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Morais RAPB, Rodrigues APD, Diniz JAP, Úngari LP, O'Dwyer LH, de Souza W, DaMatta RA, Silva EO. Description of an intramonocytic haemoparasite, Hepatozoon lainsoni sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae), infecting Ameiva ameiva lizard (Reptilia: Squamata: Teiidae) in northern Brazil. Parasitology 2024; 151:468-477. [PMID: 38629122 PMCID: PMC11106504 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000180] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Haemogregarine (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) parasites are considered to be the most common and widespread haemoparasites in reptiles. The genus Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) can be found parasitizing a broad range of species and, in reptiles, they infect mainly peripheral blood erythrocytes. The present study detected and characterized a haemogregarine isolated from the lizard species, Ameiva ameiva, collected from the municipality of Capanema, Pará state, north Brazil. Blood smears and imprints from lungs, brain, heart, kidney, liver, bone marrow and spleen were observed using light microscopy and the parasite was genetically identified by molecular analysis. Morphological, morphometric and molecular data were obtained. Parasite gamonts were found in 49.5% (55/111) of the blood smears from A. ameiva, and were characterized as oval, averaging 12.0 ± 0.8 × 5.9 ± 0.6 μm2 in size, which displaced the nuclei of parasitized monocytes laterally. Parasite forms resembling immature gamonts were observed in the spleen and bone marrow of the lizards. Furthermore, phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA sequences did not reveal gene similarity with other Hepatozoon spp. sequences from reptiles. Thus, morphological and molecular analyses have identified a new species of Hepatozoon parasite, Hepatozoon lainsoni sp. nov., which infects monocytes of the A. ameiva lizard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafaela A. P. B. Morais
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula D. Rodrigues
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil
| | - José Antonio P. Diniz
- Instituto Evandro Chagas, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil
| | - Letícia Pereira Úngari
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Setor de Parasitologia, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucia Helena O'Dwyer
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Setor de Parasitologia, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wanderley de Souza
- Laboratório de Ultraestrutura Celular Hertha Meyer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato A. DaMatta
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Tecidual, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Edilene O. Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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Picelli AM, Silva MRL, Correa JKC, Paiva GR, Paula FR, Hernández-Ruz EJ, Oliveira EA, Viana LA. Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 parasites in the Colubridae snakes Clelia clelia (Daudin, 1803) and Drymarchon corais (Boie, 1827) from the Eastern Amazonia. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220115. [PMID: 37255167 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the genetic, morphological, and morphometric data of blood gamonts, we identified Hepatozoon parasites in colubrid snakes sampled in the Eastern Amazon region. Hepatozoon trigeminum was detected in the mussurana snake Clelia clelia and exhibited wide and elongated gamonts (mean dimensions: 14.25±0.65 × 4.31±0.43 μm) with an evident parasitophorous vacuole. Hepatozoon odwyerae sp. nov. was described in the indigo snake Drymarchon corais, whose gamonts have elongated and thin bodies (mean dimensions: 13.41±0.79 × 3.72±0.35 μm) with one end more tapered than the other. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the amplification of a 441 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, revealed that the novel sequences of Hepatozoon spp. from our study were closely related to hemogregarine lineages found in lizards and snakes from Brazil, forming a well-supported monophyletic clade with them. The present study provides the first species description of Hepatoozon in D. corais and a new record of a host species for C. clelia using the integrated taxonomic data. We also highlight the importance of further investigations into the diversity of Hepatozoon in snakes, a rich but underestimated group of parasites, especially in the Amazonian biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Maria Picelli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Avenida Pres. Dutra, 2965, 76801-058 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, Rua da Beira, 7671, 76812-245 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina L Silva
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Jamille Karina C Correa
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Gleicierle R Paiva
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Laboratório de Zoologia, Rua Coronel José Porfírio 2515, 68372-040 Altamira, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabiane R Paula
