Linkage between mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages and morphospecies of two avian malaria parasites, with a description of Plasmodium (Novyella) ashfordi sp. nov

PCR-based methods have been increasingly used in diagnosis of parasitic diseases. Over 40 morphospecies of avian malaria parasites of the genus Plasmodium have been described. However, only nine of them have been identified on the level of their mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene lineages, which are frequently used in molecular biology studies of avian blood haemosporidian parasites. In this study, we linked two common mitochondrial cyt b lineages P-SGS1 and P-TURDUS1 with their morphospecies. Light infections with two species of malaria parasites of the subgenera Haemamoeba and Giovannolaia were isolated from naturally infected adult Hawfinches, Coccothraustes coccothraustes Linnaeus, on the Curonian Spit in the Baltic Sea. These parasites were inoculated to naive juveniles of the Common Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra Linnaeus, and House Sparrow, Passer domesticus Linnaeus. Heavy parasitemia of Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) relictum Grassi & Feletti, 1891 (lineage P-SGS1) and Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) circumflexum Kikuth, 1931 (P-TURDUS1) developed in the subinoculated Common Crossbills and House Sparrows, respectively, which enabled the detailed illustration of all main blood stages of these parasites and the deposition of their voucher specimens. The parasites of both lineages are actively transmitted in Europe and inhabit a broad range of avian hosts. Lineages closely related to P. relictum and P. circumflexum were identified. This study contributes to establishing of combined PCR-based and morphological identification of avian malaria parasites.

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Species limits in avian malaria parasites (Haemosporida): how to move forward in the molecular era

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182014000560 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 141 (10) ◽

pp. 1223-1232 ◽

Cited By ~ 69

Author(s):

DIANA C. OUTLAW ◽

ROBERT E. RICKLEFS

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Sequence Similarity ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome ◽

Malaria Parasites ◽

Avian Malaria Parasite ◽

Molecular Information ◽

Near Term ◽

Avian Malaria Parasites

SUMMARYDelimiting species of malaria parasites (Haemosporida) has become increasingly problematic as new lineages of parasites are identified solely by molecular information, particularly mitochondrial cytochrome b sequence data. In this review, we highlight some of the issues, both historical and contemporary, that have hindered the development of objective criteria to diagnose, delimit and define species of haemosporidians. Defining species is not the focal interest of most researchers, most of whom merely wish to determine whether lineages identified in their samples match those of other researchers, and if so, where and in which host species. Rather than revisiting all the issues with respect to delimiting and naming species, we instead focus on finding a practical near-term resolution to the ‘species problem’ that utilizes the community's largest resource: mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences. We recommend a standardized procedure to ‘tag’ these sequences, based on per cent sequence similarity, that will allow researchers to directly assess the novelty, known hosts and geographic distribution of avian malaria parasite lineages.

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MalAvi: a public database of malaria parasites and related haemosporidians in avian hosts based on mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages

Molecular Ecology Resources ◽

10.1111/j.1755-0998.2009.02692.x ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 1353-1358 ◽

Cited By ~ 492

Author(s):

STAFFAN BENSCH ◽

OLOF HELLGREN ◽

JAVIER PÉREZ‐TRIS

Keyword(s):

Cytochrome B ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome ◽

Public Database ◽

Malaria Parasites ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome B

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The identification and phylogenetic relationship of pathogenic species of Aspergillus based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene

Medical Mycology ◽

10.1046/j.1365-280x.1998.00145.x ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 36 (3) ◽

pp. 153-164 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

WANG ◽

KOJI YOKOYAMA ◽

MAKOTO MIYAJI ◽

KAZUKO NISHIMURA

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Relationship ◽

Cytochrome B ◽

Cytochrome B Gene ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome ◽

Pathogenic Species ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome B ◽

Mitochondrial Cytochrome B Gene ◽

Relationship Of

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Host Specialization and Geographic Localization of Avian Malaria Parasites: A Regional Analysis in the Lesser Antilles

The American Naturalist ◽

10.2307/3473476 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 165 (4) ◽

pp. 466

Author(s):

Fallon ◽

Bermingham ◽

Ricklefs

Keyword(s):

Avian Malaria ◽

Regional Analysis ◽

Host Specialization ◽

Lesser Antilles ◽

Malaria Parasites ◽

Avian Malaria Parasites

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Assessing Diversity, Plasmodium Infection and Blood Meal Sources in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from a Brazilian Zoological Park with Avian Malaria Transmission

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12030215 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 215

Author(s):

Lilian de Oliveira Guimarães ◽

Roseli França Simões ◽

Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas ◽

Regiane Maria Tironi de Menezes ◽

Fabiana Santos Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Meal ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Plasmodium Species ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Malaria Parasites ◽

Ecological Relationships ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Avian Malaria Parasites

Avian malaria parasites are widespread parasites transmitted by Culicidae insects belonging to different genera. Even though several studies have been conducted recently, there is still a lack of information about potential vectors of Plasmodium parasites, especially in Neotropical regions. Former studies with free-living and captive animals in São Paulo Zoo showed the presence of several Plasmodium and Haemoproteus species. In 2015, a pilot study was conducted at the zoo to collect mosquitoes in order to find out (i) which species of Culicidae are present in the study area, (ii) what are their blood meal sources, and (iii) to which Plasmodium species might they be potential vectors. Mosquitoes were morphologically and molecularly identified. Blood meal source and haemosporidian DNA were identified using molecular protocols. A total of 25 Culicidae species were identified, and 6 of them were positive for Plasmodium/Haemoproteus DNA. Ten mosquito species had their source of blood meal identified, which were mainly birds, including some species that were positive for haemosporidian parasites in the former study mentioned. This study allowed us to expand the list of potential vectors of avian malaria parasites and to improve our knowledge of the evolutionary and ecological relationships between the highly diverse communities of birds, parasites, and vectors present at São Paulo Zoo.

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