Blood parasites in Brazilian Atlantic Forest birds: effects of fragment size and habitat dependency

SummaryDeforestation, fragmentation and habitat disturbance may alter the relationship between pathogens and hosts. We tested, apparently for the first time, whether habitat fragmentation and degree of dependence on forests affect the prevalence of avian blood parasites. We estimated the prevalence of Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Trypanosoma through the inspection of 925 blood smears from 109 species captured in six pairs of small (< 30 ha) and large (> 1,000 ha) Brazilian Atlantic Forest fragments. Prevalence of the three types of parasites did not differ between small and large forest patches. Forest-independent birds were usually more infected with Plasmodium and Haemoproteus than other birds, but forest-dependent birds were more infected with Trypanosoma. Parasite richness on birds was not affected by patch size.

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Blood Parasites in Domestic Birds in Central Iran

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci7030126 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 126

Author(s):

Farzaneh Mirzaei ◽

Abolghasem Siyadatpanah ◽

Roghayeh Norouzi ◽

Soheila Pournasir ◽

Veeranoot Nissapatorn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Central Iran ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Lower Prevalence ◽

Prevalence Rates ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Total Prevalence ◽

Blood Smears ◽

Avian Blood ◽

Avian Blood Parasites ◽

Low Incidence

Parasites may affect the dynamics of bird populations. Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus are well-known avian haematozoa that can trigger decreased productivity and high mortality in domesticated birds. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence of avian blood parasites (Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus) against 335 birds of 8 species in the Yazd province in central Iran. To detect blood parasites, Giemsa-stained blood smears were prepared. Of the birds, 11.64% (39/335) were infected with at least one parasite genus, particularly Haemoproteus (32.6%; 23/335). The total prevalence values for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon were 1.7, 6.8 and 2.9%, respectively. Plasmodium had lower prevalence rates of 1.7% (6/335). Among birds, pigeons, hens and ducks have the highest prevalence of Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and Plasmodium parasites at 1.7%, 6.8% and 2.9%, respectively. Results from this research extend our knowledge on the incidence of avian blood parasites in domesticated birds living in central Iran. The overall low incidence of avian blood parasites in birds was found in the Yazd province, Iran.

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Effects of migratory status and habitat on the prevalence and intensity of infection by haemoparasites in passerines in eastern Spain

Animal Biodiversity and Conservation ◽

10.32800/abc.2013.36.0113 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 113-121

Author(s):

J. Rivera ◽

◽

E. Barba ◽

A. Mestre ◽

J. Rueda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Migratory Species ◽

Intensity Of Infection ◽

Local Populations ◽

Blood Smears ◽

Avian Blood ◽

Avian Blood Parasites ◽

Migratory Status

The Iberian peninsula is a suitable place to study the effects of migratory condition on the prevalence of blood parasites in avian communities as resident, local populations cohabit with migratory species and with abundant vector populations. In this study we examined the incidence of avian blood parasites in three localities in the Mediterranean region (east Spain), in relation to the migratory status of the species. We analyzed 333 blood smears from 11 avian species, and obtained an overall prevalence of 9.6 %. The prevalence of parasites varied among the different species studied, although intensity of infection did not. Our results are discussed in terms of population dynamics and abundance of Diptera vectors able to transmit blood parasites to other birds.

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Small mammal glucocorticoid concentrations vary with forest fragment size, trap type, and mammal taxa in the Interior Atlantic Forest

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-81073-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah A. Boyle ◽

Noé U. de la Sancha ◽

Pastor Pérez ◽

David Kabelik

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Small Mammals ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Fragment Size ◽

Hair Shaft ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Trapping Methods ◽

Free Ranging

AbstractSpecies that live in degraded habitats often show signs of physiological stress. Glucocorticoid hormones (e.g., corticosterone and cortisol) are often assessed as a proxy of the extent of physiological stress an animal has experienced. Our goal was to quantify glucocorticoids in free-ranging small mammals in fragments of Interior Atlantic Forest. We extracted glucocorticoids from fur samples of 106 small mammals (rodent genera Akodon and Oligoryzomys, and marsupial genera Gracilinanus and Marmosa) from six forest fragments (2–1200 ha) in the Reserva Natural Tapytá, Caazapá Department, Paraguay. To our knowledge, this is the first publication of corticosterone and cortisol levels for three of the four sampled genera (Akodon, Oligoryzomys, and Marmosa) in this forest system. We discovered three notable results. First, as predicted, glucocorticoid levels were higher in individuals living withing small forest fragments. Second, animals captured live using restraint trapping methods (Sherman traps) had higher glucocorticoid levels than those animals captured using kill traps (Victor traps), suggesting that hair glucocorticoid measures can reflect acute stress levels in addition to long-term glucocorticoid incorporation. These acute levels are likely due to urinary steroids diffusing into the hair shaft. This finding raises a concern about the use of certain trapping techniques in association with fur hormone analysis. Finally, as expected, we also detected genus-specific differences in glucocorticoid levels, as well as cortisol/corticosterone ratios.