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-IOC/Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Emil José Hernández-Ruz
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Laboratório de Zoologia, Rua Coronel José Porfírio 2515, 68372-040 Altamira, PA, Brazil
| | - Elciomar A Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede BIONORTE, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida General Rodrigo Octavio Jordão Ramos, 1200, 69067-005 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Lúcio André Viana
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
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First Record of Hepatozoon spp. in Alpine Wild Rodents: Implications and Perspectives for Transmission Dynamics across the Food Web. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10040712. [PMID: 35456763 PMCID: PMC9027474 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10040712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the Apicomplexa parasites, Hepatozoon spp. have been mainly studied in domestic animals and peri-urban areas. The epidemiology of Hepatozoon spp. is poorly investigated in natural systems and wild hosts because of their scarce veterinary and economic relevance. For most habitats, the occurrence of these parasites is unknown, despite their high ecosystemic role. To fill this gap for alpine small mammals, we applied molecular PCR-based methods and sequencing to determine the Hepatozoon spp. in 830 ear samples from 11 small mammal species (i.e., Apodemus, Myodes, Chionomys, Microtus, Crocidura and Sorex genera) live-trapped during a cross-sectional study along an altitudinal gradient in the North-Eastern Italian Alps. We detected Hepatozoon spp. with an overall prevalence of 35.9%. Two species ranging from 500 m a.s.l. to 2500 m a.s.l. were the most infected: My. glareolus, followed by Apodemus spp. Additionally, we detected the parasite for the first time in another alpine species: C. nivalis at 2000–2500 m a.s.l. Our findings suggest that several rodent species maintain Hepatozoon spp. along the alpine altitudinal gradient of habitats. The transmission pathway of this group of parasites and their role within the alpine mammal community need further investigation, especially in consideration of the rapidly occurring environmental and climatic changes.
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Hepatozoon parasites (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) in fish Hoplias aimara (Characiformes, Erythrinidae) from the Eastern Amazon, Brazil. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1041-1046. [PMID: 35165785 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07462-2] [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: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
This study reports the occurrence of parasites belonging to the Hepatozoon genus in fish Hoplias aimara from the Eastern Amazon. Fish (n = 54) were sampled from the Falsino River, located in the Amapá National Forest (FLONA), in the state of Amapá, northern Brazil. Fresh liver preparations were examined in the field between a slide and a coverslip under a light microscope. Cysts containing Hepatozoon cystozoites were observed in the liver of 5 (9%) out of 54 H. aimara individuals. The cysts were ovoid (mean dimensions 10.28 × 9.8 μm), presenting up to four elongated cystozoites (mean dimensions 11.04 × 1.68 μm), containing 1 to 4 residual bodies of different sizes. A single liver sample containing cysts was submitted to DNA extraction and PCR analyses based on a fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. The sequencing revealed a 465 bp fragment exhibiting 99% query coverage, 0.0 E-value, and 98.7% identity with Hepatozoon caimani (MF322538 and MF322539), detected in caimans (Caiman yacare) from Brazil. This is the first report of the occurrence of cysts containing Hepatozoon cystozoites in free-living fishes.
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Picelli AM, da Silva MRL, Ramires AC, da Silva TRR, Pessoa FAC, Viana LA, Kaefer IL. Redescription of Hepatozoon ameivae (Carini and Rudolph, 1912) from the lizard Ameiva ameiva (Linnaeus, 1758). Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2659-2666. [PMID: 32529297 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06760-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Blood samples from 72 Ameiva ameiva lizards from Central Amazonian upland forests were collected, and thin smears of 40 (55.5%) animals were positive for gamonts of Hepatozoon with a mean level of intensity of infection of 14 parasites/2000 blood erythrocytes (0.73%). The gametocytes were found attached with host cells' nuclei, and their dimensions were 14.28 ± 1.05 μm in length and 4.50 ± 0.80 μm in width. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S rRNA gene showed that the new sequences obtained from A. ameiva constitute a monophyletic sister clade to the Hepatozoon spp. from Brazilian snakes. Based on morphological features and new molecular data, we redescribe this hemogregarine as Hepatozoon ameivae. This study also provides the first molecular characterization of a Hepatozoon species from a Brazilian lizard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Maria Picelli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, 69067-005, Brazil.
