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Ševčík R, Mahlerová K, Riera FA, Zárybnická M. Leucocytozoon Infection Does Not Influence the Survival of Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus Nestlings. Avian Dis 2024; 68:134-140. [PMID: 38885055 DOI: 10.1637/aviandiseases-d-23-00063] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Leucocytozoon infection has been observed to impact the reproductive ecology and physiology of avian hosts, but its influence on nestling survival remains unclear. We investigated the effect of Leucocytozoon infection intensity, determined through triplicate PCR sample analyses, on the survival of 256 boreal owl (Aegolius funereus) nestlings during an 8-yr study. Contrary to our expectations, the survival probability of boreal owl nestlings was not influenced by their Leucocytozoon infection intensity. Nestling age and Leucocytozoon infection intensity in male and female parents also did not impact nestling survival. Instead, food abundance and hatching order were the key factors influencing nestling survival. Additionally, we observed a significantly higher Leucocytozoon infection intensity in male parents compared to female parents and nestlings. We suggest a distinct division of parental roles may lead females and nestlings staying within the nest boxes (cavities) to experience lower exposure to potential vectors transmitting blood parasites than their male counterparts. Our study shows that Leucocytozoon disease may not be lethal for boreal owl chicks, exhibiting a below-average infection intensity compared to their male parents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ševčík
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00, Czech Republic
- Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, 252 02 Jíloviště, Czech Republic
| | - Karolina Mahlerová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Fernando A Riera
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Zárybnická
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00, Czech Republic,
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2
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Ruiz-Arrondo I, Veiga J, Adler PH, Collantes F, Oteo JA, Valera F. Integrated taxonomy of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) reveals unexpected diversity in the most arid ecosystem of Europe. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293547. [PMID: 37948378 PMCID: PMC10637677 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The family Simuliidae includes more than 2000 species of black flies worldwide. Their morphological uniformity creates difficulty for species identification, which limits our knowledge of their ecology and vectorial role. We investigated the systematics of black flies in a semi-arid area of the Iberian Peninsula, an ecologically harsh environment for these organisms. Sampling adult black flies in three different habitats (by means of CDC traps) and in avian nest boxes and collecting immature stages in high-salinity rills provided a representative sample of the component species. A combination of approaches, including morphological, chromosomal, and molecular (based on the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genes) revealed five species: four common species (Simulium intermedium, S. petricolum, S. pseudequinum, and S. rubzovianum) and the first European record for S. mellah. Barcoding gap and phylogenetic analyses revealed that ITS2 is a key marker to identify the species, whereas the COI marker does not provide enough resolution to identify some species or infer their phylogenetic relationships. Morphological and chromosomal features are also provided to identify S. mellah unequivocally. Our study highlights the need for integrated studies of black flies in ecologically extreme habitats to increase our knowledge of their distribution, ecology, and potential risks for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), Infectious Diseases Department, San Pedro University Hospital-Center for Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Jesús Veiga
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
- Departmento de Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
- MEMEG, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Peter H. Adler
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Francisco Collantes
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - José A. Oteo
- Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases (CRETAV), Infectious Diseases Department, San Pedro University Hospital-Center for Biomedical Research from La Rioja (CIBIR), Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Francisco Valera
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
