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Ceballos-Pérez DF, Alvarez-Londoño J, Ramírez-Chaves HE, Rivera-Páez FA. Polychromophilus (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae): A review of association with bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) and the first record in the Neotropical bat, Myotis albescens (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from Colombia. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 25:100986. [PMID: 39310795 PMCID: PMC11415587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2024] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Some species within the family Plasmodiidae (Haemosporida) have been extensively studied due to their implications for human health. However, for other haemosporidians that infect wild animals the knowledge is limited. Species within the genus Polychromophilus have thus far been documented exclusively as hemoparasites of bats. Records of Polychromophilus are primarily from Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia, with limited information available for the Americas. Here, we assessed the state of knowledge on Polychromophilus species infecting bats worldwide and searched for the presence of Polychromophilus in blood samples of neotropical bats from Colombia. We found a total of 65 records of Polychromophilus in 46 bat species belonging to the families Emballonuridae, Hipposideridae, Miniopteridae, Rhinolophidae, Rhinonycteridae, and Vespertilionidae worldwide, except for Antarctica. In the Americas, records of the genus Polychromophilus are exclusively from Vespertilionidae bats in Brazil, Colombia, the United States, and Panama. The morphological and molecular analyses of blood from 125 bats, belonging to 39 species and captured in seven localities within the departments of Arauca and Caldas (Colombia), confirmed the presence of Polychromophilus deanei in a silver-tipped myotis, Myotis albescens (Vespertilionidae). This finding represents the first morphological and molecular confirmation of P. deanei in the Americas. Additionally, it expands the knowledge on the diversity and distribution of Polychromophilus in Neotropical bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Fernando Ceballos-Pérez
- Programa de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A 275, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A 275, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Johnathan Alvarez-Londoño
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A 275, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
- Maestría en Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A 275, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Héctor E. Ramírez-Chaves
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A 275, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
- Centro de Museos, Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 58 No. 21-50, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
| | - Fredy A. Rivera-Páez
- Grupo de Investigación en Genética, Biodiversidad y Manejo de Ecosistemas (GEBIOME), Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Caldas, Calle 65 No. 26-10 A.A 275, 170004, Manizales, Caldas, Colombia
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Gamboa-Suárez BA, Lotta-Arévalo IA, Sarmiento-Salazar F, Matta NE. Finding a needle in a haystack: DNA Haemoproteus columbae enrichment using percoll density gradient and flow cytometry. Vet Parasitol 2024; 328:110170. [PMID: 38513447 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2024.110170] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Isolation of genomic DNA of blood parasites in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes is a challenging task, given that their red blood cells are nucleated; for that reason, parasite genomic DNA is only a fraction of the total extracted DNA, and it is challenging to obtain concentrated high-quality genetic material. Percoll Density Gradient (PDG) and flow cytometry are tools for separating and analyzing cell populations or even a single cell, and both represent potent approaches for isolating avian haemosporidians parasites. Our experimental design included several steps seeking to concentrate the parasite´s DNA. We used blood samples from a Rock pigeon infected with Haemoproteus columbae. After inducing parasite exflagellation and gametogenesis in vitro, we subjected the samples to a Percoll Density Gradient to separate the parasites from the rest of the blood cells. Following centrifugation, the layer containing extracellular parasites underwent a flow cytometry and cell sorting process, during which we selected two different subpopulations of cells for analysis. Based on qPCR analyses, we demonstrate parasite DNA enrichment in Percoll Density Gradient and flow cytometry samples; simultaneously, these samples showed the lowest concentration of Columba livia DNA. However, the concentration of parasite DNA was higher in the PDG than in the cell sorting sample. This study reports the concentration of the Haemoproteus parasite by flow cytometry without DNA-intercalating dyes, and this methodology can serve as a technique for DNA enrichment of blood parasites infecting nucleated red blood cells to improve techniques that allow obtaining complete genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brayan Andrés Gamboa-Suárez
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia.
| | | | - Felipe Sarmiento-Salazar
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Colombia
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Harl J, Fauchois A, Puech MP, Gey D, Ariey F, Izac B, Weissenböck H, Chakarov N, Iezhova T, Valkiūnas G, Duval L. Novel phylogenetic clade of avian Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) from Accipitridae raptors, with description of a new Haemoproteus species. Parasite 2024; 31:5. [PMID: 38334685 PMCID: PMC10854483 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023066] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian haemosporidian parasites (order Haemosporida, phylum Apicomplexa) are blood and tissue parasites transmitted by blood-sucking dipteran insects. Three genera (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) have been most often found in birds, with over 270 species described and named in avian hosts based mainly on the morphological characters of blood stages. A broad diversity of Haemoproteus parasites remains to be identified and characterized morphologically and molecularly, especially those infecting birds of prey, an underrepresented bird group in haemosporidian parasite studies. The aim of this study was to investigate and identify Haemoproteus parasites from a large sample comprising accipitriform raptors of 16 species combining morphological and new molecular protocols targeting the cytb genes of this parasite group. This study provides morphological descriptions and molecular characterizations of two Haemoproteus species, H. multivacuolatus n. sp. and H. nisi Peirce and Marquiss, 1983. Haemoproteus parasites of this group were so far found in accipitriform raptors only and might be classified into a separate subgenus or even genus. Cytb sequences of these parasites diverge by more than 15% from those of all others known avian haemosporidian genera and form a unique phylogenetic clade. This study underlines the importance of developing new diagnostic tools to detect molecularly highly divergent parasites that might be undetectable by commonly used conventional tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Harl
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Veterinaerplatz 1 1210 Vienna Austria
| | - Anaïs Fauchois
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52 57 rue Cuvier 75231 Cedex 05 Paris France
| | - Marie-Pierre Puech
- Hôpital de la faune sauvage des Garrigues et Cévennes – Goupil Connexion 34190 Brissac France
| | - Delphine Gey
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52 57 rue Cuvier 75231 Cedex 05 Paris France
| | - Frédéric Ariey
- Université de Paris, INSERM 1016, Institut Cochin, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie Hôpital Cochin Paris France
| | - Brigitte Izac
- Université de Paris, INSERM 1016, Institut Cochin, Service de Parasitologie-Mycologie Hôpital Cochin Paris France
| | - Herbert Weissenböck
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Veterinaerplatz 1 1210 Vienna Austria
| | - Nayden Chakarov
- Department of Animal Behaviour, Bielefeld University Konsequenz 45 33615 Bielefeld Germany
| | | | | | - Linda Duval
- Département Adaptations du Vivant (AVIV), Molécules de Communication et Adaptation des Microorganismes (MCAM, UMR 7245 CNRS), Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, CP 52 57 rue Cuvier 75231 Cedex 05 Paris France
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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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Poofery J, Ngamprasertwong T, Narapakdeesakul D, Arnuphapprasert A, Nugraheni YR, Thanee S, Asada M, Kaneko O, Kaewthamasorn M. Complete mitochondrial genome analyses confirm that bat Polychromophilus and ungulate Plasmodium constitute a distinct clade independent of other Plasmodium species. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20258. [PMID: 37985797 PMCID: PMC10662395 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45551-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent phylogenetic studies, bat Polychromophilus and ungulate Plasmodium, two relatively understudied haemosporidian parasites within the Apicomplexa phylum, have often been overlooked. Instead, the focus has been primarily on haemosporidian parasites in primates, rodents, and birds. Several phylogenetic analyses of bat Polychromophilus have relied on limited datasets and short informative DNA sequences. As a result of these inherent limitations, the substantiation of their evolutionary stance has encountered a diminished degree of robust validation. This study successfully obtained complete mitochondrial genome sequences from 11 Polychromophilus parasites originating from Hipposideros gentilis and Myotis siligoensis bats for the first time. Additionally, the authors have sequenced the apicoplast caseinolytic protease C genes from Polychromophilus murinus and a potentially new Polychromophilus species. These mitochondrial genomes range in length from 5994 to 6001 bp and consist of three protein-coding genes (PCGs), seven small subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSU rRNA), 12 large subunit ribosomal RNA genes (LSU rRNA), and seven miscellaneous RNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood methods indicated robust support for the grouping of ungulate Plasmodium and bat Polychromophilus in a single clade separate from other Plasmodium spp., confirming previous reports, albeit with stronger evidence in this study. The divergence between Polychromophilus in bats and Plasmodium in ungulates occurred approximately 29.61 to 55.77 million years ago (Mya), with a node age estimated at 40.63 Mya. These findings highlight that the genus Plasmodium, which includes species found in ungulates, birds, reptiles, and other mammals, does not form a monophyletic group. By incorporating Polychromophilus in bats and Plasmodium in ungulates, this study contributes significantly to understanding the phylogenetic relationships within the Haemosporida order. It provides valuable insights into the evolutionary history and interconnections among these diverse parasites, thereby expanding knowledge in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juthathip Poofery
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Duriyang Narapakdeesakul
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Veterinary Pathobiology Graduate Program, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Apinya Arnuphapprasert
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yudhi Ratna Nugraheni
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- The International Graduate Program of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman, Indonesia
| | - Suchansa Thanee
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Masahito Asada
- Research Unit for Global Infection Control, National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, 080-8555, Japan
| | - Osamu Kaneko
- Department of Protozoology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Morakot Kaewthamasorn
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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Pacheco MA, Escalante AA. Origin and diversity of malaria parasites and other Haemosporida. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:501-516. [PMID: 37202254 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Symbionts, including parasites, are ubiquitous in all world ecosystems. Understanding the diversity of symbiont species addresses diverse questions, from the origin of infectious diseases to inferring processes shaping regional biotas. Here, we review the current approaches to studying Haemosporida's species diversity and evolutionary history. Despite the solid knowledge of species linked to diseases, such as the agents of human malaria, studies on haemosporidian phylogeny, diversity, ecology, and evolution are still limited. The available data, however, indicate that Haemosporida is an extraordinarily diverse and cosmopolitan clade of symbionts. Furthermore, this clade seems to have originated with their vertebrate hosts, particularly birds, as part of complex community level processes that we are still characterizing.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Andreína Pacheco
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122-1801, USA.
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122-1801, USA.
