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Reinoso-Pérez MT, Dhondt KV, Dulcet H, Katzenstein N, Sydenstricker AV, Dhondt AA. Seasonal Variation in Detection of Haemosporidia in a Bird Community: A Comparison of Nested PCR and Microscopy. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:105-115. [PMID: 37909407 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00023] [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: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
In a 2-yr study on prevalence of Haemosporidia in an avian community in Ithaca, New York, USA, we tested the hypothesis that apparent seasonal variation in prevalence is influenced by the detection protocol. We confirmed a higher detection of Haemosporidia using a molecular diagnosis technique (PCR) than by microscopy; this further increased when the PCR test was triplicated. Microscopic examination and PCR techniques have different specificity and sensitivity and therefore different probabilities of detecting hemoparasites. Birds with chronic infections or sampled during winter often have very low parasitemia, and such infections may be missed by microscopy but detected by PCR. Haemosporidian prevalence was higher during the breeding season than during the nonbreeding season regardless of the method used. Detection of Leucocytozoon spp. infection from blood smears using microscopy was challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Teresa Reinoso-Pérez
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Fernow Hall, 226 Mann Dr., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Laboratory of Ornithology, 59 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Keila V Dhondt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, 602 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Holland Dulcet
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 602 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Present address: Westfield Veterinary Group, 562 Springfield Ave., Westfield, New Jersey 07090, USA
| | - Nina Katzenstein
- College of Veterinary Medicine, 602 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Agnes V Sydenstricker
- Department of Integrative Neurosciences, no. 230B, Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York 13902, USA
- Present address: Microbiology & Immunology Department, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York 10461, USA
| | - André A Dhondt
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson/Mudd Hall, 215 Tower Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
- Laboratory of Ornithology, 59 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
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2
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Sex-biased, but not plumage color-based, prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in free-range chickens. Parasitol Int 2023; 93:102722. [PMID: 36529451 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102722] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies found a relationship between blood parasite infection and bird gender, with higher prevalence in males. Some studies also found a relationship between host plumage color and parasitic infection, while others did not. Here, we investigated the blood parasite prevalence in correlation with sex and plumage color in free-range chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in China. We analyzed a total of 297 blood samples, out of which 234 chickens tested positive for haemosporidian parasites, with 78.5% parasite prevalence. Out of 139 males, 118 tested positive with 84.8% parasite prevalence while 116 of 158 female samples tested positive (73.4%). Leucocytotozoon was the most frequent genus isolated (193 infected individuals /234 birds), followed by Plasmodium (41 infected individuals/234 birds), with no Haemoproteus parasites being detected. There were no significant differences in the body parameters and chicken color plumages with regards to the infection status. Our study indicated that blood parasite infection was significantly different between male and female chickens, with infection prevalent in males.
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3
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Müller GA, de Mello CF, Bueno AS, de Alcantara Azevedo WT, Alencar J. Little noticed, but very important: The role of breeding sites formed by bamboos in maintaining the diversity of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Atlantic Forest biome. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0273774. [PMID: 36067179 PMCID: PMC9447929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the composition of mosquito species in different kinds of breeding sites in a tropical forest remnant of the Atlantic Forest and identified species of public health concern therein. Collections of immature forms of mosquitoes were carried out monthly at the Poço das Antas Biological Reserve in southeastern Brazil, between June 2014 and June 2015. Samples were collected from four types of breeding sites: bamboos, bromeliads, puddles, and a lake. A total of 1,182 specimens of mosquitoes belonging to 28 species and 13 genera were collected. Three species, Ad. squamipennis, An. neglectus, and Wy. arthrostigma represented 64.8% of the captured specimens. Only three species were found in more than one type of breeding site: Ps. ferox, An. triannulatus, and Tx. trichopygus. Two species of public health concern were found breeding in bamboo (Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus) and one in the lake (An. darlingi). Bamboo had the highest species richness, Shannon diversity, abundance of individuals and number of dominant species of all breeding sites. Similar Simpson diversity was obtained for bamboo and bromeliads, with higher values than those obtained for puddles and the lake. The significance of the four breeding sites, especially bamboos, is discussed in the context of controlling populations of sylvatic species of mosquitoes in Atlantic Forest areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerson Azulim Müller
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Panambi, RS, Brazil
| | - Cecilia Ferreira de Mello
- Laboratório de Diptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia (UFRRJ), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Anderson S. Bueno
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Farroupilha, Júlio de Castilhos, RS, Brazil
| | - Wellington Thadeu de Alcantara Azevedo
- Laboratório de Diptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Instituto de Biologia (UFRRJ), Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jeronimo Alencar
- Laboratório de Diptera, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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4
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No evidence of the presence of blood parasites in the Danube population of the common kingfisher Alcedo atthis in Slovakia. Biologia (Bratisl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-022-01081-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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5
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Amaya-Mejia W, Dodge M, Morris B, Dumbacher JP, Sehgal RNM. Prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites across islands of Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1621-1630. [PMID: 35362739 PMCID: PMC9098550 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07490-y] [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: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The taxonomically diverse and relatively understudied avifauna of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) island archipelagos provide a unique ecological framework for studying haemosporidian parasite differentiation and geographic structure. We implemented molecular and phylogenetic analyses of partial mitochondrial DNA sequences to assess the host distribution of 3 genera of vector-transmitted avian blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus) across a range of islands off the southeastern tip of PNG. We identified 40 new lineages of haemosporidians, including five lineages belonging to Leucocytozoon, a genus not previously described in this region. Leucocytozoon infections were only observed on the larger, human-inhabited islands. Lineages belonging to Haemoproteus were diverse and had broad geographic distribution. Compared to the mainland, Haemoproteus parasites on the smaller, more distant islands had greater host specificity and lower infection prevalence. The black sunbird (Leptocoma aspasia), a commonly caught species, was shown to be a rare host for Haemoproteus spp. infections. Moreover, although birds of the genus Pitohui harbor a neurotoxin (homobatrachotoxin), they demonstrated an infection prevalence comparable to other bird species. The islands of PNG display heterogeneous patterns of haemosporidian diversity, distribution and host-specificity and serve as a valuable model system for studying host-parasite-vector interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilmer Amaya-Mejia
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA.
| | - Molly Dodge
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - Brett Morris
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
| | - John P Dumbacher
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA.,California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
| | - Ravinder N M Sehgal
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA
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6
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Gutiérrez-López R, Bourret V, Loiseau C. Is Host Selection by Mosquitoes Driving Vector Specificity of Parasites? A Review on the Avian Malaria Model. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.569230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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7
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Ciloglu A, Ellis VA, Duc M, Downing PA, Inci A, Bensch S. Evolution of vector transmitted parasites by host switching revealed through sequencing of Haemoproteus parasite mitochondrial genomes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 153:106947. [PMID: 32866615 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Parasite species evolve by switching to new hosts, cospeciating with their current hosts, or speciating on their current hosts. Vector transmitted parasites are expected to speciate by host switching, but confirming this hypothesis has proved challenging. Parasite DNA can be difficult to sequence, thus well resolved parasite phylogenies that are needed to distinguish modes of parasite speciation are often lacking. Here, we studied speciation in vector transmitted avian haemosporidian parasites in the genus Haemoproteus and their warbler hosts (family Acrocephalidae). We overcome the difficulty of generating parasite genetic data by combining nested long-range PCR with next generation sequencing to sequence whole mitochondrial genomes from 19 parasite haplotypes confined to Acrocephalidae warblers, resulting in a well-supported parasite phylogeny. We also generated a well-supported host phylogeny using five genes from published sources. Our phylogenetic analyses confirm that these parasites have speciated by host switching. We also found that closely related host species shared parasites which themselves were not closely related. Sharing of parasites by closely related host species is not due to host geographic range overlap, but may be the result of phylogenetically conserved host immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arif Ciloglu
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, S-22362 Lund, Sweden; Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey.
