Characterization of haemosporidian infections in warblers and sparrows at south-western European reed beds

Ventim, Rita; Tenreiro, Paulo; Grade, Nuno; Encarnação, Paulo Gustavo da; Araújo, Pedro M.; Mendes, Luísa; Pérez‐Tris, Javier; Ramos, Jaime A.

doi:10.1007/s10336-011-0767-1

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…In other species, we detected an intermediate level of prevalence, which is comparable to other studies. For example, the prevalence level of 63.6% in Acrocephalus scirpaceus, a species typical of marshes dominated by common reed (Phragmites australis) and sampled only in Marceddì (reed-dominated wetlands), is somewhat lower than that 84.6% detected in Spain by Fernandez et al [52], but it is higher than the 33.1% detected in Portuguese wetlands by Ventim et al [53]. The most highly sampled host species in our study was Passer hispaniolensis, which showed a prevalence of 44.4%.…”

Section: Sardinian Haemosporidian Diversitymentioning

confidence: 72%

Avian Haemosporidian Diversity on Sardinia: A First General Assessment for the Insular Mediterranean

et al. 2021

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The Western Palearctic is one of the most investigated regions for avian haemosporidian parasites (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon), yet geographic gaps in our regional knowledge remain. Here, we report the first haemosporidian screening of the breeding birds from Sardinia (the second-largest Mediterranean Island and a biodiversity hotspot), and the first for the insular Mediterranean in general. We examined the occurrence of haemosporidians by amplifying their mtDNA cytb gene in 217 breeding birds, belonging to 32 species. The total prevalence of infected birds was 55.3%, and of the 116 haplotypes recovered, 84 were novel. Despite the high number of novel lineages, phylogenetic analysis did not highlight Sardinia-specific clades; instead, some Sardinian lineages were more closely related to lineages previously recovered from continental Europe. Host-parasite network analysis indicated a specialized host-parasite community. Binomial generalized linear models (GLMs), performed at the community level, suggested an elevational effect on haemosporidian occurrence probability (negative for Haemoproteus; positive for Leucocytozoon) likely due to differences in the abundance of insect vectors at different elevations. Furthermore, a GLM revealed that sedentary birds showed a higher probability of being infected by novel haplotypes and long-distance migrants showed a lower probability of novel haplotype infection. We hypothesize that the high diversity of haemosporidians is linked to the isolation of breeding bird populations on Sardinia. This study adds to the growing knowledge on haemosporidians lineage diversity and distribution in insular environments and presents new insights on potential host-parasite associations.

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Section: Sardinian Haemosporidian Diversitymentioning

confidence: 72%

Avian Haemosporidian Diversity on Sardinia: A First General Assessment for the Insular Mediterranean

et al. 2021

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“…Wild passerine birds (Passeriformes) are commonly infected with haemosporidian parasites belonging to all three genera [3] and more than one-third of all described haemosporidian species have been found in this bird order [1,4]. The parasites harboured by passerine birds vary greatly in prevalence and their level of host-specificity, ranging from generalists, which infect a wide range of passerine species, to extreme host-specialists which confine to single species [5][6][7][8]. Haemosporidian infections in passerine birds are usually considered benign, as individuals are often chronically infected exhibiting low levels of parasitaemia and rarely showing signs of illness [1,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haemosporidioses in wild Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (T. philomelos): an in situ hybridization study with emphasis on exo-erythrocytic parasite burden

Himmel

Harl

Pfanner

et al. 2020

Malar J

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Background: Passerine birds are frequently infected with diverse haemosporidian parasites. While infections are traditionally considered benign in wild birds, recent studies demonstrated mortalities of passerine species due to exoerythrocytic development of the parasites, which can damage organs in affected hosts. However, exo-erythrocytic development remains insufficiently investigated for most haemosporidian species and thus little is known about the virulence of tissue stages in wild passerine birds. The aim of the present study was to investigate natural haemosporidian infections in deceased Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (Turdus philomelos) and to determine parasite burden and associated histological effects. Methods: For molecular analysis, blood and tissue samples from 306 thrushes were screened for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites by nested PCR. For the detection of parasite stages in organ samples, tissue sections were subjected to chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) using genus-and species-specific probes targeting the rRNAs of parasites. Exo-erythrocytic parasite burden was semi-quantitatively assessed and histological lesions were evaluated in haematoxylin-eosin-stained sections. Results: By PCR, 179 of 277 Eurasian blackbirds and 15 of 29 song thrushes were positive for haemosporidians. Parasites of all three genera were detected, with Plasmodium matutinum LINN1 and Plasmodium vaughani SYAT05 showing the highest prevalence. CISH revealed significant differences in exo-erythrocytic parasite burden between lineages in Eurasian blackbirds, with P. matutinum LINN1 frequently causing high exo-erythrocytic parasite burdens in various organs that were associated with histological alterations. Song thrushes infected with P. matutinum LINN1 and birds infected with other haemosporidian lineages showed mostly low exo-erythrocytic parasite burdens. Two Eurasian blackbirds infected with Leucocytozoon sp. TUMER01 showed megalomeronts in various organs that were associated with inflammatory reactions and necroses.

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“…In this study, we found that haemosporidian prevalence had a different pattern, being lower in spring, intermediate in autumn and higher in winter. Ventim et al (2012) also found that Plasmodium infections in Cetia cetti and P. domesticus increased from spring, to autumn and winter in Portuguese reedbeds, which could be related with lower food availability in those habitats during those periods compared with spring, making the birds more vulnerable to infections. This may also occur in pine woods, a relatively poor habitat, compared with deciduous and mixed woods, in which the majority of European studies were performed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Haemosporidian infections affect antioxidant defences in great tits Parus major but are not related to exposure to aerial pollutants

et al. 2017

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S U M M A R YHaemosporidian parasites are widespread in avian species and modulate their ecology, behaviour, life-history and fitness. The prevalence of these vector-transmitted parasites varies with host intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as host resistance and behaviour, and habitat-related characteristics. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of avian haemosporidians in great tit Parus major populations inhabiting two areas with different degrees of exposure to aerial emissions from pulp mills, to assess if this type of pollution impacted parasite prevalence. We also compared the physiological condition of infected and uninfected individuals. Haemosporidian infection prevalence was high (58%), varied seasonally, but was not associated with air pollution exposure. Fledged birds presented higher infection rates than nestlings and infected fledged birds had higher levels of blood glutathione peroxidase activity. These results allow us to infer that infection by blood parasites may activate antioxidant defences, possibly to protect the organism from the negative oxidative stress side-effects of immune activation against parasites. Because oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms responsible for ageing and senescence and may affect fitness, the relationship between parasitism and oxidative stress markers should be further investigated through studies that include experimental manipulation of infection in model organisms.

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Characterization of haemosporidian infections in warblers and sparrows at south-western European reed beds

Cited by 9 publications

References 34 publications

Avian Haemosporidian Diversity on Sardinia: A First General Assessment for the Insular Mediterranean

Avian Haemosporidian Diversity on Sardinia: A First General Assessment for the Insular Mediterranean

Haemosporidioses in wild Eurasian blackbirds (Turdus merula) and song thrushes (T. philomelos): an in situ hybridization study with emphasis on exo-erythrocytic parasite burden

Haemosporidian infections affect antioxidant defences in great tits Parus major but are not related to exposure to aerial pollutants

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