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Mathias BDS, Minozzo GA, Biondo AW, Costa JDOJ, Soares HS, Marcili A, Guimarães LDO, Anjos CCD, Santos APD, Riediger IN, Fecchio A, Bueno MG, Pinho JB, Kirchgatter K. Molecular Investigation Confirms Myotis Genus Bats as Common Hosts of Polychromophilus in Brazil. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1531. [PMID: 37375033 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11061531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Plasmodium spp. and some other blood parasites belonging to the order Haemosporida are the focus of many epidemiological studies worldwide. However, haemosporidian parasites from wild animals are largely neglected in scientific research. For example, Polychromophilus parasites, which are exclusive to bats, are described in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, but little is known about their presence and genetic diversity in the New World. In this study, 224 samples of bats from remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest and Pantanal biomes, as well as urbanized areas in southern and southeastern Brazil, were analyzed for the presence of haemosporidian parasites by PCR of the mitochondrial gene that encodes cytochrome b (cytb). The PCR fragments of the positive samples were sequenced and analyzed by the Bayesian inference method to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships between Polychromophilus parasites from bats in Brazil and other countries. Sequences from Brazilian lineages of Polychromophilus were recovered in a clade with sequences from Polychromophilus murinus and close to the one Polychromophilus sequence obtained in Panama, the only available sequence for the American continent. This clade was restricted to bats of the family Vespertilionidae and distinct from Polychromophilus melanipherus, a parasite species mainly found in bats of the family Miniopteridae. The detection of Polychromophilus and the genetic proximity to P. murinus were further confirmed with the amplification of two other genes (clpc and asl). We also found a Haemosporida parasite sequence in a sample of Noctilio albiventris collected in the Pantanal biome, which presents phylogenetic proximity with avian Haemoproteus sequences. Morphological and molecular studies are still needed to conclude and describe the Polychromophilus species in Brazilian Myotis bats in more detail and to confirm Haemoproteus parasites in bats. Nevertheless, these molecular results in Brazilian bats confirm the importance of studying these neglected genera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno da Silva Mathias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Herbert Sousa Soares
- Programa de Medicina e Bem-Estar Animal e Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, SP, Brazil
- Programa de Medicina e Bem-Estar Animal e Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro, São Paulo 04829-300, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Carolina Clares Dos Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel 9200, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Marina Galvão Bueno
- Laboratório de Virologia Comparada e Ambiental (LVCA), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21041-250, RJ, Brazil
| | - João Batista Pinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo 01027-000, SP, Brazil
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Bajić B, Werb O, Budinski I, Blagojević J, Schaer J, van Schaik J. Non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus parasite infections in bat populations in Serbia using bat flies. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:170. [PMID: 37237268 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05786-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Haemosporidian parasites of the genus Polychromophilus infect bats worldwide. They are vectored by obligate ectoparasitic bat flies of the family Nycteribiidae. Despite their global distribution, only five Polychromophilus morphospecies have been described to date. The two predominant species, Polychromophilus melanipherus and Polychromophilus murinus, are broadly distributed and mainly infect miniopterid and vespertilionid bats, respectively. In areas where species from different bat families aggregate together, the infection dynamics and ability of either Polychromophilus species to infect other host families is poorly characterized. METHODS We collected 215 bat flies from two bat species, Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, which sometimes form mixed clusters in Serbia. Miniopterus schreibersii is known to be frequently infected with P. melanipherus, whereas R. ferrumequinum has been observed to be incidentally infected with both Polychromophilus species. All flies were screened for Polychromophilus infections using a PCR targeting the haemosporidian cytb gene. Positive samples were subsequently sequenced for 579 bp of cytochrome b (cytb) and 945 bp of cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1). RESULTS Polychromophilus melanipherus DNA was detected at six out of nine sampling locations and in all three examined bat fly species collected from M. schreibersii (Nycteribia schmidlii, n = 21; Penicillidia conspicua, n = 8; Penicillidia dufourii, n = 3). Four and five haplotypes were found for cytb and cox1, respectively. Evidence for multiple Polychromophilus haplotypes was found in 15 individual flies. These results point to a high diversity of P. melanipherus parasites in Miniopterus hosts and efficient transmission throughout the study area. A single Phthiridium biarticulatum bat fly collected from R. ferrumequinum screened positive for P. melanipherus, but only yielded a partial cox1 sequence fragment. Nevertheless, this result suggests that secondary hosts (both bat and fly species) are regularly confronted with this parasite. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provide new insights into the prevalence and distribution of Polychromophilus parasites in European bats and their nycteribiid vectors. The use of bat flies for the non-invasive investigation of Polychromophilus infections in bat populations has proven to be efficient and thus represents an alternative for large-scale studies of infections in bat populations without the need to invasively collect blood from bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Branka Bajić
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Oskar Werb
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivana Budinski
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jelena Blagojević
- Department of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Juliane Schaer
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
| | - Jaap van Schaik
- Department of Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
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Aguiar de Souza Penha V, Maia Chaves Bicalho Domingos F, Fecchio A, Bell JA, Weckstein JD, Ricklefs RE, Braga EM, de Abreu Moreira P, Soares L, Latta S, Tolesano-Pascoli G, Alquezar RD, Del-Claro K, Manica LT. Haemosporidian parasites and incubation period influence plumage coloration in tanagers (Passeriformes: Thraupidae). Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221283. [PMID: 36416043 PMCID: PMC9682435 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Birds are highly visually oriented and use plumage coloration as an important signalling trait in social communication. Hence, males and females may have different patterns of plumage coloration, a phenomenon known as sexual dichromatism. Because males tend to have more complex plumages, sexual dichromatism is usually attributed to female choice. However, plumage coloration is partly condition-dependent; therefore, other selective pressures affecting individuals' success may also drive the evolution of this trait. Here, we used tanagers as model organisms to study the relationships between dichromatism and plumage coloration complexity in tanagers with parasitism by haemosporidians, investment in reproduction and life-history traits. We screened blood samples from 2849 individual birds belonging to 52 tanager species to detect haemosporidian parasites. We used publicly available data for plumage coloration, bird phylogeny and life-history traits to run phylogenetic generalized least-square models of plumage dichromatism and complexity in male and female tanagers. We found that plumage dichromatism was more pronounced in bird species with a higher prevalence of haemosporidian parasites. Lastly, high plumage coloration complexity in female tanagers was associated with a longer incubation period. Our results indicate an association between haemosporidian parasites and plumage coloration suggesting that parasites impact mechanisms of sexual selection, increasing differences between the sexes, and social (non-sexual) selection, driving females to develop more complex coloration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET—Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, U9200, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 58202-9019, Grand Forks, USA
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert E. Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri—Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erika Martins Braga
- Department of Parasitology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Soares
- Research Associate, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven Latta
- Conservation and Field Research, National Aviary, 15212, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Graziela Tolesano-Pascoli
- Zoology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Renata Duarte Alquezar
- Animal Behavior Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Brasilia, 70910-900, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Kleber Del-Claro
- Behavioral Ecology and Interactions Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Federal University of Uberlândia, 38405-240, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lilian Tonelli Manica
- Zoology Department, Federal University of Paraná, 81531-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
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10
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Aguiar de Souza Penha V, Maia Chaves Bicalho Domingos F, Fecchio A, Bell JA, Weckstein JD, Ricklefs RE, Braga EM, de Abreu Moreira P, Soares L, Latta S, Tolesano-Pascoli G, Alquezar RD, Del-Claro K, Manica LT. Host life-history traits predict haemosporidian parasite prevalence in tanagers (Aves: Thraupidae). Parasitology 2022; 150:1-10. [PMID: 36226920 PMCID: PMC10090595 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001469] [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: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne parasites are important ecological drivers influencing life-history evolution in birds by increasing host mortality or susceptibility to new diseases. Therefore, understanding why vulnerability to infection varies within a host clade is a crucial task for conservation biology and for understanding macroecological life-history patterns. Here, we studied the relationship of avian life-history traits and climate on the prevalence of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites. We sampled 3569 individual birds belonging to 53 species of the family Thraupidae. Individuals were captured from 2007 to 2018 at 92 locations. We created 2 phylogenetic generalized least-squares models with Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus prevalence as our response variables, and with the following predictor variables: climate PC1, climate PC2, body size, mixed-species flock participation, incubation period, migration, nest height, foraging height, forest cover, and diet. We found that Parahaemoproteus and Plasmodium prevalence was higher in species inhabiting open habitats. Tanager species with longer incubation periods had higher Parahaemoproteus prevalence as well, and we hypothesize that these longer incubation periods overlap with maximum vector abundances, resulting in a higher probability of infection among adult hosts during their incubation period and among chicks. Lastly, we found that Plasmodium prevalence was higher in species without migratory behaviour, with mixed-species flock participation, and with an omnivorous or animal-derived diet. We discuss the consequences of higher infection prevalence in relation to life-history traits in tanagers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Fecchio
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University and Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert E. Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri–Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Erika Martins Braga
- Malaria Laboratory, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Letícia Soares
- Research Associate, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Steven Latta
- Conservation and Field Research, National Aviary, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Graziela Tolesano-Pascoli
- Zoology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Renata Duarte Alquezar
- Animal Behavior Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Kleber Del-Claro
- Behavioral Ecology and Interactions Laboratory, Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation of Natural Resources, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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11
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Scully EJ, Liu W, Li Y, Ndjango JBN, Peeters M, Kamenya S, Pusey AE, Lonsdorf EV, Sanz CM, Morgan DB, Piel AK, Stewart FA, Gonder MK, Simmons N, Asiimwe C, Zuberbühler K, Koops K, Chapman CA, Chancellor R, Rundus A, Huffman MA, Wolfe ND, Duraisingh MT, Hahn BH, Wrangham RW. The ecology and epidemiology of malaria parasitism in wild chimpanzee reservoirs. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1020. [PMID: 36167977 PMCID: PMC9515101 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03962-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) harbor rich assemblages of malaria parasites, including three species closely related to P. falciparum (sub-genus Laverania), the most malignant human malaria parasite. Here, we characterize the ecology and epidemiology of malaria infection in wild chimpanzee reservoirs. We used molecular assays to screen chimpanzee fecal samples, collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally from wild populations, for malaria parasite mitochondrial DNA. We found that chimpanzee malaria parasitism has an early age of onset and varies seasonally in prevalence. A subset of samples revealed Hepatocystis mitochondrial DNA, with phylogenetic analyses suggesting that Hepatocystis appears to cross species barriers more easily than Laverania. Longitudinal and cross-sectional sampling independently support the hypothesis that mean ambient temperature drives spatiotemporal variation in chimpanzee Laverania infection. Infection probability peaked at ~24.5 °C, consistent with the empirical transmission optimum of P. falciparum in humans. Forest cover was also positively correlated with spatial variation in Laverania prevalence, consistent with the observation that forest-dwelling Anophelines are the primary vectors. Extrapolating these relationships across equatorial Africa, we map spatiotemporal variation in the suitability of chimpanzee habitat for Laverania transmission, offering a hypothetical baseline indicator of human exposure risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J Scully
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
- Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Weimin Liu
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yingying Li
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jean-Bosco N Ndjango
- Department of Ecology and Management of Plant and Animal Resources, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kisangani, BP 2012, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Martine Peeters
- Recherche Translationnelle Appliquée au VIH et aux Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, University of Montpellier, INSERM, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Shadrack Kamenya
- Gombe Stream Research Centre, The Jane Goodall Institute, Tanzania, Kigoma, Tanzania
| | - Anne E Pusey
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Elizabeth V Lonsdorf
- Department of Psychology, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, PA, 17604, USA
| | - Crickette M Sanz
- Department of Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, 63130, USA