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Tomášek O, Bobek L, Kauzálová T, Kauzál O, Adámková M, Horák K, Kumar SA, Manialeu JP, Munclinger P, Nana ED, Nguelefack TB, Sedláček O, Albrecht T. Latitudinal but not elevational variation in blood glucose level is linked to life history across passerine birds. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:2203-2216. [PMID: 36082485 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Macrophysiological research is vital to our understanding of mechanisms underpinning global life history variation and adaptation to diverse environments. Here, we examined latitudinal and elevational variation in a key substrate of energy metabolism and an emerging physiological component of pace-of-life syndromes, blood glucose concentration. Our data, collected from 61 European temperate and 99 Afrotropical passerine species, revealed that baseline blood glucose increases with both latitude and elevation, whereas blood glucose stress response shows divergent directions, being stronger at low latitudes and high elevations. Low baseline glucose in tropical birds, compared to their temperate counterparts, was mainly explained by their low fecundity, consistent with the slow pace-of-life syndrome in the tropics. In contrast, elevational variation in this trait was decoupled from fecundity, implying a unique montane pace-of-life syndrome combining slow-paced life histories with fast-paced physiology. The observed patterns suggest that pace-of-life syndromes do not evolve along the single fast-slow axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Lukáš Bobek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Tereza Kauzálová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ondřej Kauzál
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Marie Adámková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Kryštof Horák
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia
| | - Sampath Anandan Kumar
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Judith Pouadjeu Manialeu
- Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Pavel Munclinger
- Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Eric Djomo Nana
- Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD), Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Télesphore Benoît Nguelefack
- Faculty of Science, Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Ondřej Sedláček
- Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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Horák K, Bobek L, Adámková M, Kauzál O, Kauzálová T, Manialeu JP, Nguelefack TB, Nana ED, Jønsson KA, Munclinger P, Hořák D, Sedláček O, Tomášek O, Albrecht T. Feather growth and quality across passerines is explained by breeding rather than moulting latitude. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212404. [PMID: 35259984 PMCID: PMC8905169 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tropical bird species are characterized by a comparatively slow pace of life, being predictably different from their temperate zone counterparts in their investments in growth, survival and reproduction. In birds, the development of functional plumage is often considered energetically demanding investment, with consequences on individual fitness and survival. However, current knowledge of interspecific variation in feather growth patterns is mostly based on species of the northern temperate zone. We evaluated patterns in tail feather growth rates (FGR) and feather quality (stress-induced fault bar occurrence; FBO), using 1518 individuals of 167 species and 39 passerine families inhabiting Afrotropical and northern temperate zones. We detected a clear difference in feather traits between species breeding in the temperate and tropical zones, with the latter having significantly slower FGR and three times higher FBO. Moreover, trans-Saharan latitudinal migrants resembled temperate zone residents in that they exhibited a comparatively fast FGR and low FBO, despite sharing moulting environments with tropical species. Our results reveal convergent latitudinal shifts in feather growth investments (latitudinal syndrome) across unrelated passerine families and underscore the importance of breeding latitude in determining cross-species variation in key avian life-history traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kryštof Horák
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lukáš Bobek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marie Adámková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Kauzál
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Kauzálová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Judith Pouadjeu Manialeu
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Télesphore Benoît Nguelefack
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Phytopharmacology, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon
| | - Eric Djomo Nana
- Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD), Nkolbisson-Yaoundé, Cameroon.,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | - Pavel Munclinger
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - David Hořák
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Sedláček
