Blood parasites in Passeriformes in central Germany: prevalence and lineage diversity of Haemosporida (Haemoproteus,PlasmodiumandLeucocytozoon) in six common songbirds

Abstract

BackgroundAvian Haemosporida are vector-borne parasites that commonly infect Passeriformes. Molecular analyses revealed a high number of different lineages and lineage specific traits like prevalence and host-specificity, but knowledge of parasite prevalence and lineage diversity in wild birds in Central Germany is still lacking.ResultsBlood samples from a total of 238 adult and 122 nestling songbirds belonging to six species were investigated for infections with avian haemosporidian genera and lineages (Haemoproteus spp., Plasmodium spp., Leucocytozoon spp.) and Trypanosoma avium using PCR, targeting the parasite mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and 18S ribosomal RNA. In total, the prevalence in adult birds was 31.3% infected with Haemoproteus, 12.5% with Plasmodium and 71.0% with Leucocytozoon (nestlings excluded). None of the tested birds was infected with Trypanosoma avium. Only in two nestling birds, aged 12–17 days, a Leucocytozoon spp. infection was proven. Among 225 successfully sequenced samples, we found four Haemoproteus, three Plasmodium and 19 Leucocytozoon lineages, including two new Leucocytozoon lineages. Furthermore, we report two new host-lineage associations.ConclusionsAs first study investigating avian haemosporidian parasites in Central Germany, we provide new information on genetic diversity of Haemosporida infecting Passeriformes. We show that even with a small sample size new lineages as well as previously unknown linkages between certain lineages and host species can be detected. This may help to elucidate the diversity of lineages as well as lineage-host-connections of avian Haemosporida.

The buffy coat method: a tool for detection of blood parasites without staining procedures

“…In addition to methodology results, this study contributes to the knowledge of the prevalence of Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, Lankesterella and Trypanosoma species and microfilariae of filariid nematodes in common European birds (Additional file 1: Table S1). The obtained data corroborate with previous studies that reported prevalence of these blood parasites [66][67][68][69]. In the present study, Haemoproteus species had the highest prevalence (Additional file 1: Table S1).…”

Molecular survey on the occurrence of avian haemosporidia, Coxiella burnetii and Francisella tularensis in waterfowl from central Italy

“…Haemosporidians occur worldwide except in Antarctica (Beadell et al, 2009) and most infections are relatively benign, probably due to long-term host parasites evolutionary associations (Bennet et al, 1993). The occurrence of these protozoa has been reported from several birds’ species (Schmid et al, 2017; Dimitrov et al, 2018; Ferreira-Junior et al, 2018; Valkiunas et al, 2019; Schumm et al, 2019) and from dipteran species (Ionică et al, 2017; Žiegytė et al, 2017; Martin et al, 2019; Schoener et al, 2019).…”

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

“…Avian haemosporidian parasites ( Plasmodium , Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Fallisia ) are widespread and remarkably diverse; this diversity frequently exceeds that of avian hosts [1–5]. During the past ten years, it has been shown that several Haemoproteus species can be harmful to their avian hosts, compromising their health and even causing mortality, especially in non-adapted birds [6–9].…”

“…Many studies have addressed parasite diversity and the phylogenetic relationships of haemosporidian parasites of various avian hosts [4, 5, 13–18], but information about vector competence and patterns of sporogonic development of these pathogens remains insufficient. Haemoproteus ( Parahaemoproteus ) species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) are cosmopolitan in countries with warm and temperate climates [2, 3].…”