Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany
Abstract Background Although haemosporidian parasites may cause considerable health and economic problems in aviaries, there is limited understanding of the vectors transmitting them. Mosquito-borne Plasmodium species are responsible for the deaths of numerous exotic (= immunologically naïve) birds...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05965-0 |
| _version_ | 1827724319836340224 |
|---|---|
| author | Katharina Köchling Günter A. Schaub Doreen Werner Helge Kampen |
| author_facet | Katharina Köchling Günter A. Schaub Doreen Werner Helge Kampen |
| author_sort | Katharina Köchling |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although haemosporidian parasites may cause considerable health and economic problems in aviaries, there is limited understanding of the vectors transmitting them. Mosquito-borne Plasmodium species are responsible for the deaths of numerous exotic (= immunologically naïve) birds in zoos every year, while native birds are adapted to the parasites and largely protected by an effective immune response. Methods Mosquitoes were collected in bird/animal parks, wetlands and private gardens in various regions of Germany from 2020 to 2022. Females were pooled with up to 10 specimens according to taxon, location and date. Extracted DNA was screened for avian Haemosporida-specific mitochondrial rDNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were amplified by a Plasmodium/Haemoproteus-specific nested PCR targeting the partial cytochrome b gene, followed by sequencing of the PCR product for species identification. Sequences were checked against GenBank and MalAvi databases. Results PCR of 2633 pools with 8834 female mosquitoes signalled infection with Plasmodium in 46 pools and with Haemoproteus in one pool. Further amplification and sequencing demonstrated the occurrence of Haemoproteus majoris lineage PARUS1 (n = 1) as well as several Plasmodium species and lineages, including Plasmodium relictum SGS1 (n = 16) and GRW11 (n = 1), P. matutinum LINN1 (n = 13), P. vaughani SYAT05 (n = 10), P. circumflexum TURDUS01 (n = 3), P. cathemerium PADOM02 (n = 1) and Plasmodium sp. SYBOR02 (n = 1) and PLOPRI01 (n = 1). The infections were detected in Culex pipiens sensu lato (n = 40), Culiseta morsitans/fumipennis (n = 6) and Aedes cinereus/geminus (n = 1). Conclusions Although the overall Plasmodium minimum infection rate (5.2) appears to be low, the results demonstrated not only the ongoing circulation of Plasmodium parasites in the German mosquito population, but also the occurrence of eight distinct Plasmodium lineages, with three of them (PADOM02, SYBOR02, PLOPRI01) being detected in Germany for the first time. This study highlights the importance of conducting mosquito-borne pathogen surveillance studies simultaneously targeting vectors and vertebrate hosts, as certain species may be detected more readily in their vectors than in their vertebrate hosts, and vice versa. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:13:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39b0663c9e4d45a4b17ab079fb5babda |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:13:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-39b0663c9e4d45a4b17ab079fb5babda2023-11-19T12:31:17ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052023-10-0116111110.1186/s13071-023-05965-0Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in GermanyKatharina Köchling0Günter A. Schaub1Doreen Werner2Helge Kampen3Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthRuhr University BochumLeibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape ResearchFriedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal HealthAbstract Background Although haemosporidian parasites may cause considerable health and economic problems in aviaries, there is limited understanding of the vectors transmitting them. Mosquito-borne Plasmodium species are responsible for the deaths of numerous exotic (= immunologically naïve) birds in zoos every year, while native birds are adapted to the parasites and largely protected by an effective immune response. Methods Mosquitoes were collected in bird/animal parks, wetlands and private gardens in various regions of Germany from 2020 to 2022. Females were pooled with up to 10 specimens according to taxon, location and date. Extracted DNA was screened for avian Haemosporida-specific mitochondrial rDNA using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Positive samples were amplified by a Plasmodium/Haemoproteus-specific nested PCR targeting the partial cytochrome b gene, followed by sequencing of the PCR product for species identification. Sequences were checked against GenBank and MalAvi databases. Results PCR of 2633 pools with 8834 female mosquitoes signalled infection with Plasmodium in 46 pools and with Haemoproteus in one pool. Further amplification and sequencing demonstrated the occurrence of Haemoproteus majoris lineage PARUS1 (n = 1) as well as several Plasmodium species and lineages, including Plasmodium relictum SGS1 (n = 16) and GRW11 (n = 1), P. matutinum LINN1 (n = 13), P. vaughani SYAT05 (n = 10), P. circumflexum TURDUS01 (n = 3), P. cathemerium PADOM02 (n = 1) and Plasmodium sp. SYBOR02 (n = 1) and PLOPRI01 (n = 1). The infections were detected in Culex pipiens sensu lato (n = 40), Culiseta morsitans/fumipennis (n = 6) and Aedes cinereus/geminus (n = 1). Conclusions Although the overall Plasmodium minimum infection rate (5.2) appears to be low, the results demonstrated not only the ongoing circulation of Plasmodium parasites in the German mosquito population, but also the occurrence of eight distinct Plasmodium lineages, with three of them (PADOM02, SYBOR02, PLOPRI01) being detected in Germany for the first time. This study highlights the importance of conducting mosquito-borne pathogen surveillance studies simultaneously targeting vectors and vertebrate hosts, as certain species may be detected more readily in their vectors than in their vertebrate hosts, and vice versa. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05965-0Avian malariaCulicidaeHaemosporidaMosquito vectors |
| spellingShingle | Katharina Köchling Günter A. Schaub Doreen Werner Helge Kampen Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany Parasites & Vectors Avian malaria Culicidae Haemosporida Mosquito vectors |
| title | Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany |
| title_full | Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany |
| title_short | Avian Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. parasites in mosquitoes in Germany |
| title_sort | avian plasmodium spp and haemoproteus spp parasites in mosquitoes in germany |
| topic | Avian malaria Culicidae Haemosporida Mosquito vectors |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-023-05965-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katharinakochling avianplasmodiumsppandhaemoproteussppparasitesinmosquitoesingermany AT gunteraschaub avianplasmodiumsppandhaemoproteussppparasitesinmosquitoesingermany AT doreenwerner avianplasmodiumsppandhaemoproteussppparasitesinmosquitoesingermany AT helgekampen avianplasmodiumsppandhaemoproteussppparasitesinmosquitoesingermany |