A new blood parasite of leaf warblers: molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationships, description and identification of vectors

Chagas, Carolina Romeiro Fernandes; Bukauskaitė, Dovilė; Ilgūnas, Mikas; Iezhova, Tatjana A.; Valkiūnas, Gediminas

doi:10.1186/s13071-018-3109-9

Cited by 19 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Biting midge bites can cause painful lesions; in some cases, the saliva even induces acute allergic reactions such as the “common summer eczema (insect hypersensitivity)” in horses [21]. However, their veterinary or public health importance predominantly results from their role in the transmission of pathogens, especially viruses, but also protozoans and filarial parasites [22] such as avian hamosporidians [23,24] and Tetrapetalonema spp. [25,26,27].…”

Section: Public Health and Veterinary Impact Of Culicoides Biting mentioning

confidence: 99%

Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

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Beer

Kampen

et al. 2019

Viruses

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Culicoides biting midges, small hematophagous dipterans, are the demonstrated or putative vectors of multiple arboviruses of veterinary and public health importance. Despite its relevance in disease spread, the ceratopogonid genus Culicoides is still a largely neglected group of species, predominantly because the major human-affecting arboviruses are considered to be transmitted by mosquitoes. However, when a pathogen is detected in a certain vector species, a thorough search for further vectors often remains undone and, therefore, the relevant vector species may remain unknown. Furthermore, for many hematophagous arthropods, true vector competence is often merely suspected and not experimentally proven. Therefore, we aim to illuminate the general impact of Culicoides biting midges and to summarize the knowledge about biting midge-borne disease agents using the order Bunyavirales, the largest and most diverse group of RNA viruses, as an example. When considering only viruses evidentially transmitted by Culicoides midges, the Simbu serogroup (genus Orthobunyavirus) is presumably the most important group within the virus order. Its members are of great veterinary importance, as a variety of simbuviruses, e.g., the species Akabane orthobunyavirus or Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus, induces severe congenital infections in pregnant animals. The major zoonotic representative of this serogroup occurs in South and Central America and causes the so-called Oropouche fever, an acute febrile illness in humans.

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Section: Public Health and Veterinary Impact Of Culicoides Biting mentioning

confidence: 99%

Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

Sick

Beer

Kampen

et al. 2019

Viruses

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“…Recently, several studies addressed Haemoproteus spp. sporogonic development in several species of Culicoides biting midges [19–23]. However, due to the big variety of Haemoproteus species and the scarcity of detailed information about patterns of sporogonic development in the majority of the described species, understanding haemoproteid parasite sporogony remains essential for better understanding the biology of haemosporidians.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sporogony of four Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), with report of in vitro ookinetes of Haemoproteus hirundinis: phylogenetic inference indicates patterns of haemosporidian parasite ookinete development

et al. 2019

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Background Haemoproteus ( Parahaemoproteus ) species (Haemoproteidae) are widespread blood parasites that can cause disease in birds, but information about their vector species, sporogonic development and transmission remain fragmentary. This study aimed to investigate the complete sporogonic development of four Haemoproteus species in Culicoides nubeculosus and to test if phylogenies based on the cytochrome b gene ( cytb ) reflect patterns of ookinete development in haemosporidian parasites. Additionally, one cytb lineage of Haemoproteus was identified to the species level and the in vitro gametogenesis and ookinete development of Haemoproteus hirundinis was characterised. Methods Laboratory - reared C. nubeculosus were exposed by allowing them to take blood meals on naturally infected birds harbouring single infections of Haemoproteus belopolskyi ( cytb lineage hHIICT1), Haemoproteus hirundinis (hDELURB2), Haemoproteus nucleocondensus (hGRW01) and Haemoproteus lanii (hRB1). Infected insects were dissected at intervals in order to detect sporogonic stages. In vitro exflagellation, gametogenesis and ookinete development of H. hirundinis were also investigated. Microscopic examination and PCR-based methods were used to confirm species identity. Bayesian phylogenetic inference was applied to study the relationships among Haemoproteus lineages. Results All studied parasites completed sporogony in C. nubeculosus . Ookinetes and sporozoites were found and described. Development of H. hirundinis ookinetes was similar both in vivo and in vitro . Developing ookinetes of this parasite possess long outgrowths, which extend longitudinally and produce the apical end of the ookinetes. A large group of closely related Haemoproteus species with a similar mode of ookinete development was determined. Bayesian analysis indicates that this character has phylogenetic value. The species identity of cytb lineage hDELURB2 was determined: it belongs to H. hirundinis . Conclusions Culicoides nubeculosus is susceptible to and is a likely natural vector of numerous species of Haemoproteus parasites, thus worth attention in haemoproteosis epidemiology research. Data about in vitr...