- Congo Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, BP 14537, Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo
| | - David B Morgan
- Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA
| | - Alex K Piel
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton St, Bloomsbury, WC1H OBW, London, UK
| | - Fiona A Stewart
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton St, Bloomsbury, WC1H OBW, London, UK
- School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
| | - Mary K Gonder
- Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Nicole Simmons
- Zoology Department, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Klaus Zuberbühler
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
- Department of Comparative Cognition, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Kathelijne Koops
- Department of Ape Behaviour & Ecology Group, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Colin A Chapman
- Department of Anthropology, Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
| | - Rebecca Chancellor
- Department of Anthropology & Sociology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA
| | - Aaron Rundus
- Department of Psychology, West Chester University, West Chester, PA, USA
| | - Michael A Huffman
- Center for International Collaboration and Advanced Studies in Primatology, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan
| | | | - Manoj T Duraisingh
- Department of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Beatrice H Hahn
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Richard W Wrangham
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
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12
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Vanstreels RET, Dos Anjos CC, Leandro HJ, Carvalho ADM, Santos AP, Egert L, Hurtado R, Carvalho ECQD, Braga ÉM, Kirchgatter K. A new haemosporidian parasite from the Red-legged Seriema Cariama cristata (Cariamiformes, Cariamidae). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:12-19. [PMID: 35399588 PMCID: PMC8987340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Haemoproteids (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) are a diverse group of avian blood parasites that are transmitted by hematophagous dipterans. In this study, we describe Haemoproteus pulcher sp. nov. from a Red-legged Seriema (Cariama cristata) in southeast Brazil. Analysis of the mitochondrial cytb gene indicates this parasite is closely related to Haemoproteus catharti (from Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura) and the unidentified haemosporidian lineages PSOOCH01 (from Pale-winged Trumpeter, Psophia leucoptera) and MYCAME08 (from Wood Stork, Mycteria americana). This group of parasites appears to represent an evolutionary lineage that is distinct from other Haemoproteus spp., being instead more closely related to Haemocystidium spp. (from reptiles), Plasmodium spp. (from reptiles, birds, and mammals) and other mammal-infecting haemosporidians (Nycteria, Polychromophilus, and Hepatocystis). Current evidence suggests that parasites of this newly discovered evolutionary lineage may be endemic to the Americas, but further studies are necessary to clarify their taxonomy, life cycle, vectors, hosts, geographic distribution and host health effects. Additionally, it should be borne in mind that some PCR protocols targeting the cytb gene might not reliably detect H. pulcher due to low primer affinity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolina Clares Dos Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical (IMT), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Hassan Jerdy Leandro
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Andréa de Moraes Carvalho
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Allan Poltronieri Santos
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, ES, 29140-130, Brazil
| | - Leandro Egert
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, ES, 29140-130, Brazil
| | - Renata Hurtado
- Institute of Research and Rehabilitation of Marine Animals (IPRAM), Cariacica, ES, 29140-130, Brazil
| | - Eulogio Carlos Queiróz de Carvalho
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Érika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical (IMT), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP, 01027-000, Brazil
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13
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Isolation and molecular characterization of Polychromophilus spp. (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae) from the Asian long-fingered bat (Miniopterus fuliginosus) and Japanese large-footed bat (Myotis macrodactylus) in Japan. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2547-2559. [PMID: 35819494 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07592-7] [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: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Bats (order, Chiroptera) account for more than one-fifth of all mammalian species in the world and are infected by various intra-erythrocytic parasites of the family Plasmodiidae (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida), including Polychromophilus Dionisi, 1899. Recent advance in the molecular characterization of haemosporidian isolates has enabled their accurate identification, particularly in the last decade. Studies are actively conducted in tropical regions, Europe, and Australia; however, data on haemosporidian infection in bats in Asian temperate areas, including Japan, remain limited. In this study, 75 bats of 4 species (Miniopterus fuliginosus, Myotis macrodactylus, Rhinolophus nippon, and Rhinolophus cornutus) were captured at three sites in western Japan (Yamaguchi Prefecture), and haemosporidian parasites were screened microscopically and molecularly via nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the cytochrome b (cytb), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox-1), apicoplast caseinolytic protease C (clpc), and nuclear elongation factor 2 (EF2) genes. The survey detected Polychromophilus melanipherus in 15 (40.5%) miniopterid bats (M. fuliginosus) and Polychromophilus murinus in 6 (46.2%) vespertilionid bats (M. macrodactylus), whereas none of the 25 rhinolophid bats (R. nippon and R. cornutus) was infected, indicating the robust host specificity for miniopterid (P. melanipherus) and vespertilionid (P. murinus) bats regardless of orthotopic nesting. The 15 Polychromophilus cytb sequences obtained from 11 miniopterid and 4 vespertilionid bats were classified into six cytb haplotypes (three for each species), showing no region-specific variation in a phylogenetic tree of Polychromophilus isolates in the Old World. Similarly, multiple haplotypes (seven for cox-1 and nine for clpc) and genotypes (three for EF2) were characterized for the Japanese isolates of Polychromophilus, and the results were consistent with those based on a haemosporidian cytb analysis. Bat flies (Nycteribia allotopa and another undetermined Nycteribia sp.) collected from the body surface of bats harbored Polychromophilus oocysts on the external surface of the midgut. This is the first study to report the isolation and molecular characterization of Polychromophilus spp. in miniopterid and vespertilionid bats in the temperate area of Asia (western Japan). Future studies should evaluate the global prevalence of haemosporidian infections in bats.
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14
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The evolution of primate malaria parasites: A study on the origin and diversification of Plasmodium in lemurs. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 174:107551. [PMID: 35690381 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107551] [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: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Among the primate malaria parasites, those found in lemurs have been neglected. Here, six Plasmodium lineages were detected in 169 lemurs. Nearly complete mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA, ≈6Kb) and apicoplast loci (≈6Kb) were obtained from these parasites and other Haemosporida species. Plasmodium spp. in lemurs are a diverse clade that shares a common ancestor with other primate parasites from continental Africa. Time-trees for the mtDNA were estimated under different scenarios, and the origin of the lemur clade coincides with the proposed time of their host species' most recent common ancestor (Lemuridae-Indriidae). A time tree with fewer taxa was estimated with mtDNA + Apicoplast loci. Those time estimates overlapped but were younger and had narrower credibility intervals than those from mtDNA alone. Importantly, the mtDNA + Apicoplast estimates that the clade including the most lethal malaria parasite in humans, Plasmodium falciparum, may have originated with Homininae (African apes). Finally, the phylogenetic congruence of the lemurs and their parasites was explored. A statistically significant scenario identified four cospeciation, two duplications, four transfer (host-switches), and zero loss events. Thus, the parasite species sampled in lemurs seem to be radiating with their hosts.
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15
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Escalante AA, Cepeda AS, Pacheco MA. Why Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum are so different? A tale of two clades and their species diversities. Malar J 2022; 21:139. [PMID: 35505356 PMCID: PMC9066883 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-022-04130-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The global malaria burden sometimes obscures that the genus Plasmodium comprises diverse clades with lineages that independently gave origin to the extant human parasites. Indeed, the differences between the human malaria parasites were highlighted in the classical taxonomy by dividing them into two subgenera, the subgenus Plasmodium, which included all the human parasites but Plasmodium falciparum that was placed in its separate subgenus, Laverania. Here, the evolution of Plasmodium in primates will be discussed in terms of their species diversity and some of their distinct phenotypes, putative molecular adaptations, and host–parasite biocenosis. Thus, in addition to a current phylogeny using genome-level data, some specific molecular features will be discussed as examples of how these parasites have diverged. The two subgenera of malaria parasites found in primates, Plasmodium and Laverania, reflect extant monophyletic groups that originated in Africa. However, the subgenus Plasmodium involves species in Southeast Asia that were likely the result of adaptive radiation. Such events led to the Plasmodium vivax lineage. Although the Laverania species, including P. falciparum, has been considered to share “avian characteristics,” molecular traits that were likely in the common ancestor of primate and avian parasites are sometimes kept in the Plasmodium subgenus while being lost in Laverania. Assessing how molecular traits in the primate malaria clades originated is a fundamental science problem that will likely provide new targets for interventions. However, given that the genus Plasmodium is paraphyletic (some descendant groups are in other genera), understanding the evolution of malaria parasites will benefit from studying “non-Plasmodium” Haemosporida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananias A Escalante
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine [iGEM], Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122-1801, USA.
| | - Axl S Cepeda
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine [iGEM], Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122-1801, USA
| | - M Andreína Pacheco
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine [iGEM], Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19122-1801, USA
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16
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Shokrani H, Norouzian H, Dezfoulian O. Exo-erythrocytic stages of Haemoproteus sp. in common buzzard ( Buteo buteo): A histopathological and molecular study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 16:64-69. [PMID: 34458089 PMCID: PMC8379368 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites are responsible for anemia, acute tissue degeneration, and depopulation in wild birds. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of haemosporidians and also morphologic and molecular evaluation of tissue stages of Haemoproteus sp. in common buzzards (Buteo buteo). Eleven free-living common buzzards were referred to the Avian Clinic of Veterinary School of Lorestan University with lethargy, weight loss, and ataxia. Gametocytes of Leucocytozoon buteonis were found in blood smears of six (54.5 %) birds, while one had simultaneous infection with blood stages of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon. During histopathological examinations, exo-erythrocytic stages of the genus Haemoproteus were seen in the lung and kidney of a dead bird. This study is the first report of exo-erythrocytic infection of Haemoproteus in common buzzards. Molecular assays confirmed the infection of Haemoproteus sp. (lineage BUTBUT15) in tissue samples. Phylogenetic analysis using cytochrome b gene suggested that BUTBUT15 was more closely related to the lineages isolated from the family Falconidae in contrast to the Accipitridae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Shokrani
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Hassan Norouzian
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Omid Dezfoulian
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran
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17
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Minozzo GA, da Silva Mathias B, Riediger IN, de Oliveira Guimarães L, dos Anjos CC, Monteiro EF, dos Santos AP, Biondo AW, Kirchgatter K. First Molecular Detection of Polychromophilus Parasites in Brazilian Bat Species. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061240. [PMID: 34200516 PMCID: PMC8230147 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood parasites of the Haemosporida order, such as the Plasmodium spp. responsible for malaria, have become the focus of many studies in evolutionary biology. However, there is a lack of molecular investigation of haemosporidian parasites of wildlife, such as the genus Polychromophilus. Species of this neglected genus exclusively have been described in bats, mainly in Europe, Asia, and Africa, but little is known about its presence and genetic diversity on the American continent. Here, we investigated 406 bats from sites inserted in remnant fragments of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes and urbanized areas from southern Brazil for the presence of Polychromophilus species by PCR of the mitochondrial cytochrome b encoding gene. A total of 1.2% of bats was positive for Polychromophilus, providing the first molecular information of these parasites in Myotis riparius and Eptesicus diminutus, common vespertilionid bats widely distributed in different Brazilian biomes, and Myotis ruber, an endangered species. A Bayesian analysis was conducted to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships between Polychromophilus recovered from Brazilian bats and those identified elsewhere. Sequences of Brazilian Polychromophilus lineages were placed with P. murinus and in a clade distinct from P. melanipherus, mainly restricted to bats in the family Vespertilionidae. However, the sequences were split into two minor clades, according to the genus of hosts, indicating that P. murinus and a distinct species may be circulating in Brazil. Morphological observations combined with additional molecular studies are needed to conclude and describe these Polychromophilus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Augusto Minozzo
- Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná, São José dos Pinhais 83060-500, PR, Brazil; (G.A.M.); (I.N.R.)
| | - Bruno da Silva Mathias
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
| | - Irina Nastassja Riediger
- Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Paraná, São José dos Pinhais 83060-500, PR, Brazil; (G.A.M.); (I.N.R.)
| | - Lilian de Oliveira Guimarães
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo 01027-000b, SP, Brazil;
| | - Carolina Clares dos Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
| | - Eliana Ferreira Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
| | | | - Alexander Welker Biondo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba 80035-050, PR, Brazil;
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; (B.d.S.M.); (C.C.d.A.); (E.F.M.)
