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Dubiec A, Atamas N, Ledwoń M. Very low prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in two species of marsh terns. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:3063-3075. [PMID: 37907627 PMCID: PMC10667446 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07997-y] [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: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Vector-transmitted haemosporidians are among the most common parasites in birds, but our knowledge of the inter-specific patterns of infection rates and the parasite community composition is far from complete because of the unequal distribution of the screening effort across bird families and genera. To assess infection rates and the diversity of haemosporidians from the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon in marsh terns, which represent poorly explored in this regard genus of the family gulls, terns, and skimmers (Laridae), we screened two species: the Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) and the Black Tern (Chlidonias niger). We sampled these long-distance migratory birds on breeding grounds: the Whiskered Tern in south-central Poland and north-central Ukraine, and the Black Tern-in north-central Ukraine. We found that birds from both species were infected only sporadically, with prevalence at the population level not exceeding 3.4%. Only parasites from the genera Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon were detected. There was neither an inter-specific difference nor a difference between populations of the Whiskered Tern in infection rates. In total, we registered three lineages-one Plasmodium and two Leucocytozoon-that were previously recorded in other bird species, and two unidentified Plasmodium infections. One of the lineages (Leucocytozoon LARCAC02) represents a specialist parasite with the host range restricted to larids and geographic range restricted to Poland, and two others (Plasmodium SGS1 and Leucocytozoon CIAE02) represent generalist parasites with very broad host and geographic ranges. This study reinforces the existing evidence that terns host parasites from genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon only sporadically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dubiec
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wilcza 64, 00-679, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Natalia Atamas
- Department of Animal Monitoring and Conservation, Laboratory of Population Ecology, I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, B. Khmelnytskoho Str., 15, Kyiv, 01601, Ukraine
| | - Mateusz Ledwoń
- Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016, Cracow, Poland
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Mora-Rubio C, Ferraguti M, Magallanes S, Bravo-Barriga D, Hernandez-Caballero I, Marzal A, de Lope F. Unravelling the mosquito-haemosporidian parasite-bird host network in the southwestern Iberian Peninsula: insights into malaria infections, mosquito community and feeding preferences. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:395. [PMID: 37915080 PMCID: PMC10619300 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05964-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BAKGROUND Vector-borne diseases affecting humans, wildlife and livestock have significantly increased their incidence and distribution in the last decades. Because the interaction among vectors-parasite-vertebrate hosts plays a key role driving vector-borne disease transmission, the analyses of the diversity and structure of vector-parasite networks and host-feeding preference may help to assess disease risk. Also, the study of seasonal variations in the structure and composition of vector and parasite communities may elucidate the current patterns of parasite persistence and spread as well as facilitate prediction of how climate variations may impact vector-borne disease transmission. Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites constitute an exceptional model to understand the ecology and evolution of vector-borne diseases. However, the characterization of vector-haemosporidian parasite-bird host assemblages is largely unknown in many regions. METHODS Here, we analyzed 5859 female mosquitoes captured from May to November in five localities from southwestern Spain to explore the composition and seasonal variation of the vector-parasite-vertebrate host network. RESULTS We showed a gradual increase in mosquito abundance, peaking in July. A total of 16 different haemosporidian lineages were found infecting 13 mosquito species. Of these assemblages, more than 70% of these vector-parasite associations have not been described in previous studies. Moreover, three Haemoproteus lineages were reported for the first time in this study. The prevalence of avian malaria infections in mosquitoes varied significantly across the months, reaching a maximum in November. Mosquito blood-feeding preference was higher for mammals (62.5%), whereas 37.5% of vectors fed on birds, suggesting opportunistic feeding behavior. CONCLUSION These outcomes improve our understanding of disease transmission risk and help tovector control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Mora-Rubio
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Martina Ferraguti
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain.
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain.
- Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
- Departamento de Biología de la Conservación y Cambio Global, Estación Biológica de Doñana, EBD-CSIC, Avda. Américo Vespucio 26, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Daniel Bravo-Barriga
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Parasitología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Veterinaria, Avda. Universidad S/N, 10003, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Irene Hernandez-Caballero
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Jr. Maynas 1777, 22021, Tarapoto, Perú
| | - Florentino de Lope
- Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Universidad de Extremadura, Facultad de Ciencias, Avenida de Elvas S/N, 06006, Badajoz, Spain
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First records of prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia in snipe species (genus Gallinago) of Japan. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2021; 16:5-17. [PMID: 34377664 PMCID: PMC8326977 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.07.007] [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: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Migratory birds are important carriers of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Avian haemosporidia have been detected from many wild birds of Japan, but the infection status of migratory birds and transmission area are still largely unknown. Gallinago snipes are long-distance migratory shorebirds, and five species migrate to or through Japan, including Latham's snipe which is near threatened. Haemosporidian parasites in four snipe species were investigated to understand the role of migratory birds in the transmission of avian haemosporidia. Namely, this study aimed: i) to investigate differences in parasite prevalence and related factors explaining infection likelihood among these migratory species, ii) to explore the diversity in haemosporidian lineages and possible transmission areas, and iii) to assess the possibility of morphological effects of infection. Blood samples were collected from snipes caught in central and southwest Japan during migration. Parasites cytb gene DNA were detected via PCR-based testing, and detected lineages were phylogenetically analyzed. Additionally, factors related to prevalence and morphological effects of infection were statistically tested. 383 birds from four Gallinago snipe species were caught, showing higher overall prevalence of avian haemosporidia (17.8 %) than reported in other wader species in previous studies. This high infection rate is presumably due to increased contact with vector insects, resultant of environmental preferences. The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. Was higher in Swinhoe's snipes, while Haemoproteus spp. Was higher in Latham's snipes. These differences are thought to be related to ecological factors including habitat use, distribution and migratory route. Six lineages detected from juveniles indicate transmission between the breeding and sampling area. Contrary to expectations, a direct link between morphological features and haemosporidian parasite infection were not detected. These findings provide valuable information for conservation of this endangered migratory bird group. Further studies linking biological and parasitological research are anticipated to contribute to conservational actions.