| | - Maria Regina Lucas da Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Adriane Costa Ramires
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, 69067-005, Brazil
| | - Túllio Romão Ribeiro da Silva
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, AM, 69067-005, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Felipe Arley Costa Pessoa
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia, Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus, AM, 69067-005, Brazil
| | - Lucio André Viana
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Igor Luis Kaefer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, 69067-005, Brazil
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, 69067-005, Brazil
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Bazzano V, Félix ML, Parodi P, Carvalho LA, Nava S, Armúa-Fernández MT, Venzal JM. Phylogenetic analysis of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) infecting Philodryas patagoniensis (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Uruguay. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1093-1100. [PMID: 31938888 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06605-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to perform a phylogenetic analysis of Hepatozoon spp. infecting Philodryas patagoniensis in Uruguay. Twenty-five road-killed specimens of P. patagoniensis from ten departments were obtained. Samples of blood and/or heart tissue were taken. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was carried out amplifying a specific target region of the 18S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. Eighteen out of twenty-five samples were positive to Hepatozoon spp., which gave an overall prevalence of 72%. Phylogenetic analyses with the obtained sequences were carried out to determine the relationship with closely related species found in the region. The results revealed that samples were split into two clades with a high bootstrap support. Clade I was formed with Hepatozoon spp. sequences obtained in this study from P. patagoniensis, Hepatozoon cuestensis from Crotalus durissus terrificus and Hepatozoon musa from Philodryas nattereri, and Hepatozoon spp. retrieved from Cerdocyon thous, Hemidactylus mabouia, and Phyllopezus pollicaris from Brazil, respectively. Clade II was grouped with Hepatozoon cevapii and Hepatozoon massardii, both species described for C. d. terrificus from Brazil. This is the first report of Hepatozoon spp. in snakes from Uruguay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentin Bazzano
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - María L Félix
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Parodi
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Luis A Carvalho
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - Santiago Nava
- Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, CC 22, CP 2300, Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María T Armúa-Fernández
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay
| | - José M Venzal
- Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas, Facultad de Veterinaria, CENUR Litoral Norte - Salto, Universidad de la República, Rivera 1350, CP 50000, Salto, Uruguay.
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Reeves LE, Krysko KL, Avery ML, Gillett-Kaufman JL, Kawahara AY, Connelly CR, Kaufman PE. Interactions between the invasive Burmese python, Python bivittatus Kuhl, and the local mosquito community in Florida, USA. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0190633. [PMID: 29342169 PMCID: PMC5771569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The Burmese python, Python bivittatus Kuhl, is a well-established invasive species in the greater Everglades ecosystem of southern Florida, USA. Most research on its ecological impacts focuses on its role as a predator and its trophic interactions with native vertebrate species, particularly mammals. Beyond predation, there is little known about the ecological interactions between P. bivittatus and native faunal communities. It is likely that established populations of P. bivittatus in southern Florida serve as hosts for native mosquito communities. To test this concept, we used mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I DNA barcoding to determine the hosts of blood fed mosquitoes collected at a research facility in northern Florida where captive P. bivittatus and Argentine black and white tegu, Salvator merianae (Duméril and Bibron), are maintained in outdoor enclosures, accessible to local mosquitoes. We recovered python DNA from the blood meals of three species of Culex mosquitoes: Culex erraticus (Dyar and Knab), Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Culex pilosus (Dyar and Knab). Culex erraticus conclusively (P = 0.001; Fisher's Exact Test) took more blood meals from P. bivittatus than from any other available host. While the majority of mosquito blood meals in our sample were derived from P. bivittatus, only one was derived from S. merianae. These results demonstrate that local mosquitoes will feed on invasive P. bivittatus, a recently introduced host. If these interactions also occur in southern Florida, P. bivittatus may be involved in the transmission networks of mosquito-vectored pathogens. Our results also illustrate the potential of detecting the presence of P. bivittatus in the field through screening mosquito blood meals for their DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence E. Reeves
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Kenneth L. Krysko
