High prevalence and genetic diversity of Haemoproteus columbae (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in feral pigeons Columba livia in Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract

In this study, we explore blood parasite prevalence, infection intensity, and co-infection levels in an urban population of feral pigeons Columba livia in Cape Town. We analyze the effect of blood parasites on host body condition and the association between melanin expression in the host's plumage and parasite infection intensity and co-infection levels. Relating to the haemosporidian parasite itself, we study their genetic diversity by means of DNA barcoding (cytochrome b) and show the geographic and host distribution of related parasite lineages in pigeons worldwide. Blood from 195 C. livia individuals was collected from April to June 2018. Morphometric measurements and plumage melanism were recorded from every captured bird. Haemosporidian prevalence and infection intensity were determined by screening blood smears and parasite lineages by DNA sequencing. Prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. was high at 96.9%. The body condition of the hosts was negatively associated with infection intensity. However, infection intensity was unrelated to plumage melanism. The cytochrome b sequences revealed the presence of four Haemoproteus lineages in our population of pigeons, which show high levels of co-occurrence within individual birds. Three lineages (HAECOL1, COLIV03, COQUI05) belong to Haemoproteus columbae and differ only by 0.1% to 0.8% in the cytochrome b gene. Another lineage (COLIV06) differs by 8.3% from the latter ones and is not linked to a morphospecies, yet. No parasites of the genera Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium were detected.

Impact of Subclinical Haemoproteus columbae Infection on Farmed Domestic Pigeons from Central Java (Yogyakarta), Indonesia, with Special Reference to Changes in the Hemogram

“…In this study, we demonstrated a high prevalence (85.7%) of H. columbae infection in farmed domestic pigeons from Yogyakarta, Central Java; this is comparable to previous studies that have reported a H. columbae prevalence of 72.7% (24/33) or 96.9% (186/192) in feral domestic pigeons in Cape Town, South Africa [ 25 , 30 ], a prevalence of 82% (41/50) in the island of Tenerife, Canary Archipelago, Spain [ 31 ], a prevalence of 57.3% (59/103) in Qena, Egypt [ 32 ], and a prevalence of 100% (20/20) in São Paulo, Brazil [ 33 ].…”

“…Some evidence has shown that natural haemoproteosis can exert an important selective pressure on the survival, reproductive success, behavior, and community structure of the hosts, as evidenced by studies that involve the experimental interruption of natural Haemoproteus infection and analysis of its consequences [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Recently, Nebel et al [ 25 ] demonstrated a negative relationship between H. columbae parasitemia level and body mass in feral domestic pigeons in urban areas of Cape Town. In this study, we demonstrated subclinical but substantial symptoms such as macrocytic hypochromic anemia and hypoproteinemia in H. columbae -infected pigeons, and we speculate that this could cause body mass reduction and other negative health conditions.…”

“…Thence, pathogenic mechanisms underlying accidental fatal or moribund cases caused by members of the subgenus Parahaemoproteus can be extended to explain the potential pathogenicity of H. ( Haemoproteus ) columbae infection in the natural host, although the latter species does not have megalomeronts in its life-cycle [ 24 ]. Recently, however, Nebel et al [ 25 ] demonstrated a negative relationship between the level of H. columbae parasitemia and body mass in feral domestic pigeons in urban areas of Cape Town; a 1% increase in the number of infected erythrocytes was correlated with a 5.42 g reduction in body mass.…”

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Haemoproteus tinnunculi from falcons in Saudi Arabia

“…A partial sequence analysis of the cytb gene supplies the insights of phylogenesis and differentiates between different families, genera, and subgenera as well as taxonomic biodiversity and genetic divergence of haemosporidians [ 7 , 17 ].…”

“…Moreover, DNA sequencing helps to identify the closely related parasites and their evolutionary [ 7 , 16 – 18 ]. The sequence analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b ( cytb ) was used for the genetic characterization of bird haemosporidian species [ 7 , 17 , 19 ]. Therefore, this study aimed to identify H. tinnunculi by PCR in captive falcons and to study the genetic characterization of the circulating H. tinnunculi by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the cytb gene.…”