Description of Leucocytozoon quynzae sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae) from hummingbirds, with remarks on distribution and possible vectors of leucocytozoids in South America

Abstract

We describe Leucocytozoon quynzae sp. nov. (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae), which is the first Leucocytozoon parasite identified to species level in hummingbirds. It was found in the Amethyst-throated Sunangel (Heliangelus amethysticollis, Trochilidae, Apodiformes) captured in the Palacio Forest, which belongs to the damping zone of Chingaza National Natural Park, Cundinamarca, Colombia, at 2,900 m above sea level where the transmission occurs; the new species were found both in the high Andean forest and Paramo ecosystem. This parasite is described based on the morphology of its blood stages, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, and the complete mitochondrial genome. Illustrations of blood stages of the new species are given, and the phylogenetic analysis places this lineage in a well-supported clade with other lineages of unidentified to species level leucocytozoids reported in the Trochilidae birds elsewhere. The new species possess gametocytes in roundish host cells; it can be readily distinguished from other similar leucocytozoids, primarily due to (1) a comma-like shape of the host cell nucleus, which extended one half or less of the circumference of the gametocyte and (2) a large number of prominent volutin granules in the cytoplasm. Identical mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence of Leucocytozoon quynzae was found in different hummingbird species at the type locality and also was reported in one passerine bird at the highlands of Peru. Leucocytozoon quynzae is the first leucocytozoid parasite described from South American birds; its transmission occurs both at low temperatures and high elevations. We discuss some patterns of distribution of avian leucocytozoids in South America and the role of Gigantodax spp. (Diptera, Simuliidae) as potential vectors of Leucocytozoon parasites in the Andean Region.

Avian haemosporidians from Neotropical highlands: Evidence from morphological and molecular data

“…The Neotropical region offers a great opportunity for research on avian haemoparasites; this study found new host-parasite relationships, most likely due to high avian diversity associated with the uplift of the Andes, and the scarce number of studies on this topic in the Andean region [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15]40,54,55]. An increasing number of lineages from avian Haemosporida have been recorded in the last decade around the world.…”

Disentangling Leucocytozoon parasite diversity in the neotropics: Descriptions of two new species and shortcomings of molecular diagnostics for leucocytozoids

“…That calls for the development of a new set of primer for nested PCR-based methods diagnosis of avian leucocytozoids. The new mtDNA genomes sequences obtained in this and previous studies conducted in the Neotropics (i.e., Matta et al, 2014; Lotta et al, 2016; Pacheco et al, 2018b) and now available in public databases can be helpful for the design of a new set of primer and PCR protocols.…”

“…Such host species richness seems to drive a high diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites that is just starting to be characterized using microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based detection methods (i.e. Merino et al, 2008; Rodríguez et al, 2009; Jones et al, 2013; Mantilla et al, 2013, 2016; Matta et al, 2014; Galen and Witt, 2014; Harrigan et al, 2014; González et al, 2014, 2015; Marzal et al, 2015; Lotta et al, 2016; Moens et al, 2016; Moens and Pérez-Tris, 2016; Cadena-Ortiz et al, 2018; de Aguilar et al, 2018; Gil-Vargas and Sedano-Cruz, 2019).…”

Mixed Species Flock, Nest Height, and Elevation Partially Explain Avian Haemoparasite Prevalence in Colombia

“…Hypotheses to explain the low parasite prevalence in Neotropical countries compared to temperate regions include: (1) the great avian biodiversity present in the Neotropical region may lead to a dilution effect [81], decreasing the density of susceptible hosts. Such an effect would provide less opportunity for transmission [82]; (2) the life-history strategies of tropical birds, which are typically longer-lived than species at high latitudes, might include stronger immune defences against infection [14].…”