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Gozalo AS, Robinson CK, Holdridge J, Mahecha OFL, Elkins WR. Overview of Plasmodium spp. and Animal Models in Malaria Research. Comp Med 2024; 74:205-230. [PMID: 38902006 PMCID: PMC11373680 DOI: 10.30802/aalas-cm-24-000019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan species of the genus Plasmodium and transmitted by female mosquitos of the genus Anopheles and other Culicidae. Most of the parasites of the genus Plasmodium are highly species specific with more than 200 species described affecting different species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Plasmodium species strictly affecting humans are P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. More recently, P. knowlesi and other nonhuman primate plasmodia were found to naturally infect humans. Currently, malaria occurs mostly in poor tropical and subtropical areas of the world, and in many of these countries it is the leading cause of illness and death. For more than 100 y, animal models, have played a major role in our understanding of malaria biology. Avian Plasmodium species were the first to be used as models to study human malaria. Malaria parasite biology and immunity were first studied using mainly P. gallinaceum and P. relictum. Rodent malarias, particularly P. berghei and P. yoelii, have been used extensively as models to study malaria in mammals. Several species of Plasmodium from nonhuman primates have been used as surrogate models to study human malaria immunology, pathogenesis, candidate vaccines, and treatments. Plasmodium cynomolgi, P. simiovale, and P. fieldi are important models for studying malaria produced by P. vivax and P. ovale, while P. coatneyi is used as a model for study- ing severe malaria. Other nonhuman primate malarias used in research are P. fragile, P. inui, P. knowlesi, P. simium, and P. brasilianum. Very few nonhuman primate species can develop an infection with human malarias. Macaques in general are resistant to infection with P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, and P. ovale. Only apes and a few species of New World monkeys can support infection with human malarias. Herein we review the most common, and some less common, avian, reptile, and mammal plasmodia species used as models to study human malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso S Gozalo
- Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Christen K Robinson
- Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Julie Holdridge
- Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Olga Franco L Mahecha
- Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - William R Elkins
- Comparative Medicine Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Garrigós M, Veiga J, Garrido M, Marín C, Recuero J, Rosales MJ, Morales-Yuste M, Martínez-de la Puente J. Avian Plasmodium in invasive and native mosquitoes from southern Spain. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:40. [PMID: 38287455 PMCID: PMC10826103 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06133-8] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of diseases of public health concern is enhanced by factors associated with global change, such as the introduction of invasive species. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), considered a competent vector of different viruses and parasites, has been successfully introduced into Europe in recent decades. Molecular screening of parasites in mosquitoes (i.e. molecular xenomonitoring) is essential to understand the potential role of different native and invasive mosquito species in the local circulation of vector-borne parasites affecting both humans and wildlife. METHODS The presence of avian Plasmodium parasites was molecularly tested in mosquitoes trapped in five localities with different environmental characteristics in southern Spain from May to November 2022. The species analyzed included the native Culex pipiens and Culiseta longiareolata and the invasive Ae. albopictus. RESULTS Avian Plasmodium DNA was only found in Cx. pipiens with 31 positive out of 165 mosquito pools tested. None of the Ae. albopictus or Cs. longiareolata pools were positive for avian malaria parasites. Overall, eight Plasmodium lineages were identified, including a new lineage described here. No significant differences in parasite prevalence were found between localities or sampling sessions. CONCLUSIONS Unlike the invasive Ae. albopictus, Cx. pipiens plays a key role in the transmission of avian Plasmodium in southern Spain. However, due to the recent establishment of Ae. albopictus in the area, further research on the role of this species in the local transmission of vector-borne pathogens with different reservoirs is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Garrigós
- Doñana Biological Station, EBD-CSIC, Seville, Spain.
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Jesús Veiga
- Doñana Biological Station, EBD-CSIC, Seville, Spain
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Mario Garrido
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Clotilde Marín
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Recuero
- Veterinary and Conservation Department, Bioparc Fuengirola, Malaga, Spain
| | | | | | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Doñana Biological Station, EBD-CSIC, Seville, Spain.
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.