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo 01027-000b, SP, Brazil;
- Correspondence:
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18
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Starkloff NC, Turner WC, FitzGerald AM, Oftedal MC, Martinsen ES, Kirchman JJ. Disentangling the effects of host relatedness and elevation on haemosporidian parasite turnover in a clade of songbirds. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Naima C. Starkloff
- Department of Biological Sciences University at Albany, State University of New York Albany New York12222USA
- New York State Museum Albany New York12230USA
| | - Wendy C. Turner
- Department of Biological Sciences University at Albany, State University of New York Albany New York12222USA
| | - Alyssa M. FitzGerald
- Department of Biological Sciences University at Albany, State University of New York Albany New York12222USA
- New York State Museum Albany New York12230USA
- Institute of Marine Sciences University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz California95064USA
| | - Michelle C. Oftedal
- Department of Biological Sciences University at Albany, State University of New York Albany New York12222USA
- New York State Museum Albany New York12230USA
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Gutiérrez-Liberato GA, Lotta-Arévalo IA, Rodríguez-Almonacid CC, Vargas-Ramírez M, Matta NE. Molecular and morphological description of the first Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) species infecting a neotropical turtle, with an approach to its phylogenetic relationships. Parasitology 2021; 148:747-759. [PMID: 33536100 PMCID: PMC11010207 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021000184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Haemogregarines (Adeleorina) have a high prevalence in turtles. Nevertheless, there is only one Hepatozoon species described that infects Testudines so far; it is Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi which infects the African tortoise Kinixys belliana. Colombia harbours a great diversity of chelonians; however, most of them are threatened. It is important to identify and characterize chelonian haemoparasite infections to improve the clinical assessments, treatments and the conservation and reintroduction programs of these animals. To evaluate such infections for the Colombian wood turtle Rhinoclemmys melanosterna, we analysed blood from 70 individuals. By using the morphological characteristics of blood stages as well as molecular information (18S rRNA sequences), here we report a new Hepatozoon species that represents the first report of a hepatozoid species infecting a semi-aquatic continental turtle in the world. Although the isolated lineage clusters within the phylogenetic clades that have morphological species of parasites already determined, their low nodal support makes their position within each group inconclusive. It is important to identify new molecular markers to improve parasite species identification. In-depth research on blood parasites infecting turtles is essential for increasing knowledge that could assess this potential unknown threat, to inform the conservation of turtles and for increasing the state of knowledge on parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán A. Gutiérrez-Liberato
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá111321, Colombia
- Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá111321, Colombia
| | - Ingrid A. Lotta-Arévalo
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá111321, Colombia
| | - Cristian C. Rodríguez-Almonacid
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá111321, Colombia
| | - Mario Vargas-Ramírez
- Facultad de Ciencias, Estación de Biología Tropical Roberto Franco (EBTRF), Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 33 #33 −76, Villavicencio500005 Meta, Colombia
- Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá111321, Colombia
| | - Nubia E. Matta
- Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá. Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá111321, Colombia
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20
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Chumnandee C, Pha-obnga N, Werb O, Matuschewski K, Schaer J. Molecular characterization of Polychromophilus parasites of Scotophilus kuhlii bats in Thailand. Parasitology 2021; 148:495-499. [PMID: 33256862 PMCID: PMC7938340 DOI: 10.1017/s003118202000222x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the haemosporidian genus Polychromophilus have exclusively been described in bats. These parasites belong to the diverse group of malaria parasites, and Polychromophilus presents the only haemosporidian taxon that infects mammalian hosts in tropical as well as in temperate climate zones. This study provides the first information of Polychromophilus parasites in the lesser Asiatic yellow bat (Scotophilus kuhlii) in Thailand, a common vespertilionid bat species distributed in South and Southeast Asia. The gametocyte blood stages of the parasites could not be assigned to a described morphospecies and molecular analysis revealed that these parasites might represent a distinct Polychromophilus species. In contrast to Plasmodium species, Polychromophilus parasites do not multiply in red blood cells and, thus, do not cause the clinical symptoms of malaria. Parasitological and molecular investigation of haemosporidian parasites of wildlife, such as the neglected genus Polychromophilus, will contribute to a better understanding of the evolution of malaria parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chatree Chumnandee
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom48000, Thailand
| | - Nawarat Pha-obnga
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Technology, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom48000, Thailand
| | - Oskar Werb
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10115Berlin, Germany
| | - Kai Matuschewski
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10115Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Schaer
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, 10115Berlin, Germany
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21
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Fecchio A, Lima MR, Bell JA, Schunck F, Corrêa AH, Beco R, Jahn AE, Fontana CS, da Silva TW, Repenning M, Braga ÉM, Garcia JE, Lugarini C, Silva JCR, Andrade LHM, Dispoto JH, Dos Anjos CC, Weckstein JD, Kirchgatter K, Ellis VA, Ricklefs RE, De La Torre GM. Loss of forest cover and host functional diversity increases prevalence of avian malaria parasites in the Atlantic Forest. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:719-728. [PMID: 33722680 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Host phylogenetic relatedness and ecological similarity are thought to contribute to parasite community assembly and infection rates. However, recent landscape level anthropogenic changes may disrupt host-parasite systems by impacting functional and phylogenetic diversity of host communities. We examined whether changes in host functional and phylogenetic diversity, forest cover, and minimum temperature influence the prevalence, diversity, and distributions of avian haemosporidian parasites (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) across 18 avian communities in the Atlantic Forest. To explore spatial patterns in avian haemosporidian prevalence and taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, we surveyed 2241 individuals belonging to 233 avian species across a deforestation gradient. Mean prevalence and parasite diversity varied considerably across avian communities and parasites responded differently to host attributes and anthropogenic changes. Avian malaria prevalence (termed herein as an infection caused by Plasmodium parasites) was higher in deforested sites, and both Plasmodium prevalence and taxonomic diversity were negatively related to host functional diversity. Increased diversity of avian hosts increased local taxonomic diversity of Plasmodium lineages but decreased phylogenetic diversity of this parasite genus. Temperature and host phylogenetic diversity did not influence prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites. Variation in the diversity of avian host traits that promote parasite encounter and vector exposure (host functional diversity) partially explained the variation in avian malaria prevalence and diversity. Recent anthropogenic landscape transformation (reduced proportion of native forest cover) had a major influence on avian malaria occurrence across the Atlantic Forest. This suggests that, for Plasmodium, host phylogenetic diversity was not a biotic filter to parasite transmission as prevalence was largely explained by host ecological attributes and recent anthropogenic factors. Our results demonstrate that, similar to human malaria and other vector-transmitted pathogens, prevalence of avian malaria parasites will likely increase with deforestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT 78060900, Brazil.
| | - Marcos R Lima
- Department of Animal and Plant Biology, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR 86051-970, Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Fabio Schunck
- Brazilian Committee for Ornithological Records - CBRO, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Aline H Corrêa
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Renata Beco
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Alex E Jahn
- Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47408, USA
| | - Carla S Fontana
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Thaiane W da Silva
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil
| | - Márcio Repenning
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS 90619-900, Brazil; Laboratório de Aves Aquáticas e Tartarugas Marinhas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande. Campus Carreiros, Rio Grande, RS 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Érika M Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - José E Garcia
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Vitoria de Santo Antao, PE 55608-680, Brazil
| | - Camile Lugarini
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Laboratório de Saúde Única, Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52061-030, Brazil
| | - Jean C R Silva
- Laboratório de Saúde Única, Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52061-030, Brazil
| | - Leontina H M Andrade
- Laboratório de Saúde Única, Epidemiologia e Geoprocessamento, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE 52061-030, Brazil
| | - Janice H Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
| | - Carolina C Dos Anjos
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Jason D Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA; Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05403-000, Brazil; Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, São Paulo, SP 01027-000, Brazil
| | - Vincenzo A Ellis
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Robert E Ricklefs
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
| | - Gabriel M De La Torre
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, PR 80210-170, Brazil
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22
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Attia El Hili R, Achouri MS, Verneau O. Cytochrome c oxydase I phylogenetic analysis of Haemogregarina parasites (Apicomplexa, Coccidia, Eucoccidiorida, Haemogregarinidae) confirms the presence of three distinct species within the freshwater turtles of Tunisia. Parasitol Int 2021; 82:102306. [PMID: 33610828 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Species of Haemogregarina are apicomplexan blood parasites that use vertebrates as intermediate hosts. Due to limited interspecific morphological characters within the genus during the last decade, 18S rRNA gene sequences were widely used for species identification. As coinfection patterns were recently reported from nuclear molecular data for two sympatric freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis from Tunisia, our objectives were to design COI specific primers to confirm the presence of three distinct species in both host species. Blood samples were collected from 22 turtles, from which DNAs were extracted and used as templates for amplification. Following different rounds of PCR and nested PCR, we designed specific Haemogregarina COI primers that allowed the sequencing of nine distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic Bayesian analysis revealed the occurrence of three well-differentiated sublineages that clustered together into a single clade. Based on pairwise genetic distances (p-distance), we confirmed the occurrence of three distinct but phylogenetically closely related species coinfecting M. leprosa and E. orbicularis in the same aquatic environments. Our results demonstrate that the use of fast evolving genes within Haemogregarina will help to investigate the parasite diversity within both intermediate vertebrate and definitive invertebrate hosts, and to assess the evolution, historical biogeography and specificity of haemogregarines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahma Attia El Hili
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06 Tunis, Tunisia; Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France
| | - Mohamed Sghaier Achouri
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Olivier Verneau
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
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23
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Prevalence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites in wild bird species of the order Columbiformes. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1405-1420. [PMID: 33521839 PMCID: PMC7940316 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07053-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Diseases can play a role in species decline. Among them, haemosporidian parasites, vector-transmitted protozoan parasites, are known to constitute a risk for different avian species. However, the magnitude of haemosporidian infection in wild columbiform birds, including strongly decreasing European turtle doves, is largely unknown. We examined the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus in six species of the order Columbiformes during breeding season and migration by applying nested PCR, one-step multiplex PCR assay and microscopy. We detected infections in 109 of the 259 screened individuals (42%), including 15 distinct haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages, representing five H. (Haemoproteus), two H. (Parahaemoproteus), five Leucocytozoon and three Plasmodium lineages. Five of these lineages have never been described before. We discriminated between single and mixed infections and determined host species-specific prevalence for each parasite genus. Observed differences among sampled host species are discussed with reference to behavioural characteristics, including nesting and migration strategy. Our results support previous suggestions that migratory birds have a higher prevalence and diversity of blood parasites than resident or short-distance migratory species. A phylogenetic reconstruction provided evidence for H. (Haemoproteus) as well as H. (Parahaemoproteus) infections in columbiform birds. Based on microscopic examination, we quantified parasitemia, indicating the probability of negative effects on the host. This study provides a large-scale baseline description of haemosporidian infections of wild birds belonging to the order Columbiformes sampled in the northern hemisphere. The results enable the monitoring of future changes in parasite transmission areas, distribution and diversity associated with global change, posing a potential risk for declining avian species as the European turtle dove.
