Molecular characterisation of three avian haemoproteids (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae), with the description of Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) palloris n. sp.

Abstract

DNA barcoding (molecular characterisation) is a useful tool for describing the taxonomy and systematics of organisms. Over 250 species of avian haemosporidian parasites have been described using morphological characters, yet molecular techniques based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) suggest this diversity is underestimated. Moreover, molecular techniques are particularly useful for the detection of chronic infections and tissue stages of these parasites. Species delimitation is problematic among haemosporidians, and many questions about the mechanisms and patterns of speciation, host specificity and pathogenicity are still unresolved. Accumulation of additional genetic and morphological information is needed to approach these questions. Here, we combine microscopic examination with PCR-based methods to develop molecular characterisation of Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) manwelli Bennett, 1978 and Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) gavrilovi Valkiūnas & Iezhova, 1990, both of which parasitise the bee-eater Merops apiaster L. We also describe a new species, Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) palloris n. sp., from the blood of the willow warbler Phylloscopus trochilus (L.). We performed phylogenetic analyses with a set of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene lineages, which have been linked to parasite morphospecies and are available in the MalAvi database. Our findings show that morphological characters, which have been traditionally used in the description of haemosporidians, exhibit phylogenetic congruence. This study contributes to a better understanding of avian haemosporidian diversity and provides new molecular markers (cyt b and apicoplast gene sequences) for the diagnostics of inadequately investigated haemosporidian infections.

A new blood parasite of leaf warblers: molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationships, description and identification of vectors

“…species was accompanied by DNA sequence information and phylogenetic hypothesis for its relationship with already described parasites. It has been suggested [ 60 ] and then confirmed by several other studies [ 15 , 58 , 61 ] that Haemoproteus lineages, which differ over 5% in partial cytb sequence (479 bp), are likely to be morphologically differentiated and can be distinguished on gametocyte stage. However, it was also shown that some cytb lineages of Haemoproteus spp.…”

“…In H. palloris (Fig. 1o ), an unfilled space is usually present between the gametocyte and the erythrocyte nucleus [ 15 ]. This is not characteristic for H. homopalloris n. sp.…”

“…This is particularly recognisable in closely related species (Figs. 1 and 3 ) with pale staining of macrogametocyte cytoplasm [ 15 , 56 – 58 ]. The greatest divergence among the seven described species of this group is 3.1%.…”

Exo-erythrocytic development of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites

“…Approximately 150 species of avian haemoproteids (Haemoproteidae) belonging to the genus Haemoproteus (subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus ) have been described [4, 18, 144], and recent molecular studies indicate that many more species probably exist [17]. However, there is, at best, only fragmentary information on exo-erythrocytic development in the great majority of the species (Table 2).…”

Migration distance does not predict blood parasitism in a migratory songbird

“…Migration distance may vary substantially across the study population, given that individuals may breed at different distances from the Zambian winter site. Two lineages of malaria-like parasites (WW1 and WW2), belonging to the morphospecies Haemoproteus palloris (Dimitrov et al, 2016) and H. majoris (Križanauskienė et al, 2006), respectively, have previously been recorded as the dominant haemosporidian parasites in willow warblers (WW1 and WW2; Bensch & Akesson, 2003).…”