| | - Vincenzo A Ellis
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, S-22362 Lund, Sweden; Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Mélanie Duc
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, S-22362 Lund, Sweden; Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, Vilnius 08412, Lithuania
| | - Philip A Downing
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Abdullah Inci
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey; Vectors and Vector-Borne Diseases Implementation and Research Center, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Staffan Bensch
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Laboratory, Department of Biology, Lund University, S-22362 Lund, Sweden
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8
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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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9
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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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Gangoso L, Gutiérrez-López R, Martínez-de la Puente J, Figuerola J. Louse flies of Eleonora's falcons that also feed on their prey are evolutionary dead-end hosts for blood parasites. Mol Ecol 2019; 28:1812-1825. [PMID: 30710395 PMCID: PMC6850589 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Host shifts are widespread among avian haemosporidians, although the success of transmission depends upon parasite‐host and parasite‐vector compatibility. Insular avifaunas are typically characterized by a low prevalence and diversity of haemosporidians, although the underlying ecological and evolutionary processes remain unclear. We investigated the parasite transmission network in an insular system formed by Eleonora's falcons (the avian host), louse flies that parasitize the falcons (the potential vector), and haemosporidians (the parasites). We found a great diversity of parasites in louse flies (16 Haemoproteus and 6 Plasmodium lineages) that did not match with lineages previously found infecting adult falcons (only one shared lineage). Because Eleonora's falcon feeds on migratory passerines hunted over the ocean, we sampled falcon kills in search of the origin of parasites found in louse flies. Surprisingly, louse flies shared 10 of the 18 different parasite lineages infecting falcon kills. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all lineages found in louse flies (including five new lineages) corresponded to Haemoproteus and Plasmodium parasites infecting Passeriformes. We found molecular evidence of louse flies feeding on passerines hunted by falcons. The lack of infection in nestlings and the mismatch between the lineages isolated in adult falcons and louse flies suggest that despite louse flies’ contact with a diverse array of parasites, no successful transmission to Eleonora's falcon occurs. This could be due to the falcons’ resistance to infection, the inability of parasites to develop in these phylogenetically distant species, or the inability of haemosporidian lineages to complete their development in louse flies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gangoso
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | | | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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11
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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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12
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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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Carlson JS, Nelms B, Barker CM, Reisen WK, Sehgal RNM, Cornel AJ. Avian malaria co-infections confound infectivity and vector competence assays of Plasmodium homopolare. Parasitol Res 2018; 117:2385-2394. [PMID: 29845414 PMCID: PMC6061047 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-018-5924-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Currently, there are very few studies of avian malaria that investigate relationships among the host-vector-parasite triad concomitantly. In the current study, we experimentally measured the vector competence of several Culex mosquitoes for a newly described avian malaria parasite, Plasmodium homopolare. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) blood infected with a low P. homopolare parasitemia was inoculated into a naïve domestic canary (Serinus canaria forma domestica). Within 5 to 10 days post infection (dpi), the canary unexpectedly developed a simultaneous high parasitemic infection of Plasmodium cathemerium (Pcat6) and a low parasitemic infection of P. homopolare, both of which were detected in blood smears. During this infection period, PCR detected Pcat6, but not P. homopolare in the canary. Between 10 and 60 dpi, Pcat6 blood stages were no longer visible and PCR no longer amplified Pcat6 parasite DNA from canary blood. However, P. homopolare blood stages remained visible, albeit still at very low parasitemias, and PCR was able to amplify P. homopolare DNA. This pattern of mixed Pcat6 and P. homopolare infection was repeated in three secondary infected canaries that were injected with blood from the first infected canary. Mosquitoes that blood-fed on the secondary infected canaries developed infections with Pcat6 as well as another P. cathemerium lineage (Pcat8); none developed PCR detectable P. homopolare infections. These observations suggest that the original P. homopolare-infected songbird also had two un-detectable P. cathemerium lineages/strains. The vector and host infectivity trials in this study demonstrated that current molecular assays may significantly underreport the extent of mixed avian malaria infections in vectors and hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny S Carlson
- Department of Entomology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | | | - Christopher M Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - William K Reisen
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Ravinder N M Sehgal
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anthony J Cornel
- Department of Entomology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Vector Genetics Laboratory, Dept. Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA.,Adjunct Appointment, School of Health Systems & Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Chahad-Ehlers S, Fushita AT, Lacorte GA, Assis PCPD, Del Lama SN. Effects of habitat suitability for vectors, environmental factors and host characteristics on the spatial distribution of the diversity and prevalence of haemosporidians in waterbirds from three Brazilian wetlands. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:276. [PMID: 29716645 PMCID: PMC5930942 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2847-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Wetlands are ecosystems in which vectors of avian haemosporidians live and reproduce and where waterbirds join to breed in colonies. Brazil has wetlands at different latitudes, which enables testing the influence of the ecological factors on the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidians. We identified avian haemosporidians in waterbird species in three wetlands and investigated the effects of vector habitat suitability, landscape and host characteristics on the diversity and prevalence of these parasites. Methods We created a map with the probability of occurrence of avian haemosporidian vectors using maximum-entropy modelling based on references addressing species known to be vectors of haemosporidians in birds in Brazil. We determined the prevalence and diversity index of haemosporidians in the great egret (Ardea alba) (n = 129) and roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) (n = 180) and compared the findings to data for the wood stork (Mycteria americana) (n = 199). Results We report the first record of Plasmodium in the family Threskiornithidae: four lineages in the roseate spoonbill, which also presented one lineage of Haemoproteus. In the family Ardeidae, we found three Plasmodium lineages in the great egret. The similar habitat suitability for vectors found in three wetlands explains the pattern of haemosporidian diversity determined for great egret and wood stork populations. Comparisons of haemosporidian diversity within each waterbird species and between regions showed a higher level in the central-western roseate spoonbill population than in the northern population (P = 0.021). Removing the host effect, we discussed the results obtained in terms of characteristics of the Pantanal region. Comparisons of Plasmodium spp. prevalence among waterbird species within the same wetland showed higher level in roseate spoonbill (74%) than those found in the great egret (21%) and wood stork (11%). Excluding the environmental effect, we interpreted result focusing host characteristics that favour infection: time required for nestlings to be covered by feathers and migratory behaviour. Conclusions The map of habitat suitability showed that wetlands located in a 30° latitudinal range offer similar conditions for avian vectors species and diversity of haemosporidians. The lineages described in waterbirds were previously identified in birds of prey as Plasmodium paranucleophilum. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-018-2847-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samira Chahad-Ehlers
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235 SP-310, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Angela Terumi Fushita
- Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Aplicadas Universidade Federal do ABC, Avenida dos Estados 5001, Santo André, São Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Augusto Lacorte
- Laboratório Biologia Molecular, Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais, Bambuí, Fazenda Varginha, Rodovia Bambuí - Medeiros, km 5, Bambuí, Minas Gerais, 38900-000, Brazil
| | - Pamela Carla Pereira de Assis
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235 SP-310, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Silvia Nassif Del Lama
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luís, km 235 SP-310, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil.
