albatross clustered apart from the Peircei group, a clade that includes Babesia spp. from seabirds. As far as it is known, this is the first report of Babesia sp. in procellariiform seabirds. Babesia sp. strain Albatross may constitute a novel variant of tick-borne piroplasmids associated with the Procellariiformes order.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelise Zabel Sgarioni
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, RS, 92990-000, Brazil
| | - Patricia P Serafini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres (CEMAVE), Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biomarcadores de Contaminação Aquática e Imunoquímica (LABCAI), Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Tiffany Emmerich
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Penha, SC, Brazil
| | - Thamires P Pontes
- Unidade de Estabilização de Animais Marinhos, Universidade do Vale de Itajaí (UNIVALI), Penha, SC, Brazil
| | - Paula R Ribeiro
- Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Joanna Echenique
- Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Derek B Amorim
- Faculdade de Veterinária (FAVET), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Centro de Estudos Costeiros, Limnológicos e Marinhos (CECLIMAR), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Imbé, RS, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Klafke
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, RS, 92990-000, Brazil
| | - José Reck
- Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor (IPVDF), Estrada do Conde, 6000, Eldorado do Sul, RS, 92990-000, Brazil.
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Ilahiane L, Colominas-Ciurò R, Bize P, Boano G, Cucco M, Ferri M, Masoero G, Meier CM, Pavia M, Ramello G, Voelker G, Pellegrino I. Molecular investigation on infection by haemosporidians in three Western Palearctic species of swift (Apodidae) and their ectoparasitic louse flies. Parasitol Res 2023:10.1007/s00436-023-07874-8. [PMID: 37233815 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07874-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Swifts (Apodidae) are an unusual group of birds that spend most of their lives in flight, landing only when breeding. Although this aerial lifestyle greatly reduces their likelihood of being bitten by vectors and infected by vector-born parasites, swifts can still be heavily infested during breeding by nest-based vectors such as louse flies (Hippoboscidae). Here, we investigated host, vector, and vector-borne parasite relationships in the three most widespread swift species in the Western Palearctic (WP): common swifts (Apus apus), pallid swifts (A. pallidus), and alpine swifts (Tachymarptis melba), their nest-based louse flies (Crataerina pallida and C. melbae) and avian haemosporidians (genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon). Studies of haemosporidian infections in Apodidae remain limited, with clear evidence of infection found to date in just four Neotropical and one Australasian species. The possible role of louse flies in transmitting haemosporidian infections has never been tested in swifts. We assessed the occurrence of haemosporidian infection by PCR screenings of DNA from blood samples from 34 common swifts and 44 pallid swifts from Italy, and 45 alpine swifts from Switzerland. We also screened 20 ectoparasitic louse flies present on 20 birds and identified them by both morphological features and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcodes. Our results provide no evidence of haemosporidian infection in the 123 swifts tested or in the two louse fly species we identified. Our findings are consistent with available knowledge showing no haemosporidian occurrence in WP swift species and that the most likely infection route for these highly aerial species (via louse fly ectoparasites during nesting) is unlikely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ilahiane
- Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, Vercelli, Italy.
| | - Roger Colominas-Ciurò
- Department Ecology, Physiology & Ethology, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, University of Strasbourg, UMR, 7178, Strasbourg, France
| | - Pierre Bize
- Swiss Ornithological Institute, Sempach, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Boano
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Carmagnola, Carmagnola, Italy
| | - Marco Cucco
- Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, Vercelli, Italy.
| | - Mauro Ferri
- AsOER - Associazione Ornitologi Emilia-Romagna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Masoero
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Marco Pavia
- Museo di Geologia e Paleontologia, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Gloria Ramello
- Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Carmagnola, Carmagnola, Italy
- Natural History Museum of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gary Voelker
- Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Irene Pellegrino
- Dipartimento per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile e la Transizione Ecologica, University of Piemonte Orientale, Vercelli, Italy
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Kleinschmidt B, Dorsch M, Heinänen S, Morkūnas J, Schumm YR, Žydelis R, Quillfeldt P. Prevalence of Haemosporidian Parasites in an Arctic Breeding Seabird Species-The Red-Throated Diver ( Gavia stellata). Microorganisms 2022; 10:2147. [PMID: 36363741 PMCID: PMC9698892 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10112147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Haemosporida, vector-transmitted blood parasites, can have various effects and may also exert selection pressures on their hosts. In this study we analyse the presence of Haemosporida in a previously unstudied migratory seabird species, the red-throated diver Gavia stellata. Red-throated divers were sampled during winter and spring in the eastern German Bight (North Sea). We used molecular methods and data from a related tracking study to reveal (i) if red-throated divers are infected with Haemosporida of the genera Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium and Haemoproteus, and (ii) how infection and prevalence are linked with the breeding regions of infected individuals. Divers in this study were assigned to western Palearctic breeding grounds, namely Greenland, Svalbard, Norway and Arctic Russia. We found a prevalence of Leucocytozoon of 11.0% in all birds sampled (n = 45), of 33.0% in birds breeding in Norway (n = 3) and of 8.3% in birds breeding in Arctic Russia (n = 25). For two birds that were infected no breeding regions could be assigned. We identified two previously unknown lineages, one each of Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon. Haemosporida have not been detected in birds from Greenland (n = 2) and Svalbard (n = 2). In summary, this study presents the first record of Haemosporida in red-throated divers and reports a new lineage of each, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon GAVSTE01 and GAVSTE02, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgit Kleinschmidt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- BioConsult SH, 25813 Husum, Germany
| | | | - Stefan Heinänen
- DHI, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
- Raasepori Campus (Raseborg), Novia University of Applied Sciences, Raseborgsvägen 9, 10600 Ekenäs, Finland
| | - Julius Morkūnas
- Marine Research Institute, Klaipėda University, 92294 Klaipėda, Lithuania
| | - Yvonne R. Schumm
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Ramūnas Žydelis
- DHI, 2970 Hørsholm, Denmark
- Ornitela UAB, 03228 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Petra Quillfeldt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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Seabirds Health and Conservation Medicine in Brazil. J Nat Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2022.126238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Roldán-Zurabián F, José Ruiz-López M, de la Puente JM, Figuerola J, Drummond H, Ancona S. Apparent absence of avian malaria and malaria-like parasites in northern blue-footed boobies breeding on Isla Isabel. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6892. [PMID: 35477963 PMCID: PMC9046203 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11075-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites are common in birds but are seldom reported in seabirds. The absence of vectors or genetic resistance to infection have been proposed to explain this pattern. However, screening of blood parasites in many seabirds has been done only by visual inspection of blood smears, which can miss low-intensity infections, and molecular detection of blood parasites must be supported by detection in blood smears to confirm the presence of haemosporidians and avoid false positive cases. Here, we tested for the presence of blood parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, combining inspection of blood smears and PCR-based detection methods in a highly philopatric colony of blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii) in the Tropical North Pacific. Our results indicate that adults in this colony are likely free of these blood parasites, probably due to unsuitable conditions for insect vectors in booby breeding sites, although potential genetic resistance of blue-footed boobies to infection deserves examination. Apparent absence of blood parasites in Isla Isabel boobies indirectly adds to the growing evidence of variation in parasite infections among avian host species that coexist locally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Roldán-Zurabián
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.,Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, Mexico City, 09230, Mexico
| | - María José Ruiz-López
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Ciber de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josué Martínez de la Puente
- Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.,Ciber de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), 41092, Sevilla, Spain.,Ciber de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hugh Drummond
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico
| | - Sergio Ancona
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, 04510, Mexico.
