Description of the first cryptic avian malaria parasite, Plasmodium homocircumflexum n. sp., with experimental data on its virulence and development in avian hosts and mosquitoes

Description, molecular characterisation, diagnostics and life cycle of Plasmodium elongatum (lineage pERIRUB01), the virulent avian malaria parasite

“…Identical morphological features of blood stages, similar exoerythrocytic stages and sporogonic development in vectors, together with genetic similarities with pGRW6, prove that the lineage pERIRUB01 belongs to P. elongatum. Ideally, identification of haemosporidian parasites should be based on a combination of morphological and phylogenetic information, together with data about developmental patterns in hosts (Perkins, 2000;Palinauskas et al, 2015). The geographic distribution of P. elongatum (pERIRUB01) and areas of its transmission remain unclear.…”

“…strain (mitochondrial cyt b gene lineage pERIRUB01) was isolated from a naturally infected European robin at the Biological station "Rybachy" of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science in June 2014. The strain was multiplied in a robin and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen as described by Palinauskas et al (2015). Frozen samples were maintained at the Biobank in Nature Research Centre, Lithuania.…”

“…However, Micks (1949) obtained less than three oocysts per midgut and did not observe any sporozoites in C. quinquefasciatus, indicating abortive development of P. elongatum. It is likely that incomplete (abortive) sporogonic development in blood sucking dipterans is rather common in haemosporidian parasites Palinauskas et al, 2015). Discrepancies in results from different studies raise the question as to whether all groups worked with the same P. elongatum lineage.…”

“…Sporogonic development during the oocyst stage may be critical for successful sporogony. There are data about encapsulation and melanization of oocysts in midguts of mosquitoes infected both with Plasmodium and Haemoproteus parasites (Collins et al, 1986;Schwartz and Koella, 2002;Dimopoulos, 2003;Sinden et al, 2004;Valkiūnas et al, 2013;Palinauskas et al, 2015). This defence mechanism is often recorded because it can be readily visualised in midgut preparations.…”

Parallel telomere shortening in multiple body tissues owing to malaria infection

“…Experimental siskins (12 males and 10 females) were inoculated with avian red blood cells containing a single infection of P. ashfordi (GRW2) following the protocol described elsewhere [22]. This parasite was originally isolated from a common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) in 2011 and frozen in liquid nitrogen as described by Palinauskas et al [30]. The strain was multiplied in common crossbills (Loxia curvirostra), which were used as donors of infected red blood cells.…”