Article
Ecology
Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Antoine Filion, Alan Fecchio, Erika Martins Braga, Robert Poulin
Summary: Migration plays a significant role in the transmission of parasites, with migratory birds potentially introducing new parasite strains to new areas and hosts. The presence of migrants may negatively impact local parasite richness, but is not associated with local prevalence, demonstrating their potential role in enhancing pathogen spread and influencing parasite community transmission.
Article
Microbiology
Carolina C. Anjos, Carolina R. F. Chagas, Alan Fecchio, Fabio Schunck, Maria J. Costa-Nascimento, Eliana F. Monteiro, Bruno S. Mathias, Jeffrey A. Bell, Lilian O. Guimaraes, Kiba J. M. Comiche, Gediminas Valkiunas, Karin Kirchgatter
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence, diversity, and distribution of avian haemosporidian parasites among resident and migratory birds in Serra do Mar, Brazil. The results showed that migratory species may harbor a higher diversity and prevalence of parasites than resident species, but transportation of some parasites by migratory hosts may not always affect local transmission. Additionally, a new species of Haemoproteus was described in this study.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antoine Filion, Lucas Deschamps, Chris N. Niebuhr, Robert Poulin
Summary: Anthropogenic changes can have significant impacts on wild populations and contribute to the emergence of diseases, such as avian malaria, which threaten native bird species in New Zealand. Understanding the cascading effects of human modifications on fragile species is crucial for conservation efforts.
Article
Parasitology
Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Alan Fecchio, Erika Martins Braga, Robert Poulin
Summary: Research shows that fully migratory species have higher parasite prevalence and greater richness of parasite lineages. However, there is no significant difference in parasite prevalence between migratory and non-migratory species when looking at Plasmodium and Haemoproteus separately.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Juergen Kruecken, Gabor A. Czirjak, Sabrina Ramunke, Maria Serocki, Sonja K. Heinrich, Joerg Melzheimer, M. Carolina Costa, Heribert Hofer, Ortwin H. K. Aschenborn, Nancy A. Barker, Stefano Capodanno, Luis Madeira de Carvalho, Georg von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Marion L. East, Bettina Wachter
Summary: A study on brown and spotted hyenas in Namibia and Tanzania revealed high frequencies of various pathogens, with frequent co-infections observed in the samples. Ecological conditions were found to have a greater impact on pathogen diversity and frequency than host taxonomy.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Solomon Mwakasungula, Virginie Rougeron, Celine Arnathau, Larson Boundenga, Eve Miguel, Anne Boissiere, Davy Jiolle, Patrick Durand, Alphonce Msigwa, Sarah Mswata, Ally Olotu, Yvon Sterkers, Benjamin Roche, Gerard Killeen, Frederique Cerqueira, Paul Yannick Bitome-Essono, Francois Bretagnolle, Honorati Masanja, Christophe Paupy, Robert Sumaye, Franck Prugnolle
Summary: Many emerging infectious diseases come from wild animals, so it is important to monitor their pathogens. However, it is difficult to acquire samples from wild animals. Xenosurveillance, using blood-feeding invertebrates to obtain tissue samples from wild animals and detect their pathogens, is a promising method. In this study, tsetse fly blood meals were used to determine the diversity of circulating blood-borne pathogens in a natural mammalian community in Tanzania.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Jimenez-Penuela, Martina Ferraguti, Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Ramon C. Soriguer, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: This study monitored the infection status of bird blood parasites in different regions of southern Spain, revealing different infection patterns possibly related to the composition and density of vector communities. The specific reproductive environmental requirements of different vector groups involved in transmission may be affected by climatic conditions and landscape features.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Katrina D. Keith, John P. Pistone, Tyler A. Campbell, Gary A. Voelker
Summary: Avian haemosporidian parasites in Texas, specifically Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium, have been relatively understudied despite the large geographic area and diverse ecoregions. This study conducted in south Texas found different infection patterns and parasite community composition between adjacent ecoregions. The findings provide important insights into the prevalence and disease ecology of avian malaria in this area.
Article
Ecology
Seraina L. Meister, Fabia Wyss, Christian Wenker, Stefan Hoby, Walter U. Basso
Summary: Avian haemosporidian parasites were found in captive and free-ranging birds in Switzerland, causing a range of clinical signs and pathomorphological lesions. The study used PCR to test 475 bird blood samples, identifying 42 positive samples with haemosporidian DNA, with Plasmodium relictum SGS1 being the most commonly detected lineage. Only a small number of individuals showed clinical and pathomorphological evidence of infection.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Artemis Efstratiou, Gabriele Karanis, Panagiotis Karanis
Summary: Tick-borne diseases are a serious public health issue in Europe and a major cause of losses in global livestock production. This review summarizes studies on ticks, tick-borne pathogens, and diseases in Greece, providing information on tick species, important pathogens, prevalence data, and geographic and climatic conditions. Enhanced surveillance is crucial for effective TBD control policies.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Gediminas Valkiunas, Tatjana A. Iezhova
Summary: This study aimed to develop comprehensive keys for the identification of described avian Haemoproteus species using morphological features of their blood stages. It analyzed and compared the morphological diagnostic features of gametocytes of all described Haemoproteus species and developed illustrated keys for their identification. The study also provided information about the molecular characterization of Haemoproteus parasites. The results showed that 177 described avian Haemoproteus species can be distinguished and identified in blood films using morphological characters of their gametocytes and host cells.
