Genetic characterization of avian malaria (Protozoa) in the endangered lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni

Abstract

We genetically analyzed avian malaria (Protozoa) isolated from lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) breeding in La Mancha, Central Spain. A total of 586 adult individuals were screened for blood parasites using a very efficient polymerase chain reaction approach that amplifies a partial segment (498 bp) of the cytochrome b gene of avian malaria of the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium. The prevalence of Plasmodium was 8.2%, and the prevalence of Haemoproteus was 4.1%. Sequence analyses revealed six unique lineages of avian malaria, three Plasmodium (LK5, LK6, RTSR1) and three Haemoproteus (LK2, LK3, LK4). According to sequence divergence, these lineages seem to correspond to at least three different species, although all recovered lineages could be independent evolutionary units. The third most common lineage (RTSR1) has been previously retrieved from two other avian host species, including a resident African bird species and a trans-Saharan migrant passerine, suggesting that lesser kestrels could acquire this Plasmodium lineage at their winter quarters in Africa.

Genetic characterization, distribution and prevalence of avian pox and avian malaria in the Berthelot’s pipit (Anthus berthelotii) in Macaronesia

“…It contrasts, for example, with six avian malaria lineages (n=586 individuals screened) found in the lesser kestrel and 26 (n=415) observed in the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla (Ortego et al 2007;Pérez-Tris et al 2007). The Canary Islands are close to African mainland sources of host and parasite populations and receive a lot of migrants such as the blackcap every year that could elevate parasite richness.…”

“…found in Berthelot's pipit (Fig. 4) have also been identified in lesser kestrels (Falco naumannii, Ortego et al 2007). Recent molecular studies have demonstrated that avian blood parasites of the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium show a lower degree of host specific than was previously thought (Bench et al 2000;Waldenström et al 2002;Szymanski and Lovette 2005), although it is lower in Plasmodium than in Haemoproteus parasites (Beadell et al 2004;Fallon et al 2005).…”

“…4, node A; Ortego et al 2007). These two pipit and two kestrel strains plus P. rouxi and two other unnamed Plasmodium species form a monophyletic group with high (92%) bootstrap support (Fig.…”

Detection and molecular characterization of a Haemoproteus lineage in a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) in Turkey

“…This study describes the first molecular detection along with the microscopic examination of a Haemoproteus infection in a Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) in Turkey. As the ability of microscopic examinations to detect haemosporidian infections was very low compared with molecular approaches (9,17,21,24), the status of avian haemosporidiosis needs to be updated in Turkey.…”

Consequences of chronic infections with three different avian malaria lineages on reproductive performance of Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni)

“…Previous studies analyzing data obtained on the basis of visual examination of blood smears are likely to have disregarded and/or confounded different and potentially pathological effects of cryptic lineages. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that several malaria lineages are undetected by traditional visual blood smear analyses, indicating that the prevalence of malaria has been severely underestimated (Waldenström et al 2004;Ortego et al 2007a). However, although molecular techniques have now been widely applied to the study of avian malaria parasites, to the best of our knowledge only a single study has analyzed the consequences on host fitness of different molecularly typed lineages in a wild bird population (Bensch et al 2007).…”