Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections
Avian blood parasites are remarkably diverse and frequently occur in co-infections, which predominate in wildlife. This makes wildlife pathogen research challenging, particularly if they belong to closely related groups, resulting in diagnostic problems and poor knowledge about such infections as we...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3490 |
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| author | Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas Rasa Binkienė Gediminas Valkiūnas |
| author_facet | Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas Rasa Binkienė Gediminas Valkiūnas |
| author_sort | Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Avian blood parasites are remarkably diverse and frequently occur in co-infections, which predominate in wildlife. This makes wildlife pathogen research challenging, particularly if they belong to closely related groups, resulting in diagnostic problems and poor knowledge about such infections as well as the patterns of their co-occurrence and interactions. This is particularly true due to the periodicity (circadian rhythms) of parasitemia, which means that different parasitemia and parasite stages might be found throughout the day. We analysed blood samples from a Eurasian blackbird (<i>Turdus merula</i>) and a Song thrush (<i>Turdus philomelos</i>). This study aimed to describe a new avian <i>Lankesterella</i> species and molecularly characterize and redescribe <i>Splendidofilaria mavis,</i> a common avian filarioid nematode. Additionally, it was possible to investigate the circadian rhythms of the avian blood parasites belonging to <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, and <i>Trypanosoma,</i> which occurred in co-infection in the same avian host individuals. Different circadian rhythms were seen in different parasites, with <i>Plasmodium</i> sp. peaks occurring at midday, <i>Leucocytozoon</i> spp. peaks mainly during the evening and night, and <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. and microfilariae peaks at midnight. No periodicity was seen in <i>Haemoproteus</i> and <i>Lankesterella</i> species infections. The time of parasitemia peaks most likely coincides with the time of vectors’ activity, and this should be beneficial for transmission. Knowledge about the circadian rhythms is needed for better understanding patterns in host-parasite interactions and disease transmission. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:39:31Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:39:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c31feb22e384f9d822ececcb3e9d6522023-11-23T03:27:47ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-12-011112349010.3390/ani11123490Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa InfectionsCarolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas0Rasa Binkienė1Gediminas Valkiūnas2Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaAvian blood parasites are remarkably diverse and frequently occur in co-infections, which predominate in wildlife. This makes wildlife pathogen research challenging, particularly if they belong to closely related groups, resulting in diagnostic problems and poor knowledge about such infections as well as the patterns of their co-occurrence and interactions. This is particularly true due to the periodicity (circadian rhythms) of parasitemia, which means that different parasitemia and parasite stages might be found throughout the day. We analysed blood samples from a Eurasian blackbird (<i>Turdus merula</i>) and a Song thrush (<i>Turdus philomelos</i>). This study aimed to describe a new avian <i>Lankesterella</i> species and molecularly characterize and redescribe <i>Splendidofilaria mavis,</i> a common avian filarioid nematode. Additionally, it was possible to investigate the circadian rhythms of the avian blood parasites belonging to <i>Plasmodium</i>, <i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, and <i>Trypanosoma,</i> which occurred in co-infection in the same avian host individuals. Different circadian rhythms were seen in different parasites, with <i>Plasmodium</i> sp. peaks occurring at midday, <i>Leucocytozoon</i> spp. peaks mainly during the evening and night, and <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. and microfilariae peaks at midnight. No periodicity was seen in <i>Haemoproteus</i> and <i>Lankesterella</i> species infections. The time of parasitemia peaks most likely coincides with the time of vectors’ activity, and this should be beneficial for transmission. Knowledge about the circadian rhythms is needed for better understanding patterns in host-parasite interactions and disease transmission.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3490new blood parasite speciesbirdsco-infection<i>Plasmodium</i><i>Haemoproteus</i><i>Leucocytozoon</i> |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas Rasa Binkienė Gediminas Valkiūnas Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections Animals new blood parasite species birds co-infection <i>Plasmodium</i> <i>Haemoproteus</i> <i>Leucocytozoon</i> |
| title | Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections |
| title_full | Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections |
| title_fullStr | Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections |
| title_full_unstemmed | Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections |
| title_short | Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections |
| title_sort | description and molecular characterization of two species of avian blood parasites with remarks on circadian rhythms of avian haematozoa infections |
| topic | new blood parasite species birds co-infection <i>Plasmodium</i> <i>Haemoproteus</i> <i>Leucocytozoon</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/12/3490 |
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