Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jose Roberto Rodrigues, Scott W. Roy, Ravinder N. M. Sehgal
Summary: Avian haemosporidian parasites can cause malaria-like symptoms and threaten bird species, and recently, new RNA viruses associated with these parasites have been discovered. Analysis of transcriptome data revealed the presence of two novel RNA viruses associated with different genera of avian haemosporidians.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Josef Harl, Tanja Himmel, Gediminas Valkiunas, Mikas Ilgunas, Nora Nedorost, Julia Matt, Anna Kubber-Heiss, Amer Alic, Cornelia Konicek, Herbert Weissenboeck
Summary: This study performed molecular genetic screening and chromogenic in situ hybridization on accipitriform raptors to analyze haemosporidian parasites. The results revealed that 44% of raptors from Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina were infected with haemosporidian parasites. Additionally, multiple lineages of these parasites were found in accipitriform birds globally, with most of the Plasmodium lineages detected in birds of other orders.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mikas Ilgunas, Tanja Himmel, Josef Harl, Mindaugas Dagys, Gediminas Valkiunas, Herbert Weissenboeck
Summary: This study aimed to investigate avian haemosporidian parasites infecting owls in Europe and study their tissue stages. The study discovered seven new genetic variants of the parasites and identified the tissue development stages in the brains, heart muscles, and kidneys of infected birds.
Article
Microbiology
Vajiheh Ghaemitalab, Omid Mirshamsi, Gediminas Valkiunas, Mansour Aliabadian
Summary: This study in South and Southeast Iran during the bird breeding seasons of 2017 and 2018 found that avian haemosporidians, including Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon, were prevalent with Haemoproteus lineages being the most common. The study also identified 19 new host records and 13 co-infections of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites, indicating active local transmission in resident bird species.
Article
Ecology
Alan Fecchio, Nicholas J. Clark, Jeffrey A. Bell, Heather R. Skeen, Holly L. Lutz, Gabriel M. De La Torre, Jefferson A. Vaughan, Vasyl V. Tkach, Fabio Schunck, Francisco C. Ferreira, Erika M. Braga, Camile Lugarini, Wanyoike Wamiti, Janice H. Dispoto, Spencer C. Galen, Karin Kirchgatter, M. Cecilia Sagario, Victor R. Cueto, Daniel Gonzalez-Acuna, Mizue Inumaru, Yukita Sato, Yvonne R. Schumm, Petra Quillfeldt, Irene Pellegrino, Guha Dharmarajan, Pooja Gupta, V. V. Robin, Arif Ciloglu, Alparslan Yildirim, Xi Huang, Leonardo Chapa-Vargas, Paulina Alvarez-Mendizabal, Diego Santiago-Alarcon, Serguei Drovetski, Olof Hellgren, Gary Voelker, Robert E. Ricklefs, Shannon J. Hackett, Michael D. Collins, Jason D. Weckstein, Konstans Wells
Summary: Macroecological analyses of global patterns of haemosporidian infections in avian hosts revealed marked variation in infection rates at different scales, with climate effects being more consistent across regions and host ecological traits playing a significant role. The study highlighted the importance of considering interactions between landscape, climate, and host characteristics for predicting changes in parasite infection risk under future scenarios.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Finja Strehmann, Marcel Becker, Kim Lindner, Juan F. Masello, Petra Quillfeldt, Yvonne R. Schumm, Nina Farwig, Dana G. Schabo, Sascha Roesner
Summary: Parasites play important roles in ecosystems by changing the behavior and population dynamics of their host species and the shape of entire communities. Although birds are well-studied, the infection patterns of endoparasites at the community level are not fully understood.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
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
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
Huiqing Yeo, Denise Nastaya Harjoko, Frank E. Rheindt
Summary: Blood parasites are common pathogens in nature, and two methods, Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS), were compared for detecting avian blood parasites in tropical Southeast Asian birds. NGS-based barcoding identified more co-infections compared to Sanger sequencing. The accuracy of identifying avian haemosporidian lineages was not compromised by the shorter NGS sequences, with a high match rate to Sanger barcodes.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Irene Pellegrino, Luca Ilahiane, Giovanni Boano, Marco Cucco, Marco Pavia, Heather L. Prestridge, Gary Voelker
Summary: This study is the first to investigate the prevalence of haemosporidian parasites in breeding birds on Sardinia, revealing an infection rate of 55.3% with 84 novel haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis did not identify Sardinia-specific clades, suggesting a relationship between Sardinian lineages and those from continental Europe. Host-parasite network analysis indicated a specialized community, and statistical models showed an elevational effect on haemosporidian occurrence probability and differences in infection likelihood between sedentary and migratory birds.
