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Open AccessArticle

Trypanosomatids in Bloodsucking Diptera Insects (Ceratopogonidae and Simuliidae) Wild-Caught at Raptor Bird Nests in Temperate Forests

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Diversity 2023, 15(5), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050692 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 697

Abstract

Trypanosomatids are a huge group of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant parasites that can cause severe illnesses in hosts. Although avian trypanosomes are widely spread throughout the world, information about their transmission and vector–host relationships is still scarce. This study aimed to investigate Trypanosoma [...] Read more.

Trypanosomatids are a huge group of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant parasites that can cause severe illnesses in hosts. Although avian trypanosomes are widely spread throughout the world, information about their transmission and vector–host relationships is still scarce. This study aimed to investigate Trypanosoma prevalence in bloodsucking Diptera collected at tree-nesting raptor birds’ nests. Insects were collected in temperate forests of Eastern-Central Europe, in Lithuania, using UV light traps hung near common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina) nests at about 15 m height above the ground. A total of 1248 Culicoides (Ceratopogonidae) females and 3 blackflies (Simuliidae) were collected and tested for the presence of trypanosomatids using PCR-based methods. The blood of 85 nestlings, belonging to three different species (Buteo buteo, Clanga pomarina and Haliaeetus albicilla) was collected and tested using the same methods. We found that 11.1% of the investigated insects (one Simulium female and Culicoides biting midges belonging to five species) were infected with Trypanosoma parasites (Trypanosoma sp., T. bennetti group, T. avium) and monoxenous trypanosomatids (Crithidia sp., Obscuromonas sp.). Only one common buzzard nestling was found to be infected with Trypanosoma avium. The phylogenetic relationships of detected parasites were determined. Our findings supplement information on the ornithophilic behavior of Culicoides females, potential vector species of avian Trypanosoma, and produce some new information on the detection of monoxenous trypanosomatids (Crithidia sp. and Obscuromonas sp.) in Culicoides. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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Open AccessArticle

Prevalence, Molecular Characterization, and Ecological Associations of Filarioid Helminths in a Wild Population of Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)

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Jorge Garrido-Bautista

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Gregorio Moreno-Rueda

Diversity 2023, 15(5), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050609 - 29 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1221

Abstract

Filarioid nematodes (commonly known as filarial worms) are known to impact human and domestic animal health, but studies examining their ecological relevance and impacts on wildlife are still underrepresented. In the case of birds, microfilariae are typically found at low prevalence, but they [...] Read more.

Filarioid nematodes (commonly known as filarial worms) are known to impact human and domestic animal health, but studies examining their ecological relevance and impacts on wildlife are still underrepresented. In the case of birds, microfilariae are typically found at low prevalence, but they may negatively affect some fitness-related traits. Here, we study the prevalence and associations of microfilariae in a wild population of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) inhabiting a woodland comprising different forestry formations. In addition, we characterize the filarioid lineages through the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence. We found a moderate prevalence of microfilariae in the blue tit population (9.4%) and that the presence of such parasites was negatively associated with host body mass. Neither forest type nor host sex influenced microfilariae presence. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of five filarioid lineages clustered in the Onchocercidae family—four out of five lineages clustered in the Splendidofilaria clade, while the remaining lineage could not be clearly assigned to a genus. In addition, this is the first study examining the filarioid lineages infecting the blue tit. Our results suggest that hosts in poorer body condition, in terms of lower body mass, are more susceptible to be parasitized by filarioid nematodes and call for further genetic studies of these parasites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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Open AccessArticle

In Search of Proximate Triggers of Anthrax Outbreaks in Wildlife: A Hypothetical Individual-Based Model of Plasmid Transfer within Bacillus Communities

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Diversity 2023, 15(3), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030347 - 01 Mar 2023

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Abstract

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax in humans, livestock, and wildlife, exists in a community with hundreds of other species of bacteria in the environment. Work on the genetics of these communities has shown that B. anthracis shares a high percentage [...] Read more.