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Garrigós M, Ylla G, Martínez-de la Puente J, Figuerola J, Ruiz-López MJ. Two avian Plasmodium species trigger different transcriptional responses on their vector Culex pipiens. Mol Ecol 2023:e17240. [PMID: 38108558 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17240] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by protozoans of the genus Plasmodium that affects both humans and wildlife. The fitness consequences of infections by avian malaria are well known in birds, however, little information exists on its impact on mosquitoes. Here we study how Culex pipiens mosquitoes transcriptionally respond to infection by two different Plasmodium species, P. relictum and P. cathemerium, differing in their virulence (mortality rate) and transmissibility (parasite presence in exposed mosquitoes' saliva). We studied the mosquito response to the infection at three critical stages of parasite development: the formation of ookinetes at 24 h post-infection (hpi), the release of sporozoites into the hemocoel at 10 days post-infection (dpi), and the storage of sporozoites in the salivary glands at 21 dpi. For each time point, we characterized the gene expression of mosquitoes infected with each P. relictum and P. cathemerium and mosquitoes fed on an uninfected bird and, subsequently, compared their transcriptomic responses. Differential gene expression analysis showed that most transcriptomic changes occurred during the early infection stage (24 hpi), especially when comparing P. relictum and P. cathemerium-infected mosquitoes. Differentially expressed genes in mosquitoes infected with each species were related mainly to the metabolism of the immune response, trypsin, and other serine-proteases. We conclude that these differences in response may partly play a role in the differential virulence and transmissibility previously observed between P. relictum and P. cathemerium in Cx. pipiens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Garrigós
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Guillem Ylla
- Bioinformatics and Genome Biology Lab, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Parasitology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - María José Ruiz-López
- CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana, CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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Köchling K, Schaub GA, Werner D, Kampen H. Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:369. [PMID: 37853399 PMCID: PMC10585844 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05965-0] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although haemosporidian parasites may cause considerable health and economic problems in aviaries, there is limited understanding of the vectors transmitting them. Mosquito-borne Plasmodium species are responsible for the deaths of numerous exotic (= immunologically naïve) birds in zoos every year, while native birds are adapted to the parasites and largely protected by an effective immune response. METHODS Mosquitoes were collected in bird/animal parks, wetlands and private gardens in various regions of Germany from 2020 to 2022. Females were pooled with up to 10 specimens according to taxon, location and date. Extracted DNA was screened for avian Haemosporida-specific mitochondrial rDNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were amplified by a Plasmodium/Haemoproteus-specific nested PCR targeting the partial cytochrome b gene, followed by sequencing of the PCR product for species identification. Sequences were checked against GenBank and MalAvi databases. RESULTS PCR of 2633 pools with 8834 female mosquitoes signalled infection with Plasmodium in 46 pools and with Haemoproteus in one pool. Further amplification and sequencing demonstrated the occurrence of Haemoproteus majoris lineage PARUS1 (n = 1) as well as several Plasmodium species and lineages, including Plasmodium relictum SGS1 (n = 16) and GRW11 (n = 1), P. matutinum LINN1 (n = 13), P. vaughani SYAT05 (n = 10), P. circumflexum TURDUS01 (n = 3), P. cathemerium PADOM02 (n = 1) and Plasmodium sp. SYBOR02 (n = 1) and PLOPRI01 (n = 1). The infections were detected in Culex pipiens sensu lato (n = 40), Culiseta morsitans/fumipennis (n = 6) and Aedes cinereus/geminus (n = 1). CONCLUSIONS Although the overall Plasmodium minimum infection rate (5.2) appears to be low, the results demonstrated not only the ongoing circulation of Plasmodium parasites in the German mosquito population, but also the occurrence of eight distinct Plasmodium lineages, with three of them (PADOM02, SYBOR02, PLOPRI01) being detected in Germany for the first time. This study highlights the importance of conducting mosquito-borne pathogen surveillance studies simultaneously targeting vectors and vertebrate hosts, as certain species may be detected more readily in their vectors than in their vertebrate hosts, and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Köchling
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany.
| | | | - Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Muencheberg, Germany
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Germany
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Odagawa T, Inumaru M, Sato Y, Murata K, Higa Y, Tsuda Y. A long-term field study on mosquito vectors of avian malaria parasites in Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2022; 84:1391-1398. [PMID: 35979553 PMCID: PMC9586024 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.22-0211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease of birds caused by avian
Plasmodium spp. in worldwide scale. Some naïve birds show serious
symptoms which can result in death. Surveillance of vectors and parasites are important to
understand and control this disease. Although avian malaria has been found in Japan,
detailed prevalence and dynamics remained understudied. We aimed to observe annual changes
in the abundance of mosquitoes and the prevalence of avian Plasmodium
parasites in Japan. Mosquitoes were collected using dry ice traps over a 10-year period,
at a fixed research area located in Kanagawa prefecture. Collected mosquitoes were
investigated for the species composition, population size and prevalence of avian
Plasmodium by PCR. Mosquitoes belonging to 13 species in 7 genera were
collected (n=8,965). The dominant species were Aedes
(Ae.) albopictus and Culex
(Cx.) pipiens group (gr.). Seven avian
Plasmodium lineages, all of which were previously known, were detected
from Cx. pipiens gr., Ae. albopictus, and
Tripteroides bambusa. Three genetic lineages were dominant and were
probably transmitted by Cx. pipiens gr. whose could be the primary vector
of these parasites. Annual variations in the seasonal prevalence of mosquitoes and avian
Plasmodium were revealed for the first time during recent 10 years in
Japan. Namely, avian Plasmodium occurrence in the vector population
peaked often in June to July and September to October when the density of the vector
population was presumably high enough for the transmission of avian
Plasmodium upon appearance of infected birds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yukita Sato
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University
| | - Koichi Murata
- Department of Animal Resource Science, Nihon University
| | - Yukiko Higa
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Yoshio Tsuda
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
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Inumaru M, Yamada A, Shimizu M, Ono A, Horinouchi M, Shimamoto T, Tsuda Y, Murata K, Sato Y. Vector incrimination and transmission of avian malaria at an aquarium in Japan: mismatch in parasite composition between mosquitoes and penguins. Malar J 2021; 20:136. [PMID: 33676517 PMCID: PMC7937252 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-021-03669-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Captive populations of penguins outside of their natural distributions are often maintained in outdoor facilities, such as zoos and aquariums. Consequently, such penguins in captivity are constantly exposed to mosquito vectors and risk of avian malarial infection during their active period from spring to autumn, which can be lethal to these naïve birds. Previous studies have investigated parasite prevalence in mosquitoes or penguins, but simultaneous investigations, which would be crucial to monitor the transmission dynamics and cycle within a facility, have not been done. To identify dominant lineages and trends, multiple-year surveys are recommended. Methods Avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) and related haemosporidia were tested in penguins and mosquitoes at an aquarium in Japan through multiple years from 2011 to 2018. Prevalence and dynamics were confirmed, and molecular analyses targeting the protozoal cytb gene were used to reveal the transmission cycle. Blood meals of mosquitoes were also identified using molecular methods. Results Parasite detection in penguins tended to fluctuate within an individual. Two Plasmodium lineages were consistently detected in mosquitoes that had fed on penguins and wild birds observed around the aquarium. Plasmodium lineage CXPIP09 was detected from both mosquitoes and penguins, suggesting active transmission at this facility. However, Plasmodium cathemerium PADOM02 was only detected in mosquitoes, which may be due to host, vector or parasite-related factors, or detection methods and their limits. Additionally, Haemoproteus larae SPMAG12 was detected from penguins, suggesting active transmission via biting midges. Conclusions The mismatch in parasite composition between penguins and mosquitoes shows that multiple aspects such as captive birds, wild birds and vector insects should be monitored in order to better understand and control avian malarial infection within ex-situ conservation facilities. Furthermore, morphological analyses would be needed to confirm competency and infection dynamics of avian malaria parasites. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12936-021-03669-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mizue Inumaru
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Atsushi Yamada
- Niigata City Aquarium Marinepia Nihonkai, 5932-445 Nishifunamicho, Chuo, Niigata, 951-8555, Japan
| | - Misa Shimizu
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Ayana Ono
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Makiko Horinouchi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Shimamoto
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Yoshio Tsuda
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan
| | - Koichi Murata
- Laboratory of Wildlife Science, Department of Animal Resource Sciences, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Yukita Sato
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Bioresource Sciences, Nihon University, 1866 Kameino, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan.
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