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Fecchio A, Bell JA, Collins MD, Farias IP, Trisos CH, Tobias JA, Tkach VV, Weckstein JD, Ricklefs RE, Batalha-Filho H. Diversification by host switching and dispersal shaped the diversity and distribution of avian malaria parasites in Amazonia. OIKOS 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.05115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fecchio
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Univ. Federal da Bahia; Rua Barão de Jeremoabo 147 Salvador BA 40170115 Brazil
- Dept of Ornithology; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University; Philadelhpia PA USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jason David Weckstein
- Dept of Ornithology; Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Dept of Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Sciences; Drexel Univ.; Philadelphia PA USA
| | | | - Henrique Batalha-Filho
- Natl Inst. of Science and Technology in Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Studies in Ecology and Evolution (INCT IN-TREE)
- Laboratório de Evolução e Biogeografia, Inst. de Biologia; Univ. Federal da Bahia; Salvador BA Brazil
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16
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Ferraguti M, Martínez-de la Puente J, Bensch S, Roiz D, Ruiz S, Viana DS, Soriguer RC, Figuerola J. Ecological determinants of avian malaria infections: An integrative analysis at landscape, mosquito and vertebrate community levels. J Anim Ecol 2018; 87:727-740. [PMID: 29495129 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Vector and host communities, as well as habitat characteristics, may have important but different impacts on the prevalence, richness and evenness of vector-borne parasites. We investigated the relative importance of (1) the mosquito community composition, (2) the vertebrate community composition and (3) landscape characteristics on the prevalence, richness and evenness of avian Plasmodium. We hypothesized that parasite prevalence will be more affected by vector-related parameters, while host parameters should be also important to explain Plasmodium richness and evenness. We sampled 2,588 wild house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and 340,829 mosquitoes, and we performed vertebrate censuses at 45 localities in the Southwest of Spain. These localities included urban, rural and natural landscapes that were characterized by several habitat variables. Twelve Plasmodium lineages were identified in house sparrows corresponding to three major clades. Variation partitioning showed that landscape characteristics explained the highest fraction of variation in all response variables (21.0%-44.8%). Plasmodium prevalence was in addition explained by vector-related variables (5.4%) and its interaction with landscape (10.2%). Parasite richness and evenness were mostly explained by vertebrate community-related variables. The structuring role of landscape characteristics in vector and host communities was a key factor in determining parasite prevalence, richness and evenness, although the role of each factor differed according to the parasite parameters studied. These results show that the biotic and abiotic contexts are important to explain the transmission dynamics of mosquito-borne pathogens in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - David Roiz
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Santigo Ruiz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.,Diputación de Huelva, Área de Medio Ambiente, Servicio de Control de Mosquitos, Huelva, Spain
| | - Duarte S Viana
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Ramón C Soriguer
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain.,Departamento de Etología y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
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17
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Larson DA, Goddard J, Outlaw DC. Mosquito Vectors of Avian Malaria in Mississippi: A First Look. J Parasitol 2017; 103:683-691. [PMID: 28766991 DOI: 10.1645/17-66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The vectors of avian malaria (Haemosporida) are an understudied component of wildlife disease ecology. Most studies of avian malaria have focused on the intermediate bird hosts. This bias leaves a significant gap in our knowledge and understanding of the insect hosts. This study investigates the diversity of malaria parasites carried by mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in the state of Mississippi. With the use of molecular techniques, haemosporidian infection rates were determined and parasites were identified. A total of 27,157 female mosquitoes representing 15 species were captured. Five of those species tested positive for malaria parasites with an overall infection rate of 4 per 1,000 mosquitoes infected. Mosquitoes were shown to harbor Plasmodium and Haemoproteus ( Parahaemoproteus) parasites. A unique lineage of parasites was discovered in Anopheles mosquitoes, potentially representing a new genus of haemosporidian parasites, reinforcing the need to continue investigating this diverse group of parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Larson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
| | - Jerome Goddard
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
| | - Diana C Outlaw
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762
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18
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Burkett-Cadena ND, Blosser EM. Aedeomyia squamipennis (Diptera: Culicidae) in Florida, USA, a New State and Country Record. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2017; 54:788-792. [PMID: 28399225 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjw226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Aedeomyia squamipennis (Lynch Arribalzaga) is a tropical mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) found throughout most of the American Tropics, from eastern Mexico through Argentina, including several Caribbean islands. Larvae are typically associated with bodies of water with dense growths of aquatic vegetation, particularly Pistia stratiotes L., water lettuce. Adult females feed predominantly on the blood of birds and seek hosts in forest canopies. Aedeomyia squamipennis is considered an important vector of Gamboa virus and avian malaria, and is also suspected of transmitting Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Collections from Florida City, FL, near the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, yielded larvae, adult males, and females of Ad. squamipennis, constituting a new genus and species record for Florida and the United States. The widespread availability of larval habitat and suitable hosts in Florida will likely lead to expansion of Ad. squamipennis in Florida, and perhaps into neighboring states. In South America, Ad. squamipennis is found as far south as Buenos Aires, Argentina, at ∼35° S latitude, which is equivalent in N latitude to coastal North Carolina. The northern limit of expansion of Ad. squamipennis in North America will likely be limited by winter temperatures and availability of larval habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Burkett-Cadena
- University of Florida IFAS, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, 200 9th St., SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962 (; )
| | - Erik M Blosser
- University of Florida IFAS, Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, 200 9th St., SE, Vero Beach, FL 32962 (; )
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Clark NJ, Clegg SM. Integrating phylogenetic and ecological distances reveals new insights into parasite host specificity. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:3074-3086. [PMID: 28295937 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The range of hosts a pathogen infects (host specificity) is a key element of disease risk that may be influenced by both shared phylogenetic history and shared ecological attributes of prospective hosts. Phylospecificity indices quantify host specificity in terms of host relatedness, but can fail to capture ecological attributes that increase susceptibility. For instance, similarity in habitat niche may expose phylogenetically unrelated host species to similar pathogen assemblages. Using a recently proposed method that integrates multiple distances, we assess the relative contributions of host phylogenetic and functional distances to pathogen host specificity (functional-phylogenetic host specificity). We apply this index to a data set of avian malaria parasite (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp.) infections from Melanesian birds to show that multihost parasites generally use hosts that are closely related, not hosts with similar habitat niches. We also show that host community phylogenetic ß-diversity (Pßd) predicts parasite Pßd and that individual host species carry phylogenetically clustered Haemoproteus parasite assemblages. Our findings were robust to phylogenetic uncertainty, and suggest that phylogenetic ancestry of both hosts and parasites plays important roles in driving avian malaria host specificity and community assembly. However, restricting host specificity analyses to either recent or historical timescales identified notable exceptions, including a 'habitat specialist' parasite that infects a diversity of unrelated host species with similar habitat niches. This work highlights that integrating ecological and phylogenetic distances provides a powerful approach to better understand drivers of pathogen host specificity and community assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Clark
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, 4343, Australia.,Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld, 4111, Australia
| | - Sonya M Clegg
- Department of Zoology, Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
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20
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Ferreira FC, Rodrigues RA, Sato Y, Borges MAZ, Braga ÉM. Searching for putative avian malaria vectors in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in Brazil. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:587. [PMID: 27852326 PMCID: PMC5112751 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1865-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus can have detrimental effects on individual birds and populations. Despite recent investigations into the distribution and richness of these parasites and their vertebrate hosts, little is known about their dipteran vectors. The Neotropics has the highest diversity of mosquitoes in the world, but few studies have tried to identify vectors in this area, hampering the understanding of the ecology of avian malaria in the highly diverse Neotropical environments. Methods Shannon traps and active collection were used to capture 27,110 mosquitoes in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest in southeastern Brazil, a highly endangered ecosystem. Results We screened 17,619 mosquito abdomens from 12 different species and several unidentified specimens of Culex, grouped into 1,913 pools, for the presence of haemosporidians. Two pools (out of 459) of the mosquito Mansonia titillans and one pool (out of 29) of Mansonia pseudotitillans were positive for Plasmodium parasites, with the detection of a new parasite lineage in the former species. Detected Plasmodium lineages were distributed in three different clades within the phylogenetic tree revealing that Mansonia mosquitoes are potential vectors of genetically distant parasites. Two pools of Culex spp. (out of 43) were positive for Plasmodium gallinaceum and closely related lineages. We found a higher abundance of these putative vectors in pasture areas, but they were also distributed in areas at intermediate and late successional stages. One pool of the mosquito Psorophora discrucians (out of 173) was positive for Haemoproteus. Conclusions The occurrence of different Plasmodium lineages in Mansonia mosquitoes indicates that this genus encompasses potential vectors of avian malaria parasites in Brazil, even though we did not find positive thoraces among the samples tested. Additional evidence is required to assign the role of Mansonia mosquitoes in avian malaria transmission and further studies will add information about evolutionary and ecological aspects of avian haemosporidia and untangle the diversity of their vectors in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco C Ferreira
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Raquel A Rodrigues
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Yukita Sato