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24
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Barrow LN, Bauernfeind SM, Cruz PA, Williamson JL, Wiley DL, Ford JE, Baumann MJ, Brady SS, Chavez AN, Gadek CR, Galen SC, Johnson AB, Mapel XM, Marroquin-Flores RA, Martinez TE, McCullough JM, McLaughlin JE, Witt CC. Detecting turnover among complex communities using null models: a case study with sky-island haemosporidian parasites. Oecologia 2021; 195:435-451. [PMID: 33484348 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-021-04854-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Turnover in species composition between sites, or beta diversity, is a critical component of species diversity that is typically influenced by geography, environment, and biotic interactions. Quantifying turnover is particularly challenging, however, in multi-host, multi-parasite assemblages where undersampling is unavoidable, resulting in inflated estimates of turnover and uncertainty about its spatial scale. We developed and implemented a framework using null models to test for community turnover in avian haemosporidian communities of three sky islands in the southwestern United States. We screened 776 birds for haemosporidian parasites from three genera (Parahaemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon) by amplifying and sequencing a mitochondrial DNA barcode. We detected infections in 280 birds (36.1%), sequenced 357 infections, and found a total of 99 parasite haplotypes. When compared to communities simulated from a regional pool, we observed more unique, single-mountain haplotypes and fewer haplotypes shared among three mountain ranges than expected, indicating that haemosporidian communities differ to some degree among adjacent mountain ranges. These results were robust even after pruning datasets to include only identical sets of host species, and they were consistent for two of the three haemosporidian genera. The two more distant mountain ranges were more similar to each other than the one located centrally, suggesting that the differences we detected were due to stochastic colonization-extirpation dynamics. These results demonstrate that avian haemosporidian communities of temperate-zone forests differ on relatively fine spatial scales between adjacent sky islands. Null models are essential tools for testing the spatial scale of turnover in complex, undersampled, and poorly known systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N Barrow
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Selina M Bauernfeind
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Paxton A Cruz
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jessie L Williamson
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Daniele L Wiley
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - John E Ford
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Matthew J Baumann
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Serina S Brady
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Andrea N Chavez
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Bureau of Land Management, Rio Puerco District Office, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Chauncey R Gadek
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Spencer C Galen
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Biology Department, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA
| | - Andrew B Johnson
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Xena M Mapel
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Rosario A Marroquin-Flores
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, USA
| | - Taylor E Martinez
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pharmacology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Jenna M McCullough
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jade E McLaughlin
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Christopher C Witt
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
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25
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Sándor AD, Péter Á, Corduneanu A, Barti L, Csősz I, Kalmár Z, Hornok S, Kontschán J, Mihalca AD. Wide Distribution and Diversity of Malaria-Related Haemosporidian Parasites ( Polychromophilus spp.) in Bats and Their Ectoparasites in Eastern Europe. Microorganisms 2021; 9:230. [PMID: 33499324 PMCID: PMC7911978 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria is responsible for major diseases of humans, while associated haemosporidians are important factors in regulating wildlife populations. Polychromophilus, a haemosporidian parasite of bats, is phylogenetically close to human-pathogenic Plasmodium species, and their study may provide further clues for understanding the evolutionary relationships between vertebrates and malarial parasites. Our aim was to investigate the distribution of Polychromophilus spp. in Eastern Europe and test the importance of host ecology and roost site on haemosporidian parasite infection of bats. We sampled bats and their ectoparasites at eight locations in Romania and Bulgaria. DNA was extracted from blood samples and ectoparasites and tested individually for the presence of DNA of Polychromophilus spp. using a nested PCR targeting a 705 bp fragment of cytB. Two species of Polychromophilus were identified: Po. melanipherus in Miniopterus schreibersii and associated ectoparasites and Po. murinus in rhinolophid and vespertilionid bats (6 species) and their ticks and nycteribiid flies. Only cave-dwelling bat species (and their ectoparasites) showed infections, and we found a strong correlation between infections with Polychromophilus parasites and Nycteribiidae prevalence. We report the high genetic diversity of Polychromophilus spp. in Eastern Europe, suggesting that the simultaneous presence of varied host and vector assemblages enhances bat haemosporidian parasite diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D. Sándor
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Áron Péter
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Alexandra Corduneanu
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Levente Barti
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
- Myotis Bat Conservation Group, RO-530171 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania;
| | - István Csősz
- Myotis Bat Conservation Group, RO-530171 Miercurea Ciuc, Romania;
| | - Zsuzsa Kalmár
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
| | - Sándor Hornok
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, University of Veterinary Medicine, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Jenő Kontschán
- Centre for Agricultural Research, Plant Protection Institute, ELKH, H-1022 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Andrei D. Mihalca
- Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca, RO-400036 Cluj Napoca, Romania; (Á.P.); (A.C.); (L.B.); (Z.K.); (A.D.M.)
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26
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Galen SC, Borner J, Perkins SL, Weckstein JD. Phylogenomics from transcriptomic "bycatch" clarify the origins and diversity of avian trypanosomes in North America. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240062. [PMID: 33031471 PMCID: PMC7544035 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The eukaryotic blood parasite genus Trypanosoma includes several important pathogens of humans and livestock, but has been understudied in wildlife broadly. The trypanosomes that infect birds are in particular need of increased attention, as these parasites are abundant and globally distributed, yet few studies have addressed their evolutionary origins and diversity using modern molecular and analytical approaches. Of specific interest are the deep evolutionary relationships of the avian trypanosomes relative to the trypanosome species that are pathogenic in humans, as well as their species level diversity in regions where they have been understudied such as North America. Here, we address these unresolved areas of study using phylogenomic data for two species of avian trypanosomes that were isolated as “bycatch” from host transcriptome assemblies, as well as a large 18S DNA barcode sequence dataset that includes 143 novel avian Trypanosoma 18S sequences from North America. Using a phylogenomic approach, we find that the avian trypanosomes are nested within a clade of primarily mammalian trypanosomes that includes the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi, and are paraphyletic with respect to the ruminant trypanosome Trypanosoma theileri. DNA barcode sequences showed that T. avium and an unidentified small, non-striated trypanosome that was morphologically similar to T. everetti are each represented by highly abundant and divergent 18S haplotypes in North America. Community-level sampling revealed that additional species-level Trypanosoma lineages exist in this region. We compared the newly sequenced DNA barcodes from North America to a global database, and found that avian Trypanosoma 18S haplotypes generally exhibited a marked lack of host specificity with at least one T. avium haplotype having an intercontinental distribution. This highly abundant T. avium haplotype appears to have a remarkably high dispersal ability and cosmopolitan capacity to evade avian host immune defenses, which warrant further study.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Bayes Theorem
- Biological Evolution
- Birds/genetics
- Birds/parasitology
- Contig Mapping
- DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic
- DNA, Protozoan/chemistry
- DNA, Protozoan/metabolism
- Databases, Factual
- Haplotypes
- Humans
- North America
- Phylogeny
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/classification
- RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/metabolism
- Transcriptome
- Trypanosoma/classification
- Trypanosoma/genetics
- Trypanosoma/pathogenicity
- Trypanosoma cruzi/classification
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer C. Galen
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States of America
- Biology Department, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Janus Borner
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States of America
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Susan L. Perkins
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, United States of America
- Division of Science, The City College of New York, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
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27
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Pacheco MA, Ceríaco LMP, Matta NE, Vargas-Ramírez M, Bauer AM, Escalante AA. A phylogenetic study of Haemocystidium parasites and other Haemosporida using complete mitochondrial genome sequences. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 85:104576. [PMID: 33002605 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporida are diverse vector-borne parasites associated with terrestrial vertebrates. Driven by the interest in species causing malaria (genus Plasmodium), the diversity of avian and mammalian haemosporidian species has been extensively studied, relying mostly on mitochondrial genes, particularly cytochrome b. However, parasites from reptiles have been neglected in biodiversity surveys. Reptilian haemosporidian parasites include Haemocystidium, a genus that shares morphological features with Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Here, the first complete Haemocystidium mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genomes are studied. In particular, three mtDNA genomes from Haemocystidium spp. sampled in Africa, Oceania, and South America, are described. The Haemocystidium mtDNA genomes showed a high A + T content and a gene organization, including an extreme fragmentation of the rRNAs, found in other Haemosporida. These Haemocystidium mtDNA genomes were incorporated in phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses together with a representative sample of haemosporidian parasites from birds, mammals, and reptiles. The recovered phylogeny supported Haemocystidium as a monophyletic group apart from Plasmodium and other Haemosporida. Both the phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses yielded results consistent with a scenario in which haemosporidian parasites radiated with modern birds. Haemocystidium, like mammalian parasite clades, seems to originate from host switches by avian Haemosporida that allowed for the colonization of new vertebrate hosts. This hypothesis can be tested by investigating additional parasite species from all vertebrate hosts, particularly from reptiles. The mtDNA genomes reported here provide baseline data that can be used to scale up studies in haemosporidian parasites of reptiles using barcode approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Andreína Pacheco
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122-1801, USA
| | - Luis M P Ceríaco
- Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do Porto, Praça de Gomes Teixeira, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal; Departamento de Zoologia e Antropología (Museu Bocage), Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência, Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58, 1269-102 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Mario Vargas-Ramírez
- Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Aaron M Bauer
- Department of Biology and Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Stewardship, Villanova University, 800 Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085-1699, USA
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Biology Department/Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122-1801, USA.