- Department of Ecology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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Harl J, Himmel T, Valkiūnas G, Ilgūnas M, Nedorost N, Matt J, Kübber-Heiss A, Alic A, Konicek C, Weissenböck H. Avian haemosporidian parasites of accipitriform raptors. Malar J 2022; 21:14. [PMID: 34986864 PMCID: PMC8729155 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-04019-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The order Accipitriformes comprises the largest group of birds of prey with 260 species in four families. So far, 21 haemosporidian parasite species have been described from or reported to occur in accipitriform birds. Only five of these parasite species have been characterized molecular genetically. The first part of this study involved molecular genetic screening of accipitriform raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina and the first chromogenic in situ hybridization approach targeting parasites in this host group. The aim of the second part of this study was to summarize the CytB sequence data of haemosporidian parasites from accipitriform raptors and to visualize the geographic and host distribution of the lineages. Methods Blood and tissue samples of 183 accipitriform raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina were screened for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites by nested PCR, and tissue samples of 23 PCR-positive birds were subjected to chromogenic in situ hybridization using genus-specific probes targeting the parasites’ 18S rRNAs. All published CytB sequence data from accipitriform raptors were analysed, phylogenetic trees were calculated, and DNA haplotype network analyses were performed with sequences from clades featuring multiple lineages detected in this host group. Results Of the 183 raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina screened by PCR and sequencing, 80 individuals (44%) were infected with haemosporidian parasites. Among the 39 CytB lineages detected, 18 were found for the first time in the present study. The chromogenic in situ hybridization revealed exo-erythrocytic tissue stages of Leucocytozoon parasites belonging to the Leucocytozoon toddi species group in the kidneys of 14 infected birds. The total number of CytB lineages recorded in accipitriform birds worldwide was 57 for Leucocytozoon, 25 for Plasmodium, and 21 for Haemoproteus. Conclusion The analysis of the DNA haplotype networks allowed identifying numerous distinct groups of lineages, which have not yet been linked to morphospecies, and many of them likely belong to yet undescribed parasite species. Tissue stages of Leucocytozoon parasites developing in accipitriform raptors were discovered and described. The majority of Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus lineages are specific to this host group, but most Plasmodium lineages were found in birds of other orders. This might indicate local transmission from birds kept at the same facilities (raptor rescue centres and zoos), likely resulting in abortive infections. To clarify the taxonomic and systematic problems, combined morphological and molecular genetic analyses on a wider range of accipitriform host species are needed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-021-04019-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Tanja Himmel
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Mikas Ilgūnas
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Nora Nedorost
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Matt
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Kübber-Heiss
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - Amer Alic
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Cornelia Konicek
- Service for Birds and Reptiles, Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, 1210, Vienna, Austria
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Žiegytė R, Bernotienė R. Contribution to the knowledge on black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) as vectors of Leucocytozoon (Haemosporida) parasites in Lithuania. Parasitol Int 2021; 87:102515. [PMID: 34781013 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are among the most bothersome blood-sucking dipterans causing severe irritation and distress to poultry, wild birds, animals, and humans globally. These insects are vectors of viruses, bacteria, parasitic protozoans, and nematodes of humans and animals. Parasitic protozoa belonging to Haemosporida (Apicomplexa) are distributed worldwide and black flies are the principal vectors of avian haemosporidian parasites of the genus Leucocytozoon, a common parasite of birds. Based on the detection of parasite DNA in insects, 13 black fly species were reported to be potential vectors of Leucocytozoon in Europe. Information about which species of Simulium can play a role in the transmission of Leucocytozoon parasites is insufficient and needs to be developed. The aim of our study was to determine which black fly species are involved in the transmission of Leucocytozoon parasites in the Eastern Europe. The black fly females were collected in Lithuania using entomological net. They were morphologically identified, dissected to prepare salivary glands preparations, and then screened for the presence of Leucocytozoon parasites using microscopy and PCR-based methods. In all, we collected 437 black fly females belonging to eight species. The DNA of Leucocytozoon (genetic lineage lCOCO18) was detected in one of analysed females identified as Simulium maculatum. All salivary gland preparations were negative for the presence of Leucocytozoon sporozoites. Our results included S. maculatum as a potential vector of Leucocytozoon parasites. Increasing the knowledge on vector ecology, behaviour and improving collection methods may be the key to understand the evolution and diversity of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Žiegytė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius 21, LT-09412, Lithuania
| | - Rasa Bernotienė
- Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius 21, LT-09412, Lithuania.