- Laboratory of Biomedical Science, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nihon University, Kameino 1866, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, 252-0880, Japan
| | - Magno A Z Borges
- Laboratório de Controle Biológico, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Campus Universitário Professor Darcy Ribeiro, Montes Claros, MG, 39401-089, Brazil
| | - Érika M Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
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Svensson‐Coelho M, Loiselle BA, Blake JG, Ricklefs RE. Resource predictability and specialization in avian malaria parasites. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:4377-91. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Svensson‐Coelho
- Department of Biology University of Missouri‐St Louis One University Boulevard St Louis MO 63121–4499 USA
| | - Bette A. Loiselle
- Department of Biology University of Missouri‐St Louis One University Boulevard St Louis MO 63121–4499 USA
| | - John G. Blake
- Department of Biology University of Missouri‐St Louis One University Boulevard St Louis MO 63121–4499 USA
| | - Robert E. Ricklefs
- Department of Biology University of Missouri‐St Louis One University Boulevard St Louis MO 63121–4499 USA
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22
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Moens MAJ, Valkiūnas G, Paca A, Bonaccorso E, Aguirre N, Pérez-Tris J. Parasite specialization in a unique habitat: hummingbirds as reservoirs of generalist blood parasites of Andean birds. J Anim Ecol 2016; 85:1234-45. [PMID: 27177277 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding how parasites fill their ecological niches requires information on the processes involved in the colonization and exploitation of unique host species. Switching to hosts with atypical attributes may favour generalists broadening their niches or may promote specialization and parasite diversification as the consequence. We analysed which blood parasites have successfully colonized hummingbirds, and how they have evolved to exploit such a unique habitat. We specifically asked (i) whether the assemblage of Haemoproteus parasites of hummingbirds is the result of single or multiple colonization events, (ii) to what extent these parasites are specialized in hummingbirds or shared with other birds and (iii) how hummingbirds contribute to sustain the populations of these parasites, in terms of both prevalence and infection intensity. We sampled 169 hummingbirds of 19 species along an elevation gradient in Southern Ecuador to analyse the host specificity, diversity and infection intensity of Haemoproteus by molecular and microscopy techniques. In addition, 736 birds of 112 species were analysed to explore whether hummingbird parasites are shared with other birds. Hummingbirds hosted a phylogenetically diverse assemblage of generalist Haemoproteus lineages shared with other host orders. Among these parasites, Haemoproteus witti stood out as the most generalized. Interestingly, we found that infection intensities of this parasite were extremely low in passerines (with no detectable gametocytes), but very high in hummingbirds, with many gametocytes seen. Moreover, infection intensities of H. witti were positively correlated with the prevalence across host species. Our results show that hummingbirds have been colonized by generalist Haemoproteus lineages on multiple occasions. However, one of these generalist parasites (H. witti) seems to be highly dependent on hummingbirds, which arise as the most relevant reservoirs in terms of both prevalence and gametocytaemia. From this perspective, this generalist parasite may be viewed as a hummingbird specialist. This challenges the current paradigm of how to measure host specialization in these parasites, which has important implications to understand disease ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël A J Moens
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Novais 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Anahi Paca
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Cotocollao, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Elisa Bonaccorso
- Centro de Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático (BioCamb), Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, Machala y Sabanilla, Cotocollao, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Nikolay Aguirre
- Biodiversity, Forests and Ecosystem Services Research Program, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Ciudadela Guillermo Falconi Espinoza, Casilla 11-01-24, Loja, Ecuador
| | - Javier Pérez-Tris
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Calle José Antonio Novais 12, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Plasmodium prevalence across avian host species is positively associated with exposure to mosquito vectors. Parasitology 2015; 142:1612-20. [PMID: 26394656 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182015001183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence of vector-borne parasites varies greatly across host species, and this heterogeneity has been used to relate infectious disease susceptibility to host species traits. However, a few empirical studies have directly associated vector-borne parasite prevalence with exposure to vectors across hosts. Here, we use DNA sequencing of blood meals to estimate utilization of different avian host species by Culex mosquitoes, and relate utilization by these malaria vectors to avian Plasmodium prevalence. We found that avian host species that are highly utilized as hosts by avian malaria vectors are significantly more likely to have Plasmodium infections. However, the effect was not consistent among individual Plasmodium taxa. Exposure to vector bites may therefore influence the relative number of all avian Plasmodium infections among host species, while other processes, such as parasite competition and host-parasite coevolution, delimit the host distributions of individual Plasmodium species. We demonstrate that links between avian malaria susceptibility and host traits can be conditioned by patterns of exposure to vectors. Linking vector utilization rates to host traits may be a key area of future research to understand mechanisms that produce variation in the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens among host species.
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Sehgal RN. Manifold habitat effects on the prevalence and diversity of avian blood parasites. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2015; 4:421-30. [PMID: 26835250 PMCID: PMC4699977 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2015.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2015] [Revised: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Habitats are rapidly changing across the planet and the consequences will have major and long-lasting effects on wildlife and their parasites. Birds harbor many types of blood parasites, but because of their relatively high prevalence and ease of diagnosis, it is the haemosporidians – Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon – that are the best studied in terms of ecology and evolution. For parasite transmission to occur, environmental conditions must be permissive, and given the many constraints on the competency of parasites, vectors and hosts, it is rather remarkable that these parasites are so prevalent and successful. Over the last decade, a rapidly growing body of literature has begun to clarify how environmental factors affect birds and the insects that vector their hematozoan parasites. Moreover, several studies have modeled how anthropogenic effects such as global climate change, deforestation and urbanization will impact the dynamics of parasite transmission. This review highlights recent research that impacts our understanding of how habitat and environmental changes can affect the distribution, diversity, prevalence and parasitemia of these avian blood parasites. Given the importance of environmental factors on transmission, it remains essential that researchers studying avian hematozoa document abiotic factors such as temperature, moisture and landscape elements. Ultimately, this continued research has the potential to inform conservation policies and help avert the loss of bird species and threatened habitats. Review of recent literature studying habitat effects on avian blood parasites. Habitat affects the prevalence, parasitemia, distribution and diversity of avian hematozoa. Environmental conditions must be permissive for parasite transmission to occur. Anthropogenic environmental changes will affect host–vector–parasite interactions.
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Moens MAJ, Pérez-Tris J. Discovering potential sources of emerging pathogens: South America is a reservoir of generalist avian blood parasites. Int J Parasitol 2015; 46:41-9. [PMID: 26348660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Generalist pathogens are capable of infecting a wide range of host species, and may pose serious disease emergence threats if accidentally moved outside their native areas. To date little effort has been devoted to identifying geographic areas that may act as reservoirs of generalist pathogens. According to current theory, where host diversity is high, parasite specialisation in one host species may be penalised by reduced host availability, while generalist parasites may benefit from the exploitation of various host species. Therefore natural selection could favor generalist parasites where host diversity is high. Here we explored if, in a highly diverse bird community in Ecuador, a generalist strategy is promoted among local Haemoproteus and Plasmodium blood-borne parasites compared with similar parasite communities throughout the world. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of every parasite lineage in order to understand the evolution of host specificity in this megadiverse area. We found high levels of host generalisation for both parasite genera, and the mean host range of the Haemoproteus community in Ecuador was significantly higher than other parasite communities in other areas outside the Neotropics. Generalist Haemoproteus parasites in this bird community had diverse phylogenetic ancestry, were closely related to specialist parasites and were apparently endemic to the Amazon, showing that different parasites have independently evolved into host generalists in this region. Finally we show that Haemoproteus communities in Ecuador and South America are more generalist than in temperate areas, making this continent a hotspot of generalist Haemoproteus parasites for wild birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël A J Moens
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Calle José Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Javier Pérez-Tris
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Calle José Antonio Novais 12, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Local host specialization, host-switching, and dispersal shape the regional distributions of avian haemosporidian parasites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:11294-9. [PMID: 26305975 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1515309112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The drivers of regional parasite distributions are poorly understood, especially in comparison with those of free-living species. For vector-transmitted parasites, in particular, distributions might be influenced by host-switching and by parasite dispersal with primary hosts and vectors. We surveyed haemosporidian blood parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) of small land birds in eastern North America to characterize a regional parasite community. Distributions of parasite populations generally reflected distributions of their hosts across the region. However, when the interdependence between hosts and parasites was controlled statistically, local host assemblages were related to regional climatic gradients, but parasite assemblages were not. Moreover, because parasite assemblage similarity does not decrease with distance when controlling for host assemblages and climate, parasites evidently disperse readily within the distributions of their hosts. The degree of specialization on hosts varied in some parasite lineages over short periods and small geographic distances independently of the diversity of available hosts and potentially competing parasite lineages. Nonrandom spatial turnover was apparent in parasite lineages infecting one host species that was well-sampled within a single year across its range, plausibly reflecting localized adaptations of hosts and parasites. Overall, populations of avian hosts generally determine the geographic distributions of haemosporidian parasites. However, parasites are not dispersal-limited within their host distributions, and they may switch hosts readily.
