Tree-based delimitation of morphologically ambiguous taxa: A study of the lizard malaria parasites on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola

Falk, Bryan G.; Mahler, D. Luke; Perkins, Susan L.

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.05.004

Cited by 24 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Currently, the study of avian haemosporidian diversity is being addressed by using both molecular and morphological analysis, as has been encouraged by several authors [5,57,58]. Recent information demonstrates high frequency of abortive infections [59,60], where the only presence of lineages cannot be considered a competent host-parasite relationship [6].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian haemosporidians from Neotropical highlands: Evidence from morphological and molecular data

González

Lotta

García

et al. 2015

Parasitology International

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian haemosporidians from Neotropical highlands: Evidence from morphological and molecular data

González

Lotta

García

et al. 2015

Parasitology International

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“…The ambiguity surrounding the original description of R. bicaudata and its hosts, the lack of morphological traits useful in differentiating pentastomes beyond genus (Riley, 1986), and the fact that we did not recover evidence of R. bicaudata in our extensive survey of native snakes lead us to conclude that R. bicaudata is not a valid pentastome species. Our example expands the use of molecular data in understanding parasite diversity by noting that these data can be used both to reveal hidden diversity (e.g., Falk et al., 2011; Kelehear et al., 2011) and to reduce apparent diversity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parasite species identification can be challenging if morphological similarities arise from parallel evolution, convergent evolution, or paedomorphism (e.g., Falk, Mahler, & Perkins, 2011; Kelehear, Spratt, Dubey, Brown, & Shine, 2011). Ambiguity of distinguishing characteristics can lead to misidentification and can hinder understanding of how host–parasite relationships are altered during invasions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasite spillover: indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons

Miller

Kinsella²,

Snow

et al. 2017

Ecology and Evolution

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Identification of the origin of parasites of nonindigenous species (NIS) can be complex. NIS may introduce parasites from their native range and acquire parasites from within their invaded range. Determination of whether parasites are non‐native or native can be complicated when parasite genera occur within both the NIS’ native range and its introduced range. We explored potential for spillover and spillback of lung parasites infecting Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in their invasive range (Florida). We collected 498 indigenous snakes of 26 species and 805 Burmese pythons during 2004–2016 and examined them for lung parasites. We used morphology to identify three genera of pentastome parasites, Raillietiella, a cosmopolitan form, and Porocephalus and Kiricephalus, both New World forms. We sequenced these parasites at one mitochondrial and one nuclear locus and showed that each genus is represented by a single species, R. orientalis, P. crotali, and K. coarctatus. Pythons are host to R. orientalis and P. crotali, but not K. coarctatus; native snakes are host to all three species. Sequence data show that pythons introduced R. orientalis to North America, where this parasite now infects native snakes. Additionally, our data suggest that pythons are competent hosts to P. crotali, a widespread parasite native to North and South America that was previously hypothesized to infect only viperid snakes. Our results indicate invasive Burmese pythons have affected parasite‐host dynamics of native snakes in ways that are consistent with parasite spillover and demonstrate the potential for indirect effects during invasions. Additionally, we show that pythons have acquired a parasite native to their introduced range, which is the initial condition necessary for parasite spillback.

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“…Mitochondrial sequence data, however, showed that the 2 forms were independently evolving lineages (Perkins, 2000), and they are now known as distinct species (Telford, 2008). Likewise, Falk et al (2011) used morphological and morphometric criteria to identify Plasmodium species in Hispaniolan Anolis, but the ''diagnostic'' characters proved unreliable as several of the morphologically distinct isolates were genetically identical for multiple genetic loci. Species descriptions of haemosporidians are now frequently incorporating molecular information, both as deposited sequences from the types and paratypes.…”

Section: The ''Present'': Molecular Data and Its Impactmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They also likely took different evolutionary trajectories in responding to mammalian immune defenses. It has been possible to develop small sets of novel nuclear-encoded markers using tagged primer reamplification approaches for some closely related species (Beadell et al, 2009;Falk et al, 2011), but it has not yet been possible to broadly use these markers in multiple diverse species and genera across the family. Despite the explosive field of genomics and the ever-falling cost of obtaining complete genome sequences for microorganisms, obtaining full or even partial genomic sequences for the majority of the diversity of haemosporidians presents a very real challenge.…”

Section: Obtaining Multiple Markers and (Somewhat) Complete Genomesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Malaria's Many Mates: Past, Present, and Future of the Systematics of the Order Haemosporida

Perkins

2014

Journal of Parasitology

122

113

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Malaria has been one of the most important diseases of humans throughout history and continues to be a major public health concern. The 5 species of Plasmodium that cause the disease in humans are part of the order Haemosporida, a diverse group of parasites that all have heteroxenous life cycles, alternating between a vertebrate host and a free-flying, blood-feeding dipteran vector. Traditionally, the identification and taxonomy of these parasites relied heavily on life-history characteristics, basic morphological features, and the host species infected. However, molecular approaches to resolving the phylogeny of the group have sometimes challenged many of these traditional hypotheses. One of the greatest debates has concerned the origin of the most virulent of the human-infecting parasites, Plasmodium falciparum, with early results suggesting a close relationship with an avian parasite. Subsequent phylogenetic studies placed it firmly within the mammalian clade instead, but the avian origin hypothesis has been revived with recent genome-based analyses. The rooting of the tree of Haemosporida has also been inconsistent, and the various topologies that result certainly affect our interpretation of the history of the group. There is clearly a pressing need to obtain a much more complete degree of taxon sampling of haemosporidians, as well as a greater number of characters before confidence can be placed in any hypothesis regarding the evolutionary history of the order. There are numerous challenges moving forward, particularly for generating complete genome sequences of avian and saurian parasites.

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Tree-based delimitation of morphologically ambiguous taxa: A study of the lizard malaria parasites on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola

Cited by 24 publications

References 54 publications

Avian haemosporidians from Neotropical highlands: Evidence from morphological and molecular data

Avian haemosporidians from Neotropical highlands: Evidence from morphological and molecular data

Parasite spillover: indirect effects of invasive Burmese pythons

Malaria's Many Mates: Past, Present, and Future of the Systematics of the Order Haemosporida

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