1
|
Hasapis KA, Charalambidou I, Schou C, O'Dowd Phanis C, Kazamia S, Kassinis N, Hadjisterkotis E, Karanis P. First Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in the Endemic Cyprus Mouflon (Ovis gmelini ophion). Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:1035-1040. [PMID: 38062227 PMCID: PMC11001731 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00747-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cryptosporidium is an intestinal zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects domesticated and wild animals. There are no reports on the prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium in the endemic Cyprus mouflon. The mouflon is strictly protected by national and international legislation. Its main distribution is Paphos State Forest and surrounding areas, where it may share the same water sources as free-ranging domestic goats. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and genotypes in mouflon and free-ranging goats within the mouflon range. METHODS Faecal samples of 70 mouflons and 34 free-ranging goats were screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR amplification and sequencing. RESULTS Only one sample (1/70) belonging to a mouflon was PCR positive for Cryptosporidium. Based on sequencing of the 18S rRNA locus, this species was identified as Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). No positive sample was detected in the free-ranging goats (0/34). CONCLUSION This is the first report on the molecular identification of this Cryptosporidium species in a Cyprus mouflon. The results indicate that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in Cyprus mouflon is low.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyriacos A Hasapis
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Iris Charalambidou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chad Schou
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Catherine O'Dowd Phanis
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Stefanie Kazamia
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Eleftherios Hadjisterkotis
- Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Nicosia, Cyprus.
- Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50923, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hasapis KA, Charalambidou I, Tsouma E, Sotiriadi K, Kassinis N, Schou C, Karanis P. First detection of Cryptosporidium proventriculi from wild birds in Cyprus. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:201-205. [PMID: 36385306 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07717-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is an important intestinal zoonotic pathogen that can infect various hosts and cause diarrheal disease. There are no reports on the prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium in wild birds in Cyprus. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and genotypes in wild birds found at Phassouri Reedbeds (Akrotiri Wetlands), Cyprus. Fecal samples of 75 wild birds (Eurasian coot Fulica atra, N = 48; Eurasian teal Anas crecca, N = 20; duck - Anas spp., Ν = 7) were screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR amplification and sequencing. Only one sample (1.3%) belonging to a Eurasian coot was PCR-positive for Cryptosporidium. Based on sequencing of the 18S rRNA locus, this species was identified as Cryptosporidium proventriculi. This is the first report on the molecular identification of this Cryptosporidium species in a Eurasian coot.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyriacos A Hasapis
- University of Nicosia Medical School, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Iris Charalambidou
- University of Nicosia, Department of Life and Health Sciences, School of Sciences and Engineering, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Eleni Tsouma
- University of Nicosia, Department of Life and Health Sciences, School of Sciences and Engineering, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Konstantina Sotiriadi
- University of Nicosia, Department of Life and Health Sciences, School of Sciences and Engineering, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Chad Schou
- University of Nicosia Medical School, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- University of Nicosia Medical School, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414, P.O. Box 24005, 1700, Engomi, Nicosia, Cyprus.
- Medical Faculty and University Hospital, The University of Cologne, 50923, Cologne, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Peyton J, Hadjistylli M, Tziortzis I, Erotokritou E, Demetriou M, Samuel Y, Anastasi V, Fyttis G, Hadjioannou L, Ieronymidou C, Kassinis N, Kleitou P, Kletou D, Mandoulaki A, Michailidis N, Papatheodoulou A, Payiattas G, Sparrow D, Sparrow R, Turvey K, Tzirkalli E, Varnava AI, Pescott OL. Using expert-elicitation to deliver biodiversity monitoring priorities on a Mediterranean island. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0256777. [PMID: 35324899 PMCID: PMC8947143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Biodiversity monitoring plays an essential role in tracking changes in ecosystems, species distributions and abundances across the globe. Data collected through both structured and unstructured biodiversity recording can inform conservation measures designed to reduce, prevent, and reverse declines in valued biodiversity of many types. However, given that resources for biodiversity monitoring are limited, it is important that funding bodies prioritise investments relative to the requirements in any given region. We addressed this prioritisation requirement for a biodiverse Mediterranean island (Cyprus) using a three-stage process of expert-elicitation. This resulted in a structured list of twenty biodiversity monitoring needs; specifically, a hierarchy of three groups of these needs was created using a consensus approach. The most highly prioritised biodiversity monitoring needs were those related to the development of robust survey methodologies, and those ensuring that sufficiently skilled citizens are available to contribute. We discuss ways that the results of our expert-elicitation process could be used to support current and future biodiversity monitoring in Cyprus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Peyton
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - M. Hadjistylli
- Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - I. Tziortzis
- Water Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - E. Erotokritou
- Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - M. Demetriou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - Y. Samuel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- Oceanography Centre, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - V. Anastasi
- Terra Cypria - The Cyprus Conservation Foundation, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- BirdLife Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - G. Fyttis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- I.A.CO Environmental & Water Consultants Ltd., Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - L. Hadjioannou
- Enalia Physis Environmental Research Centre, Lefkosia, Cyprus
- CMMI – Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, Larnaca, Cyprus
| | | | - N. Kassinis
- Game and Fauna Service, Ministry of Interior, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - P. Kleitou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Lemesos, Cyprus
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - D. Kletou
- Marine & Environmental Research (MER) Lab, Lemesos, Cyprus
- Department of Maritime Transport and Commerce, Frederick University, Lemesos, Cyprus
| | - A. Mandoulaki
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus
| | - N. Michailidis
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | | | - G. Payiattas
- Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus
| | - D. Sparrow
- Cyprus Dragonfly Study Group, Pafos, Cyprus
| | - R. Sparrow
- Cyprus Dragonfly Study Group, Pafos, Cyprus
| | - K. Turvey
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom
| | - E. Tzirkalli
- School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Biological Applications and Technology, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - A. I. Varnava
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology and Food Science, Cyprus University of Technology, Lemesos, Cyprus
| | - O. L. Pescott
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Machado AP, Topaloudis A, Cumer T, Lavanchy E, Bontzorlos V, Ceccherelli R, Charter M, Kassinis N, Lymberakis P, Manzia F, Ducrest AL, Dupasquier M, Guex N, Roulin A, Goudet J. Genomic consequences of colonisation, migration and genetic drift in barn owl insular populations of the eastern Mediterranean. Mol Ecol 2021; 31:1375-1388. [PMID: 34894026 PMCID: PMC9305133 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The study of insular populations was key in the development of evolutionary theory. The successful colonisation of an island depends on the geographic context, and specific characteristics of the organism and the island, but also on stochastic processes. As a result, apparently identical islands may harbour populations with contrasting histories. Here, we use whole genome sequences of 65 barn owls to investigate the patterns of inbreeding and genetic diversity of insular populations in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. We focus on Crete and Cyprus, islands with similar size, climate and distance to mainland, that provide natural replicates for a comparative analysis of the impacts of microevolutionary processes on isolated populations. We show that barn owl populations from each island have a separate origin, Crete being genetically more similar to other Greek islands and mainland Greece, and Cyprus more similar to the Levant. Further, our data show that their respective demographic histories following colonisation were also distinct. On the one hand, Crete harbours a small population and maintains very low levels of gene flow with neighbouring populations. This has resulted in low genetic diversity, strong genetic drift, increased relatedness in the population and remote inbreeding. Cyprus, on the other hand, appears to maintain enough gene flow with the mainland to avoid such an outcome. Our study provides a comparative population genomic analysis of the effects of neutral processes on a classical island‐mainland model system. It provides empirical evidence for the role of stochastic processes in determining the fate of diverging isolated populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Machado
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Tristan Cumer
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eléonore Lavanchy
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vasileios Bontzorlos
- Green Fund, Kifisia, Athens, Greece.,"TYTO" - Organization for the Management and Conservation of Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems, Larisa, Greece
| | | | - Motti Charter
- Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, Katzrin, Israel.,Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Petros Lymberakis
- Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, Herakleio, Greece
| | | | - Anne-Lyse Ducrest
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicolas Guex
- Bioinformatics Competence Centre, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Goudet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cumer T, Machado AP, Dumont G, Bontzorlos V, Ceccherelli R, Charter M, Dichmann K, Kassinis N, Lourenço R, Manzia F, Martens HD, Prévost L, Rakovic M, Roque I, Siverio F, Roulin A, Goudet J. Landscape and climatic variations shaped secondary contacts amid barn owls of the Western Palearctic. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6454100. [PMID: 34893883 PMCID: PMC8789042 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The combined actions of climatic variations and landscape barriers shape the history of natural populations. When organisms follow their shifting niches, obstacles in the landscape can lead to the splitting of populations, on which evolution will then act independently. When two such populations are reunited, secondary contact occurs in a broad range of admixture patterns, from narrow hybrid zones to the complete dissolution of lineages. A previous study suggested that barn owls colonized the Western Palearctic after the last glaciation in a ring-like fashion around the Mediterranean Sea, and conjectured an admixture zone in the Balkans. Here, we take advantage of whole-genome sequences of 94 individuals across the Western Palearctic to reveal the complex history of the species in the region using observational and modeling approaches. Even though our results confirm that two distinct lineages colonized the region, one in Europe and one in the Levant, they suggest that it predates the last glaciation and identify a secondary contact zone between the two in Anatolia. We also show that barn owls recolonized Europe after the glaciation from two distinct glacial refugia: a previously identified western one in Iberia and a new eastern one in Italy. Both glacial lineages now communicate via eastern Europe, in a wide and permeable contact zone. This complex history of populations enlightens the taxonomy of Tyto alba in the region, highlights the key role played by mountain ranges and large water bodies as barriers and illustrates the power of population genomics in uncovering intricate demographic patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Cumer
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ana Paula Machado
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Dumont
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vasileios Bontzorlos
- Green Fund, Kifisia, Athens, Greece.,"TYTO" - Organization for the Management and Conservation of Biodiversity in Agricultural Ecosystems, Larisa, Greece
| | | | - Motti Charter
- Shamir Research Institute, University of Haifa, Katzrin, Israel.,Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Rui Lourenço
- MED Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Laboratory of Ornithology, IIFA, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | | | | | - Laure Prévost
- Association C.H.E.N.E, Centre d'Hébergement et d'Etude sur la Nature et l'Environnement, Allouville-Bellefosse, 76190, France
| | - Marko Rakovic
- Natural History Museum of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Inês Roque
- MED Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Laboratory of Ornithology, IIFA, University of Évora, Évora, Portugal
| | - Felipe Siverio
- Canary Islands' Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), 38480 Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jérôme Goudet
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kassinis N, Charalambidou I. Autumn migration of the Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus, at Akrotiri Peninsula, Cyprus 2009-2019 (Aves: Falconiformes). Zoology in the Middle East 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2020.1865664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Iris Charalambidou
- Department of Life and Health Sciences, School of Sciences and Engineering, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandre Roulin
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Biophore, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Loukopoulos P, Ioannou I, Kassinis N, Georgiadou S, Kaldrymidou E, Giadinis N. Congenital Nutritional Myodegeneration in a Cyprus Mouflon (Ovis orientalis ophion) Lamb. J Comp Pathol 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcpa.2010.09.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
|