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Carlson JS, Walther E, TroutFryxell R, Staley S, Tell LA, Sehgal RNM, Barker CM, Cornel AJ. Identifying avian malaria vectors: sampling methods influence outcomes. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:365. [PMID: 26160384 PMCID: PMC4702297 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-0969-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The role of vectors in the transmission of avian malaria parasites is currently understudied. Many studies that investigate parasite-vector relationships use limited trapping techniques and/or identify potential competent vectors in the field in such ways that cannot distinguish between an infected or infectious vector. Without the use of multiple trapping techniques that address the specific biology of diverse mosquito species, and without looking at the infection status of individual mosquitoes, it is not possible to make dependable conclusions on the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of avian malaria parasites. Methods We conducted two years of mosquito collections at a riparian preserve in California where a wide diversity of species were collected with multiple trap types. We hypothesized that competent mosquito species can influence the distribution and diversity of avian malaria parasites by acting as a compatibility filter for specific Plasmodium species. To determine the infection status of all individual mosquitoes for Plasmodium species/lineages, amplification within the cytochrome b gene was carried out on over 3000 individual mosquito thoraxes, and for those that tested positive we then repeated the same process for abdomens and salivary glands. Results Our data show heterogeneity in the transmissibility of Plasmodium among ornithophillic mosquito species. More specifically, Culex stigmatosoma appears to not be a vector of Plasmodium homopolare, a parasite that is prevalent in the avian population, but is a vector of multiple other Plasmodium species/lineages. Conclusions Our results suggest that conclusions made on the role of vectors from studies that do not use different mosquito trapping methods should be re-evaluated with caution, as we documented the potential for trapping biases, which may cause studies to miss important roles of specific mosquito species in the transmission of avian malaria. Moreover, we document heterogeneity in the transmission of Plasmodium spp. by mosquitoes can influence Plasmodium diversity and prevalence in specific locations to Plasmodium-vector incompatibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny S Carlson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Erika Walther
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Rebecca TroutFryxell
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - Sarah Staley
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Lisa A Tell
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Ravinder N M Sehgal
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Christopher M Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Anthony J Cornel
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
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Olsson-Pons S, Clark NJ, Ishtiaq F, Clegg SM. Differences in host species relationships and biogeographic influences produce contrasting patterns of prevalence, community composition and genetic structure in two genera of avian malaria parasites in southern Melanesia. J Anim Ecol 2015; 84:985-98. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Olsson-Pons
- Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment; Griffith University; Gold Coast Campus Gold Coast Qld 4222 Australia
| | - Nicholas J. Clark
- Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment; Griffith University; Gold Coast Campus Gold Coast Qld 4222 Australia
- Natural Environments Program; Queensland Museum; PO Box 3300 South Brisbane Qld 4101 Australia
| | - Farah Ishtiaq
- Centre for Ecological Sciences; Indian Institute of Science; Bangalore Karnataka 560012 India
| | - Sonya M. Clegg
- Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment; Griffith University; Gold Coast Campus Gold Coast Qld 4222 Australia
- Edward Grey Institute; Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; South Parks Road Oxford OX1 3PS UK
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Svensson-Coelho M, Ellis VA, Loiselle BA, Blake JG, Ricklefs RE. Reciprocal Specialization in Multihost Malaria Parasite Communities of Birds: A Temperate-Tropical Comparison. Am Nat 2014; 184:624-35. [DOI: 10.1086/678126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
The malaria parasites (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) of birds are believed to have diversified across the avian host phylogeny well after the origin of most major host lineages. Although many symbionts with direct transmission codiversify with their hosts, mechanisms of species formation in vector-borne parasites, including the role of host shifting, are poorly understood. Here, we examine the hosts of sister lineages in a phylogeny of 181 putative species of malaria parasites of New World terrestrial birds to determine the role of shifts between host taxa in the formation of new parasite species. We find that host shifting, often across host genera and families, is the rule. Sympatric speciation by host shifting would require local reproductive isolation as a prerequisite to divergent selection, but this mechanism is not supported by the generalized host-biting behavior of most vectors of avian malaria parasites. Instead, the geographic distribution of individual parasite lineages in diverse hosts suggests that species formation is predominantly allopatric and involves host expansion followed by local host-pathogen coevolution and secondary sympatry, resulting in local shifting of parasite lineages across hosts.
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Zélé F, Vézilier J, L'Ambert G, Nicot A, Gandon S, Rivero A, Duron O. Dynamics of prevalence and diversity of avian malaria infections in wild Culex pipiens mosquitoes: the effects of Wolbachia, filarial nematodes and insecticide resistance. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:437. [PMID: 25228147 PMCID: PMC4261254 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 08/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Identifying the parasites transmitted by a particular vector and the factors that render this vector susceptible to the parasite are key steps to understanding disease transmission. Although avian malaria has become a model system for the investigation of the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of Plasmodium parasites, little is still known about the field prevalence, diversity and distribution of avian Plasmodium species within the vectors, or about the extrinsic factors affecting Plasmodium population dynamics in the wild. Methods We examined changes in avian malaria prevalence and Plasmodium lineage composition in female Culex pipiens caught throughout one field season in 2006, across four sampling sites in southern France. Using site occupancy models, we correct the naive estimates of Plasmodium prevalence to account for PCR-based imperfect detection. To establish the importance of different factors that may bear on the prevalence and diversity of avian Plasmodium in field mosquitoes, we focus on Wolbachia and filarial parasite co-infections, as well as on the insecticide resistance status of the mosquito. Results Plasmodium prevalence in Cx. pipiens increased from February (0%) to October (15.8%) and did not vary significantly among the four sampling sites. The application of site occupancy models leads to a 4% increase in this initial (naive) estimate of prevalence. The parasite community was composed of 15 different haemosporidian lineages, 13 of which belonged to the Plasmodium genus, and 2 to the Haemoproteus genus. Neither the presence of different Wolbachia types and of filarial parasites co-infecting the mosquitoes, nor their insecticide resistance status were found to affect the Plasmodium prevalence and diversity. Conclusion We found that haemosporidian parasites are common and diverse in wild-caught Cx. pipiens mosquitoes in Southern France. The prevalence of the infection in mosquitoes is unaffected by Wolbachia and filarial co-infections as well as the insecticide resistant status of the vector. These factors may thus have a negligible impact on the transmission of avian malaria. In contrast, the steady increase in prevalence from February to October indicates that the dynamics of avian malaria is driven by seasonality and supports that infected birds are the reservoir of a diverse community of lineages in southern France. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1756-3305-7-437) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Zélé
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Ecologie, Génétique, Evolution et Contrôle, (UMR CNRS-UM1-UM2 5290, IRD 224), Centre de Recherche IRD, 911 Avenue Agropolis, 34394 Montpellier, France.