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Hubálek Z. Pathogenic microorganisms associated with gulls and terns (Laridae). JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.21009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zdeněk Hubálek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic; e-mail:
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Chagas CRF, Harl J, Valkiūnas G. Co-infections of Plasmodium relictum lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 are readily distinguishable by broadly used PCR-based protocols, with remarks on global distribution of these malaria parasites. Acta Trop 2021; 217:105860. [PMID: 33587942 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium relictum is the most common generalist avian malaria parasite, which was reported in over 300 bird species of different orders, particularly often in passerines. This malaria infection is often severe in non-accustomed avian hosts. Currently, five distinct cytochrome b gene lineages have been assigned to P. relictum, with the lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 being the most common. Based on molecular screenings, the transmission of these two parasite lineages might occur in sympatry, particularly often in sub-Saharan Africa, but they also have been reported to have different areas of transmission globally, with the lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 being of low (if at all) transmission in huge regions of Americas and Europe, respectively. It remains unclear why these lineages are more often reported in some geographical areas, even though their susceptible vertebrate hosts and vectors are present globally. Co-infections of malaria parasites and other haemosporidians belonging to different species and subgenera are prevalent and even predominate in many bird populations, however, PCR-based protocols using commonly used primers often do not read such co-infections. Because information about the sensitivity of these protocols to read co-infections of the lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 is absent, this study aimed to unravel this issue experimentally. Blood samples of birds experimentally infected with the single parasite lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 were used to prepare various combinations of mixes, which were tested by two PCR-based protocols, which have been often used in current avian malaria research. Single infections of the same lineages were used as controls. Careful examination of the sequence electropherograms showed the presence of clear double peaks on polymorphic sites, indicating co-infections. This experiment shows that the broadly used PCR-based protocols can readily distinguish co-infections of these parasite lineages. In other words, the available information about patterns of the geographical distribution of the P. relictum lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 likely mirrors the existing epidemiological situation but is not a result of the bias due to preferable DNA amplification of one of these lineages during their possible co-infections. This calls for further ecological research aiming determination of factors associated with the transmission of the lineages pSGS1 and pGRW04 in different regions of the globe.
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Allan BJM, Illing B, Fakan EP, Narvaez P, Grutter AS, Sikkel PC, McClure EC, Rummer JL, McCormick MI. Parasite infection directly impacts escape response and stress levels in fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb230904. [PMID: 32611788 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.230904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can account for a substantial proportion of the biomass in marine communities. As such, parasites play a significant ecological role in ecosystem functioning via host interactions. Unlike macropredators, such as large piscivores, micropredators, such as parasites, rarely cause direct mortality. Rather, micropredators impose an energetic tax, thus significantly affecting host physiology and behaviour via sublethal effects. Recent research suggests that infection by gnathiid isopods (Crustacea) causes significant physiological stress and increased mortality rates. However, it is unclear whether infection causes changes in the behaviours that underpin escape responses or changes in routine activity levels. Moreover, it is poorly understood whether the cost of gnathiid infection manifests as an increase in cortisol. To investigate this, we examined the effect of experimental gnathiid infection on the swimming and escape performance of a newly settled coral reef fish and whether infection led to increased cortisol levels. We found that micropredation by a single gnathiid caused fast-start escape performance and swimming behaviour to significantly decrease and cortisol levels to double. Fast-start escape performance is an important predictor of recruit survival in the wild. As such, altered fitness-related traits and short-term stress, perhaps especially during early life stages, may result in large scale changes in the number of fish that successfully recruit to adult populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bridie J M Allan
- Department of Marine Science, University of Otāgo, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Björn Illing
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Eric P Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Pauline Narvaez
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Alexandra S Grutter
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Paul C Sikkel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR 72467, USA
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Eva C McClure
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4215, Australia
| | - Jodie L Rummer
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
| | - Mark I McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
- Department of Marine Biology and Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia
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11
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Bell JA, González-Acuña D, Tkach VV. Haemosporidian Parasites of Chilean Ducks: The Importance of Biogeography and Nonpasserine Hosts. J Parasitol 2020; 106:211-220. [PMID: 32164026 DOI: 10.1645/19-130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Biogeography is known to have shaped the diversity and evolutionary history of avian haemosporidian parasites across the Neotropics. However, a paucity of information exists for the temperate Neotropics and especially from nonpasserine hosts. To understand the effect of biogeography in the temperate Neotropics on haemosporidians of nonpasserine hosts we screened ducks (Anseriformes) from central Chile for the presence of these parasites. Forty-two individuals of 4 duck species (Anas flavirostris, Anas georgica, Mareca sibilatrix, Spatula cyanoptera cyanoptera) were collected and assessed for haemosporidian parasite infections by real-time polymerase chain reaction screening and subsequent sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Haemoproteus (subgenus Haemoproteus) and Plasmodium were detected in 2 host species, A. georgica and S. c. cyanoptera, with no Leucocytozoon found. Overall haemosporidian prevalence was low (14.2%), with the prevalence of Plasmodium (11.9%) being substantially greater than that of Haemoproteus (4.8%). Six haemosporidian cytochrome b lineages were recovered, 2 Haemoproteus and 4 Plasmodium, with all 6 lineages identified for the first time. In phylogenetic reconstruction, the Chilean Plasmodium lineages were more closely related to South American lineages from passerine birds than to known lineages from anseriforms. The subgenus Haemoproteus known from nonpasseriformes has never been identified from any anseriform host; however, we recovered 2 lineages from this subgenus, one from each A. georgica and S. c. cyanoptera. Further work is needed to determine if this presents true parasitism in ducks or only a spillover infection. The results of phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrate a unique evolutionary history of these Chilean parasites, differing from what is known for this host group. The unique geography of Chile, with a large part of the country being relatively isolated by the Atacama Desert in the north and the Andes in the east and south, would present opportunities for parasite diversification. Further work is needed to investigate how strongly the biogeographical isolation has shaped the haemosporidian parasites of this area. Our results add to the growing body of evidence that nonpasserine hosts support unique lineages of haemosporidian parasites, while also demonstrating the role of biogeography in haemosporidian parasite diversity in the temperate Neotropics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street STOP 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Daniel González-Acuña
