Diptera Vectors of Avian Haemosporidians: With Emphasis on Tropical Regions

Ferreira, Francisco C.; Santiago‐Alarcon, Diego; Braga, Érika Martins

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-51633-8_6

Cited by 13 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 158 publications

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“…Plasmodium prevalences were low (5%) in the longitudinal study, consistent with findings by Bodawatta et al ( 2020 ). This could be explained by hosts being less susceptible to this genus (Lima & Pérez‐Tris, 2020 ) or geographic variation in the distribution and density of Plasmodium vectors (Ferreira et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The drivers of avian‐haemosporidian prevalence in tropical lowland forests of New Guinea in three dimensions

Vinagre‐Izquierdo

Bodawatta

Chmel

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Haemosporidians are among the most common parasites of birds and often negatively impact host fitness. A multitude of biotic and abiotic factors influence these associations, but the magnitude of these factors can differ by spatial scales (i.e., local, regional and global). Consequently, to better understand global and regional drivers of avian-haemosporidian associations, it is key to investigate these associations at smaller (local) spatial scales. Thus, here, we explore the effect of abiotic variables (e.g., temperature, forest structure, and anthropogenic disturbances) on haemosporidian prevalence and host-parasite networks on a horizontal spatial scale, comparing four fragmented forests and five localities within a continuous forest in Papua New Guinea. Additionally, we investigate if prevalence and host-parasite networks differ between the canopy and the understory (vertical stratification) in one forest patch. We found that the majority of Haemosporidian infections were caused by the genus Haemoproteus and that avian-haemosporidian networks were more specialized in continuous forests. At the community level, only forest greenness was negatively associated with Haemoproteus infections, while the effects of abiotic variables on parasite prevalence differed between bird species. Haemoproteus prevalence levels were significantly higher in the canopy, and an opposite trend was observed for Plasmodium. This implies that birds experience distinct parasite pressures depending on the stratum they inhabit, likely driven by vector community differences. These three-dimensional spatial analyses of avian-haemosporidians at horizontal and vertical scales suggest that the effect of abiotic variables on haemosporidian infections are species specific, so that factors influencing community-level infections are primarily driven by host community composition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The drivers of avian‐haemosporidian prevalence in tropical lowland forests of New Guinea in three dimensions

Vinagre‐Izquierdo

Bodawatta

Chmel

et al. 2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Avian Plasmodium species are transmitted by Culicidae insects, more commonly by Culex mosquitoes, while Haemoproteus ( Parahaemoproteus ) parasites are transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides [78]. Grackles in the Arizona study area are found in urban landscapes with a source of surface water (e.g., ponds and lakes).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) as a tolerant host of avian malaria parasites

Pacheco

Ferreira

Logan

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) are a social, polygamous bird species whose populations have rapidly expanded their geographic range across North America over the past century. Before 1865, Great-tailed Grackles were only documented in Central America, Mexico, and southern Texas in the USA. Given the rapid northern expansion of this species, it is relevant to study its role in the dynamics of avian blood parasites. Here, 87 Great-tailed grackles in Arizona (a population in the new center of the range) were screened for haemosporidian parasites using microscopy and PCR targeting the parasite mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Individuals were caught in the wild from January 2018 until February 2020. Haemosporidian parasite prevalence was 60.9% (53/87). A high Plasmodium prevalence was found (59.8%, 52/87), and one grackle was infected with Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) sp. (lineage SIAMEX01). Twenty-one grackles were infected with P. cathemerium, sixteen with P. homopolare, four with P. relictum (strain GRW04), and eleven with three different genetic lineages of Plasmodium spp. that have not been characterized to species level (MOLATE01, PHPAT01, and ZEMAC01). Gametocytes were observed in birds infected with three different Plasmodium lineages, revealing that grackles are competent hosts for some parasite species. This study also suggests that grackles are highly susceptible and develop chronic infections consistent with parasite tolerance, making them competent to transmit some generalist haemosporidian lineages. It can be hypothesized that, as the Great-tailed Grackle expands its geographic range, it may affect local bird communities by increasing the transmission of local parasites but not introducing new species into the parasite species pool.