Article
Parasitology
Karla Rodriguez-Hernandez, Paulina Alvarez-Mendizabal, Leonardo Chapa-Vargas, Federico Escobar, Fernando Gonzalez-Garcia, Diego Santiago-Alarcon
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence and parasitaemia of vector-borne protozoa in birds in Central Veracruz, Mexico, finding significant influence of elevation and environmental factors on parasite prevalence. Parasite genus prevalence varied at different elevations, with similar distribution patterns to other geographical areas.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
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
Leila Nourani, Mansour Aliabadian, Omid Mirshamsi, Navid Dinparast Djadid
Summary: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and genetic diversity of haemosporidian parasites in captive raptors in Iran using molecular methods, and to define the phylogenetic relationships of detected lineages. Results showed a higher infection rate of Haemoproteus spp. compared to Leucocytozoon spp., with the detection of both new and previously detected lineages. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis indicated host specificity of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon parasites at the order and genus level.
BMC ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Larissa Ortega-Guzman, Octavio Rojas-Soto, Diego Santiago-Alarcon, Elisabeth Huber-Sannwald, Leonardo Chapa-Vargas
Summary: This study characterized the climatic niche and climate drivers of haemosporidian parasite prevalence in central-eastern Mexico. The study found a high statistical association between global prevalence and two bioclimatic variables, mean diurnal temperature range and annual temperature range. Climate change projections for 2070 showed significant modification of the current distribution of suitable climate areas for haemosporidians in the region.
Article
Parasitology
Victor Aguiar de Souza Penha, Fabricius Maia Chaves Bicalho Domingos, Alan Fecchio, Jeffrey A. Bell, Jason D. Weckstein, Robert E. Ricklefs, Erika Martins Braga, Patricia de Abreu Moreira, Leticia Soares, Steven Latta, Graziela Tolesano-Pascoli, Renata Duarte Alquezar, Kleber Del-Claro, Lilian Tonelli Manica
Summary: This study explored the relationship between avian life-history traits, climate, and the prevalence of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites. The results showed that species inhabiting open habitats and species with longer incubation periods had higher parasite prevalence. Additionally, species without migratory behavior, engaging in mixed-species flocks, and with an omnivorous or animal-derived diet had higher prevalence of Plasmodium infection.
Article
Parasitology
T. J. Achatz, Z. S. Von Holten, J. W. Kipp, A. Fecchio, L. R. LaFond, S. E. Greiman, J. R. Martens, V. V. Tkach
Summary: This study investigates the diversity of diplostomid parasites collected from kingfishers in Brazil, the USA, and the Philippines. Through DNA sequencing, the phylogenetic relationships of these diplostomids were analyzed. New DNA sequences from Uvulifer semicircumcisus Dubois et Rausch, 1950 and a member of Subuvulifer Dubois, 1952 were provided. A new genus, Pseudocrassiphiala n. gen., was established and a new generic diagnosis of Crassiphiala was provided. Three new species, Crassiphiala jeffreybelli n. sp., Crassiphiala wecksteini n. sp., and Pseudocrassiphiala tulipifera n. sp., were described.
JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Daniela de Angeli Dutra, Asmat U. Khan, Francisco C. Ferreira, Marina V. Beirao, Mauro Pichorim, Patricia A. Moreira, Erika M. Braga
Summary: This study examined the relationship between the prevalence of avian haemosporidians and seasonality and host functional traits in the Brazilian Caatinga. The results showed that parasite prevalence was correlated with phylogenetic relatedness among avian species and varied greatly among different species. Seasonality was found to be the main factor associated with infections, but the influence of this factor varied depending on the host-parasite system. The study also revealed that even in dry regions, a high prevalence and diversity of vector-borne parasites can exist.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Alan Fecchio, Thiago Fernandes Martins, Raphael I. Dias, Jeffrey A. Bell, Joao B. Pinho, Victoria Luiza de Barros Silva, Richard de Campos Pacheco
Summary: Bird breeding season in the Pantanal region of Brazil affects the likelihood of immature Amblyomma ticks infesting individual birds, but the probability of tick-infected Rickettsia agents is not related to the host's sex.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Bruno da Silva Mathias, Guilherme Augusto Minozzo, Alexander Welker Biondo, Jaciara de Oliveira Jorge Costa, Herbert Sousa Soares, Arlei Marcili, Lilian de Oliveira Guimaraes, Carolina Clares dos Anjos, Andrea Pires Dos Santos, Irina Nastassja Riediger, Alan Fecchio, Marina Galvao Bueno, Joao Batista Pinho, Karin Kirchgatter
Summary: This study focused on the analysis of haemosporidian parasites in bats from different regions of Brazil. The presence of Polychromophilus parasites and their genetic relationship with other countries' parasites were analyzed using molecular techniques. The results confirmed the importance of studying neglected genera in Brazilian bats.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jose Ricardo Pires Adelino, Marcos Robalinho Lima
Summary: Correlative niche models are commonly used to predict and manage invasive species, providing insight into introduction pathways and niche dynamics. In Brazil, the primary pathways of introduction for non-native vertebrate species are environmental enhancement and commodity species, with coastal regions and animal trade playing key roles. The niche dynamics of invasive species show a shift from unfilling to expansion, with recent introductions occurring outside of analog climatic conditions.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rafael B. P. Pinheiro, Gabriel M. F. Felix, Jeffrey A. Bell, Alan Fecchio
Summary: The presence and characteristics of the latitudinal specialization gradient (LSG) in bird-malarial parasite networks were investigated. Contrary to classical expectations, the study found that network specialization increased towards the equator in terms of binary specialization, but decreased in terms of quantitative specialization. Richness of host species and parasite lineage explained most of the variation in network specialization along latitudes.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
M. Ellesse Lauer, Haley Kodak, Tamer Albayrak, Marcos R. Lima, Daniella Ray, Emma Simpson-Wade, David R. Tevs, Elizabeth L. Sheldon, Lynn B. Martin, Aaron W. Schrey
Summary: As an introduced species, house sparrows have rapidly adapted to new habitats by utilizing epigenetic mechanisms, resulting in phenotypic patterns similar to those of native populations. This study examined DNA methylation patterns in house sparrow populations across a broad geographic scale, including populations with different introduction histories. The results showed that invading house sparrows had the highest variance in DNA methylation, followed by established ones, while native populations had the lowest variance. The largest differences in DNA methylation were found between invading and native populations, and the level of methylation was negatively correlated with the time since introduction, indicating a role of DNA methylation in the successful colonization of house sparrows.