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Blood parasites in passerine birds from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612012000100003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 7-15 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Fabiane Sebaio ◽

Érika Martins Braga ◽

Felipe Branquinho ◽

Alan Fecchio ◽

Miguel Ângelo Marini

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Bird Species ◽

Parasite Prevalence ◽

Neotropical Region ◽

Blood Parasite ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Passerine Birds ◽

Blood Smears ◽

Temporal And Spatial ◽

Low Prevalence

Parasites may lead bird species to extinction, affect host temporal and spatial population dynamics, alter community structure and alter individuals’ social status. We evaluated blood parasite prevalence and intensity according to bird families and species, among 925 birds that were caught in 2000 and 2001, in the Atlantic Forest in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. We applied Giemsa staining to thin blood smears, to detect blood parasites. The birds (n = 15.8%) in 11 families, were infected by at least one parasite genus, especially Muscicapidae (28.3%) and Conopophagidae (25%). Among the 146 infected birds, Plasmodium was detected in all bird families and had the highest prevalence (54.8%). Trypanosoma, Haemoproteus and microfilaria had lower prevalence rates (23.3, 23.3 and 2.1%, respectively). Birds caught during the rainy season were more infected than birds caught during the dry season. The overall low prevalence of blood parasites in birds is similar to the patterns found elsewhere in the Neotropical region.

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Patch Structure within Brazilian Atlantic Forest Fragments and Implications for Conservation1

Biotropica ◽

10.1646/0006-3606(2000)032[0925:pswbaf]2.0.co;2 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 925 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

André Augusto Jacinto Tabanez ◽

Virgilio Maurício Viana

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽

Patch Structure

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Fuzzy concept applied in determining potential forest fragments for deployment of a network of ecological corridors in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Ecological Indicators ◽

10.1016/j.ecolind.2020.106423 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 115 ◽

pp. 106423 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alexandre Rosa dos Santos ◽

Emanuel França Araújo ◽

Quétila Souza Barros ◽

Milton Marques Fernandes ◽

Márcia Rodrigues de Moura Fernandes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Forest Fragments ◽

Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽

Ecological Corridors ◽

Fuzzy Concept

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Biogeography of avian blood parasites (Leucocytozoon spp.) in two resident hosts across Europe: phylogeographic structuring or the abundance-occupancy relationship?

Molecular Ecology ◽

10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05221.x ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 3910-3920 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

TANIA JENKINS ◽

IAN P. F. OWENS

Keyword(s):

Blood Parasites ◽

Avian Blood ◽

Avian Blood Parasites

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Molecular phylogenetic and morphological analysis of haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida) in a naturally infected European songbird, the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, with description of Haemoproteus pallidulus sp. nov.

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182009991235 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 137 (2) ◽

pp. 217-227 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

ASTA KRIŽANAUSKIENĖ ◽

JAVIER PÉREZ-TRIS ◽

VAIDAS PALINAUSKAS ◽

OLOF HELLGREN ◽

STAFFAN BENSCH ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phenotypic Diversity ◽

Blood Parasites ◽

Sylvia Atricapilla ◽

Haemosporidian Parasites ◽

Avian Blood ◽

Avian Blood Parasites ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Migratory Strategies ◽

Microscopy Data

SUMMARYThe blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) is a common Palearctic migratory warbler, and haemosporidian parasites are common in this species. However, genetic and phenotypic diversity of haemosporidians in warblers has been insufficiently investigated and poorly linked. We addressed this issue by combining molecular and microscopy data for detection of pigment-forming haemosporidians of the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium. Blood samples from 498 blackcaps were collected at 7 different sites in Europe and investigated for these parasites by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques and microscopic examination. In all, 56% of the birds were infected by at least 1 out of 25 distinct mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene lineages of these haemosporidians. It is concluded that the blackcap is infected not only with blackcap specific haemosporidians, but also with Haemoproteus majoris, which is a host generalist and common in birds belonging to the Paridae. Haemoproteus pallidulus sp. nov. is described based on morphology of its blood stages and segments of the cyt b and dihydrofolate reductase/thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) genes. This study provides evidence that genetic diversity of haemosporidian parasites might be positively correlated with migratory strategies of their avian hosts; it also contributes to the value of both microscopy and molecular diagnostics of avian blood parasites.

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