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Universidad de Concepción, Box 10 537, Chillán 3780000, Chile
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street STOP 9019, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
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12
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Inumaru M, Aratani S, Shimizu M, Yamamoto M, Sato Y, Murata K, Valkiūnas G. Penguins are competent hosts of Haemoproteus parasites: the first detection of gametocytes, with molecular characterization of Haemoproteus larae. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:307. [PMID: 32532316 PMCID: PMC7291633 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04176-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The majority of penguins (Sphenisciformes) have evolved in areas with weak or absent transmission of haemosporidian parasites and are usually naïve to avian haemosporidian infections. Plasmodium parasites are transmitted by mosquitoes, and lethal avian malaria has been often reported in captive penguins in many countries. The related haemosporidian parasites belonging to Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon have also been detected in penguins but less often than Plasmodium infections. The majority of Haemoproteus infection reports in penguins are based solely on PCR-based diagnostics. It remains unclear if haemoproteids can complete their life-cycle and produce infective stages (gametocytes) in penguins or whether these infections are abortive in penguins, and thus dead ends for transmission. In other words, it remains unknown if penguins are competent hosts for Haemoproteus parasites, which cause disease in non-adapted birds. Methods Two captive African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and two Magellanic penguins (S. magellanicus) were found to be positive for Haemoproteus infection in two open-air aquariums in Japan, and the parasites were investigated using both PCR-based testing and microscopical examination of blood films. Samples from a black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) and previously tested gulls were used for comparison. Results The lineage hSPMAG12 was detected, and gametocytes of Haemoproteus sp. were seen in the examined penguins and gull. Observed gametocytes were indistinguishable from those of Haemoproteus larae, which naturally parasitize birds of the genus Larus (Laridae). The detected sequence information and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis supported this conclusion. Additionally, morphologically similar gametocytes and closely related DNA sequences were also found in other gull species in Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial cytb sequences placed the lineage hSPMAG12 of H. larae within the clade of avian haemoproteids which belong to the subgenus Parahaemoproteus, indicating that Culicoides biting midges likely transmit the parasites between penguins and gulls. Conclusions This study shows that some species of Haemoproteus parasites complete their development and produce gametocytes in penguins, which may be source of infection for biting midges transmitting haemoproteosis. To prevent haemosporidiosis in zoos, we call for control not only of mosquitoes, but also biting midges.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizue Inumaru
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Shiori Aratani
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Misa Shimizu
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Mineka Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Yukita Sato
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan.
| | - Koichi Murata
- Laboratory of Wildlife Science, Department of Animal Science and Resources, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, Fujisawa, 252-0880, Japan
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Vanstreels RET, Dutra DDA, Santos AP, Hurtado R, Egert L, Braga ÉM. First report of avian malaria in a Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus). Parasitol Int 2020; 78:102148. [PMID: 32464257 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study reports the case of a Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus) that died from avian malaria while under care at a rehabilitation center in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The bird was rescued on October 2018, and remained under care until it died suddenly on January 2019. A blood smear produced 8 days before death was negative for parasites, whereas a blood smear produced post-mortem revealed a high parasitemia by a parasite resembling Plasmodium cathemerium. The sequence of a 412 bp segment of the cyt-b gene was identical to that of lineage PADOM09, and phylogenetic analysis corroborated that this parasite was closely-related to known lineages of P. cathemerium. The acuteness and severity of the infection documented in this case suggest that seabirds of the order Procellariiformes might be highly susceptible to Plasmodium infections, raising the concern that avian malaria may present a significant threat to their conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph E T Vanstreels
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Brazil.
| | - Daniela de Angeli Dutra
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Allan P Santos
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Brazil
| | - Renata Hurtado
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Brazil
| | - Leandro Egert
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, Brazil
| | - Érika M Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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14
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Evolutionary ecology, taxonomy, and systematics of avian malaria and related parasites. Acta Trop 2020; 204:105364. [PMID: 32007445 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, and Haemoproteus are one of the most prevalent and widely studied groups of parasites infecting birds. Plasmodium is the most well-known haemosporidian as the avian parasite Plasmodium relictum was the original transmission model for human malaria and was also responsible for catastrophic effects on native avifauna when introduced to Hawaii. The past two decades have seen a dramatic increase in research on avian haemosporidian parasites as a model system to understand evolutionary and ecological parasite-host relationships. Despite haemosporidians being one the best studied groups of avian parasites their specialization among avian hosts and variation in prevalence amongst regions and host taxa are not fully understood. In this review we focus on describing the current phylogenetic and morphological diversity of haemosporidian parasites, their specificity among avian and vector hosts, and identifying the determinants of haemosporidian prevalence among avian species. We also discuss how these parasites might spread across regions due to global climate change and the importance of avian migratory behavior in parasite dispersion and subsequent diversification.
