Experimental Parasitology and Ecoimmunology: Concepts and Opportunities in Avian Haemosporidian Studies

Palinauskas, Vaidas; Puente, Josué Martínez‐de la; Hernández-Soto, Sandra Rocío; Marzal, Alfonso

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51633-8_17

Cited by 12 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 186 publications

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“…Testing this hypothesis will yield important clues whether certain members of the uropygial gland microbiota are indirectly influenced by malaria via altered immune levels in infected hosts. It is possible that we were unable to identify a stronger effect on the uropygial microbiome due to the fact that wild birds with malaria usually harbour low chronic infection levels with little influence on fitness (Palinauskas et al 2020). Another possibility is that different species or lineages of malaria parasites could have dissimilar associations with members of the uropygial gland microbiome.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The uropygial gland microbiome of house sparrows with malaria infection

Videvall

Marzal

Magallanes

et al. 2021

Journal of Avian Biology

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Birds secrete preen oil from the uropygial (preen) gland which is used to maintain feather integrity and communicate through odour. The uropygial secretion is believed to influence host attractiveness to biting insects, thereby altering the risk of infection by vector‐transmitted blood parasites. Previous studies have documented a presence of bacteria in the uropygial secretion; however, the microbial community in the gland is still largely unknown. In addition, we have no information yet as to whether there are any associations between these uropygial gland microbes and haemosporidian parasite infection. Here, we characterise the microbiome of the uropygial gland secretion in 23 wild‐caught house sparrows Passer domesticus from Peru and investigate whether individuals with natural malaria Plasmodium infection have different preen oil microbiota than uninfected birds. We found no differences in microbial alpha diversity or richness, and malaria infection explained approximately 5% of the overall microbiome composition, however, this was not statistically significant. On the other hand, birds with malaria infection had significantly higher abundances of bacteria from the genera Arthrobacter and Micrococcus in their gland, whereas uninfected birds harboured higher abundances of Rhodococcus, Phenylobacterium and Enhydrobacter. These first results of the uropygial gland microbiome in malaria‐infected birds illustrate the presence of a more specific relationship between certain members of the gland microbiota and Plasmodium parasites in birds, which opens up new questions on the role of the uropygial gland in avian health.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The uropygial gland microbiome of house sparrows with malaria infection

Videvall

Marzal

Magallanes

et al. 2021

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…Contrary to expectations, there was no difference among infected and uninfected individuals among all measurements for both Swinhoe's snipes and Latham's snipes of both sexes. Some studies demonstrating negative effects of infection on body condition has suggested that these effects may be linked with not only infection, but also with other conditions such as immune response, molt and availability of resources ( Cornet et al, 2014 ; Dunn et al, 2013 ; Hatchwell et al, 2001 ; Morales et al, 2007 ; Palinauskas et al, 2020 ). In addition, infections at low intensities may show little to no effects on the host bird ( Hahn et al, 2018 ; Palinauskas et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some studies demonstrating negative effects of infection on body condition has suggested that these effects may be linked with not only infection, but also with other conditions such as immune response, molt and availability of resources ( Cornet et al, 2014 ; Dunn et al, 2013 ; Hatchwell et al, 2001 ; Morales et al, 2007 ; Palinauskas et al, 2020 ). In addition, infections at low intensities may show little to no effects on the host bird ( Hahn et al, 2018 ; Palinauskas et al, 2020 ). Hence, the parasite intensity might have potentially been light enough that no observable differences in morphological traits were observed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First records of prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia in snipe species (genus Gallinago) of Japan

Inumaru

Odaya

Sato

et al. 2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Migratory birds are important carriers of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Avian haemosporidia have been detected from many wild birds of Japan, but the infection status of migratory birds and transmission area are still largely unknown. Gallinago snipes are long-distance migratory shorebirds, and five species migrate to or through Japan, including Latham's snipe which is near threatened. Haemosporidian parasites in four snipe species were investigated to understand the role of migratory birds in the transmission of avian haemosporidia. Namely, this study aimed: i) to investigate differences in parasite prevalence and related factors explaining infection likelihood among these migratory species, ii) to explore the diversity in haemosporidian lineages and possible transmission areas, and iii) to assess the possibility of morphological effects of infection. Blood samples were collected from snipes caught in central and southwest Japan during migration. Parasites cyt b gene DNA were detected via PCR-based testing, and detected lineages were phylogenetically analyzed. Additionally, factors related to prevalence and morphological effects of infection were statistically tested. 383 birds from four Gallinago snipe species were caught, showing higher overall prevalence of avian haemosporidia (17.8 %) than reported in other wader species in previous studies. This high infection rate is presumably due to increased contact with vector insects, resultant of environmental preferences. The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. Was higher in Swinhoe's snipes, while Haemoproteus spp. Was higher in Latham's snipes. These differences are thought to be related to ecological factors including habitat use, distribution and migratory route. Six lineages detected from juveniles indicate transmission between the breeding and sampling area. Contrary to expectations, a direct link between morphological features and haemosporidian parasite infection were not detected. These findings provide valuable information for conservation of this endangered migratory bird group. Further studies linking biological and parasitological research are anticipated to contribute to conservational actions.

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“…Hellgren et al 2004;Beadell et al 2004;Martinsen et al 2008) also have limitations-especially in the detection of multiple infections. A number of wildlife studies suggest that multiple infections with haemosporidian parasites are common (Pérez-Tris and Bensch 2005;Palinauskas et al 2015), with a high betweenspecies variation in prevalence (Palinauskas et al 2020). Thus, haemosporidian species with low abundance in mixed infections are frequently undetected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Untangling the actual infection status: detection of avian haemosporidian parasites of three Malagasy bird species using microscopy, multiplex PCR, and nested PCR methods

et al. 2022

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The development of new molecular methods has significantly improved the detection and identification of avian haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) compared to microscopic examination. Very large numbers of previously hidden Haemosporida species of a wide range of avian hosts have thus been discovered in the last two decades. However, test parameters of the various detection methods remain largely unevaluated. In this study, the merits of microscopy, multiplex PCR, and nested PCR were compared to identify the infection status of three Malagasy bird species. A total of 414 blood samples of Hypsipetes madagascariensis, Foudia omissa and F. madagascariensis, as well as 147 blood smears, were examined for haemosporidian infection. Thirty-four lineages of haemosporidian parasites could be identified, of which six have been detected for the first time. Microscopy, multiplex and nested PCR showed differences in detection rate, most likely due to low parasitemia of chronically infected birds. The combination of both PCR methods yielded the best results. In particular, detection of multiple infections could be greatly improved and will enable more precise prevalence estimates of individual haemosporidian species in wild birds in the future.

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Experimental Parasitology and Ecoimmunology: Concepts and Opportunities in Avian Haemosporidian Studies

Cited by 12 publications

References 186 publications

The uropygial gland microbiome of house sparrows with malaria infection

The uropygial gland microbiome of house sparrows with malaria infection

First records of prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia in snipe species (genus Gallinago) of Japan

Untangling the actual infection status: detection of avian haemosporidian parasites of three Malagasy bird species using microscopy, multiplex PCR, and nested PCR methods

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