Parasite–bird interactions in urban areas: Current evidence and emerging questions

Delgado-V, Carlos A.; French, Kristine

doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2011.12.019

Cited by 83 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 141 publications

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“…Thus, this region differs from other habitats where studies on avian malaria have been conducted so far. It is known that different habitats with differing levels of ecological interactions and environmental changes may provide different compositions influencing the dynamics of the parasite-vector-host triad (Shutler et al 1996;Garvin and Remsen 1997;Piersma 1997;Mendes et al 2005;Durrant et al 2006;Arriero and Moller 2008;Belo et al 2011;Szöllözi et al 2011;Delgado-v and French 2012;Loiseau et al 2012). An interesting point raised by our results is the proposal that transmission of hemosporidians occurs in loco.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in migratory Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger, Laridae, Charadriiformes) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

et al. 2015

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The Medium Solimões River region in the Brazilian Amazon Basin is an area utilized for reproduction and nesting by a variety of species of migratory aquatic birds such as Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger). These migratory birds form mixed-species reproductive colonies with high population densities and exhibit a large range of migration routes. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and diversity of the avian malaria parasites Plasmodium and Haemoproteus in Black Skimmers, on the basis of the association between microscopic observation of blood smears and amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (mtDNA cyt-b). The overall prevalence rates of the parasites for juvenile and adult bird specimens were 16% (5/31) and 22% (15/68), respectively. Sequencing the mtDNA cyt-b marker revealed two Plasmodium lineages, which had been previously described in different regions of the American continent, including a Neotropical region in Southeast Brazil, and one Haemoproteus lineage. The fact that avian malarial parasites have been found infecting the Black Skimmers in the Brazilian Amazon ecosystem, which exhibits considerable diversity, highlights the importance of these migratory birds as a potential source of infection and dispersion of pathogens to other susceptible birds of the Nearctic and Neotropical regions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in migratory Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger, Laridae, Charadriiformes) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

et al. 2015

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“…Moreover, avian exposure to West Nile Virus can be greater within urban than nonurban areas, as shown in the Chicago region (Hamer et al 2012). A recent literature review showed that urbanization could be positively or negatively associated with the diversity and prevalence of bird parasites (Delgado and French 2012). Comparing urban and rural blackbird populations across Europe, Evans et al (2009) found that prevalence of both ticks and avian malaria was lower in cities.…”

Section: Diseasementioning

confidence: 99%

Wildlife Population Dynamics in Urban Landscapes

Rodewald

Gehrt

2014

Urban Wildlife

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To say that urban wildlife populations differ from those in other landscapes is, in some ways, to state the obvious, as many studies have well demonstrated how urbanization influences pattern of occurrence and relative abundance of wildlife (e.g., Blair 1996;Marzluff et al. 2001;Sinclair et al. 2005;Chace and Walsh 2006). Identifying the specific ways in which urban and nonurban wildlife populations differ and the drivers of those differences is less understood and requires a more careful examination. The response of a species to urbanization may be the consequence of life history, and behavioral and physiological attributes that promote avoidance, tolerance, or preference for urban systems. For example, urban avoiders, or species that respond negatively to development, tend to be habitat specialists, migratory, and/or sensitive to a wide range of human activities and disturbance (Croci et al. 2008). Species that respond positively to urban development (e.g., synanthropic species, urban exploiters) are often generalists, omnivorous, multi-brooded, and behaviorally flexible. Because these suites of species differ widely in population ecology even in the absence of urbanization, we forgo a direct comparison of these groups of species and, rather, examine how urbanization affects population structure and demography of species occupying both urban and nonurban landscapes (i.e., urban adapters).As we synthesize the literature, we recognize the inherent difficulty of clearly defining a "population." What distinguishes a subpopulation from a population? For some species, this may be quite clear because of limited vagility and strong segregation among habitat types; for others, it may be unclear, particularly those with more generalist habitat requirements and extensive mobility across urban

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“…use insects as first and intermediate hosts, respectively, therefore host agility, a broad host diet, and selective feeding on invertebrate hosts, represent the main determinants influencing infection prevalence in individual countries (Poulin, 1997). Urbanisation causes significant changes to species composition and important consequences of urbanisation are changes in host-parasite interactions (Delgado-V & French, 2012). The other factor which should be emphasized is that infected Great Tit in our study was found in the urban area, not excluding a possibility that habitat where bird became infected could also be sub-urban or rural areas.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The first report of serratospiculiasis in Great Tit (Parus major) in Slovakia

et al. 2013

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SummarySerratospiculiasis is a parasitic disease caused by filariid nematodes of the genus Serratospiculum, the subfamily Dicheilonematinae. Serratospiculum spp. parasitizes the air sacs and members of this genus have been found in various species of Falcons, Bald Eagles and Cooper's Hawk from all around the world. In the present study, infection with Serratospiculum was confirmed for the first time in the Great Tit in Slovakia. Nematode infestation was identified post mortem. Lesions in the respiratory system (airsacculitis, pneumonia) were associated with the presence of this nematode. Smears of the necrotic lesions in the crop and oesophagus contained the large numbers of embryonated eggs. Faecal samples were examined by flotation method and Serratospiculum eggs were found. Adult parasites were cleared in lactophenol solution and morphological analysis of male reproductive organs (shape of male nematode spicules) indicated the species Serratospiculum amaculata. Scattered inflammatory cells were seen in the mucosal and submucosal layers of infected oesophagus and inflammatory foci were found mainly in the stroma of the air sacs. The presence of the filariid nematode in the nonspecific species Great Tit (Parus major) common in Slovakia indicates the importance of monitoring of serratospiculiasis in the avian hosts. The parasite can cause serious health problems, even sudden death of their hosts, therefore suitable effective measures for their elimination should be implemented.

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Parasite–bird interactions in urban areas: Current evidence and emerging questions

Cited by 83 publications

References 141 publications

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in migratory Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger, Laridae, Charadriiformes) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Prevalence and diversity of avian malaria parasites in migratory Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger, Laridae, Charadriiformes) from the Brazilian Amazon Basin

Wildlife Population Dynamics in Urban Landscapes

The first report of serratospiculiasis in Great Tit (Parus major) in Slovakia

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