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Chakarov N, Veiga J, Ruiz-Arrondo I, Valera F. Atypical behavior of a black fly species connects cavity-nesting birds with generalist blood parasites in an arid area of Spain. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:298. [PMID: 34082829 PMCID: PMC8173925 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04798-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The feeding behavior of bloodsucking insects determines the transmission, distribution, host spectrum and evolution of blood parasites in the wild. Conventional wisdom suggests that some vector groups (e.g. black flies, family Simuliidae) are consistently exophagous daytime biters. We aimed to understand more about the exceptions to this pattern by combining targeted trapping and molecular identification of parasites in vectors. METHODS In this study, we collected black flies in nest boxes used by European rollers Coracias garrulus in southeastern Spain. We molecularly analyzed 434 individual insects, identifying the black fly species caught in the nest boxes, their potential vertebrate blood meals, and the haemosporidian parasite lineages that they carried. RESULTS Only one black fly species, Simulium rubzovianum, appeared to enter the nest boxes of rollers. Among the trapped specimens, 15% contained vertebrate DNA, which always belonged to rollers, even though only half of those specimens were visibly engorged. Furthermore, 15% of all black flies contained Leucocytozoon lineages, indicating previous feeding on avian hosts but probably not on infected adult rollers. The known vertebrate hosts of the recorded Leucocytozoon lineages suggested that large and/or abundant birds are their hosts. Particularly represented were cavity-nesting species breeding in the vicinity, such as pigeons, corvids and owls. Open-nesting species such as thrushes and birds of prey were also represented. CONCLUSIONS Our data strongly suggest that S. rubzovianum bites uninfected roller nestlings and infected individuals of other species, potentially incubating adults, inside nest boxes and natural cavities. This simuliid does not appear to have a strong preference for specific host clades. Contrary to the general pattern for the group, and possibly enhanced by the harsh environmental conditions in the study area, this black fly appeared to intensively use and may even have a preference for confined spaces such as cavities for feeding and resting. Preferences of vectors for atypical microhabitat niches where hosts are less mobile may enable social and within-family transmission and parasite speciation in the long term. At the same time, a lack of host preference in concentrated multispecies communities can lead to host switches. Both processes may be underappreciated driving forces in the evolution of avian blood parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jesús Veiga
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
| | - Ignacio Ruiz-Arrondo
- Centre for Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, Hospital Universitario San Pedro-CIBIR, Logroño, Spain
| | - Francisco Valera
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Almería, Spain
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Chakarov N, Kampen H, Wiegmann A, Werner D, Bensch S. Blood parasites in vectors reveal a united blackfly community in the upper canopy. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:309. [PMID: 32539849 PMCID: PMC7296761 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04177-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The behaviour of blood-sucking arthropods is a crucial determinant of blood protozoan distribution and hence of host-parasite coevolution, but it is very challenging to study in the wild. The molecular identification of parasite lineages in vectors can be a useful key to understand the behaviour and transmission patterns realised by these vectors. Methods In this study, we collected blackflies around nests of three raptor species in the upper forest canopy in central Europe and examined the presence of vertebrate DNA and haemosporidian parasites in them. We molecularly analysed 156 blackfly individuals, their vertebrate blood meals, and the haemosporidian parasite lineages they carried. Results We identified nine species of Simulium blackflies, largely belonging to the subgenera Nevermannia and Eusimulium. Only 1% of the collected specimens was visibly engorged, and only 4% contained remains of host DNA. However, in 29% of the blackflies Leucocytozoon lineages were identified, which is evidence of a previous blood meal on an avian host. Based on the known vertebrate hosts of the recorded Leucocytozoon lineages, we can infer that large and/or abundant birds, such as thrushes, crows, pigeons, birds of prey, owls and tits are the main targets of ornithophilic blackflies in the canopy. Blackfly species contained similar proportions of host group-specific parasite lineages and thus do not appear to be associated with particular host groups. Conclusions The Leucocytozoon clade infecting thrushes, crows, and pigeons present in most represented blackfly species suggests a lack of association between hosts and blackflies, which can increase the probability of host switches of blood parasites. However, the composition of the simuliid species differed between nests of common buzzards, goshawks and red kites. This segregation can be explained by coinciding habitat preferences between host and vector, and may lead to the fast speciation of Leucocytozoon parasites. Thus, subtle ecological preferences and lack of host preference of vectors in the canopy may enable both parasite diversification and host switches, and enforce a habitat-dependent evolution of avian malaria parasites and related haemosporidia.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany. .,Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Anja Wiegmann
