Avian Hematozoa in South America: A Comparison of Temperate and Tropical Zones

Durrant, Kate L.; Beadell, Jon S.; Ishtiaq, Farah; Graves, Gary R.; Olson, Storrs L.; Gering, Eben; Peirce, M. A.; Milensky, Christopher M.; Schmidt, Brian K.; Gebhard, Christina A.; Fleischer, Robert C.

doi:10.2307/40166831

Cited by 24 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In one individual (male), we detected a new lineage PESA01 (GenBank accession number EU684543), which was most similar to a Plasmodium lineage retrieved from a Brown Hawk Owl (Ninox scutulata) from Singapore (AY099035), Asia (Perkins and Schall 2002). A sequence closely matching PESA01 has been recorded in a White-tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) (GenBank DQ241521) from Uruguay (Durrant et al 2006). Two other individual Pectoral Sandpipers were screened positive for two different Plasmodium lineages each: BT7 (AY393793) and SW5 (AF495574).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Prevalence of malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in two shorebird species with different winter habitat distribution

et al. 2008

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Parasites can have strong effects on host life-history and behaviour, and result in changes in host population dynamics and community structure. We applied a PCR-based technique and examined prevalence of malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in two arctic breeding shorebird species: the Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) and the Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos). During the non-breeding season, Semipalmated Sandpipers inhabit coastal marine habitats, whereas Pectoral Sandpipers are found in inland areas. In accordance with the hypothesis that the risk of parasite infection is higher in a species wintering in freshwater areas, we found Plasmodium sp. infection during the breeding season only in Pectoral Sandpipers, whereas Semipalmated Sandpipers were parasite free. However, even in Pectoral Sandpipers sampled in the arctic, prevalence of malaria parasites was very low (\3% of individuals, n = 114). Overall, three different Plasmodium sp. lineages were found, one of which has never been described before.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Prevalence of malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in two shorebird species with different winter habitat distribution

et al. 2008

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“…Thus, this region differs from other habitats where studies on avian malaria have been conducted so far. It is known that different habitats with differing levels of ecological interactions and environmental changes may provide different compositions influencing the dynamics of the parasite-vector-host triad (Shutler et al 1996;Garvin and Remsen 1997;Piersma 1997;Mendes et al 2005;Durrant et al 2006;Arriero and Moller 2008;Belo et al 2011;Szöllözi et al 2011;Delgado-v and French 2012;Loiseau et al 2012). An interesting point raised by our results is the proposal that transmission of hemosporidians occurs in loco.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in migratory Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger, Laridae, Charadriiformes) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

et al. 2015

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The Medium Solimões River region in the Brazilian Amazon Basin is an area utilized for reproduction and nesting by a variety of species of migratory aquatic birds such as Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger). These migratory birds form mixed-species reproductive colonies with high population densities and exhibit a large range of migration routes. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and diversity of the avian malaria parasites Plasmodium and Haemoproteus in Black Skimmers, on the basis of the association between microscopic observation of blood smears and amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (mtDNA cyt-b). The overall prevalence rates of the parasites for juvenile and adult bird specimens were 16% (5/31) and 22% (15/68), respectively. Sequencing the mtDNA cyt-b marker revealed two Plasmodium lineages, which had been previously described in different regions of the American continent, including a Neotropical region in Southeast Brazil, and one Haemoproteus lineage. The fact that avian malarial parasites have been found infecting the Black Skimmers in the Brazilian Amazon ecosystem, which exhibits considerable diversity, highlights the importance of these migratory birds as a potential source of infection and dispersion of pathogens to other susceptible birds of the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.

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“…It is important to note that in previous studies, microscopic examination of blood films was shown to be significantly less sensitive than PCR-based methods in determining prevalence of haemosporidian infections in birds (Richards et al 2002;Jarvi et al 2002;Durrant et al 2006;Fallon and Ricklefs 2008). That raised a question about the value of microscopy in field studies and the reliability of conclusions, which have been based on the microscopy data, in ecology and evolutionary biology of haemosporidian parasites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New malaria parasites of the subgenus Novyella in African rainforest birds, with remarks on their high prevalence, classification and diagnostics

et al. 2008

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Blood samples from 655 passerine birds were collected in rainforests of Ghana and Cameroon and examined both by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques. The overall prevalence of Plasmodium spp. was 46.6%, as determined by combining the results of both these diagnostic methods. In comparison to PCR-based diagnostics, microscopic examination of blood films was more sensitive in determining simultaneous infection of Plasmodium spp., but both detection methods showed similar trends of prevalence of malaria parasites in the same study sites. Plasmodium (Novyella) lucens n. sp., Plasmodium (Novyella) multivacuolaris n. sp. and Plasmodium (Novyella) parahexamerium n. sp. were found in the olive sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea (Nectariniidae), yellow-whiskered greenbul Andropadus latirostris (Picnonotidae), and white-tailed alethe Alethe diademata (Turdidae), respectively. These parasites are described based on the morphology of their blood stages and a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene, which can be used for molecular identification and diagnosis of these species. Illustrations of blood stages of new species are given, and phylogenetic analysis identifies DNA lineages closely related to these parasites. Malaria parasites of the subgenus Novyella with small erythrocytic meronts clearly predominate in African passerines. It is probable that the development of such meronts is a characteristic feature of evolution of Plasmodium spp. in African rainforest birds. Subgeneric taxonomy of avian Plasmodium spp. is discussed based on the recent molecular phylogenies of these parasites. It is concluded that a multi-genome phylogeny is needed before revising the current subgeneric classification of Plasmodium. We supported a hypothesis by Hellgren, Krizanauskiene, Valkiūnas, Bensch (J Parasitol 93:889-896, 2007), according to which, haemosporidian species with a genetic differentiation of over 5% in mitochondrial cyt b gene are expected to be morphologically differentiated. This study emphasises the importance of employing both PCR-based and microscopic methods in taxonomic, ecological and evolutionary investigations of avian haemosporidian parasites.

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Avian Hematozoa in South America: A Comparison of Temperate and Tropical Zones

Cited by 24 publications

References 19 publications

Prevalence of malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in two shorebird species with different winter habitat distribution

Prevalence of malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in two shorebird species with different winter habitat distribution

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in migratory Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger, Laridae, Charadriiformes) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

New malaria parasites of the subgenus Novyella in African rainforest birds, with remarks on their high prevalence, classification and diagnostics

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