Is Host Selection by Mosquitoes Driving Vector Specificity of Parasites? A Review on the Avian Malaria Model

Abstract

Parasites and hosts are in a complex evolutionary arm race where host compatibility represents a key obstacle for successful infections. The degree of parasite specialization on a host varies along a continuum: on one end, extreme specialist parasites may be restricted to a single host species, and on the other, generalist parasites are able to infect a diverse set of hosts. Multiple intrinsic factors associated to the host, such as their immune system and physiological condition, can contribute to the evolution of host specificity of parasites and have been well-studied and documented in vertebrates. In contrast, vector specificity of parasites has been largely overlooked, especially in natural conditions. While a few studies suggested that insect vectors do not play an important role in shaping the parasite community structure since they may feed widely from the bird community, current studies have demonstrated the importance of vector feeding behavior on transmission dynamics for several vector-borne pathogens. Here, we provide a review on the specialization of avian Plasmodium in vectors, emphasizing the necessity to study simultaneously the three players to further understand how host choice by the vectors might influence the distribution of parasites in the wild. In addition, we suggest specific research directions making use of both empirical data gathered in the field and controlled experiments on vector host-feeding preferences.

Seasonal Variation in Detection of Haemosporidia in a Bird Community: A Comparison of Nested PCR and Microscopy

“…Also, different mosquito species are captured are different heights in the habitat which might influence what bird species they feed on (Darbro and Harrington 2006), while some Plasmodium spp. vectors may selectively feed on particular host species (Gutie ´rrez-Lo ´pez et al 2020).…”

Habitat fragmentation matters more than habitat loss: The case of host–parasite interactions

“…In addition, while it is still unclear whether the blood feeding pattern (i.e., identity and frequency of the avian host exploited) of mosquitoes fits with the host community structure and/or inherent mosquito choice, several studies show that these insects have clear feeding preferences for specific host species (Chaves et al, 2010; Lyimo & Ferguson, 2009; Rizzoli et al, 2015). Finally, there is growing evidence that haemosporidian lineages may be transmitted by a limited number of vector species (Gutiérrez‐López et al, 2020). All these specificities suggest that habitat loss and fragmentation may affect parasite prevalence in a way that depends on the combination of both host and parasite species, as well as the vector identity.…”

Investigation of Parasitic Infection in Crocodile Lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) Using High-Throughput Sequencing

“…Given the similar natural environments of the two regions [ 49 , 50 ], it is possible that other factors contributed to the differences between the two regions. For example, intrinsic host factors (e.g., immune system, age, and sex) may influence the probability of a parasite infecting a suitable host [ 51 ]. Some filaria and nematodes are transmitted by arthropod vectors [ 52 ].…”