Bacillus anthracis, the causative agent of anthrax in humans, livestock, and wildlife, exists in a community with hundreds of other species of bacteria in the environment. Work on the genetics of these communities has shown that B. anthracis shares a high percentage of chromosomal genes with both B. thuringiensis and B. cereus, and that phenotypic differences among these bacteria can result from extra-chromosomal DNA in the form of plasmids. We developed a simple hypothetical individual-based model to simulate the likelihood of detecting plasmids with genes encoding anthrax toxins within bacterial communities composed of B. anthracis, B. thuringiensis, and B. cereus, and the surrounding matrix of extra-cellular polymeric substances. Simulation results suggest the horizontal transfer of plasmids with genes encoding anthrax toxins among Bacillus species persisting outside the host could function as a proximate factor triggering anthrax outbreaks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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Open AccessArticle

Haemosporidians in Non-Passerine Birds of Colombia: An Overview of the Last 20 Years of Research

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Ingrid Astrid Lotta-Arévalo

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Angie Daniela González

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Brayan Andrés Gamboa-Suárez

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M. Andreína Pacheco

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Ananías A. Escalante

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Carlos Moreno

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Oscar Rodríguez-Fandíño

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Andrés Cuervo

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Nubia E. Matta

Diversity 2023, 15(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010057 - 03 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1987

Abstract

The Neotropics are highly diverse in avian species. Neotropical countries contribute a large part of the estimated diversity of haemosporidian parasites reported for the planet’s tropical zones. However, sampling is limited and biased, illustrated by only 30% of the genetic records (barcodes) from [...] Read more.

The Neotropics are highly diverse in avian species. Neotropical countries contribute a large part of the estimated diversity of haemosporidian parasites reported for the planet’s tropical zones. However, sampling is limited and biased, illustrated by only 30% of the genetic records (barcodes) from non-passerines, most of them not linked to a nominal species. This paper aimed to perform the molecular and morphological characterization of the haemosporidians that infect non-passerine birds from Colombia deposited in the biological collection named “Grupo de Estudio Relación Parásito Hospedero (GERPH)”. We analyzed 1239 samples from twelve biomes and two animal care facilities. Phylogenetic relationships using barcodes and mitochondrial genomes were estimated. In addition, the reports of haemosporidian infections in non-passerine birds from the Neotropics recorded after 1978 were summarized. We reported the presence of thirteen morphological haemosporidian species, four potential new species deposited in GERPH, a host range expansion for two Plasmodium species, and a barcode sequence for Haemoproteus caprimulgi. We confirmed the species associated with 56 molecular lineages reported in other neotropical countries at the genus level. Thus, biological collections and curated databases such as MalAvi are essential to support integrative approaches demanded in modern taxonomy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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Open AccessArticle

Nematode and Acanthocephalan Parasites of Confiscated Sunda pangolins, Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822 (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae), with an Updated List of the Parasites of Pangolins

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Diversity 2022, 14(12), 1039; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14121039 - 27 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1852

Abstract

Background: The Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822, is a critically endangered species of pangolin that occurs from Indonesia to southern China. Knowledge of the biology and ecology of M. javanica is limited, however there have been previous reports of parasites, including nematodes, [...] Read more.

Background: The Sunda pangolin, Manis javanica Desmarest, 1822, is a critically endangered species of pangolin that occurs from Indonesia to southern China. Knowledge of the biology and ecology of M. javanica is limited, however there have been previous reports of parasites, including nematodes, protozoans, ticks, and a cestode. Methods: An illegal shipment of 88 M. javanica carcasses, originally collected from wild populations throughout southeast Asia, were intercepted by Hong Kong border authorities (AFCD) and confiscated in 2018. Results: During necropsy, two different types of parasites were collected from four infected pangolins. The parasites were identified as the nematode Gendrespirura cf. zschokkei (Meyer, 1896) Chabaud 1958, which were embedded in the stomach wall, and the acanthocephalan, Oligacanthorhynchidae sp., collected from the intestine. Morphological descriptions and molecular characterization for each parasite type is provided. Conclusions: In addition, an updated list of parasites from pangolins, incorporating current taxonomic identifications and publications is presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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Open AccessArticle

What Can Haemosporidian Lineages Found in Culicoides Biting Midges Tell Us about Their Feeding Preferences?

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Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas

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Carolina Hernández-Lara

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Mélanie Duc

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Kristina Valavičiūtė-Pocienė

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Rasa Bernotienė

Diversity 2022, 14(11), 957; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14110957 - 08 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1035

Abstract

Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) parasites are transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. However, the natural vectors of only six of the almost 180 recognized Haemoproteus species have been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate wild biting midges naturally infected with Haemoproteus and to [...] Read more.

Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) parasites are transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. However, the natural vectors of only six of the almost 180 recognized Haemoproteus species have been identified. The aim of this study was to investigate wild biting midges naturally infected with Haemoproteus and to understand the interaction network between Culicoides and Haemoproteus in Europe. Culicoides were collected with UV light traps from different sites in Lithuania. Parous females were morphologically identified based on their wings and heads. PCR-based methods were used to detect the Haemoproteus DNA, and salivary gland preparations were analyzed for the presence of sporozoites. Of the 580 Culicoides analyzed, 5.9% were positive for Haemoproteus DNA, and sporozoites were found in two of 11 sampled biting midge species: Culicoides kibunensis and Culicoides segnis. The interaction network revealed that C. kibunensis and C. segnis are frequently associated with several Haemoproteus lineages. On the other hand, some Haemoproteus lineages were found to interact with only one Culicoides species. This was the first report of C. segnis being a competent vector for H. minutus TURDUS2, H. asymmetricus TUPHI01, H. majoris PHSIB1, and H. fringillae CCF3; and of C. kibunensis being a competent vector for H. belopolskyi HIICT1. Culicoides segnis and C. kibunensis are both important vectors of Haemoproteus parasites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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Open AccessArticle

Chlamydiaceae-Like Bacterium in Wild Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

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Lucía Gallo Vaulet

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Ralph Eric Thijl Vanstreels

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Luciana Gallo

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Andrea Carolina Entrocassi

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Laura Peker

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Gabriela S. Blanco

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Maria Virginia Rago

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Marcelo Rodriguez Fermepin

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Marcela M. Uhart

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090746 - 10 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1245

Abstract

The family Chlamydiaceae is comprised of obligate intracellular bacteria, some of which are significant pathogens of humans and domestic animals. Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are susceptible to Chlamydia psittaci outbreaks in captivity, and serological surveys detected antibodies against C. psittaci (or [...] Read more.

The family Chlamydiaceae is comprised of obligate intracellular bacteria, some of which are significant pathogens of humans and domestic animals. Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) are susceptible to Chlamydia psittaci outbreaks in captivity, and serological surveys detected antibodies against C. psittaci (or antigenically similar organisms) in wild populations of this species. To investigate the occurrence of Chlamydiaceae in wild Magellanic penguins, 167 cloacal swabs were collected from apparently healthy individuals at four breeding colonies along the coast of Chubut, Argentina. Real-time PCR revealed the presence of DNA from Chlamydiaceae-like bacteria in 61 cloacal swabs (36.5%). Detection did not correlate to nutritional status or to meaningful hematological abnormalities. Isolation in monkey kidney cells was unsuccessful, but DNA sequences for the 16S–23S rRNA region were obtained from one sample. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship to unidentified Chlamydiaceae-like bacteria found in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) in Antarctica and seagulls in France and the Bering Sea, and to Chlamydiifrater spp. isolated from flamingos in France. Further studies are necessary to clarify the taxonomy and investigate the epidemiology, pathogenicity, and zoonotic potential of this group of Chlamydiaceae-like bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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The Adaptive Host Manipulation Hypothesis: Parasites Modify the Behaviour, Morphology, and Physiology of Amphibians

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Irene Hernandez-Caballero

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Luz Garcia-Longoria

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Ivan Gomez-Mestre

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Alfonso Marzal

Diversity 2022, 14(9), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090739 - 08 Sep 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3907

Abstract

Parasites have evolved different strategies to increase their transmission from one host to another. The Adaptive Host Manipulation hypothesis states that parasites induce modifications of host phenotypes that could maximise parasite fitness. There are numerous examples of parasite manipulation across a wide range [...] Read more.

Parasites have evolved different strategies to increase their transmission from one host to another. The Adaptive Host Manipulation hypothesis states that parasites induce modifications of host phenotypes that could maximise parasite fitness. There are numerous examples of parasite manipulation across a wide range of host and parasite taxa. However, the number of studies exploring the manipulative effects of parasites on amphibians is still scarce. Herein, we extensively review the current knowledge on phenotypic alterations in amphibians following parasite infection. Outcomes from different studies show that parasites may manipulate amphibian behaviours to favour their transmission among conspecifics or to enhance the predation of infected amphibians by a suitable definite host. In addition, parasites also modify the limb morphology and impair locomotor activity of infected toads, frogs, and salamanders, hence facilitating their ingestion by a final host and completing the parasite life cycle. Additionally, parasites may alter host physiology to enhance pathogen proliferation, survival, and transmission. We examined the intrinsic (hosts traits) and extrinsic (natural and anthropogenic events) factors that may determine the outcome of infection, where human-induced changes of environmental conditions are the most harmful stressors that enhance amphibian exposure and susceptibility to parasites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity of Wildlife Pathogens)

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