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“…Such low parasitemia is difficult to detect not only during microscopical examination, but also by PCR-based methods. Several previous studies used 50 ng of DNA for PCR [28,32,50]. In penguin No.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…lineages to the lineage detected in this study based on pairwise distance. Morphologically characterised haemosporidian species were selected in reference to Chagas et al [32]. Leucocytozoon sp.…”

Section: Molecular Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Penguins are competent hosts of Haemoproteus parasites: the first detection of gametocytes, with molecular characterization of Haemoproteus larae

et al. 2020

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Background: The majority of penguins (Sphenisciformes) have evolved in areas with weak or absent transmission of haemosporidian parasites and are usually naïve to avian haemosporidian infections. Plasmodium parasites are transmitted by mosquitoes, and lethal avian malaria has been often reported in captive penguins in many countries. The related haemosporidian parasites belonging to Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon have also been detected in penguins but less often than Plasmodium infections. The majority of Haemoproteus infection reports in penguins are based solely on PCR-based diagnostics. It remains unclear if haemoproteids can complete their life-cycle and produce infective stages (gametocytes) in penguins or whether these infections are abortive in penguins, and thus dead ends for transmission. In other words, it remains unknown if penguins are competent hosts for Haemoproteus parasites, which cause disease in non-adapted birds. Methods: Two captive African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and two Magellanic penguins (S. magellanicus) were found to be positive for Haemoproteus infection in two open-air aquariums in Japan, and the parasites were investigated using both PCR-based testing and microscopical examination of blood films. Samples from a black-tailed gull (Larus crassirostris) and previously tested gulls were used for comparison. Results: The lineage hSPMAG12 was detected, and gametocytes of Haemoproteus sp. were seen in the examined penguins and gull. Observed gametocytes were indistinguishable from those of Haemoproteus larae, which naturally parasitize birds of the genus Larus (Laridae). The detected sequence information and Bayesian phylogenetic analysis supported this conclusion. Additionally, morphologically similar gametocytes and closely related DNA sequences were also found in other gull species in Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial cytb sequences placed the lineage hSPMAG12 of H. larae within the clade of avian haemoproteids which belong to the subgenus Parahaemoproteus, indicating that Culicoides biting midges likely transmit the parasites between penguins and gulls. Conclusions: This study shows that some species of Haemoproteus parasites complete their development and produce gametocytes in penguins, which may be source of infection for biting midges transmitting haemoproteosis. To prevent haemosporidiosis in zoos, we call for control not only of mosquitoes, but also biting midges.

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A new blood parasite of leaf warblers: molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationships, description and identification of vectors

Cited by 19 publications

References 73 publications

Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

Culicoides Biting Midges—Underestimated Vectors for Arboviruses of Public Health and Veterinary Importance

Sporogony of four Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), with report of in vitro ookinetes of Haemoproteus hirundinis: phylogenetic inference indicates patterns of haemosporidian parasite ookinete development

Penguins are competent hosts of Haemoproteus parasites: the first detection of gametocytes, with molecular characterization of Haemoproteus larae

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