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Hellgren O, Kelbskopf V, Ellis VA, Ciloglu A, Duc M, Huang X, Lopes RJ, Mata VA, Aghayan SA, Inci A, Drovetski SV. Low MSP-1 haplotype diversity in the West Palearctic population of the avian malaria parasite Plasmodium relictum. Malar J 2021; 20:265. [PMID: 34118950 PMCID: PMC8199812 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03799-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although avian Plasmodium species are widespread and common across the globe, limited data exist on how genetically variable their populations are. Here, the hypothesis that the avian blood parasite Plasmodium relictum exhibits very low genetic diversity in its Western Palearctic transmission area (from Morocco to Sweden in the north and Transcaucasia in the east) was tested. Methods The genetic diversity of Plasmodium relictum was investigated by sequencing a portion (block 14) of the fast-evolving merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1) gene in 75 different P. relictum infections from 36 host species. Furthermore, the full-length MSP1 sequences representing the common block 14 allele was sequenced in order to investigate if additional variation could be found outside block 14. Results The majority (72 of 75) of the sequenced infections shared the same MSP1 allele. This common allele has previously been found to be the dominant allele transmitted in Europe. Conclusion The results corroborate earlier findings derived from a limited dataset that the globally transmitted malaria parasite P. relictum exhibits very low genetic diversity in its Western Palearctic transmission area. This is likely the result of a recent introduction event or a selective sweep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olof Hellgren
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
| | | | - Vincenzo A Ellis
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Arif Ciloglu
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Mélanie Duc
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Xi Huang
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Ricardo J Lopes
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade Do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Vanessa A Mata
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação Em Biodiversidade E Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade Do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Sargis A Aghayan
- Yerevan State University, 1 Alex Manoogian, Yerevan, 0025, Republic of Armenia
| | - Abdullah Inci
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.,Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Sergei V Drovetski
- US Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Research Center at Patuxent Research Refuge, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA
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Ferraguti M, Martínez-de la Puente J, García-Longoria L, Soriguer R, Figuerola J, Marzal A. From Africa to Europe: evidence of transmission of a tropical Plasmodium lineage in Spanish populations of house sparrows. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:548. [PMID: 31753041 PMCID: PMC6873688 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3804-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Avian malaria parasites are a highly diverse group that commonly infect birds and have deleterious effects on their hosts. Some parasite lineages are geographically widespread and infect many host species in many regions. Bird migration, natural dispersal, invasive species and human-mediated introductions into areas where competent insect vectors are present, are probably the main drivers of the current distribution of avian malaria parasites. Methods A total of 412 and 2588 wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) were captured in 2012 and 2013 in two areas of the Iberian Peninsula (central and southern Spain, respectively). Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples; parasite lineages were sequenced and identified by comparing with GenBank and/or MalAvi databases. Results Thirteen Plasmodium lineages were identified in house sparrows corresponding to three major clades. Five individuals were infected by the African Plasmodium lineage PAGRI02, which has been proposed to actively circulate only in Africa. Conclusions Despite the low prevalence of PAGRI02 in sparrows in Spain, our results suggest that the area of transmission of this parasite is more widespread than previously thought and covers both Africa and Europe. Further studies of the global distribution of Plasmodium lineages infecting wild birds are required to identify the current transmission areas of these parasites. This is vital given the current scenario of global change that is providing new opportunities for avian malaria transmission into areas where parasites were previously absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura (UEx), Badajoz, Spain. .,Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luz García-Longoria
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura (UEx), Badajoz, Spain.,Department of Biology, Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Ecology Building, Lund University, 22362, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ramón Soriguer
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Marzal
- Department of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology, University of Extremadura (UEx), Badajoz, Spain
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Marzal A, Balbontín J, Reviriego M, García-Longoria L, Relinque C, Hermosell IG, Magallanes S, López-Calderón C, de Lope F, Møller AP. A longitudinal study of age-related changes inHaemoproteusinfection in a passerine bird. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Marzal
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | | | - Maribel Reviriego
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | - Luz García-Longoria
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | - Carmen Relinque
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | - Ignacio G. Hermosell
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | - Sergio Magallanes
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | | | - Florentino de Lope
- Dept of Anatomy, Cellular Biology and Zoology; Univ. of Extremadura; ES-06071 Badajoz Spain
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Lab. d'Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079; Univ. Paris-Sud; Bâtiment 362 FR-91405 Orsay Cedex France
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