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28
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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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29
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Starkloff NC, Kirchman JJ, Jones AW, Winger BM, Huang Y, Pulgarín‐R PC, Turner WC. Drivers of community turnover differ between avian hemoparasite genera along a North American latitudinal gradient. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5402-5415. [PMID: 32607162 PMCID: PMC7319150 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is an established macroecological pattern, but is poorly studied in microbial organisms, particularly parasites. In this study, we tested whether latitude, elevation, and host species predicted patterns of prevalence, alpha diversity, and community turnover of hemosporidian parasites. We expected parasite diversity to decrease with latitude, alongside the diversity of their hosts and vectors. Similarly, we expected infection prevalence to decrease with latitude as vector abundances decrease. Lastly, we expected parasite community turnover to increase with latitudinal distance and to be higher between rather than within host species. We tested these hypotheses by screening blood and tissue samples of three closely related avian species in a clade of North American songbirds (Turdidae: Catharus, n = 466) across 17.5° of latitude. We used a nested PCR approach to identify parasites in hemosporidian genera that are transmitted by different dipteran vectors. Then, we implemented linear-mixed effects and generalized dissimilarity models to evaluate the effects of latitude, elevation, and host species on parasite metrics. We found high diversity of hemosporidian parasites in Catharus thrushes (n = 44 lineages) but no evidence of latitudinal gradients in alpha diversity or prevalence. Parasites in the genus Leucocytozoon were most prevalent and lineage rich in this study system; however, there was limited turnover with latitude and host species. Contrastingly, Plasmodium parasites were less prevalent and diverse than Leucocytozoon parasites, yet communities turned over at a higher rate with latitude and host species. Leucocytozoon communities were skewed by the dominance of one or two highly prevalent lineages with broad latitudinal distributions. The few studies that evaluate the hemosporidian LDG do not find consistent patterns of prevalence and diversity, which makes it challenging to predict how they will respond to global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naima C. Starkloff
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity at AlbanyState University of New YorkAlbanyNYUSA
- New York State MuseumAlbanyNYUSA
| | | | - Andrew W. Jones
- Department of OrnithologyCleveland Museum of Natural HistoryClevelandOHUSA
| | - Benjamin M. Winger
- Museum of Zoology and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMIUSA
| | - Yen‐Hua Huang
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity at AlbanyState University of New YorkAlbanyNYUSA
| | - Paulo C. Pulgarín‐R
- Laboratorio de Biología Evolutiva de VertebradosDepartamento de Ciencias BiológicasUniversidad de Los AndesBogotáColombia
- Facultad de Ciencias & BiotecnologíaUniversidad CESMedellinColombia
| | - Wendy C. Turner
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity at AlbanyState University of New YorkAlbanyNYUSA
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30
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Ellis VA, Huang X, Westerdahl H, Jönsson J, Hasselquist D, Neto JM, Nilsson J, Nilsson J, Hegemann A, Hellgren O, Bensch S. Explaining prevalence, diversity and host specificity in a community of avian haemosporidian parasites. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo A. Ellis
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
- Dept of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, Univ. of Delaware Newark DE 19716 USA
| | - Xi Huang
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal Univ. Beijing PR China
| | | | - Jane Jönsson
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | | | - Júlio M. Neto
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Jan‐Åke Nilsson
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Johan Nilsson
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Arne Hegemann
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Olof Hellgren
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Dept of Biology, Lund Univ., Ecology Building SE‐223 62 Lund Sweden
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31
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Haemosporidian parasites of resident and wintering migratory birds in The Bahamas. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1563-1572. [PMID: 32246260 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06646-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
In temperate regions, some avian haemosporidian parasites have evolved seasonal transmission strategies, with chronic infections relapsing during spring and transmission peaking during the hosts' breeding season. Because lineages with seasonal transmission strategies are unlikely to produce gametocytes in winter, we predicted that (1) resident birds living within wintering areas of Neotropical migrants would unlikely be infected with North American parasite lineages; and (2) if infected, wintering migratory birds would be more likely to harbor Plasmodium spp. rather than Parahaemoproteus spp. or Haemoproteus spp. parasites in their bloodstreams, as only Plasmodium produces life stages, other than gametocytes, that infect red blood cells. To test these predictions, we used molecular detection and microscopy to compare the diversity and prevalence of haemosporidian parasites among year-round residents and wintering migratory birds during February 2016, on three islands of The Bahamas archipelago, i.e., Andros, Grand Bahama, and Great Abaco. Infection prevalence was low and comparable between migratory (15/111) and resident (15/129) individuals, and it did not differ significantly among islands. Out of the 12 lineages detected infecting migratory birds, five were transmitted in North America; four lineages could have been transmitted during breeding, wintering, or migration; and three lineages were likely transmitted in The Bahamas. Resident birds mostly carried lineages endemic to the Caribbean region. All North American-transmitted parasite lineages detected among migratory birds were Plasmodium spp. Our findings suggest that haemosporidian parasites of migrants shift resource allocation seasonally, minimizing the production of gametocytes during winter, with low risk of infection spillover to resident birds.
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32
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Nguyen AHL, Tiawsirisup S, Kaewthamasorn M. Low level of genetic diversity and high occurrence of vector-borne protozoa in water buffaloes in Thailand based on 18S ribosomal RNA and mitochondrial cytochrome b genes. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2020; 82:104304. [PMID: 32247866 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) pose a great risk to ruminant production through significant economic losses. Several previous studies in Thailand have mainly been focused on the health of dairy and beef cattle. Water buffaloes are one of the important ruminants in the country, but studies on their infection with VBPs remains limited. We conducted a molecular survey on blood samples from 456 buffaloes obtained from eight provinces across different geographical locations of Thailand. The PCR diagnostics indicated that 116 (25.4%) and 59 (12.9%) of these 456 samples were positive for piroplasm and Plasmodium spp., respectively, and were found in six and all eight regions, respectively, across Thailand. Co-infections of piroplasm and Plasmodium spp. were observed in 24 cases (5.26%). Babesia spp. was not detected in any of the 12 sequenced piroplasm-positive samples in the present study. Genetic comparisons and phylogenetic analyses of within and between parasite populations, based on the 18S ribosomal (r)RNA and cytochrome b (cytb) genes for T. orientalis and P. bubalis, respectively, revealed that T. orientalis shared a high similarity within its population and could be divided into four distinct haplotypes. Haplotypes 1 and 4 were placed in the same clade with the samples previously isolated from cattle in Korea, Japan, Australia, and the USA. Haplotypes 2, and 3 were novel and were placed in a separate clade not shared with the other isolates. We also confirmed our previous investigation that at least three cytb haplotypes of P. bubalis were distributed in the country with a relatively high degree of genetic polymorphisms within its population (based on cytb sequences). Type II P. bubalis was phylogenetically closely related to P. caprae in goats in Zambia and Thailand. This study improves our current understanding on the distribution, intra- and inter-population genetic diversity, and genetic relationship of piroplasms and Plasmodium spp. in water buffaloes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anh H L Nguyen
- The International Graduate Course of Veterinary Science and Technology (VST), Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Veterinary Parasitology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sonthaya Tiawsirisup
- Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, The Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Morakot Kaewthamasorn
- Veterinary Parasitology Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Animal Vector-Borne Disease Research Unit, The Veterinary Parasitology Unit, Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
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33
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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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34
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Venugopal K, Hentzschel F, Valkiūnas G, Marti M. Plasmodium asexual growth and sexual development in the haematopoietic niche of the host. Nat Rev Microbiol 2020; 18:177-189. [PMID: 31919479 PMCID: PMC7223625 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-019-0306-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Plasmodium spp. parasites are the causative agents of malaria in humans and animals, and they are exceptionally diverse in their morphology and life cycles. They grow and develop in a wide range of host environments, both within blood-feeding mosquitoes, their definitive hosts, and in vertebrates, which are intermediate hosts. This diversity is testament to their exceptional adaptability and poses a major challenge for developing effective strategies to reduce the disease burden and transmission. Following one asexual amplification cycle in the liver, parasites reach high burdens by rounds of asexual replication within red blood cells. A few of these blood-stage parasites make a developmental switch into the sexual stage (or gametocyte), which is essential for transmission. The bone marrow, in particular the haematopoietic niche (in rodents, also the spleen), is a major site of parasite growth and sexual development. This Review focuses on our current understanding of blood-stage parasite development and vascular and tissue sequestration, which is responsible for disease symptoms and complications, and when involving the bone marrow, provides a niche for asexual replication and gametocyte development. Understanding these processes provides an opportunity for novel therapies and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannan Venugopal
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Franziska Hentzschel
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Matthias Marti
- Wellcome Center for Integrative Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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35
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Galen SC, Borner J, Williamson JL, Witt CC, Perkins SL. Metatranscriptomics yields new genomic resources and sensitive detection of infections for diverse blood parasites. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 20:14-28. [PMID: 31507097 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Metatranscriptomics is a powerful method for studying the composition and function of complex microbial communities. The application of metatranscriptomics to multispecies parasite infections is of particular interest, as research on parasite evolution and diversification has been hampered by technical challenges to genome-scale DNA sequencing. In particular, blood parasites of vertebrates are abundant and diverse although they often occur at low infection intensities and exist as multispecies infections, rendering the isolation of genomic sequence data challenging. Here, we use birds and their diverse haemosporidian parasites to illustrate the potential for metatranscriptome sequencing to generate large quantities of genome-wide sequence data from multiple blood parasite species simultaneously. We used RNA-sequencing of 24 blood samples from songbirds in North America to show that metatranscriptomes can yield large proportions of haemosporidian protein-coding gene repertoires even when infections are of low intensity (<0.1% red blood cells infected) and consist of multiple parasite taxa. By bioinformatically separating host and parasite transcripts and assigning them to the haemosporidian genus of origin, we found that transcriptomes detected ~23% more total parasite infections across all samples than were identified using microscopy and DNA barcoding. For single-species infections, we obtained data for >1,300 loci from samples with as low as 0.03% parasitaemia, with the number of loci increasing with infection intensity. In total, we provide data for 1,502 single-copy orthologous loci from a phylogenetically diverse set of 33 haemosporidian mitochondrial lineages. The metatranscriptomic approach described here has the potential to accelerate ecological and evolutionary research on haemosporidians and other diverse parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer C Galen
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA.,Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
| | - Janus Borner
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA.,Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jessie L Williamson
- Department of Biology, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Christopher C Witt
- Department of Biology, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Susan L Perkins
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA
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36
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Harris DJ, Santos JL, Borges-Nojosa DM, de Castro DP. Molecular Screening of Plasmodium (Haemosporidia: Plasmodiidae) Parasites from Reptiles in Brazil. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/18-149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- D. James Harris
- CIBIO/InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Joana L. Santos
- CIBIO/InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Diva Maria Borges-Nojosa
- CIBIO/InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - Déborah Praciano de Castro
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Biologia, Núcleo Regional de Ofiologia da Ufc (Nurof-Ufc), Campus do Pici, Bloco 905, Cep 60.440-554, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
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37
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Sharma R, Gupta RS. Novel Molecular Synapomorphies Demarcate Different Main Groups/Subgroups of Plasmodium and Piroplasmida Species Clarifying Their Evolutionary Relationships. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10070490. [PMID: 31261747 PMCID: PMC6678196 DOI: 10.3390/genes10070490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The class Hematozoa encompasses several clinically important genera, including Plasmodium, whose members cause the major life-threating disease malaria. Hence, a good understanding of the interrelationships of organisms from this class and reliable means for distinguishing them are of much importance. This study reports comprehensive phylogenetic and comparative analyses on protein sequences on the genomes of 28 hematozoa species to understand their interrelationships. In addition to phylogenetic trees based on two large datasets of protein sequences, detailed comparative analyses were carried out on the genomes of hematozoa species to identify novel molecular synapomorphies consisting of conserved signature indels (CSIs) in protein sequences. These studies have identified 79 CSIs that are exclusively present in specific groups of Hematozoa/Plasmodium species, also supported by phylogenetic analysis, providing reliable means for the identification of these species groups and understanding their interrelationships. Of these CSIs, six CSIs are specifically shared by all hematozoa species, two CSIs serve to distinguish members of the order Piroplasmida, five CSIs are uniquely found in all Piroplasmida species except B. microti and two CSIs are specific for the genus Theileria. Additionally, we also describe 23 CSIs that are exclusively present in all genome-sequenced Plasmodium species and two, nine, ten and eight CSIs which are specific for members of the Plasmodium subgenera Haemamoeba, Laverania, Vinckeia and Plasmodium (excluding P. ovale and P. malariae), respectively. Additionally, our work has identified several CSIs that support species relationships which are not evident from phylogenetic analysis. Of these CSIs, one CSI supports the ancestral nature of the avian-Plasmodium species in comparison to the mammalian-infecting groups of Plasmodium species, four CSIs strongly support a specific relationship of species between the subgenera Plasmodium and Vinckeia and three CSIs each that reliably group P. malariae with members of the subgenus Plasmodium and P. ovale within the subgenus Vinckeia, respectively. These results provide a reliable framework for understanding the evolutionary relationships among the Plasmodium/Piroplasmida species. Further, in view of the exclusivity of the described molecular markers for the indicated groups of hematozoa species, particularly large numbers of unique characteristics that are specific for all Plasmodium species, they provide important molecular tools for biochemical/genetic studies and for developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics for these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada.
| | - Radhey S Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5, Canada.
