First record of Babesia sp. in Antarctic penguins

Montero, Estrella; González, Luís Miguel; Chaparro, Alberto; Benzal, Jesús; Bertellotti, Marcelo; Masero, José A.; Colominas-Ciuró, Roger; Vidal, Virginia; Barbosa, Andrés

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.02.006

Cited by 21 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…In a separate analysis ( Supplementary Data S1 ), the sequence of Babesia sp. from chinstrap penguins ( Pygoscelis antarcticus ) ( Montero et al., 2016 ) was not narrowly clustered with any other published sequences of avian- or mammalian-infecting Babesia , and could potentially represent a separate phylogenetic group within the ‘ Babesia sensu stricto’ clade (Clade VI in Schnittger et al., 2012 ). However, because the 18S rRNA gene sequence currently available for this parasite is short (274 bp), further molecular studies are needed before its phylogenetic relationships can be confidently evaluated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…in this study were inferred using published sequences of mammalian-infecting Babesia , in addition to avian-infecting Babesia spp. from published studies ( Criado et al., 2006 , Yabsley et al., 2006 , Yabsley et al., 2009 , Jefferies et al., 2008 , Paparini et al., 2014 , Quillfeldt et al., 2014 , Martínez et al., 2015 , Montero et al., 2016 , Chavatte et al., 2017 ). Cardiosporidium cionae was included as an out-group ( Schnittger et al., 2012 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To include the shorter 18S rRNA gene sequence of Babesia sp. obtained by Montero et al. (2016) in the analysis, another alignment trimmed to 303 bp was used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, several uncharacterized or unnamed Babesia spp. have been reported ( Peirce, 2000 , Beaufrère et al., 2007 , Savage et al., 2009 , Paparini et al., 2014 , Martínez et al., 2015 , Vanstreels et al., 2015 , Montero et al., 2016 ). Historically, the classification of piroplasmids has been primarily based on morphological differences, presumed host and/or vector specificities, or geographic isolation ( Peirce, 2000 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Molecular characterization of Babesia peircei and Babesia ugwidiensis provides insight into the evolution and host specificity of avian piroplasmids

Yabsley

Vanstreels

Shock

et al. 2017

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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There are 16 recognized species of avian-infecting Babesia spp. (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). While the classification of piroplasmids has been historically based on morphological differences, geographic isolation and presumed host and/or vector specificities, recent studies employing gene sequence analysis have provided insight into their phylogenetic relationships and host distribution and specificity. In this study, we analyzed the sequences of the 18S rRNA gene and ITS-1 and ITS-2 regions of two Babesia species from South African seabirds: Babesia peircei from African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) and Babesia ugwidiensis from Bank and Cape cormorants (Phalacrocorax neglectus and P. capensis, respectively). Our results show that avian Babesia spp. are not monophyletic, with at least three distinct phylogenetic groups. B. peircei and B. ugwidiensis are closely related, and fall within the same phylogenetic group as B. ardeae (from herons Ardea cinerea), B. poelea (from boobies Sula spp.) and B. uriae (from murres Uria aalge). The validity of B. peircei and B. ugwidiensis as separate species is corroborated by both morphological and genetic evidence. On the other hand, our results indicate that B. poelea might be a synonym of B. peircei, which in turn would be a host generalist that infects seabirds from multiple orders. Further studies combining morphological and molecular methods are warranted to clarify the taxonomy, phylogeny and host distribution of avian piroplasmids.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To include the shorter 18S rRNA gene sequence of Babesia sp. obtained by Montero et al. (2016) in the analysis, another alignment trimmed to 303 bp was used.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Molecular characterization of Babesia peircei and Babesia ugwidiensis provides insight into the evolution and host specificity of avian piroplasmids

Yabsley

Vanstreels

Shock

et al. 2017

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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“…The effect of macroparasites on the health and fitness of Antarctic penguins is a topic that barely has been addressed, with only a few studies dealing with ticks infecting penguins living in Sub-Antarctic islands and others investigating the potential effects of helminths in the South Shetlands Islands. Reported effects of ticks on penguins include mortality due to hyperinfestation (Gauthier-Clerc et al 1998), reduced breeding success (Mangin et al 2003), and transmission of tick-borne diseases such as borreliosis (Olsen et al 1995;Schramm et al 2014;Barbosa et al unpublished data) and babesiosis (Earle et al 1993;Montero et al 2016).…”

Section: Parasite Effects On Antarctic Penguinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Macroparasites in Antarctic Penguins

Díaz

Fusaro

Vidal

et al. 2017

Parasitology Research Monographs

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Parasites are the majority of species on Earth (Windsor 1998). The total number of parasite species is likely to be huge, because practically all free-living metazoan species harbor at least one parasite species and almost every individual of every species is parasitized by at least one parasite during its life cycle (Poulin and Morand 2004). The number of parasite species has been estimated as a range from 30 to 71 %

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Effects of Ecological Gradients on Tropical Avian Hemoparasites

Chapa‐Vargas

Matta

Merino

2020

Avian Malaria and Related Parasites in the Tropics

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This chapter provides a brief overview of how natural gradients (e.g., latitude, altitude, landscape gradients) affect host-parasite interactions involving blood parasites in wildlife, and how biotic and abiotic factors act as disruptors. These gradients have a direct impact on prevalence, parasitemia, and the observed relationships between parasites and hosts. In the tropical zone, altitudinal gradients imitate the behavior of the latitudinal gradient, since low temperatures are common both at higher altitudes and higher latitudes. Temperature is one of the determining factors of the diversity of vectors, hosts, and vegetation that affect parasite transmission cycles. Furthermore, within landscapes there may be many types of elements producing gradients. For instance, increasing distance from water sources, anthropogenic degradation, and even sequential stages of succession and interspersion of vegetation communities would affect host-parasite-vector interactions. However, such effects do not always operate in the same direction because responses are context-sensitive. We also discuss the importance of an integrative diagnosis, using microscopic and molecular approaches, which allow better approximations and analyses at the parasite species level, thus producing stronger conclusions. The same detail is recommended for studies on the hematophagous fauna of potential vectors. The life cycle of different parasite species has its own set of characteristics and it corresponds to the researchers to unravel the puzzle and to avoid unwarranted generalizations.

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First record of Babesia sp. in Antarctic penguins

Cited by 21 publications

References 25 publications

Molecular characterization of Babesia peircei and Babesia ugwidiensis provides insight into the evolution and host specificity of avian piroplasmids

Molecular characterization of Babesia peircei and Babesia ugwidiensis provides insight into the evolution and host specificity of avian piroplasmids

Macroparasites in Antarctic Penguins

Effects of Ecological Gradients on Tropical Avian Hemoparasites

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