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15
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Del Campo J, Heger TJ, Rodríguez-Martínez R, Worden AZ, Richards TA, Massana R, Keeling PJ. Assessing the Diversity and Distribution of Apicomplexans in Host and Free-Living Environments Using High-Throughput Amplicon Data and a Phylogenetically Informed Reference Framework. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2373. [PMID: 31708883 PMCID: PMC6819320 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Apicomplexans are a group of microbial eukaryotes that contain some of the most well-studied parasites, including the causing agents of toxoplasmosis and malaria, and emergent diseases like cryptosporidiosis or babesiosis. Decades of research have illuminated the pathogenic mechanisms, molecular biology, and genomics of model apicomplexans, but we know little about their diversity and distribution in natural environments. In this study we analyze the distribution of apicomplexans across a range of both host-associated and free-living environments. Using publicly available small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene databases, high-throughput environmental sequencing (HTES) surveys, and our own generated HTES data, we developed an apicomplexan reference database, which includes the largest apicomplexan SSU rRNA tree available to date and encompasses comprehensive sampling of this group and their closest relatives. This tree allowed us to identify and correct incongruences in the molecular identification of apicomplexan sequences. Analyzing the diversity and distribution of apicomplexans in HTES studies with this curated reference database also showed a widespread, and quantitatively important, presence of apicomplexans across a variety of free-living environments. These data allow us to describe a remarkable molecular diversity of this group compared with our current knowledge, especially when compared with that identified from described apicomplexan species. This is most striking in marine environments, where potentially the most diverse apicomplexans apparently exist, but have not yet been formally recognized. The new database will be useful for microbial ecology and epidemiological studies, and provide valuable reference for medical and veterinary diagnosis especially in cases of emerging, zoonotic, and cryptic infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Del Campo
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Thierry J Heger
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Soil Science Group, CHANGINS, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland, Nyon, Switzerland
| | - Raquel Rodríguez-Martínez
- Department of Biosciences, Living Systems Institute, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas A Richards
- Department of Biosciences, Living Systems Institute, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Ramon Massana
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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16
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Doussang D, González-Acuña D, Torres-Fuentes LG, Lougheed SC, Clemente-Carvalho RB, Greene KC, Vianna JA. Spatial distribution, prevalence and diversity of haemosporidians in the rufous-collared sparrow, Zonotrichia capensis. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:2. [PMID: 30606248 PMCID: PMC6318949 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3243-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parasite prevalence and diversity are determined by the distribution of hosts and vectors and by the interplay among a suite of environmental factors. Distributions of parasite lineages vary based on host susceptibility and geographical barriers. Hemoparasites of the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium have wide distributions, and high prevalence and genetic diversity within perching birds (Order Passeriformes). The rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis) is widely distributed in Central and South America across an immense diversity of environments from sea level to more than 4000 meters above sea level. It therefore provides an excellent model to investigate whether altitudinal and latitudinal gradients influence the distribution, prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites, their population structure and the biogeographical boundaries of distinct parasite lineages. RESULTS We assembled samples from 1317 rufous-collared sparrows spanning 75 locales from across Central and South America (between 9.5°N and 54°S; 10-4655 meters above sea level). We used DNA sequence data from a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cytb) of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium from 325 positive samples and found prevalences of 22 and 3%, respectively. Haemoproteus exhibited a higher prevalence than Plasmodium but with comparatively lower genetic diversity. We detected a relationship of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus prevalence with altitude and latitude; however, altitude and latitude did not influence parasite diversity. CONCLUSIONS Parasite lineages showed a phylogeographical boundary coincident with the Andes Mountains, although we also observed a north-south disjunction in Peru for Haemoproteus. Haemosporidian distribution was not homogeneous but differed based on latitude and altitude. This is most probably due to environmental factors that have influenced both vector distribution and abundance, as well as parasite development. Our study provides key insights on the distribution of haemoparasite lineages and parasite dynamics within hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Doussang
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla, 537 Chillán, Chile
- Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Código Postal: 6904411, Casilla 306, Correo, 22 Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniel González-Acuña
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla, 537 Chillán, Chile
| | | | | | | | - Kian Connelly Greene
- Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Código Postal: 6904411, Casilla 306, Correo, 22 Santiago, Chile
| | - Juliana A. Vianna
- Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Código Postal: 6904411, Casilla 306, Correo, 22 Santiago, Chile
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Pedro R, Claudio N, Elena C, Claudio V. Low occurrence of hemosporidian parasites in the Neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) in Chile. Parasitol Res 2018; 118:325-333. [PMID: 30448937 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-6146-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Hemosporidian parasites rarely infect aquatic birds. Few studies have been conducted in South America identifying some lineages of the genera Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, and Haemoproteus, but none has been done in the Neotropic cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus). This species is widely distributed through the American continent, from Southern USA to Tierra del Fuego, using a wide range of aquatic habitats. We molecularly studied the occurrence and diversity of hemosporidian lineages infecting individuals of Neotropic cormorant across a broad latitudinal gradient in Chile (Arica to Tierra del Fuego). As expected, a very low occurrence of individuals infected by Plasmodium sp. (4/123, 3.3%) and Leucocytozoon sp. (2/123, 1.6%) was detected. We found no evidence of Haemoproteus sp. We identified one lineage of Plasmodium (ZEMAC01) and one new lineage of Leucocytozoon (PHABRA01) infecting cormorants. Individuals infected by Plasmodium sp. were birds from only one site (i.e., Chillán), whereas Leucocytozoon sp. was found in one bird from Valdivia and another one from Tierra del Fuego. Our results expand the known range of hemosporidian parasite lineages in aquatic birds providing an essential baseline data that contribute to a better understanding of the geographic range of hemosporidian parasites infecting Phalacrocoracidae in South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigues Pedro
