Plasmodium spp. In a captive raptor collection of a safaripark in northwest Italy

Scaglione, Frine Eleonora; Cannizzo, Francesca Tiziana; Chiappino, Laura; Sereno, Alessandra; Ripepi, Matteo; Salamida, Sonia; Manuali, Elisabetta; Bollo, E.

doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.12.010

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

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“…Many captive bird species are susceptible to various malarial infections [ 7 ]. Zoos have important role in species conservation, and cases of mortality in different species of birds due to malaria and related haemosporidians were described, particularly often in countries with warm climates all over the planet [ 9 , 10 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 18 ]. Although it is known that the same lineages of malaria parasites can infect birds belonging to different species, families and even orders, there is insufficient knowledge about the prevalence and diversity of Plasmodium spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Diversity and distribution of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in captive birds from a Brazilian megalopolis

Chagas

Valkiūnas

Guimarães

et al. 2017

Malar J

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BackgroundThe role of zoos in conservation programmes has increased significantly in last decades, and the health of captive animals is essential to guarantee success of such programmes. However, zoo birds suffer from parasitic infections, which often are caused by malaria parasites and related haemosporidians. Studies determining the occurrence and diversity of these parasites, aiming better understanding infection influence on fitness of captive birds, are limited.MethodsIn 2011–2015, the prevalence and diversity of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. was examined in blood samples of 677 captive birds from the São Paulo Zoo, the largest zoo in Latin America. Molecular and microscopic diagnostic methods were used in parallel to detect and identify these infections.ResultsThe overall prevalence of haemosporidians was 12.6%. Parasites were mostly detected by the molecular diagnosis, indicating that many birds harbour subclinical or abortive infections. In this project, birds of 17 orders (almost half of all the orders currently accepted in taxonomy of birds), 29 families, and 122 species, were tested, detecting positive individuals in 27% of bird species. Birds from the Anatidae were the most prevalently infected (64.7% of all infected animals). In all, infections with parasites of the genus Plasmodium (overall prevalence 97.6%) predominated when compared to those of the genus Haemoproteus (2.4%). In total, 14 cytochrome b (cytb) lineages of Plasmodium spp. and 2 cytb lineages of Haemoproteus spp. were recorded. Eight lineages were new. One of the reported lineages was broad generalist while others were reported in single or a few species of birds. Molecular characterization of Haemoproteus ortalidum was developed.ConclusionThis study shows that many species of birds are at risk in captivity. It is difficult to stop haemosporidian parasite transmission in zoos, but is possible to reduce the infection rate by treating the infected animals or/and while keeping them in facilities free from mosquitoes. Protocols of quarantine should be implemented whenever an animal is transferred between bird maintaining institutions. This is the first survey of haemosporidians in captive birds from different orders maintained in zoos. It is worth emphasizing the necessity of applying practices to control these parasites in management and husbandry of animals in captivity.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1729-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Italy, Plasmodium sp. was detected in raptors [ 15 ]. Finally, some species of Plasmodium are well known to cause mortality in penguins in captive and rehabilitation centres all over the world [ 16 – 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity and distribution of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in captive birds from a Brazilian megalopolis

Chagas

Valkiūnas

Guimarães

et al. 2017

Malar J

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“…In turn, avianinfecting Plasmodium species, as well as parasites from the related genus Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa: Haemosporidia), the causative agents of avian malaria and related diseases (Valkiūnas 2005), are among the most studied vectortransmitted diseases of wildlife. These parasites have been extensively studied both because they are an effective study model of human malaria (Garamszegi 2011), and for their own deleterious effects on birds, which include negative effects on individual survival (Martínez-de la Puente et al 2010, Krams et al 2013 and reproduction (Marzal et al 2005, Knowles et al 2010, pathogenic outbreaks among captive birds (Olias et al 2011, Scaglione et al 2016, and extinction of endemic insular species following the accidental introduction of exotic parasites (Samuel et al 2015). are vectored by mosquitoes, whereas biting midges and louse-flies are the vectors of Haemoproteus spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…(Santiago-Alarcon et al 2012). These parasites have been extensively studied both because they are an effective study model of human malaria (Garamszegi 2011), and for their own deleterious effects on birds, which include negative effects on individual survival (Martínez-de la Puente et al 2010, Krams et al 2013 and reproduction (Marzal et al 2005, Knowles et al 2010, pathogenic outbreaks among captive birds (Olias et al 2011, Scaglione et al 2016, and extinction of endemic insular species following the accidental introduction of exotic parasites (Samuel et al 2015). Although several studies have analyzed how avian haemosporidian richness and prevalence (that is, the number of different parasites, and the proportion of infected hosts, per locality) are linked to a number of forest traits, either directly (Chasar et al 2009, Laurance et al 2013, Hernández-Lara et al 2017 or through the study of their vectors (Reiter and LaPointe 2007, Abella-Medrano et al 2015, Gudex-Cross et al 2015, studies on how habitat loss and fragmentation may determine their natural dynamics are scarce and offer inconclusive results (Sebaio et al 2010, references reviewed in Sehgal 2015, Ferreira et al 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat fragmentation, not habitat loss, drives the prevalence of blood parasites in a Caribbean passerine

et al. 2018

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Habitat destruction due to human land-use activities is well recognized as a central threat to biodiversity. However, there is still debate about the relative influence of its two components, habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, mostly because few studies have been able to disentangle their respective effects. We studied mechanisms by which habitat destruction might influence the prevalence of vector-transmitted haemosporidian blood parasites of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus infecting the Lesser Antillean bullfinch Loxigilla noctis on the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Starting from a large set of environmental descriptors (including metrics reflecting habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and landscape heterogeneity; as well as other variables not linked to habitat destruction, such as climatic conditions), we used PLS regression analyses to determine which variables were driving parasite prevalence on the islands. Our results showed that variables related to forest destruction were much more influential than other factors for all parasites analyzed on both islands. Remarkably, the effects documented were almost exclusively due to forest fragmentation, as opposed to habitat loss. This positive effect of forest fragmentation on blood parasite prevalence is proposed to happen through its effects on insect vectors and/or host biology. Increased understanding of the role of habitat fragmentation as a driver of parasitic diseases can help limiting the risk of emergence and proliferation of wildlife pathogenic outbreaks and zoonosis through informed landscape planning.

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“…Com relação aos hemosporídeos, a grande maioria dos trabalhos publicados foi realizada em regiões de clima temperado, com a avifauna nativa e migrante [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] .…”

Section: Estudos Com Haemosporidaunclassified

Plasmodium spp. em aves silvestres da Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo: identificação de espécies por microscopia e sequenciamento do gene mitocondrial citocromo b

Chagas¹

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Plasmodium spp. In a captive raptor collection of a safaripark in northwest Italy

Cited by 14 publications

References 13 publications

Diversity and distribution of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in captive birds from a Brazilian megalopolis

Diversity and distribution of avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites in captive birds from a Brazilian megalopolis

Habitat fragmentation, not habitat loss, drives the prevalence of blood parasites in a Caribbean passerine

Plasmodium spp. em aves silvestres da Fundação Parque Zoológico de São Paulo: identificação de espécies por microscopia e sequenciamento do gene mitocondrial citocromo b

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