Review
Virology
Ahmed M. E. Elrefaey, Philippa Hollinghurst, Christine M. Reitmayer, Luke Alphey, Kevin Maringer
Summary: Mosquito-borne viruses of the Flavivirus genus, such as dengue, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever, and Zika viruses, pose a significant threat to global public health. Understanding the complex interactions between these viruses and their hosts is crucial for developing antiviral therapies and strategies to prevent their spread.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Laia Casades-Marti, Raul Cuadrado-Matias, Alfonso Peralbo-Moreno, Sara Baz-Flores, Yolanda Fierro, Francisco Ruiz-Fons
Summary: Through a 15-year study in five environmentally diverse areas of Spain, it was found that the transmission risk of West Nile virus (WNV) is closely related to environmental and host factors. Wild ungulates can serve as sentinel species for predicting the transmission risk of WNV.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raquel A. Rodrigues, Gabriel M. F. Felix, Mauro Pichorim, Patricia A. Moreira, Erika M. Braga
Summary: The study investigated avian haemosporidian parasites in a protected area in northeastern Brazil, showing that migration and temperature may predict parasite prevalence. Individual-level traits and other species-specific factors were not related to infection probability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Nayara Belo, Erika M. Braga
Summary: South America provides an ideal location to study the influence of habitat on vector-borne parasites. Through analyzing wild bird data from the Brazilian Savanna and the Venezuelan Arid Zone, researchers found that different habitats affect the prevalence and genetic diversity of haemosporidian parasites. Factors such as host diversity and environmental conditions contribute to the variation in parasite composition and prevalence.
Article
Ornithology
Alazne Diez-Fernandez, Jose Martin, Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Laura Gangoso, Pilar Lopez, Ramon Soriguer, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: DDT, a widely used pesticide, was banned in Europe in the 1970s and 1980s due to its high toxicity and environmental persistence. However, a recent study found DDT metabolites in the secretions of European Blackbirds in southern Spain. Despite the potential immunosuppressive effect of DDT, there was no association between haemosporidian infection and DDT presence.
Article
Parasitology
Rafael Gutierrez-Lopez, Jordi Figuerola, Josue Martinez-de la Puente
Summary: The risk of autochthonous transmission of Zika virus in Europe depends on the ability of Aedes albopictus to transmit the virus. Experimental studies have shown conflicting results in the vector competence of European populations of this mosquito species, possibly due to differences in mosquito populations and experimental procedures. A systematic review of published studies reveals that differences in infection and transmission rates are mainly attributed to variations in temperature, viral load, and the number of days post-exposure for analysis. The proportion of infected mosquitoes is affected by the viral load and post-exposure days, while the transmission rate is influenced by viral load and temperature. Therefore, methodological differences greatly affect the conclusions about the role of Aedes albopictus as a competent vector for Zika virus in Europe and its epidemiological relevance.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Jimenez-Penuela, Martina Ferraguti, Josue Martinez-De la Puente, Ramon C. Soriguer, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: This study analyzed the relationship between infection of three common blood parasites (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) and oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in wild house sparrows along an urbanization gradient. The results showed that birds infected with Haemoproteus and living in urban areas had higher levels of lipid oxidative damage. Birds infected with Plasmodium showed lower antioxidant activity, while those infected with Leucocytozoon showed slightly higher antioxidant activity. Overall, this study highlights the effects of blood parasite infections and urbanization on the oxidative status of wild birds and the role of bird body condition in regulating oxidative stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Duarte S. Viana, Simone Santoro, Ramon C. Soriguer, Jordi Figuerola
Summary: The European population of Eurasian Curlew has declined in the past 30 years, posing a threat to its survival. Demographic rates and survival probabilities at the flyway scale were examined to estimate population growth rates. The observed growth rates were higher than the expected rates from demographic models, indicating geographical variation in demography. The low productivity levels are the most probable cause of population declines, requiring immediate conservation actions.