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Navarrete Claudio
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Campos Elena
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Verdugo Claudio
- Instituto de Patología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. .,Programa de Investigación Aplicada en Fauna Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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18
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Valkiūnas G, Ilgūnas M, Bukauskaitė D, Fragner K, Weissenböck H, Atkinson CT, Iezhova TA. Characterization of Plasmodium relictum, a cosmopolitan agent of avian malaria. Malar J 2018; 17:184. [PMID: 29720195 PMCID: PMC5930738 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2325-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microscopic research has shown that Plasmodium relictum is the most common agent of avian malaria. Recent molecular studies confirmed this conclusion and identified several mtDNA lineages, suggesting the existence of significant intra-species genetic variation or cryptic speciation. Most identified lineages have a broad range of hosts and geographical distribution. Here, a rare new lineage of P. relictum was reported and information about biological characters of different lineages of this pathogen was reviewed, suggesting issues for future research. Methods The new lineage pPHCOL01 was detected in Common chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, and the parasite was passaged in domestic canaries Serinus canaria. Organs of infected birds were examined using histology and chromogenic in situ hybridization methods. Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes, Zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata, Budgerigar Melopsittacus undulatus and European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis were exposed experimentally. Both Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses identified the same phylogenetic relationships among different, closely-related lineages pSGS1, pGRW4, pGRW11, pLZFUS01, pPHCOL01 of P. relictum. Morphology of their blood stages was compared using fixed and stained blood smears, and biological properties of these parasites were reviewed. Results Common canary and European goldfinch were susceptible to the parasite pPHCOL01, and had markedly variable individual prepatent periods and light transient parasitaemia. Exo-erythrocytic and sporogonic stages were not seen. The Zebra finch and Budgerigar were resistant. Neither blood stages nor vector stages of all examined P. relictum lineages can be distinguished morphologically. Conclusion Within the huge spectrum of vertebrate hosts, mosquito vectors, and ecological conditions, different lineages of P. relictum exhibit indistinguishable, markedly variable morphological forms. Parasites of same lineages often develop differently in different bird species. Even more, the variation of biological properties (parasitaemia dynamics, blood pathology, prepatent period) in different isolates of the same lineage might be greater than the variation in different lineages during development in the same species of birds, indicating negligible taxonomic value of such features. Available lineage information is excellent for parasite diagnostics, but is limited in predictions about relationships in certain host-parasite associations. A combination of experiments, field observations, microscopic and molecular diagnostics is essential for understanding the role of different P. relictum lineages in bird health. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12936-018-2325-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mikas Ilgūnas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Karin Fragner
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Carter T Atkinson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, Hawaii National Park, HI, 96718, USA
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Llanos S, Suazo CG, Quillfeldt P, Cursach JA, Salas LM. Ectoparasite abundance and apparent absence of hemoparasites in two albatross species in Sub-Antarctic Chile. Polar Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-017-2177-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Campioni L, Martínez-de la Puente J, Figuerola J, Granadeiro JP, Silva MC, Catry P. Absence of haemosporidian parasite infections in the long-lived Cory’s shearwater: evidence from molecular analyses and review of the literature. Parasitol Res 2017; 117:323-329. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-017-5676-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Schmid S, Fachet K, Dinkel A, Mackenstedt U, Woog F. Carrion crows (Corvus corone) of southwest Germany: important hosts for haemosporidian parasites. Malar J 2017; 16:369. [PMID: 28899382 PMCID: PMC5596962 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-2023-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) and other Haemosporida (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon spp.) form a diverse group of vector-transmitted blood parasites that are abundant in many bird families. Recent studies have suggested that corvids may be an important host for Plasmodium spp. and Leucocytozoon spp. METHODS To investigate the diversity of Haemosporida of resident carrion crows (Corvus corone) and Eurasian Magpies (Pica pica) in southwest Germany, 100 liver samples of corvids were examined using a nested PCR method to amplify a 1063 bp fragment of the haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The phylogenetic relationship of parasite lineages obtained from these birds was inferred. RESULTS Haemosporidian DNA was detected in 85 carrion crows (89.5%) and in all five Eurasian Magpies. The most abundant parasite genus was Leucocytozoon with a prevalence of 85.3% (n = 95). 65.3% of the samples (n = 62) contained multiple infections. Thirteen haemosporidian lineages were isolated from the corvid samples. Female carrion crows were more likely infected with haemosporidian parasites than males. DISCUSSION This study provides the first insight into the diversity of haemosporidian parasites of corvids in Germany. Very high prevalences were found and based on the applied diagnostic method also a high amount of multiple infections could be detected. Due to the high diversity of haemosporidian parasites found in corvids, they seem to be excellent model organisms to test species deliminations in haemosporidian parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandrine Schmid
- University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
- State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Katrin Fachet
- University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Anke Dinkel
- University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ute Mackenstedt
- University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Straße 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Friederike Woog
- State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
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Abstract
Blood parasites are considered some of the most significant pathogens for the conservation of penguins, due to the considerable morbidity and mortality they have been shown to produce in captive and wild populations of these birds. Parasites known to occur in the blood of penguins include haemosporidian protozoans (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus), piroplamid protozoans (Babesia), kinetoplastid protozoans (Trypanosoma), spirochete bacteria (Borrelia) and nematode microfilariae. This review provides a critical and comprehensive assessment of the current knowledge on these parasites, providing an overview of their biology, host and geographic distribution, epidemiology, pathology and implications for public health and conservation.