- Division of Herpetology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michael L. Avery
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Akito Y. Kawahara
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - C. Roxanne Connelly
- Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Vero Beach, Florida, United States of America
| | - Phillip E. Kaufman
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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Van As J, Davies AJ, Smit NJ. Life cycle of Hepatozoon affluomaloti sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae) in crag lizards (Sauria: Cordylidae) and in culicine mosquitoes from South Africa. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2015; 62. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Pereira GR, Soares P, Gomes MQ, Viana LA, Manso PPDA, Machado MP, Paiva F, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R. Are fish paratenic natural hosts of the caiman haemoparasite Hepatozoon caimani? Parasitol Res 2013; 113:39-45. [PMID: 24142284 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3623-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The susceptibility of two fish and four mosquito species to the Caiman yacare haemoparasite Hepatozoon caimani was experimentally investigated. Mosquitoes belonging to four species (Aedes fluviatilis, Aedes albopictus, Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus) were blood-fed on two naturally infected C. yacare from the Central-West Region of Brazil that exhibited distinct levels of parasitaemia: caimans A (11.05%) and B (1.25%). None of the engorged A. fluviatilis, A. albopictus or A. aegypti mosquitoes fed on caiman A survived for the duration of the sporogonic cycle; the great majority of the engorged mosquitoes died within 48 h of the blood meal. All A. aegypti fed on caiman B were negative, whereas 91.3% of dissected C. quinquefasciatus fed on the same caiman contained oocysts. Characid fish-Metynnis sp. and Astyanax sp.-were individually fed with C. quinquefasciatus females previously engorged (21-23 days) on caiman B. No parasite was found in the Astyanax fish. By contrast, 100% of the Metynnis fish depicted numerous cysts harbouring cystozoites identical to those of H. caimani, even more than 8 months after the ingestion of the infected mosquitoes. The cysts were located near the veins of the liver and, in some cases, close to the tunica intima of these vessels. No inflammatory reaction was observed. Gametocytes were observed in the blood smears of juvenile caimans that had ingested infected fish 9-12 weeks earlier. The potential role of fish as paratenic vertebrate hosts of H. caimani in nature is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glauber Rocha Pereira
- Laboratório de Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Molnár O, Bajer K, Mészáros B, Török J, Herczeg G. Negative correlation between nuptial throat colour and blood parasite load in male European green lizards supports the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis. Naturwissenschaften 2013; 100:551-8. [PMID: 23644520 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-013-1051-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Revised: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 04/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
During female mate choice, conspicuous male sexual signals are used to infer male quality and choose the best sire for the offspring. The theory of parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis) presumes that parasite infection can influence the elaboration of sexual signals: resistant individuals can invest more energy into signal expression and thus advertise their individual quality through signal intensity. By preferring these males, females can provide resistance genes for their offspring. Previous research showed that nuptial throat colour of male European green lizard, Lacerta viridis, plays a role in both inter- and intrasexual selections as a condition-dependent multiple signalling system. The aim of this study was to test the predictions of the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis on male European green lizards. By blood sampling 30 adult males during the reproductive season, we found members of the Haemogregarinidae family in all but one individual (prevalence = 96%). The infection intensity showed strong negative correlation with the throat and belly colour brightness in line with the predictions of the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis. In addition, we found other correlations between infection intensity and other fitness-related traits, suggesting that parasite load has a remarkable effect on individual fitness. This study shows that throat patch colour of the European green lizards not only is a multiple signalling system but also possibly acts as an honest sexual signal of health state in accordance with the Hamilton-Zuk hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Molnár