Article
Ecology
Jorge Sereno-Cadierno, Ramon C. Soriguer, Francisco Carro
Summary: Long-term studies of Mediterranean carnivores in the Iberian Peninsula are rare, despite its high mammal biodiversity. By analyzing 15 years of monitoring data from Donana National Park, we found positive population trends for red fox, stable trends for badger and Egyptian mongoose, and negative trends for common genet and Iberian lynx. This study highlights the importance of long-term datasets and provides novel information on population trends for less well-known species like the Egyptian mongoose and the endangered Iberian lynx.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Marta Valldeperes, Paloma Prieto Yerro, Jorge Ramon Lopez-Olvera, Paulino Fandos, Santiago Lavin, Ramon C. Soriguer Escofet, Gregorio Mentaberre, Francisco Javier Cano-Manuel Leon, Jose Espinosa, Arian Raez-Bravo, Jesus M. Perez, Stefania Tampach, Josep Estruch, Roser Velarde, Jose Enrique Granados
Summary: This review compiles the currently available knowledge on diseases of Iberian ibex, including their impact on the health and demography of free-ranging populations, diseases subjected to health surveillance plans, other reported diseases, and diseases of particular relevance in captive populations. It uncovers unpublished reports, scientific communications, and articles, providing the first comprehensive compilation of Iberian ibex diseases. The review also identifies knowledge gaps and challenges managers to assess current priorities and policies in disease management and health surveillance of Iberian ibex.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Martina Ferraguti, Sergio Magallanes, Jessica Jimenez-Penuela, Josue Martinez-de la Puente, Luz Garcia-Longoria, Jordi Figuerola, Jaime Muriel, Tamer Albayrak, Staffan Bensch, Camille Bonneaud, Rohan H. Clarke, Gabor A. Czirjak, Dimitar Dimitrov, Kathya Espinoza, John G. Ewen, Farah Ishtiaq, Wendy Flores-Saavedra, Laszlo Zsolt Garamszegi, Olof Hellgren, Dita Horakova, Kathryn P. Huyvaert, Henrik Jensen, Asta Krizanauskiene, Marcos R. Lima, Charlene Lujan-Vega, Eyofinn Magnussen, Lynn B. Martin, Kevin D. Matson, Anders Pape Moller, Pavel Munclinger, Vaidas Palinauskas, Peter L. Pap, Javier Perez-Tris, Swen C. Renner, Robert Ricklefs, Sergio Scebba, Ravinder N. M. Sehgal, Manuel Soler, Eszter Szoellosi, Gediminas Valkiunas, Helena Westerdahl, Pavel Zehtindjiev, Alfonso Marzal
Summary: This study investigated the ecological drivers affecting avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows. The results showed that urbanization was positively related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced populations, with higher infection in areas with intermediate levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, altitude and time since bird introduction were positively associated with the number of parasite lineages.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ali Jaffal, Johanna Fite, Thierry Baldet, Pascal Delaunay, Frederic Jourdain, Ronald Mora-Castillo, Marie-Marie Olive, David Roiz
Summary: This article reviews the efficacy of mosquito traps in controlling the transmission of viral diseases such as dengue. The study found that mass trapping in combination with integrated vector control can effectively reduce mosquito populations within weeks. However, the study also highlights the gaps in the evidence for the reduction of viral transmission and suggests the need for further research.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Correction
Ecology
Marta Valldeperes, Paloma Prieto Yerro, Jorge Ramon Lopez-Olvera, Paulino Fandos, Santiago Lavin, Ramon C. Soriguer Escofet, Gregorio Mentaberre, Francisco Javier Cano-Manuel Leon, Jose Espinosa, Arian Raez-Bravo, Jesus M. Perez, Stefania Tampach, Josep Estruch, Roser Velarde, Jose Enrique Granados
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Martina Ferraguti, Sergio Magallanes, Marcela Suarez-Rubio, Paul J. J. Bates, Alfonso Marzal, Swen C. Renner
Summary: Global change has been linked to increased vector-borne diseases. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the impact of land-use on disease transmission. The study found that land-use intensity and host-vector species significantly affect disease prevalence.
Article
Ecology
Amani Ghousein, Jordan Tutagata, Hans Schrieke, Manuel Etienne, Victor Chaumeau, Sebastien Boyer, Nonito Pages, David Roiz, A. Murat Eren, Guillaume Cambray, Julie Reveillaud
Summary: Mosquitoes are important vectors of pathogens and are difficult to control. Wolbachia, an intracellular bacteria, shows promise for vector control. A plasmid called pWCP has been found to be highly conserved in Wolbachia populations across different environments and may play a critical role in their ecology and evolution.
ISME COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biology
A. A. Romero-Haro, J. Figuerola, C. Alonso-Alvarez
Summary: This study tested the link between glutathione concentration and telomere length, and found that female birds treated with a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis had longer telomeres than control females. This counterintuitive finding suggests that females mounted a compensatory response to changes in glutathione levels.
INTEGRATIVE ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