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Do blood parasites infect Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) in the wild? Prospective investigation and climatogeographic considerations. Parasitology 2017; 144:698-705. [PMID: 28073384 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182016002407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are native to Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands. Magellanic penguins are highly susceptible to blood parasites such as the mosquito-borne Plasmodium spp., which have been documented causing high morbidity and mortality in zoos and rehabilitation centres. However, to date no blood parasites have been detected in wild Magellanic penguins, and it is not clear whether this is reflective of their true absence or is instead related to an insufficiency in sampling effort or a failure of the diagnostic methods. We examined blood smears of 284 Magellanic penguins from the Argentinean coast and tested their blood samples with nested polymerase chain reaction tests targeting Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Babesia. No blood parasites were detected. Analysing the sampling effort of previous studies and the climatogeography of the region, we found there is strong basis to conclude that haemosporidians do not infect wild Magellanic penguins on the Argentinean coast. However, at present it is not possible to determine whether such parasites occur on the Chilean coast and at the Falkland Islands. Furthermore, it is troubling that the northward distribution expansion of Magellanic penguins and the poleward distribution shift of vectors may lead to novel opportunities for the transmission of blood parasites.
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Vanstreels RET, da Silva-Filho RP, Kolesnikovas CKM, Bhering RCC, Ruoppolo V, Epiphanio S, Amaku M, Ferreira Junior FC, Braga ÉM, Catão-Dias JL. Epidemiology and pathology of avian malaria in penguins undergoing rehabilitation in Brazil. Vet Res 2015; 46:30. [PMID: 25888987 PMCID: PMC4357068 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-015-0160-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Seabird rehabilitation is a valuable strategy to mitigate the impacts of oil pollution and other anthropogenic factors, and can significantly contribute to the conservation of penguins. However, infectious diseases such as avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.) can hamper the success of rehabilitation efforts. We combined morphological and molecular diagnostic methods to investigate the epidemiology and pathology of Plasmodium in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at rehabilitation centers along 2500 km of the coastline of Brazil. True prevalence of malarial parasites was estimated between 6.6% and 13.5%. We identified five species, three of which had not been described infecting penguins (P. cathemerium, P. nucleophilum, P. unalis); an additional five distinct Plasmodium lineages were also distinguished, and albeit unidentified these clearly correspond to species that also have not yet been reported in penguins. Our results indicate that the diversity of plasmodia that may infect these birds is greater than previously recognised. Considering the well-defined seasonality observed in this study, it is clear that rehabilitation centers could benefit by narrowing their preventative efforts on penguins maintained or admitted during the Austral spring-summer, particularly by preventing mosquitoes from coming into contact with penguins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05088-000, Brazil.
| | - Rodolfo Pinho da Silva-Filho
- Centro de Recuperação de Animais Marinhos, Museu Oceanográfico Professor Eliézer de Carvalho Rios, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, Rua Capitão Heitor Perdigão 10, Rio Grande, RS, 92200-580, Brazil.
| | - Cristiane Kiyomi Miyaji Kolesnikovas
- Associação R3 Animal. Rodovia João Gualberto Soares, Entrada do Parque Estadual do Rio Vermelho, Barra da Lagoa, Florianópolis, SC, 88061-500, Brazil.
| | - Renata Cristina Campos Bhering
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Reabilitação de Animais Marinhos. Rodovia BR 262, Instituto Estadual de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Hídricos, Jardim América, Cariacica, ES, 29140-130, Brazil.
| | - Valeria Ruoppolo
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05088-000, Brazil. .,International Fund for Animal Welfare, 290 Summer Street, Yarmouth Port, MA, 02675, USA.
| | - Sabrina Epiphanio
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Lineu Prestes 580, Butantã, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
| | - Marcos Amaku
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Laboratório de Epidemiologia e Bioestatística, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Professor Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05088-000, Brazil.
| | - Francisco Carlos Ferreira Junior
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 486, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 486, Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - José Luiz Catão-Dias
- Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, São Paulo, SP, 05088-000, Brazil.
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Vanstreels RET, Kolesnikovas CKM, Sandri S, Silveira P, Belo NO, Ferreira Junior FC, Epiphanio S, Steindel M, Braga ÉM, Catão-Dias JL. Outbreak of avian malaria associated to multiple species of Plasmodium in magellanic penguins undergoing rehabilitation in southern Brazil. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94994. [PMID: 24736326 PMCID: PMC3988135 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp. Avian plasmodia are recognized conservation-threatening pathogens due to their potential to cause severe epizootics when introduced to bird populations with which they did not co-evolve. Penguins are considered particularly susceptible, as outbreaks in captive populations will often lead to high morbidity and rapid mortality. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate an outbreak of avian malaria in 28 Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) at a rehabilitation center during summer 2009 in Florianópolis, Brazil. Hemosporidian infections were identified by microscopic and molecular characterization in 64% (18/28) of the penguins, including Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) tejerai, Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum, a Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) sp. lineage closely related to Plasmodium cathemerium, and a Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) sp. lineage closely related to Haemoproteus syrnii. P. tejerai played a predominant role in the studied outbreak and was identified in 72% (13/18) of the hemosporidian-infected penguins, and in 89% (8/9) of the penguins that died, suggesting that this is a highly pathogenic parasite for penguins; a detailed description of tissue meronts and lesions is provided. Mixed infections were identified in three penguins, and involved P. elongatum and either P. tejerai or P. (Haemamoeba) sp. that were compatible with P. tejerai but could not be confirmed. In total, 32% (9/28) penguins died over the course of 16 days despite oral treatment with chloroquine followed by sulfadiazine-trimethoprim. Hemosporidian infections were considered likely to have occurred during rehabilitation, probably from mosquitoes infected while feeding on local native birds, whereas penguin-mosquito-penguin transmission may have played a role in later stages of the outbreak. Considering the seasonality of the infection, rehabilitation centers would benefit from narrowing their efforts to prevent avian malaria outbreaks to the penguins that are maintained throughout summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Sandro Sandri