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Doreen Werner
- Research Area 2 'Land Use and Governance', Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Muencheberg, Germany
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Veiga J, Martínez-de la Puente J, Václav R, Figuerola J, Valera F. Culicoides paolae and C. circumscriptus as potential vectors of avian haemosporidians in an arid ecosystem. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:524. [PMID: 30269688 PMCID: PMC6166282 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3098-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemosporidians are the most important vector-borne parasites due to their cosmopolitan distribution and their wide range of hosts, including humans. Identification of their vectors is critical to highlight ecologically and epidemiologically relevant features such as host specificity or transmission routes. Biting midges of the genus Culicoides are considered the main vectors of Haemoproteus spp., yet important information on aspects such as vector feeding preferences or vector-host specificity involving haemosporidian parasites is frequently missing. METHODS We assessed the abundance of Culicoides circumscriptus and C. paolae and blood sources of the latter at the nests of cavity-nesting bird species (mainly the European roller Coracias garrulus) and in their surroundings. We also explored the prevalence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidians in parous females of both species. RESULTS Both C. circumscriptus and C. paolae were abundant in the study area and common at European roller nests. Culicoides paolae had a diverse ornithophilic diet, feeding on at least seven bird species. Human DNA was also detected in the blood meal of some individuals. Four Haemoproteus lineages, including a new one reported here for the first time, were isolated from parous females of both biting midges. CONCLUSIONS Culicoides circumscriptus and C. paolae can play a locally important role in the transmission dynamics of Haemoproteus parasites in a community of cavity-nesting bird species in an arid ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Veiga
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, E-04120, Almería, Spain.
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Radovan Václav
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84506, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Valera
- Departamento de Ecología Funcional y Evolutiva, Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC), Ctra. de Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, E-04120, Almería, Spain
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Václav R, Betáková T, Švančarová P, Pérez-Serrano J, Criado-Fornelio Á, Škorvanová L, Valera F. Nest ecology of blood parasites in the European roller and its ectoparasitic carnid fly. Exp Parasitol 2016; 165:71-80. [PMID: 26993083 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites are considered the most important vector-borne parasites. However, vector identity and ecology is unknown for most such host-vector-parasite systems. In this study, we employ microscopic and molecular analyses to examine haemosporidian prevalence in a migratory, cavity-nesting bird, European roller Coracias garrulus, and its nidicolous blood-feeding ectoparasite Carnus hemapterus. This system is unique in that the ectoparasite is confined to a near-closed environment, in contrast to the free-wandering system of haematophagous dipterans such as mosquitoes. Blood film analysis confirms previous works in that Haemoproteus parasites are widely prevalent in adult rollers and belong to a single species, Haemoproteus coraciae. Leucocytozoon sp. and Trypanosoma sp. also are detected in adult rollers at low intensities with this technique. By means of molecular analysis, we report for the first time Plasmodium sp. presence in C. garrulus. Based on PCR results, Plasmodium parasites are relatively less prevalent than Haemoproteus parasites (20% vs. 31%) in rollers. In contrast, haemosporidian prevalences show the opposite trend for Carnus flies: Plasmodium sp. occurrence (62%) clearly predominates over that of Haemoproteus sp. (5%). A comparison between roller and Carnus samples reveals a significantly higher prevalence of Plasmodium sp. in Carnus samples. Insect survey and phylogenetic analysis suggest Culicoides flies as Haemoproteus sp. vectors, which appear to readily transmit the parasite in southern Spain. This study does not find support for Carnus flies to serve as biological or mechanical vectors of haemosporidians. In spite of this, nidicolous blood-feeding ectoparasites, such as carnid flies, appear as a suitable model for studies on the occurrence and temporal dynamics of avian haemosporidians such as Plasmodium sp. present at low intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radovan Václav
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84506 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| | - Tatiana Betáková
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Petra Švančarová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jorge Pérez-Serrano
- Parasitology Laboratory, Departamento de Biomedicina y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá, ES-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Criado-Fornelio
- Parasitology Laboratory, Departamento de Biomedicina y Biotecnología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá, ES-28871 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucia Škorvanová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, SK-84505 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Francisco Valera
- Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (EEZA-CSIC) Ctra. Sacramento s/n, La Cañada de San Urbano, ES-04120, Almería, Spain
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