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Clark NJ, Clegg SM, Lima MR. A review of global diversity in avian haemosporidians (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus: Haemosporida): new insights from molecular data. Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:329-38. [PMID: 24556563 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2013] [Revised: 01/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Biogeographic patterns of parasite diversity are useful for determining how host-parasite interactions can influence speciation. However, variation in methodologies and sampling effort can skew diversity estimates. Avian haemosporidians are vector-transmitted blood parasites represented by over 1300 unique genetic lineages spread across over 40 countries. We used a global database of lineage distributions for two avian haemosporidian genera, Plasmodium and Haemoproteus, to test for congruence of diversity among haemosporidians and their avian hosts across 13 geographic regions. We demonstrated that avian haemosporidians exhibit similar diversity patterns to their avian hosts; however, specific patterns differ between genera. Haemoproteus spp. diversity estimates were significantly higher than those of Plasmodium spp. in all areas where the genera co-occurred, apart from the Plasmodium spp.-rich region of South America. The geographic distributions of parasite genera also differed, with Haemoproteus spp. absent from the majority of oceanic regions while Plasmodium spp. were cosmopolitan. These findings suggest fundamental differences in the way avian haemosporidians diverge and colonise new communities. Nevertheless, a review of the literature suggests that accurate estimates of avian haemosporidian diversity patterns are limited by (i) a concentration of sampling towards passerines from Europe and North America, (ii) a frequent failure to include microscopic techniques together with molecular screening and (iii) a paucity of studies investigating distributions across vector hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Clark
- Environmental Futures Centre, School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia; Natural Environments Program, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia.
| | - Sonya M Clegg
- Environmental Futures Centre, School of Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Queensland 4222, Australia
| | - Marcos R Lima
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas - IB, Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
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Lalubin F, Delédevant A, Glaizot O, Christe P. Natural malaria infection reduces starvation resistance of nutritionally stressed mosquitoes. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:850-7. [PMID: 24286465 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In disease ecology, there is growing evidence that environmental quality interacts with parasite and host to determine host susceptibility to an infection. Most studies of malaria parasites have focused on the infection costs incurred by the hosts, and few have investigated the costs on mosquito vectors. The interplay between the environment, the vector and the parasite has therefore mostly been ignored and often relied on unnatural or allopatric Plasmodium/vector associations. Here, we investigated the effects of natural avian malaria infection on both fecundity and survival of field-caught female Culex pipiens mosquitoes, individually maintained in laboratory conditions. We manipulated environmental quality by providing mosquitoes with different concentrations of glucose-feeding solution prior to submitting them to a starvation challenge. We used molecular-based methods to assess mosquitoes' infection status. We found that mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium had lower starvation resistance than uninfected ones only under low nutritional conditions. The effect of nutritional stress varied with time, with the difference of starvation resistance between optimally and suboptimally fed mosquitoes increasing from spring to summer, as shown by a significant interaction between diet treatment and months of capture. Infected and uninfected mosquitoes had similar clutch size, indicating no effect of infection on fecundity. Overall, this study suggests that avian malaria vectors may suffer Plasmodium infection costs in their natural habitat, under certain environmental conditions. This may have major implications for disease transmission in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Lalubin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Museum of Zoology, Place de la Riponne 6, CH-1014, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Aline Delédevant
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Museum of Zoology, Place de la Riponne 6, CH-1014, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Le Biophore, University of Lausanne, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Pérez-Rodríguez A, Fernández-González S, de la Hera I, Pérez-Tris J. Finding the appropriate variables to model the distribution of vector-borne parasites with different environmental preferences: climate is not enough. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2013; 19:3245-3253. [PMID: 23606561 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.12226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Revised: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how environmental variation influences the distribution of parasite diversity is critical if we are to anticipate disease emergence risks associated with global change. However, choosing the relevant variables for modelling current and future parasite distributions may be difficult: candidate predictors are many, and they seldom are statistically independent. This problem often leads to simplistic models of current and projected future parasite distributions, with climatic variables prioritized over potentially important landscape features or host population attributes. We studied avian blood parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon (which are viewed as potential emergent pathogens) in 37 Iberian blackcap Sylvia atricapilla populations. We used Partial Least Squares regression to assess the relative importance of a wide array of putative determinants of variation in the diversity of these parasites, including climate, landscape features and host population migration. Both prevalence and richness of parasites were predominantly related to climate (an effect which was primarily, but not exclusively driven by variation in temperature), but landscape features and host migration also explained variation in parasite diversity. Remarkably, different models emerged for each parasite genus, although all parasites were studied in the same host species. Our results show that parasite distribution models, which are usually based on climatic variables alone, improve by including other types of predictors. Moreover, closely related parasites may show different relationships to the same environmental influences (both in magnitude and direction). Thus, a model used to develop one parasite distribution can probably not be applied identically even to the most similar host-parasite systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antón Pérez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, E-28040, Spain
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Loaiza JR, Miller MJ. Seasonal pattern of avian Plasmodium-infected mosquitoes and implications for parasite transmission in central Panama. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:3743-51. [PMID: 23974324 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3562-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Aedeomyia squamipennis and Culex (Melanoconion) ocossa, two ubiquitous Neotropical mosquito species, are likely involved in the transmission of several bird pathogens in Gamboa, central Panama. However, knowledge on their eco-epidemiological profiles is still incomplete. Our goal in this study was to investigate temporal trends of vector density and their relationship with avian plasmodia prevalence. This information is central to identifying the risk posed by each vector species to the avian community locally. We found that A. squamipennis maintains stable population size across climatic seasons and thus maybe a more efficient vector of avian malaria than C. ocossa. In contrast, C. ocossa, which undergoes considerable population expansion in the rainy season and contraction in the dry season, is likely only an important avian malaria vector during part of the year. This is consistent with the larger number of parasite isolations and Plasmodium cyt b lineages recovered from A. squamipennis than from C. ocossa and might be explained by marked differences in their seasonality and host-feeding preferences. More Plasmodium PCR testing in mosquito communities from other areas of Panama might reveal additional vectors of avian plasmodia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose R Loaiza
- Centro de Biodiversidad y Descubrimiento de Drogas, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología, Edificio 219, Clayton, PO 0843-01103, Ciudad del Saber, Panama,
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Ferraguti M, Martínez-de la Puente J, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. On the study of the transmission networks of blood parasites from SW Spain: diversity of avian haemosporidians in the biting midge Culicoides circumscriptus and wild birds. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:208. [PMID: 23856348 PMCID: PMC3728217 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Blood-sucking flying insects play a key role in the transmission of pathogens of vector-borne diseases. However, at least for the case of avian malaria parasites, the vast majority of studies focus on the interaction between parasites and vertebrate hosts, but there is a lack of information regarding the interaction between the parasites and the insect vectors. Here, we identified the presence of malaria and malaria-like parasite lineages harbored by the potential vector Culicoides circumscriptus (Kieffer). Also, we identified some nodes of the transmission network connecting parasite lineages, potential insect vectors and avian hosts by comparing Haemoproteus and Plasmodium lineages isolated from insects with those infecting wild birds in this and previous studies. Methods Using a molecular approach, we analysed the presence of blood parasites in a total of 97 biting midges trapped in the Doñana National Park (SW Spain) and surrounding areas. Also, 123 blood samples from 11 bird species were analyzed for the presence of blood parasite infections. Blood parasites Haemoproteus and Plasmodium were identified by amplification of a 478 bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gen. Results Thirteen biting midges harboured blood parasites including six Haemoproteus and two Plasmodium lineages, supporting the potential role of these insects on parasite transmission. Moreover, ten (8.1%) birds carried blood parasites. Seven Plasmodium and one Haemoproteus lineages were isolated from birds. Overall, six new Haemoproteus lineages were described in this study. Also, we identified the transmission networks of some blood parasites. Two Haemoproteus lineages, hCIRCUM03 and GAGLA03, were identical to those isolated from Corvus monedula in southern Spain and Garrulus glandarius in Bulgaria, respectively. Furthermore, the new Haemoproteus lineage hCIRCUM05 showed a 99% similarity with a lineage found infecting captive penguins in Japan. Conclusions The comparison of the parasite lineages isolated in this study with those previously found infecting birds allowed us to identify some potential nodes in the transmission network of avian blood parasite lineages. These results highlight the complexity of the transmission networks of blood parasites in the wild that may involve a high diversity of susceptible birds and insect vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain.