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Fecchio A, Collins MD, Bell JA, García-Trejo EA, Sánchez-González LA, Dispoto JH, Rice NH, Weckstein JD. Bird Tissues from Museum Collections are Reliable for Assessing Avian Haemosporidian Diversity. J Parasitol 2019. [DOI: 10.1645/18-130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA 40170115, Brazil
| | | | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201
| | - Erick A. García-Trejo
- Unidad de Informática para la Biodiversidad, UniCiencias. Departamento Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Luis A. Sánchez-González
- Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera”, Depto. de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Apdo. Postal 70-399, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Janice H. Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | - Nathan H. Rice
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
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Fecchio A, Bell JA, Pinheiro RB, Cueto VR, Gorosito CA, Lutz HL, Gaiotti MG, Paiva LV, França LF, Toledo‐Lima G, Tolentino M, Pinho JB, Tkach VV, Fontana CS, Grande JM, Santillán MA, Caparroz R, Roos AL, Bessa R, Nogueira W, Moura T, Nolasco EC, Comiche KJ, Kirchgatter K, Guimarães LO, Dispoto JH, Marini MÂ, Weckstein JD, Batalha‐Filho H, Collins MD. Avian host composition, local speciation and dispersal drive the regional assembly of avian malaria parasites in South American birds. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:2681-2693. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.15094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia Universidade Federal da Bahia Salvador Brazil
| | - Jeffrey A. Bell
- Department of Biology University of North Dakota Grand Forks North Dakota
| | - Rafael B.P. Pinheiro
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Conservação e Manejo da Vida Silvestre, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Belo Horizonte Brazil
| | - Victor R. Cueto
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP) CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Esquel, Chubut Argentina
| | - Cristian A. Gorosito
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP) CONICET – Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco Esquel, Chubut Argentina
| | - Holly L. Lutz
- Department of Surgery University of Chicago Chicago Illinios
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History Chicago Illinios
| | - Milene G. Gaiotti
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
| | - Luciana V. Paiva
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Populações Animais, Departamento de Biociências Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido Mossoró Brazil
| | - Leonardo F. França
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Populações Animais, Departamento de Biociências Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido Mossoró Brazil
| | - Guilherme Toledo‐Lima
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Departamento de Botânica e Zoologia, Centro de Biociências Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte Natal Brazil
| | - Mariana Tolentino
- Laboratório de Evolução e Comportamento Animal, Coordenação de Biodiversidade Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia Manaus Brazil
| | - João B. Pinho
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Aves Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Cuiabá Brazil
| | - Vasyl V. Tkach
- Department of Biology University of North Dakota Grand Forks North Dakota
| | - Carla S. Fontana
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Museu de Ciências e Tecnologia e Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia e Evolução da Biodiversidade PUCRS Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - Juan Manuel Grande
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales Universidad Nacional de La Pampa Santa Rosa Argentina
| | - Miguel A. Santillán
- División Zoología Museo de Historia Natural de la Provincia de La Pampa Santa Rosa Argentina
| | - Renato Caparroz
- Laboratório de Genética e Biodiversidade, Departamento de Genética e Morfologia Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasilia Brasília Brazil
| | - Andrei L. Roos
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade Florianópolis Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ecologia Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Florianópolis Brazil
| | | | - Wagner Nogueira
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Manejo e Conservação de Ecossistemas Naturais e Agrários, Universidade Federal de Viçosa Florestal Brazil
| | - Thiago Moura
- Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Feira de Santana Brazil
| | - Erica C. Nolasco
- Departamento de Zoologia Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana Feira de Santana Brazil
| | - Kiba J.M. Comiche
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo Brazil
| | - Karin Kirchgatter
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo Brazil
| | - Lilian O. Guimarães
- Núcleo de Estudos em Malária Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo Brazil
| | - Janice H. Dispoto
- Department of Ornithology Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania
| | - Miguel Â. Marini
- Departamento de Zoologia Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
| | - Jason D. Weckstein
- Department of Ornithology Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania
- Department of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science Drexel University Philadelphia Pennsylvania
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Ecology, not distance, explains community composition in parasites of sky-island Audubon’s Warblers. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:437-448. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Barrow LN, Allen JM, Huang X, Bensch S, Witt CC. Genomic sequence capture of haemosporidian parasites: Methods and prospects for enhanced study of host-parasite evolution. Mol Ecol Resour 2019; 19:400-410. [PMID: 30554480 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Avian malaria and related haemosporidians (Plasmodium, [Para]Haemoproteus and Leucocytoozoon) represent an exciting multihost, multiparasite system in ecology and evolution. Global research in this field accelerated after the publication in 2000 of PCR protocols to sequence a haemosporidian mitochondrial (mtDNA) barcode and the development in 2009 of an open-access database to document the geographic and host ranges of parasite mtDNA haplotypes. Isolating haemosporidian nuclear DNA from bird hosts, however, has been technically challenging, slowing the transition to genomic-scale sequencing techniques. We extend a recently developed sequence capture method to obtain hundreds of haemosporidian nuclear loci from wild bird samples, which typically have low levels of infection, or parasitemia. We tested 51 infected birds from Peru and New Mexico and evaluated locus recovery in light of variation in parasitemia, divergence from reference sequences and pooling strategies. Our method was successful for samples with parasitemia as low as ~0.02% (2 of 10,000 blood cells infected) and mtDNA divergence as high as 15.9% (one Leucocytozoonsample), and using the most cost-effective pooling strategy tested. Phylogenetic relationships estimated with >300 nuclear loci were well resolved, providing substantial improvement over the mtDNA barcode. We provide protocols for sample preparation and sequence capture including custom probe sequences and describe our bioinformatics pipeline using atram 2.0, phyluce and custom Perl/Python scripts. This approach can be applied to thousands of avian samples that have already been found to have haemosporidian infections of at least moderate intensity, greatly improving our understanding of parasite speciation, biogeography and evolutionary dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa N Barrow
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Julie M Allen
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christopher C Witt
- Museum of Southwestern Biology and Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico
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Pacheco MA, Matta NE, Valkiunas G, Parker PG, Mello B, Stanley CE, Lentino M, Garcia-Amado MA, Cranfield M, Kosakovsky Pond SL, Escalante AA. Mode and Rate of Evolution of Haemosporidian Mitochondrial Genomes: Timing the Radiation of Avian Parasites. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:383-403. [PMID: 29126122 PMCID: PMC5850713 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Haemosporidians are a diverse group of vector-borne parasitic protozoa that includes the agents of human malaria; however, most of the described species are found in birds and reptiles. Although our understanding of these parasites’ diversity has expanded by analyses of their mitochondrial genes, there is limited information on these genes’ evolutionary rates. Here, 114 mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) were studied from species belonging to four genera: Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Hepatocystis, and Plasmodium. Contrary to previous assertions, the mtDNA is phylogenetically informative. The inferred phylogeny showed that, like the genus Plasmodium, the Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus genera are not monophyletic groups. Although sensitive to the assumptions of the molecular dating method used, the estimated times indicate that the diversification of the avian haemosporidian subgenera/genera took place after the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary following the radiation of modern birds. Furthermore, parasite clade differences in mtDNA substitution rates and strength of negative selection were detected. These differences may affect the biological interpretation of mtDNA gene lineages used as a proxy to species in ecological and parasitological investigations. Given that the mitochondria are critically important in the parasite life cycle stages that take place in the vector and that the transmission of parasites belonging to particular clades has been linked to specific insect families/subfamilies, this study suggests that differences in vectors have affected the mode of evolution of haemosporidian mtDNA genes. The observed patterns also suggest that the radiation of haemosporidian parasites may be the result of community-level evolutionary processes between their vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Andreína Pacheco
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización Genética e Inmunología, Sede Bogotá-Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Patricia G Parker
- Department of Biology, Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
| | - Beatriz Mello
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Craig E Stanley
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | | | - Maria Alexandra Garcia-Amado
- Laboratorio de Fisiología Gastrointestinal, Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas (IVIC), Miranda, Venezuela
| | - Michael Cranfield
- Gorilla Doctors, the Wildlife Health Center School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA
| | - Sergei L Kosakovsky Pond
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ananias A Escalante
- Department of Biology, Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
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43
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Videvall E. Genomic Advances in Avian Malaria Research. Trends Parasitol 2019; 35:254-266. [PMID: 30642725 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Haemosporidian parasites causing malaria-like diseases in birds are globally distributed and have been associated with reduced host fitness and mortality in susceptible bird species. This group of parasites has not only enabled a greater understanding of host specificity, virulence, and parasite dispersal, but has also been crucial in restructuring the evolutionary history of apicomplexans. Despite their importance, genomic resources of avian haemosporidians have proved difficult to obtain, and they have, as a result, been lagging behind the congeneric Plasmodium species infecting mammals. In this review, I discuss recent genomic advances in the field of avian malaria research, and outline outstanding questions that will become possible to investigate with the continued successful efforts to generate avian haemosporidian genomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin Videvall
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA.