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“…Avian malaria and related parasites are protozoans belonging to the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Fallisia (Phylum Apicomplexa, order Haemosporida), which are distributed worldwide except for Antarctica (Valkiūnas, 2005). Different dipteran species from the families Culicidae, Hippoboscidae, Ceratopogonidae and Simuliidae transmit these parasites (Atkinson, 1999;Valkiūnas, 2005;Santiago-Alarcon et al, 2012;Ferreira et al, 2020). Currently, there is little information available regarding how climate fluctuations may affect ecological dynamics involving haemosporidians, but likely functional responses include the following: (1) range expansion of haemosporidian parasites to higher altitudes (Benning et al, 2002;Peterson et al, 2002;Samuel et al, 2011;Atkinson et al, 2014;McClure, 2017;Ferraguti et al, 2020;Rodríguez-Hernández et al, 2021); (2) shifts in geographic range and colonization patterns towards areas where the presence of certain haemosporidian lineages or avian hosts is uncommon or absent (Lindsay and Martens, 1998;Khasnis and Nettleman, 2005;Brooks and Hoberg, 2007;Kurane, 2010;Coon and Martin, 2013;McClure, 2017;Ferraguti et al, 2020); and (3) the reduction and eventual disappearance of ecotones and contact zones that limit the dispersal of haemosporidian parasites (Odum and Barrett, 2004;Brooks and Hoberg, 2007;Atkinson et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In comparison, Leucocytozoon is better adapted to colder climates and its prevalence increases at higher latitudes (Valkiūnas, 2005;Ramey et al, 2014;Smith et al, 2016) and with increasing altitude (over 2200 masl) (Galen and Witt, 2014;Lotta et al, 2016;Fecchio et al, 2019b). These conditions usually have high humidity, and precipitation and coincide with lower temperatures which limit Haemoproteus and Plasmodium infections but provide suitable habitat for the larvae of the black fly (Simulidae) vectors of Leucozoonoid infections in birds (Forrester and Greiner, 2008;Harrigan et al, 2014;Illera et al, 2008;Ferreira et al, 2020). These parasites undergo sporogony (the asexual reproduction stage where the bird-infective forms of haemosporidian parasites are formed) in temperatures between 15 and 20°C, meaning Leucozoonoid parasites have the lowest temperature threshold for transmission of the three haemosporidian genera (Valkiūnas, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate predictors and climate change projections for avian haemosporidian prevalence in Mexico

Santiago‐Alarcon

Chapa‐Vargas

2022

Parasitology

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Long-term, inter-annual and seasonal variation in temperature and precipitation influence the distribution and prevalence of intraerythrocytic haemosporidian parasites. We characterized the climatic niche behind the prevalence of the three main haemosporidian genera (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon) in central-eastern Mexico, to understand their main climate drivers. Then, we projected the influence of climate change over prevalence distribution in the region. Using the MaxEnt modelling algorithm, we assessed the relative contribution of bioclimatic predictor variables to identify those most influential to haemosporidian prevalence in different avian communities within the region. Two contrasting climate change scenarios for 2070 were used to create distribution models to explain spatial turnover in prevalence caused by climate change. We assigned our study sites into polygonal operational climatic units (OCUs) and used the general haemosporidian prevalence for each OCU to indirectly measure environmental suitability for these parasites. A high statistical association between global prevalence and the bioclimatic variables ‘mean diurnal temperature range’ and ‘annual temperature range’ was found. Climate change projections for 2070 showed a significant modification of the current distribution of suitable climate areas for haemosporidians in the study region.

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Diptera Vectors of Avian Haemosporidians: With Emphasis on Tropical Regions

Cited by 13 publications

References 158 publications

The drivers of avian‐haemosporidian prevalence in tropical lowland forests of New Guinea in three dimensions

The drivers of avian‐haemosporidian prevalence in tropical lowland forests of New Guinea in three dimensions

Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) as a tolerant host of avian malaria parasites

Climate predictors and climate change projections for avian haemosporidian prevalence in Mexico

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