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Ferraguti M, Martínez-de la Puente J, Muñoz J, Roiz D, Ruiz S, Soriguer R, Figuerola J. Avian Plasmodium in Culex and Ochlerotatus Mosquitoes from Southern Spain: Effects of Season and Host-Feeding Source on Parasite Dynamics. PLoS One 2013; 8:e66237. [PMID: 23823127 PMCID: PMC3688897 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Haemosporidians, a group of vector-borne parasites that include Plasmodium, infect vertebrates including birds. Although mosquitoes are crucial elements in the transmission of avian malaria parasites, little is known of their ecology as vectors. We examined the presence of Plasmodium and Haemoproteus lineages in five mosquito species belonging to the genera Culex and Ochlerotatus to test for the effect of vector species, season and host-feeding source on the transmission dynamics of these pathogens. We analyzed 166 blood-fed individually and 5,579 unfed mosquitoes (grouped in 197 pools) from a locality in southern Spain. In all, 15 Plasmodium and two Haemoproteus lineages were identified on the basis of a fragment of 478 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Infection prevalence of blood parasites in unfed mosquitoes varied between species (range: 0-3.2%) and seasons. The feeding source was identified in 91 mosquitoes where 78% were identified as bird. We found that i) several Plasmodium lineages are shared among different Culex species and one Plasmodium lineage is shared between Culex and Ochlerotatus genera; ii) mosquitoes harboured Haemoproteus parasites; iii) pools of unfed females of mostly ornithophilic Culex species had a higher Plasmodium prevalence than the only mammophylic Culex species studied. However, the mammophylic Ochlerotatus caspius had in pool samples the greatest Plasmodium prevalence. This relative high prevalence may be determined by inter-specific differences in vector survival, susceptibility to infection but also the possibility that this species feeds on birds more frequently than previously thought. Finally, iv) infection rate of mosquitoes varies between seasons and reaches its maximum prevalence during autumn and minimum prevalence in spring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Ferraguti
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | | | - Joaquín Muñoz
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma Biological Station, Kingston, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - David Roiz
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Santiago Ruiz
- Servicio de Control de Mosquitos, Diputación de Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Ramón Soriguer
- Departamento de Etología y Conservación de la Biodiversidad, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Departamento de Ecología de Humedales, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
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Medeiros MCI, Hamer GL, Ricklefs RE. Host compatibility rather than vector-host-encounter rate determines the host range of avian Plasmodium parasites. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20122947. [PMID: 23595266 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-feeding arthropod vectors are responsible for transmitting many parasites between vertebrate hosts. While arthropod vectors often feed on limited subsets of potential host species, little is known about the extent to which this influences the distribution of vector-borne parasites in some systems. Here, we test the hypothesis that different vector species structure parasite-host relationships by restricting access of certain parasites to a subset of available hosts. Specifically, we investigate how the feeding patterns of Culex mosquito vectors relate to distributions of avian malaria parasites among hosts in suburban Chicago, IL, USA. We show that Plasmodium lineages, defined by cytochrome b haplotypes, are heterogeneously distributed across avian hosts. However, the feeding patterns of the dominant vectors (Culex restuans and Culex pipiens) are similar across these hosts, and do not explain the distributions of Plasmodium parasites. Phylogenetic similarity of avian hosts predicts similarity in their Plasmodium parasites. This effect was driven primarily by the general association of Plasmodium parasites with particular host superfamilies. Our results suggest that a mosquito-imposed encounter rate does not limit the distribution of avian Plasmodium parasites across hosts. This implies that compatibility between parasites and their avian hosts structure Plasmodium host range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C I Medeiros
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St Louis, One University Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63121-4499, USA.
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Avian haemosporidians in haematophagous insects in the Czech Republic. Parasitol Res 2012; 112:839-45. [PMID: 23224608 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-3204-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The degree to which avian haemosporidian parasites can exploit different vectors as a definitive host has ecological implications for their transmission and biogeography. Studies targeting haemosporidian parasites using precise molecular detection methods are almost lacking in Central Europe, however. Here, we utilized PCR-based molecular methods to detect avian haemosporidians in insect vectors in the Czech Republic. Nine lineages of parasites belonging to three genera, Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon, were detected in pooled samples of insect individuals, of which three lineages had not yet been discovered in previous studies. All three Leucocytozoon lineages were found exclusively in black flies, while five Haemoproteus lineages were found in biting midges. The most abundant insect species Culicoides kibunensis harbored three Haemoproteus lineages, and the second-most numerous species Culicoides segnis even four. The positive mosquitoes of Culex pipiens complex hosted two parasite lineages, one Plasmodium and one Haemoproteus, the latter of which, however, could suggest the aberrant development of this parasite in an unusual invertebrate host. The co-occurrence of Haemoproteus ROFI1 and TURDUS2 lineages in both insects and birds at the same study plot suggests a transmission of these lineages during breeding season of birds.
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Kim KS, Tsuda Y. AvianPlasmodiumlineages found in spot surveys of mosquitoes from 2007 to 2010 at Sakata wetland, Japan: do dominant lineages persist for multiple years? Mol Ecol 2012; 21:5374-85. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.12047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2012] [Revised: 08/14/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Y. Tsuda
- Department of Medical Entomology; National Institute of Infectious Diseases; Toyama 1-23-1; Shinjuku-ku; Tokyo; 162-8640; Japan
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Santiago-Alarcon D, Palinauskas V, Schaefer HM. Diptera vectors of avian Haemosporidian parasites: untangling parasite life cycles and their taxonomy. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2012; 87:928-64. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-185x.2012.00234.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 222] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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High prevalence and lineage diversity of avian malaria in wild populations of great tits (Parus major) and mosquitoes (Culex pipiens). PLoS One 2012; 7:e34964. [PMID: 22506060 PMCID: PMC3323596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian malaria studies have taken a prominent place in different aspects of evolutionary ecology. Despite a recent interest in the role of vectors within the complex interaction system of the malaria parasite, they have largely been ignored in most epidemiological studies. Epidemiology of the disease is however strongly related to the vector's ecology and behaviour, and there is a need for basic investigations to obtain a better picture of the natural associations between Plasmodium lineages, vector species and bird hosts. The aim of the present study was to identify the mosquito species involved in the transmission of the haemosporidian parasites Plasmodium spp. in two wild populations of breeding great tits (Parus major) in western Switzerland. Additionally, we compared Plasmodium lineages, based on mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b sequences, between the vertebrate and dipteran hosts, and evaluated the prevalence of the parasite in the mosquito populations. Plasmodium spp. were detected in Culex pipiens only, with an overall 6.6% prevalence. Among the six cytochrome b lineages of Plasmodium identified in the mosquitoes, three were also present in great tits. The results provide evidence for the first time that C. pipiens can act as a natural vector of avian malaria in Europe and yield baseline data for future research on the epidemiology of avian malaria in European countries.
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Ventim R, Ramos JA, Osório H, Lopes RJ, Pérez-Tris J, Mendes L. Avian malaria infections in western European mosquitoes. Parasitol Res 2012; 111:637-45. [PMID: 22427023 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-012-2880-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In the complex life cycle of avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium sp.), we still have a poor understanding on the vector-parasite relationships. This study described the community of potential avian malaria vectors in four Portuguese reedbeds. We tested if their geographical distribution differed, and investigated on their Plasmodium infections. The mosquitoes' feeding preferences were evaluated using CO(2), mice, and birds as baits. The most abundant species were Culex pipiens, Culex theileri, and Ochlerotatus caspius (and, in one site, Coquillettidia richiardii). Plasmodium lineages SGS1 and SYAT05 were found in unengorged Cx. pipiens and Cx. theileri, respectively, suggesting that these mosquitoes were competent vectors of those lineages. The species' abundance was significantly different among sites, which may help to explain the observed differences in the prevalence of SGS1. At the study sites, SGS1 was detected in the most abundant mosquito species and reached a high prevalence in the most abundant passerine species. Probably, this parasite needs abundant hosts in all phases of its cycle to keep a good reservoir of infection in all its stages. Cq. richiardii showed an opportunistic feeding behavior, while Cx. pipiens appeared to be more mammophilic than previously described, perhaps because the used avian bait was not its preferential target. In one of the study sites, mosquitoes seem to be attracted to the Spotless Starling Sturnus unicolor, an abundant bird species that may be an important local reservoir of avian malaria infections. To our knowledge, this is the first report of detection of avian Plasmodium DNA from European mosquitoes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Ventim
- Institute of Marine Research (IMAR/CMA), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Apartado 3046, 3001-401 Coimbra, Portugal.