- Associação R3 Animal, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Silveira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nayara O. Belo
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Francisco C. Ferreira Junior
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Epiphanio
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mário Steindel
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Érika M. Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - José Luiz Catão-Dias
- Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Merino S, Martínez J, Masello JF, Bedolla Y, Quillfeldt P. First molecular characterization of a Hepatozoon species (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) infecting birds and description of a new species infecting storm petrels (Aves: Hydrobatidae). J Parasitol 2014; 100:338-43. [PMID: 24471861 DOI: 10.1645/13-325.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
During a survey of blood parasites in a population of Leach's and black storm petrels ( Oceanodroma leucorhoa and Oceanodroma melania) in Mexico, infection by a Hepatozoon species in erythrocytes of several birds was noted. Here we describe the species as Hepatozoon peircei sp. nov. Some species of Hepatozoon described from birds have been identified as lankesterellids when DNA molecular analyses were conducted. However, a sequence of 1,774 bp of the parasite found infecting storm petrels in this study clearly show the parasite is a species of the genus Hepatozoon. This is the first Hepatozoon species infecting birds to be characterized at the molecular level and the first found infecting erythrocytes and not leucocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Merino
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Blood parasites in noddies and boobies from Brazilian offshore islands - differences between species and influence of nesting habitat. Parasitology 2013; 141:399-410. [PMID: 24229724 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182013001649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Seabirds are often free from blood parasites, and a recent review suggested that phylogenetic, ecological and life-history parameters can determine the prevalence of blood parasites in seabirds. However, there is a lack of data available from many seabird groups, and a larger database is needed to understand prevalence patterns of blood parasites. We used a molecular screening approach to detect parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Babesia in five species of two genera of seabirds that breed on Atlantic Ocean islands off Brazil. The observed patterns differed between the two bird genera. Like other Laridae, brown noddy, Anous stolidus adults were infected with Haemoproteus with low prevalence. Masked boobies, Sula dactylatra and brown boobies, Sula leucogaster were infected with Babesia. Of the latter, mainly juveniles were infected. In all species, intensity of infection (i.e. number of infected erythrocytes) was so low that parasites remained undetected in blood smears. This may explain the absence of major effects on the body condition of birds, although infected juvenile masked boobies were lighter than juveniles that were not infected with Babesia. Two tree-nesting species; black noddy, Anous minutus and red-footed booby, Sula sula did not have blood parasites, suggesting that tree-nesting may reduce the exposure to arthropod vectors compared with ground nesting in these species.
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The pathology and pathogenicity of a novel Haemoproteus spp. infection in wild Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor). Vet Parasitol 2013; 197:74-84. [PMID: 23683654 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.04.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Revised: 04/05/2013] [Accepted: 04/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
One hundred and thirty four Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) carcases found since 2004 in south west Australia were necropsied. The livers and spleens from ten of the penguins exhibited varying degrees of multifocal, randomly scattered areas of necrosis and varying numbers of parasites were associated with these areas. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were noted in many of these ten cases. Necrosis and parasites were also observed in the cardiac muscle of four of the cases and in the lung tissue in one of the penguins. Using PCR, the parasites were positively identified in four of the cases as Haemoproteus spp. and morphologically identical tissue stage parasites associated with histopathological changes were observed in all ten dead penguins. This is the first study to demonstrate both the in situ presence of the Haemoproteus parasite in any member of the Sphensicidae family and mortality due to its presence. We postulate the involvement of anomalous environmental conditions in a potential increase in local vectors.
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Relation between Parasitism, Stress, and Fitness Correlates of the Eastern Foxsnake (Pantherophis gloydi) in Ontario. J HERPETOL 2012. [DOI: 10.1670/10-259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Levin II, Parker PG. Prevalence of Hemoproteus iwa in Galapagos great frigatebirds (Fregata minor) and their obligate fly ectoparasite (Olfersia spinifera). J Parasitol 2012; 98:924-9. [PMID: 22509857 DOI: 10.1645/ge-3027.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of hemosporidian parasites varies among different host species, geographic locations, habitats, and host life histories, and yet we do not have a firm understanding of the ultimate causes of the variation. Seabirds are not typically found infected with hemosporidian parasites; however, frigatebird species have been repeatedly documented with Hemoproteus spp. infections. Hemoproteus iwa in Galapagos great frigatebirds (Fregata minor) is vectored by a hippoboscid fly, Olfersia spinifera , an obligate ectoparasite of the bird host. Five populations of Galapagos great frigatebirds, and flies collected from the birds, were sampled and tested for H. iwa . Prevalence did not differ across 4 yr or between 5 islands, but males were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of infection than did females. Additionally, juveniles were more likely to be infected than were adults and chicks. Because the invertebrate vector is an obligate parasite, we were able to estimate prevalence in the vector as well as in the particular host upon which it fed, a task that is impossible, or nearly impossible, in hemosporidian parasites vectored by midges or mosquitoes. We tested the correlation between the infection status of the bird host and the infection status of the fly collected from the bird. More often than not the 2 were correlated, but some mismatches were found. Using the occurrence of infected flies on uninfected birds (12/99) as a proxy for transmission potential, we can estimate the transmission rate to be between 5 and 20% (95% confidence intervals) among individual vertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris I Levin
- University of Missouri - St. Louis, Department of Biology and Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63121, USA.
