Entomological Study on Transmission of Avian Malaria Parasites in a Zoological Garden in Japan: Bloodmeal Identification and Detection of Avian Malaria Parasite DNA From Blood-Fed Mosquitoes

Abstract

Several species of captive and wild birds have been found to be infected with various avian blood protozoa in Japan. We investigated the prevalence and transmission of avian malaria parasite and determined the bloodmeal hosts of mosquitoes collected in a zoological garden in Tokyo, Japan, by using the polymerase chain reaction. In total, 310 unfed and 140 blood-fed mosquitoes of seven species were collected by using sweep nets and CDC traps. Bloodmeal identification indicated that mosquitoes had fed on 17 avian and five mammalian species, including captive animals. The results of avian malaria parasite detection from mosquitoes with avian bloodmeals indicated that Culex pipiens pallens Coquillet is a main vector of avian Plasmodium in the current study site and that some captive and wild birds could be infected with avian malaria parasites. Furthermore, the distances between the collection site of blood-fed mosquitoes and the locations of their blood-source captive animals were estimated. Most females with fresh bloodmeals were found within 40 m of caged animals, whereas half-gravid and gravid females were found between 10 and 350 m from caged host animals. We demonstrated that blood-fed mosquitoes can provide useful information regarding the mosquito vector species of avian malaria parasites and allows for noninvasive detection of the presence of avian malaria parasites in bird populations.

Project MOSI: rationale and pilot‐study results of an initiative to help protect zoo animals from mosquito‐transmitted pathogens and contribute data on mosquito spatio–temporal distribution change

“…Indeed, there already is a considerable record of zoofocused mosquito study (e.g. Beier & Trpis,1981;Nolen, 2001; Derraik, 2004a,b;McGowan, 2004;Sano et al, 2005;Nelder, 2007;Adler et al, 2011;Ejiri et al, 2011;Tuten, 2011a;Tuten 2011b;Tuten et al, 2012). However, the potential of national, regional and global-level zoo networks to contribute to mosquito-monitoring efforts remains largely unutilized.…”

First Record of Avian Plasmodium DNA from Mosquitoes Collected in the Yaeyama Archipelago, Southwestern Border of Japan

“…, Yukita SATO 1) *, Kyeong-Soon KIM 2) , Mikako TAMASHIRO 3) , Yoshio TSUDA 2) , Takako TOMA 3) , Ichiro MIYAGI 3) , Koichi MURATA 4) and Masayoshi YUKAWA 4) Avian Plasmodium spp. are blood protozoa that cause the vector-borne disease of bird malaria on a worldwide scale and are transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, Culex and Culiseta [20].…”

“…are blood protozoa that cause the vector-borne disease of bird malaria on a worldwide scale and are transmitted mainly by mosquitoes of the genera Aedes, Anopheles, Culex and Culiseta [20]. Previous studies in Japan reported that several species of wild and captive birds were infected with various strains of avian Plasmodium [10][11][12], and some mosquito species were reported as their vectors [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Elucidating the prevalence and transmission pathways of avian Plasmodium may provide important information for evaluating the risk of parasite infections in the study areas [3,4].…”

“…Previous studies in Japan reported that several species of wild and captive birds were infected with various strains of avian Plasmodium [10][11][12], and some mosquito species were reported as their vectors [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Elucidating the prevalence and transmission pathways of avian Plasmodium may provide important information for evaluating the risk of parasite infections in the study areas [3,4]. In the mainland of Japan, the prevalence of avian malaria in birds and mosquitoes has been gradually demonstrated [3-7, 10, 12]; however, the situation in the southwestern border area of Japan remains unknown, except in Minami-Daito Island [2] (Fig.…”

“…Avian malaria lineages detected in this study are indicated in the tree within boxes and by a mosquito silhouette within a box. Superscript arabic numerals of accession numbers indicate the following host mosquito species of avian Plasmodium detected in previous studies in Japan [2][3][4][5][6][7]: 1) Aedes albopictus; 2) Culex (Culiciomyia) sasai; 3) Lt. fuscanus; 4) Lt. vorax; 5) C. pipiens pallens; 6) C. pipiens quinquefasciatus; 7) Coquillettidia sp.. Known avian malaria species, including Plasmodium cathemerium (AY377128), P. circumflex (AF495576) [13], P. elongatum (DQ659588), P. gallinaceum (AB250690), P. juxtanucleare (AB250415), P. nucleophilum (AF254962), P. relictum (AY099041) [21], Haemoproteus lanii (DQ630012), H. sylvae (AY099040), and other avian malaria lineages found recently in birds (AB601432 to AB601434, AB601437, AB601438, AB601440, AB601441, AB601445) and mosquitoes (AB308044 to AB308048, AB308051, AB308052, AB458849 to AB458851, AB474382, AB477123, AB474377, AB474378, AB542064) of Japan were obtained from GenBank for comparison.…”