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Toscani Field J, Weinberg J, Bensch S, Matta NE, Valkiūnas G, Sehgal RNM. Delineation of the Genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium Using RNA-Seq and Multi-gene Phylogenetics. J Mol Evol 2018; 86:646-654. [PMID: 30426144 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-018-9875-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Members of the order Haemosporida are protist parasites that infect mammals, reptiles and birds. This group includes the causal agents of malaria, Plasmodium parasites, the genera Leucocytozoon and Fallisia, as well as the species rich genus Haemoproteus with its two subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus. Some species of Haemoproteus cause severe disease in avian hosts, and these parasites display high levels of diversity worldwide. This diversity emphasizes the need for accurate evolutionary information. Most molecular studies of wildlife haemosporidians use a bar coding approach by sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. This method is efficient at differentiating parasite lineages but insufficient for accurate phylogenetic inferences in highly diverse taxa such as haemosporidians. Recent studies have utilized multiple mitochondrial genes (cyt b, cox1 and cox3), sometimes combined with a few apicoplast and nuclear genes. These studies have been highly successful with one notable exception: the evolutionary relationships of the genus Haemoproteus remain unresolved. Here we describe the transcriptome of Haemoproteus columbae and investigate its phylogenetic position recovered from a multi-gene dataset (600 genes). This genomic approach restricts the taxon sampling to 18 species of apicomplexan parasites. We employed Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods of phylogenetic analyses and found H. columbae and a representative from the subgenus Parahaemoproteus to be sister taxa. This result strengthens the hypothesis of genus Haemoproteus being monophyletic; however, resolving this question will require sequences of orthologs from, in particular, representatives of Leucocytozoon species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Toscani Field
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1700 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA.
| | - Josh Weinberg
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1700 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Ecology Building, 223 62, Lund, Sweden
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización genética e inmunología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia
| | | | - Ravinder N M Sehgal
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1700 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
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Fonseca LL, Joyner CJ, Saney CL, Moreno A, Barnwell JW, Galinski MR, Voit EO. Analysis of erythrocyte dynamics in Rhesus macaque monkeys during infection with Plasmodium cynomolgi. Malar J 2018; 17:410. [PMID: 30400896 PMCID: PMC6219197 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2560-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malaria is a major mosquito transmitted, blood-borne parasitic disease that afflicts humans. The disease causes anaemia and other clinical complications, which can lead to death. Plasmodium vivax is known for its reticulocyte host cell specificity, but many gaps in disease details remain. Much less is known about the closely related species, Plasmodium cynomolgi, although it is naturally acquired and causes zoonotic malaria. Here, a computational model is developed based on longitudinal analyses of P. cynomolgi infections in nonhuman primates to investigate the erythrocyte dynamics that is pertinent to understanding both P. cynomolgi and P. vivax malaria in humans. METHODS A cohort of five P. cynomolgi infected Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) is studied, with individuals exhibiting a plethora of clinical outcomes, including varying levels of anaemia. A discrete recursive model with age structure is developed to replicate the dynamics of P. cynomolgi blood-stage infections. The model allows for parasitic reticulocyte preference and assumes an age preference among the mature RBCs. RBC senescence is modelled using a hazard function, according to which RBCs have a mean lifespan of 98 ± 21 days. RESULTS Based on in vivo data from three cohorts of macaques, the computational model is used to characterize the reticulocyte lifespan in circulation as 24 ± 5 h (n = 15) and the rate of RBC production as 2727 ± 209 cells/h/µL (n = 15). Analysis of the host responses reveals a pre-patency increase in the number of reticulocytes. It also allows the quantification of RBC removal through the bystander effect. CONCLUSIONS The evident pre-patency increase in reticulocytes is due to a shift towards the release of younger reticulocytes, which could result from a parasite-induced factor meant to increase reticulocyte availability and satisfy the parasite's tropism, which has an average value of 32:1 in this cohort. The number of RBCs lost due to the bystander effect relative to infection-induced RBC losses is 62% for P. cynomolgi infections, which is substantially lower than the value of 95% previously determined for another simian species, Plasmodium coatneyi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis L Fonseca
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA.
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
| | - Chester J Joyner
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Celia L Saney
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Alberto Moreno
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - John W Barnwell
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Mary R Galinski
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Eberhard O Voit
- The Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332-2000, USA
- Malaria Host-Pathogen Interaction Center, Emory Vaccine Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
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Boundenga L, Ngoubangoye B, Mombo IM, Tsoubmou TA, Renaud F, Rougeron V, Prugnolle F. Extensive diversity of malaria parasites circulating in Central African bats and monkeys. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:10578-10586. [PMID: 30464829 PMCID: PMC6238140 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The order Haemosporidia gathers many protozoan parasites which are known to infect many host species and groups. Until recently, the studies on haemosporidian parasites primarily focused on the genus Plasmodium among a wide range of hosts. Genera, like the genus Hepatocystis, have received far less attention. In the present study, we present results of a survey of the diversity of Hepatocystis infecting bats and monkeys living in a same area in Gabon (Central Africa). Phylogenetic analyses revealed a large diversity of Hepatocystis lineages circulating among bats and monkeys, among which certain were previously observed in other African areas. Both groups of hosts harbor parasites belonging to distinct genetic clades and no transfers of parasites were observed between bats and monkeys. Finally, within each host group, no host specificity or geographical clustering was observed for the bat or the primate Hepatocystis lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larson Boundenga
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF)FrancevilleGabon
| | | | - Illich Manfred Mombo
- Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville (CIRMF)FrancevilleGabon
| | | | - François Renaud
- Laboratoire MIVEGEC, UMR 224‐5290 CNRS‐IRD‐UM1‐UM2Centre Hospitalier Régional UniversitaireMontpellierFrance
| | - Virginie Rougeron
- Laboratoire MIVEGEC, UMR 224‐5290 CNRS‐IRD‐UM1‐UM2Centre Hospitalier Régional UniversitaireMontpellierFrance
| | - Franck Prugnolle
- Laboratoire MIVEGEC, UMR 224‐5290 CNRS‐IRD‐UM1‐UM2Centre Hospitalier Régional UniversitaireMontpellierFrance
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Combining morphological and molecular data to reconstruct the phylogeny of avian Haemosporida. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:1137-1148. [PMID: 30367869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The traditional classification of avian Haemosporida is based mainly on morphology and life history traits. Recently, molecular hypotheses have challenged the traditional classification, leading to contradictory opinions on whether morphology is phylogenetically informative. However, the morphology has never been used to reconstruct the relationships within the group. We inferred the phylogeny of avian Haemosporida from 133 morphological characters present in blood stages. We included all species with at least one mitochondrial gene characterized (n = 93). The morphological hypothesis was compared with the one retrieved from mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) nucleotide sequences and a hypothesis that used a combination of morphological and molecular data (i.e., total evidence). In order to recover the evolutionary history and identify phylogenetically and taxonomically informative characters, they were mapped on the total evidence phylogeny. The morphological hypothesis presented more polytomies than the other two, especially within Haemoproteus. In the molecular hypothesis, the two Haemoproteus subgenera are paraphyletic, and some relationships within Parahaemoproteus were resolved. By combining the morphological and molecular data, we were able to resolve the majority of polytomies and posterior probabilities increased. We identified a unique combination of morphological traits, clearly differentiating avian Haemosporida genera, sub-genera of Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus, and some Plasmodium sub-genera. Plasmodium had the highest number of synapomorphies. Furthermore, 86% of the species presented a unique combination of taxonomically informative characters. A limiting factor was the mismatch of traits characterized in species descriptions, leading to a morphological matrix with a considerable amount of missing data, particularly for the stages of early young and young gametocytes (67% of all missing data). Characters lacking information for the majority of species included the colour of pigment granules, the cytoplasm appearance, and the presence and dimensions of vacuoles. According to our results, the combination of morphology and mtDNA proved to be a robust alternative to reconstruct the relationships among avian Haemosporida, obtaining a resolution and support similar to that obtained using full mitochondrial genome sequences for over 100 lineages.
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Galen SC, Nunes R, Sweet PR, Perkins SL. Integrating coalescent species delimitation with analysis of host specificity reveals extensive cryptic diversity despite minimal mitochondrial divergence in the malaria parasite genus Leucocytozoon. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:128. [PMID: 30165810 PMCID: PMC6117968 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1242-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coalescent methods that use multi-locus sequence data are powerful tools for identifying putatively reproductively isolated lineages, though this approach has rarely been used for the study of microbial groups that are likely to harbor many unrecognized species. Among microbial symbionts, integrating genetic species delimitation methods with trait data that could indicate reproductive isolation, such as host specificity data, has rarely been used despite its potential to inform species limits. Here we test the ability of an integrative approach combining genetic and host specificity data to delimit species within the avian malaria parasite genus Leucocytozoon in central Alaska. RESULTS We sequenced seven nuclear loci for 69 Leucocytozoon samples and used multiple species delimitation methods (GMYC and BPP models), tested for differences in host infection patterns among putative species based on 406 individual infections, and characterized parasite morphology. We found that cryptic morphology has masked a highly diverse Leucocytozoon assemblage, with most species delimitation methods recovering support for at least 21 separate species that occur sympatrically and have divergent host infection patterns. Reproductive isolation among putative species appears to have evolved despite low mtDNA divergence, and in one instance two Leucocytozoon cytb haplotypes that differed by a single base pair (~ 0.2% divergence) were supported as separate species. However, there was no consistent association between mtDNA divergence and species limits. Among cytb haplotypes that differed by one to three base pairs we observed idiosyncratic patterns of nuclear and ecological divergence, with cytb haplotype pairs found to be either conspecific, reproductively isolated with no divergence in host specificity, or reproductively isolated with divergent patterns of host specialization. CONCLUSION Integrating multi-locus genetic species delimitation methods and non-traditional ecological data types such as host specificity provide a novel view of the diversity of avian malaria parasites that has been missed previously using morphology and mtDNA barcodes. Species delimitation methods show that Leucocytozoon is highly species-rich in Alaska, and the genus is likely to harbor extraordinary species-level diversity worldwide. Integrating genetic and ecological data will be an important approach for understanding the diversity and evolutionary history of microbial symbionts moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer C. Galen
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 USA
- Richard Gilder Graduate School, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 USA
| | - Renato Nunes
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 USA
| | - Paul R. Sweet
- Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 USA
| | - Susan L. Perkins
- Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024 USA
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The success of sequence capture in relation to phylogenetic distance from a reference genome: a case study of avian haemosporidian parasites. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:947-954. [PMID: 30107149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Genomic sequencing of avian haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida) has been challenging due to excessive contamination from host DNA. In this study, we developed a cost-effective protocol to obtain parasite sequences from naturally infected birds, based on targeted sequence capture and next generation sequencing. With the genomic data of Haemoproteus tartakovskyi as a reference, we successfully sequenced up to 1000 genes from each of the 15 selected samples belonging to nine different cytochrome b lineages, eight of which belong to Haemoproteus and one to Plasmodium. The targeted sequences were enriched to ∼104-fold, and mixed infections were identified as well as the proportions of each mixed lineage. We found that the total number of reads and the proportions of exons sequenced decreased when the parasite lineage became more divergent from the reference genome. For each of the samples, the recovery of sequences from different exons varied with the function and GC content of the exon. From the obtained sequences, we detected within-lineage variation in both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, which may be a result of local adaptation to different host species and environmental conditions. This targeted sequence capture protocol can be applied to a broader range of species and will open a new door for further studies on disease diagnostics and comparative analysis of haemosporidians evolution.
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Ellis VA, Bensch S. Host specificity of avian haemosporidian parasites is unrelated among sister lineages but shows phylogenetic signal across larger clades. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:897-902. [PMID: 30076910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Parasites can vary in the number of host species they infect, a trait known as "host specificity". Here we quantify phylogenetic signal-the tendency for closely related species to resemble each other more than distantly related species-in host specificity of avian haemosporidian parasites (genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) using data from MalAvi, the global avian haemosporidian database. We used the genetic data (479 base pairs of cytochrome b) that define parasite lineages to produce genus level phylogenies. Combining host specificity data with those phylogenies revealed significant levels of phylogenetic signal while controlling for sampling effects; phylogenetic signal was higher when the phylogenetic diversity of hosts was taken into account. We then tested for correlations in the host specificity of pairs of sister lineages. Correlations were generally close to zero for all three parasite genera. These results suggest that while the host specificity of parasite sister lineages differ, larger clades may be relatively specialised or generalised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo A Ellis
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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