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Merino S, Hennicke J, Martínez J, Ludynia K, Torres R, Work TM, Stroud S, Masello JF, Quillfeldt P. Infection by Haemoproteus Parasites in Four Species of Frigatebirds and the Description of a New Species of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae). J Parasitol 2012; 98:388-97. [DOI: 10.1645/ge-2415.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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Levin II, Valkiūnas G, Iezhova TA, O'Brien SL, Parker PG. Novel Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) from the swallow-tailed gull (Lariidae), with remarks on the host range of hippoboscid-transmitted avian hemoproteids. J Parasitol 2012; 98:847-54. [PMID: 22324933 DOI: 10.1645/ge-3007.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemoproteus (Haemoproteus) jenniae n. sp. (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) is described from a Galapagos bird, the swallow-tailed gull Creagrus furcatus (Charadriiformes, Laridae), based on the morphology of its blood stages and segments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene. The most distinctive features of H. jenniae development are the circumnuclear gametocytes occupying all cytoplasmic space in infected erythrocytes and the presence of advanced, growing gametocytes in which the pellicle is closely appressed to the erythrocyte envelope but does not extend to the erythrocyte nucleus. This parasite is distinguishable from Haemoproteus larae, which produces similar gametocytes and parasitizes closely related species of Laridae. Haemoproteus jenniae can be distinguished from H. larae primarily due to (1) the predominantly amoeboid outline of young gametocytes, (2) diffuse macrogametocyte nuclei which do not possess distinguishable nucleoli, (3) the consistent size and shape of pigment granules, and (4) the absence of rod-like pigment granules from gametocytes. Additionally, fully-grown gametocytes of H. jenniae cause both the marked hypertrophy of infected erythrocytes in width and the rounding up of the host cells, which is not the case in H. larae. Phylogenetic analyses identified the DNA lineages that are associated with H. jenniae and showed that this parasite is more closely related to the hippoboscid-transmitted (Hippoboscidae) species than to the Culicoides spp.-transmitted (Ceratopogonidae) species of avian hemoproteids. Genetic divergence between morphologically well-differentiated H. jenniae and the hippoboscid-transmitted Haemoproteus iwa, the closely related parasite of frigatebirds (Fregatidae, Pelecaniformes), is only 0.6%; cyt b sequences of these parasites differ only by 1 base pair. This is the first example of such a small genetic difference in the cyt b gene between species of the subgenus Haemoproteus. In a segment of caseinolytic protease C gene (ClpC), genetic divergence is 4% between H. jenniae and H. iwa. This study corroborates the conclusion that hippoboscid-transmitted Haemoproteus parasites infect not only Columbiformes birds but also infect marine birds belonging to Pelecaniformes and Charadriiformes. We conclude that the vertebrate host range should be used cautiously in identification of subgenera of avian Haemoproteus species and that the phylogenies based on the cyt b gene provide evidence for determining the subgeneric position of avian hemoproteids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris I Levin
- University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Biology, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
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Quillfeldt P, Arriero E, Martínez J, Masello JF, Merino S. Prevalence of blood parasites in seabirds - a review. Front Zool 2011; 8:26. [PMID: 22035144 PMCID: PMC3223496 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-8-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While blood parasites are common in many birds in the wild, some groups seem to be much less affected. Seabirds, in particular, have often been reported free from blood parasites, even in the presence of potential vectors. RESULTS From a literature review of hemosporidian prevalence in seabirds, we collated a dataset of 60 species, in which at least 15 individuals had been examined. These data were included in phylogenetically controlled statistical analyses of hemosporidian prevalence in relation to ecological and life-history parameters. Haemoproteus parasites were common in frigatebirds and gulls, while Hepatozoon occurred in albatrosses and storm petrels, and Plasmodium mainly in penguins. The prevalence of Haemoproteus showed a geographical signal, being lower in species with distribution towards polar environments. Interspecific differences in Plasmodium prevalence were explained by variables that relate to the exposure to parasites, suggesting that prevalence is higher in burrow nesters with long fledgling periods. Measures of Plasmodium, but not Haemoproteus prevalences were influenced by the method, with PCR-based data resulting in higher prevalence estimates. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses suggest that, as in other avian taxa, phylogenetic, ecological and life-history parameters determine the prevalence of hemosporidian parasites in seabirds. We discuss how these relationships should be further explored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Quillfeldt
- Max-Planck-Institut für Ornithologie, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Elena Arriero
- Max-Planck-Institut für Ornithologie, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Javier Martínez
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Juan F Masello
- Max-Planck-Institut für Ornithologie, Vogelwarte Radolfzell, Schlossallee 2, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Santiago Merino
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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Levin II, Valkiūnas G, Santiago-Alarcon D, Cruz LL, Iezhova TA, O'Brien SL, Hailer F, Dearborn D, Schreiber EA, Fleischer RC, Ricklefs RE, Parker PG. Hippoboscid-transmitted Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida) infect Galapagos Pelecaniform birds: evidence from molecular and morphological studies, with a description of Haemoproteus iwa. Int J Parasitol 2011; 41:1019-27. [PMID: 21683082 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites are widely distributed and common parasites of birds, and the application of molecular techniques has revealed remarkable diversity among their lineages. Four haemosporidian genera infect avian hosts (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Fallisia), and Haemoproteus is split into two sub-genera based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic support for two divergent sister clades. One clade (Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus)) contains parasites developing in birds belonging to several different orders, except pigeons and doves (Columbiformes), while the other (Haemoproteus (Haemoproteus)) has previously been shown to only infect dove hosts. Here we provide molecular and morphological identification of Haemoproteus parasites from several seabird species that are closely related to those found in dove hosts. We also document a deeply divergent clade with two haemosporidian lineages recovered primarily from frigatebirds (Fregatidae, Pelecaniformes) that is sister to the hippoboscid-(Hippoboscidae) transmitted dove parasites. One of the lineages in this new clade of parasites belongs to Haemoproteus iwa and is distributed in two species of frigatebird (Fregata) hosts from Hawaii, the Galapagos Islands, the eastern Pacific and throughout the Caribbean Basin. Haemosporidian parasites are often considered rare in seabirds due in part to the lack or low activity of some dipteran vectors (e.g., mosquitos, biting midges) in marine and coastal environments; however, we show that H. iwa is prevalent and is very likely vectored among frigatebirds by hippoboscid flies which are abundant on frigatebirds and other seabirds. This study supports the existence of two sister clades of avian Haemoproteus in accord with the subgeneric classification of avian hemoproteids. Description of H. iwa from Galapagos Fregata minor is given based on morphology of blood stages and segments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, which can be used for identification. This study shows that hippoboscid flies warrant more attention as vectors of avian Haemoproteus spp., particularly in marine and coastal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris I Levin
- University of Missouri-St. Louis, Department of Biology and Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121, USA.
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