JOURNAL OF HEREDITY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alan Fecchio, Jeffrey A. Bell, Emily J. Williams, Janice H. Dispoto, Jason D. Weckstein, Daniela de Angeli Dutra
Summary: This study aimed to understand the impact of environmental gradients and host ecology on infection rates and diversity of blood parasites in New World bird communities. The findings showed that higher latitudes and elevations increased the probability of birds being co-infected with Leucocytozoon and other haemosporidian parasites. Host attributes and temperature were also significant factors affecting infection rates, with heavier migratory hosts and cooler localities having higher probabilities of infection. Additionally, factors such as latitude, elevation, host body mass, migratory behavior, and climate influenced Leucocytozoon lineage richness, with decreasing richness at higher elevations, rainy and warmer localities, and in heavier and resident host species. The study challenged the assumption that pathogen infection rates and diversity are higher in tropical host communities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alan Fecchio, Henrique Batalha-Filho, Janice H. Dispoto, Jeffrey A. Bell, Jason D. Weckstein
Summary: Amazonia serves as the main source of diversity for haemosporidian parasites in South America, but our understanding of their biogeographical processes and contributions from different areas of endemism is incomplete. This study investigates the spatiotemporal evolution of Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus parasites and finds that dispersal is the main driver of Plasmodium diversification, while duplication is more frequent in Parahaemoproteus. The results show that the Inambari area is the primary source of Plasmodium diversity on Marajó Island, but the island receives more Parahaemoproteus lineages from Cerrado habitats than any Amazonian area. The unique dispersal patterns and host-shifting ability of each parasite genus may have facilitated their diversification across Amazonia, with deep evolutionary history potentially constraining their colonization of Marajó Island.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Lis Marques de C. Vieira, Pedro Henrique O. Pereira, Daniel Ambrozio da Rocha Vilela, Irene Landau, M. Andreina Pacheco, Ananias A. Escalante, Francisco C. Ferreira, Erika Martins Braga
Summary: This study characterizes a new Leucocytozoon species infecting a non-migratory red-legged seriema in Brazil using morphological and molecular data. The bird was coinfected with Haemoproteus and a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was conducted. The study also discusses the taxonomy of avian Haemosporida.
Article
Parasitology
Carolina C. Anjos, Thiago Bicudo, Alan Fecchio, Marina Anciaes, Bruno S. Mathias, Carolina R. F. Chagas, Jeffrey A. Bell, Lilian O. Guimaraes, Eliana F. Monteiro, Karin Kirchgatter
Summary: The construction of hydroelectric dams in the Brazilian Amazon can lead to biodiversity loss and disrupt the dynamics of bird communities. This study aims to assess the prevalence and molecular diversity of haemosporidian parasites in bird communities inhabiting artificial islands created by the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam. The results reveal a low overall prevalence of avian malaria in the studied bird species, with the discovery of new lineages and the potential impact of artificial islands on the parasites.
PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Larissa Corsini Calsavara, Marcos Robalinho Lima, Gabriela Menezes Bochio, Hugo Reis Medeiros, Luiz dos Anjos
Summary: In this study, the researchers examined how different levels of disturbance in Araucaria forests affect bird functional diversity. They found that bird communities in less disturbed forests sites are more functionally redundant than those communities in highly disturbed habitats.
ORNITHOLOGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fernanda c. Marques, Gabriela m. Bochio, Marcos r. Lima, L. U. I. Z. DOS Anjos
Summary: Indicator species are difficult to select in highly fragmented landscapes, as species of conservation concern are usually absent. In this study, indicator species of birds and mammals were selected to evaluate restoration sites in the highly fragmented Capivara-Taquarucu Dams region. The landscape was found to have low biodiversity and bird richness compared to other landscapes in the north of Parana. However, several bird and mammal species were identified as indicators of forest fragments in the Capivara-Taquarucu Dams landscape, which could aid in evaluating restoration efforts.
ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS
(2023)