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LaPointe DA, Atkinson CT, Samuel MD. Ecology and conservation biology of avian malaria. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2012; 1249:211-26. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06431.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Braga EM, Silveira P, Belo NO, Valkiūnas G. Recent advances in the study of avian malaria: an overview with an emphasis on the distribution of Plasmodium spp in Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2012; 106 Suppl 1:3-11. [PMID: 21881752 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762011000900002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2011] [Accepted: 06/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium) have a worldwide distribution except for Antarctica. They are transmitted exclusively by mosquito vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) and are of particular interest to health care research due to their phylogenetic relationship with human plasmodia and their ability to cause avian malaria, which is frequently lethal in non-adapted avian hosts. However, different features of avian Plasmodium spp, including their taxonomy and aspects of their life-history traits, need to be examined in more detail. Over the last 10 years, ecologists, evolutionary biologists and wildlife researchers have recognized the importance of studying avian malaria parasites and other related haemosporidians, which are the largest group of the order Haemosporida by number of species. These studies have included understanding the ecological, behavioral and evolutionary aspects that arise in this wildlife host-parasite system. Molecular tools have provided new and exiting opportunities for such research. This review discusses several emerging topics related to the current research of avian Plasmodium spp and some related avian haemosporidians. We also summarize some important discoveries in this field and emphasize the value of using both polymerase chain reaction-based and microscopy-based methods in parallel for wildlife studies. We will focus on the genus Plasmodium, with an emphasis on the distribution and pathogenicity of these parasites in wild birds in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Martins Braga
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
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Martínez-de la Puente J, Martínez J, Rivero-de Aguilar J, Herrero J, Merino S. On the specificity of avian blood parasites: revealing specific and generalist relationships between haemosporidians and biting midges. Mol Ecol 2011; 20:3275-87. [PMID: 21627703 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05136.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Njabo KY, Cornel AJ, Bonneaud C, Toffelmier E, Sehgal RNM, Valkiūnas G, Russell AF, Smith TB. Nonspecific patterns of vector, host and avian malaria parasite associations in a central African rainforest. Mol Ecol 2010; 20:1049-61. [PMID: 21134011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2010.04904.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Malaria parasites use vertebrate hosts for asexual multiplication and Culicidae mosquitoes for sexual and asexual development, yet the literature on avian malaria remains biased towards examining the asexual stages of the life cycle in birds. To fully understand parasite evolution and mechanism of malaria transmission, knowledge of all three components of the vector-host-parasite system is essential. Little is known about avian parasite-vector associations in African rainforests where numerous species of birds are infected with avian haemosporidians of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Here we applied high resolution melt qPCR-based techniques and nested PCR to examine the occurrence and diversity of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences of haemosporidian parasites in wild-caught mosquitoes sampled across 12 sites in Cameroon. In all, 3134 mosquitoes representing 27 species were screened. Mosquitoes belonging to four genera (Aedes, Coquillettidia, Culex and Mansonia) were infected with twenty-two parasite lineages (18 Plasmodium spp. and 4 Haemoproteus spp.). Presence of Plasmodium sporozoites in salivary glands of Coquillettidia aurites further established these mosquitoes as likely vectors. Occurrence of parasite lineages differed significantly among genera, as well as their probability of being infected with malaria across species and sites. Approximately one-third of these lineages were previously detected in other avian host species from the region, indicating that vertebrate host sharing is a common feature and that avian Plasmodium spp. vector breadth does not always accompany vertebrate-host breadth. This study suggests extensive invertebrate host shifts in mosquito-parasite interactions and that avian Plasmodium species are most likely not tightly coevolved with vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Y Njabo
- Center for Tropical Research, UCLA Institute of the Environment, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Kim KS, Tsuda Y. Seasonal changes in the feeding pattern of Culex pipiens pallens govern the transmission dynamics of multiple lineages of avian malaria parasites in Japanese wild bird community. Mol Ecol 2010; 19:5545-54. [PMID: 21044196 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2010.04897.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Heterogeneity in the transmission of mosquito-borne pathogens is determined largely by distribution patterns of mosquito bites among wild animal populations. Although mosquitoes are crucial for transmission of avian malaria parasites, little is known about the ecology of natural vectors. We examined bloodmeal and parasite incidence in Culex pipiens pallens by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based procedure to determine how the feeding pattern of mosquitoes govern transmission dynamics of avian malaria parasites in Japanese wild birds. We collected 881 unfed and 486 blood-fed Cx. pipiens pallens resting on vegetation in a park in Tokyo. The mosquitoes were separated into abdomen and thorax prior to PCR screening. Abdomens of unfed mosquitoes were combined into 95 pools. From these, we amplified Plasmodium DNA in 32 (33.7%) pools. Among blood-fed mosquitoes, 371 individuals were screened for blood-sources and Plasmodium parasites. Plasmodium DNA was amplified from mosquitoes fed on 6 of 13 avian species identified as blood-sources. Ten Plasmodium lineages were identified on the basis of 478 bp of the cytochrome b gene, with 0.2-10% sequence divergence. The three commonest Plasmodium lineages (CXPIP09, SGS1 and PADOM02) were detected in both the abdomens and thoraxes of mosquitoes, strongly suggesting transmission of these lineages. Jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) served as a natural host for the three commonest Plasmodium lineages and made up 63.8% of blood-sources. As a significant increase in feeding of vector mosquitoes on jungle crows coincided with their breeding season, jungle crows were considered to be the primary reservoir of Plasmodium transmission in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Kim
- Department of Medical Entomology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
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Sehgal RNM, Buermann W, Harrigan RJ, Bonneaud C, Loiseau C, Chasar A, Sepil I, Valkiūnas G, Iezhova T, Saatchi S, Smith TB. Spatially explicit predictions of blood parasites in a widely distributed African rainforest bird. Proc Biol Sci 2010; 278:1025-33. [PMID: 20880888 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2010.1720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Critical to the mitigation of parasitic vector-borne diseases is the development of accurate spatial predictions that integrate environmental conditions conducive to pathogen proliferation. Species of Plasmodium and Trypanosoma readily infect humans, and are also common in birds. Here, we develop predictive spatial models for the prevalence of these blood parasites in the olive sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea). Since this species exhibits high natural parasite prevalence and occupies diverse habitats in tropical Africa, it represents a distinctive ecological model system for studying vector-borne pathogens. We used PCR and microscopy to screen for haematozoa from 28 sites in Central and West Africa. Species distribution models were constructed to associate ground-based and remotely sensed environmental variables with parasite presence. We then used machine-learning algorithm models to identify relationships between parasite prevalence and environmental predictors. Finally, predictive maps were generated by projecting model outputs to geographically unsampled areas. Results indicate that for Plasmodium spp., the maximum temperature of the warmest month was most important in predicting prevalence. For Trypanosoma spp., seasonal canopy moisture variability was the most important predictor. The models presented here visualize gradients of disease prevalence, identify pathogen hotspots and will be instrumental in studying the effects of ecological change on these and other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- R N M Sehgal
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA.
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CHASAR ANTHONY, LOISEAU CLAIRE, VALKIŪNAS GEDIMINAS, IEZHOVA TATJANA, SMITH THOMASB, SEHGAL RAVINDERNM. Prevalence and diversity patterns of avian blood parasites in degraded African rainforest habitats. Mol Ecol 2009; 18:4121-33. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2009.04346.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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