- Department of Biological Sciences, Life Sciences Center, Dartmouth College, 78 College Street, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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Viana LA, Soares P, Silva JE, Paiva F, Coutinho ME. Anurans as paratenic hosts in the transmission of Hepatozoon caimani to caimans Caiman yacare and Caiman latirostris. Parasitol Res 2011; 110:883-6. [PMID: 21808978 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-011-2570-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Prevalence of Hepatozoon caimani has been reported in 76% of caimans Caiman yacare from the Pantanal region. Culex (Melanoconion) spp. mosquitoes were recently identified as natural vectors of this parasite. However, culicids are not typically eaten by crocodilians, suggesting that the main transmission route is through ingestion of insectivorous vertebrates, such as anurans. The susceptibility of wild frogs Leptodactylus chaquensis, Leptodactylus podicipinus and Scinax nasicus to infection by H. caimani was verified. Wild-caught anurans were force fed with sporulated oocysts from laboratory-bred Culex (Melanoconion) mosquitoes. Frogs were killed 30 days postinfection, and their internal organs were fed to caimans C. yacare and Caiman latirostris. Cystozoites were identified in fresh liver impression smears of L. chaquensis. C. yacare fed on anuran organ presented gametocytes in peripheral blood circulation between 74 and 80 days postinoculation (dpi). Gametocytes were also verified in C. latirostris fed on the internal organs of L. podicipinus and S. nasicus between 60-70 and 69-75 dpi, respectively. Since frogs used in experiment are sympatric with C. yacare and C. latirostris and may occur in the diet of these caimans, the results suggest these amphibians are paratenic hosts in the natural transmission cycle of H. caimani in Pantanal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lúcio André Viana
- Laboratório de Ecologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Ecologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rua São Francisco Xavier 524, Maracanã, 20541-000 Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Haemogregarine blood parasites in the lizards Podarcis bocagei (Seoane) and P. carbonelli (Pérez-Mellado) (Sauria: Lacertidae) from NW Portugal. Syst Parasitol 2009; 75:75-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s11230-009-9206-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2009] [Accepted: 07/07/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Sloboda M, Kamler M, Bulantová J, Votýpka J, Modrý D. Rodents as intermediate hosts of Hepatozoon ayorgbor (Apicomplexa: Adeleina: Hepatozoidae) from the African ball python, Python regius? Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2008; 55:13-6. [PMID: 18578163 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2008.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Two experimental trials were performed to elucidate the role of rodents in the life cycle of Hepatozoon species using snakes as intermediate hosts. In one trial, two ball pythons, Python regius Shaw, 1802 were force fed livers of laboratory mice previously inoculated with sporocysts of Hepatozoon ayorgbor Sloboda, Kamler, Bulantová, Votýpka et Modrý, 2007. Transmission was successful in these experimentally infected snakes as evidenced by the appearance of intraerythrocytic gamonts, which persisted until the end of trial, 12 months after inoculation. Developmental stages of haemogregarines were not observed in histological sections from mice. In another experimental trial, a presence of haemogregarine DNA in mice inoculated with H. ayorgbor was demonstrated by PCR in the liver, lungs and spleen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Sloboda
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Palackého 1-3, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
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Johnson EM, Allen KE, Breshears MA, Panciera RJ, Little SE, Ewing SA. Experimental transmission of Hepatozoon americanum to rodents. Vet Parasitol 2008; 151:164-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2007] [Revised: 10/25/2007] [Accepted: 10/26/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Sloboda M, Kamler M, Bulantová J, Votýpka J, Modrý D. A new species of Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) from Python regius (Serpentes: Pythonidae) and its experimental transmission by a mosquito vector. J Parasitol 2008; 93:1189-98. [PMID: 18163356 DOI: 10.1645/ge-1200r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatozoon ayorgbor n. sp. is described from specimens of Python regius imported from Ghana. Gametocytes were found in the peripheral blood of 43 of 55 snakes examined. Localization of gametocytes was mainly inside the erythrocytes; free gametocytes were found in 15 (34.9%) positive specimens. Infections of laboratory-reared Culex quinquefasciatus feeding on infected snakes, as well as experimental infection of juvenile Python regius by ingestion of infected mosquitoes, were performed to complete the life cycle. Similarly, transmission to different snake species (Boa constrictor and Lamprophis fuliginosus) and lizards (Lepidodactylus lugubris) was performed to assess the host specificity. Isolates were compared with Hepatozoon species from sub-Saharan reptiles and described as a new species based on the morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and a complete life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Sloboda
- Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Široký P, Kamler M, Frye FL, Fictum P, Modrý D. Endogenous development of Hemolivia mauritanica (Apicomplexa: Adeleina: Haemogregarinidae) in the marginated tortoise Testudo marginata (Reptilia: Testudinidae): evidence from experimental infection. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2007. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2007.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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