Avian malaria on Madagascar: bird hosts and putative vector mosquitoes of different Plasmodium lineages

Abstract

BackgroundAvian malaria occurs almost worldwide and is caused by Haemosporida parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon). Vectors such as mosquitoes, hippoboscid flies or biting midges are required for the transmission of these parasites. There are few studies about avian malaria parasites on Madagascar but none about suitable vectors.MethodsTo identify vectors of avian Plasmodium parasites on Madagascar, we examined head, thorax and abdomen of 418 mosquitoes from at least 18 species using a nested PCR method to amplify a 524 bp fragment of the haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Sequences obtained were then compared with a large dataset of haemosporidian sequences detected in 45 different bird species (n = 686) from the same area in the Maromizaha rainforest.ResultsTwenty-one mosquitoes tested positive for avian malaria parasites. Haemoproteus DNA was found in nine mosquitoes (2.15%) while Plasmodium DNA was found in 12 mosquitoes (2.87%). Seven distinct lineages were identified among the Plasmodium DNA samples. Some lineages were also found in the examined bird samples: Plasmodium sp. WA46 (EU810628.1) in the Madagascar bulbul, Plasmodium sp. mosquito 132 (AB308050.1) in 15 bird species belonging to eight families, Plasmodium sp. PV12 (GQ150194.1) in eleven bird species belonging to eight families and Plasmodium sp. P31 (DQ839060.1) was found in three weaver bird species.ConclusionThis study provides the first insight into avian malaria transmission in the Maromizaha rainforest in eastern Madagascar. Five Haemoproteus lineages and seven Plasmodium lineages were detected in the examined mosquitoes. Complete life-cycles for the specialist lineages WA46 and P31 and for the generalist lineages mosquito132 and PV12 of Plasmodium are proposed. In addition, we have identified for the first time Anopheles mascarensis and Uranotaenia spp. as vectors for avian malaria and offer the first description of vector mosquitoes for avian malaria in Madagascar.

Extremely low Plasmodium prevalence in wild plovers and coursers from Cape Verde and Madagascar

“…During the last years, three studies have identified molecularly the prevalence and diversity of blood parasite lineages infecting wild birds from Madagascar [ 23 – 25 ], adding valuable information to the previous knowledge based on blood smears [ 26 , 27 ]. Although combining the identification of blood parasites based on the screening of blood smears and molecular approaches could add valuable information [ 7 ], molecular methods are broadly used as they allow the identification of genetic diversity and host-range of blood parasites [ 4 , 8 , 9 , 14 , 24 ]. Furthermore, the prevalence of infection estimated using molecular methods is similar than those measured using smears or combining both microscopy and PCR methods [ 7 ].…”

“…To our knowledge, only a single study has investigated the potential mosquito vectors of avian Plasmodium in Madagascar [ 24 ]. Plasmodium DNA was found in the head-thorax of mosquito species belonging to the genera Uranotaenia , Culex and Anopheles [ 24 ].…”

“…To our knowledge, only a single study has investigated the potential mosquito vectors of avian Plasmodium in Madagascar [ 24 ]. Plasmodium DNA was found in the head-thorax of mosquito species belonging to the genera Uranotaenia , Culex and Anopheles [ 24 ]. In a recent checklist of the mosquitoes in Madagascar, authors recorded additional mosquito genera which could be involved in avian malaria transmission including Mansonia and Coquillettidia [ 32 ] because these genera of mosquitoes have been found involved in the transmission of avian Plasmodium in other areas of the world [ 33 ].…”

Impact of deforestation on the abundance, diversity, and richness of Culex mosquitoes in a southwest Cameroon tropical rainforest

“…antennatus, that are important vectors of filarial worms and West Nile virus in Africa. Also, Culex mosquitoes have been incriminated as vectors in the transmission of avian malaria parasites (Njabo et al , Zele et al , Schmid et al ), as well as multiple zoonotic agents such as Rift valley, Kamese viruses, St. Louis encephalitis, and Japanese encephalitis (Braack et al ). Because of their potential medical and veterinary importance, it is essential to improve our taxonomic understanding and bio‐ecology, especially of the forest‐dwelling mosquitoes of the genus Culex .…”

Protozoan parasites in Culex pipiens mosquitoes in Vienna

“…(Kazlauskienė et al 2013 ) and Cx. pipiens f. molestus (Ziegyte et al 2014 ) as very likely competent vectors for the P. relictum lineages pSGS1 and pGRW11 and GRW4 (Ionica et al 2017 ; Valkiūnas et al 2015 ). Knowledge about vector competence is currently lacking for other European mosquito species (Santiago-Alarcon et al 2012 ).…”