Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection
Avian haemosporidians (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread blood protists, often causing severe haemosporidiosis, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Migrant birds regularly bring various haemosporidian parasites from wintering grounds to European breeding areas. Some haemosporidian p...
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/926 |
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| author | Rita Žiegytė Vaidas Palinauskas Rasa Bernotienė |
| author_facet | Rita Žiegytė Vaidas Palinauskas Rasa Bernotienė |
| author_sort | Rita Žiegytė |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Avian haemosporidians (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread blood protists, often causing severe haemosporidiosis, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Migrant birds regularly bring various haemosporidian parasites from wintering grounds to European breeding areas. Some haemosporidian parasites are prevalent in breeding sites and complete their life cycles in temperate climate zones and can be transmitted, but others do not. The factors altering the spread of these haemosporidians are not fully understood. <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of worldwide distributed avian haemosporidian parasites belonging to the genus <i>Haemoproteus</i>, but this information is particularly scarce and insufficient. The key factors limiting the spread of these pathogens in temperate climate zones, which we suspect and aim to study, are the absence of susceptible vectors and the ecological isolation of birds from vectors during the breeding period when transmission occurs. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how the habitats of biting midges and bird breeding sites influence parasite transmission while also seeking to expand our understanding of the natural vectors for these parasites. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, in different habitats, such as woodland and reeds, from May to September. Parous <i>Culicoides</i> females were identified, dissected, and investigated for the presence of <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based tools. Among the dissected 1135 parous <i>Culicoides</i> females, the sporozoites of <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> (genetic lineage hTUPHI01) have been detected for the first time in the salivary glands of <i>Culicoides festivipennis</i>. The sporozoites of four <i>Haemoproteus</i> lineages were detected in <i>Culicoides segnis</i>, <i>C. festivipennis</i>, and <i>Culicoides kibunensis</i> biting midges. PCR-based screening showed that the females of seven <i>Culicoides</i> species were naturally infected with <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites. The DNA of the parasite of owls, <i>Haemoproteus syrnii</i> (hSTAL2), was detected for the first time in <i>Culicoides punctatus</i>. The highest abundance of collected <i>Culicoides</i> females was in June, but the highest prevalence of <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites in biting midges was in July. The abundance of <i>Culicoides</i> was higher in the woodland compared with reeds during the season. The acquired findings indicate the varied abundance and diversity of biting midges throughout the season and across distinct habitats. This variability could potentially impact the transmission of <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites among birds with diverse breeding site ecologies. These outcomes hold the potential to enhance our understanding of the epizootiology of <i>Haemoproteus</i> infections within temperate climatic zones. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:39:47Z |
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| language | English |
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| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c61e995f9414eed93f97de823cd60e72023-12-22T14:16:14ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-12-01141292610.3390/insects14120926Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of InfectionRita Žiegytė0Vaidas Palinauskas1Rasa Bernotienė2Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaAvian haemosporidians (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread blood protists, often causing severe haemosporidiosis, pathology, or even mortality in their hosts. Migrant birds regularly bring various haemosporidian parasites from wintering grounds to European breeding areas. Some haemosporidian parasites are prevalent in breeding sites and complete their life cycles in temperate climate zones and can be transmitted, but others do not. The factors altering the spread of these haemosporidians are not fully understood. <i>Culicoides</i> biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) play an important role in the transmission of worldwide distributed avian haemosporidian parasites belonging to the genus <i>Haemoproteus</i>, but this information is particularly scarce and insufficient. The key factors limiting the spread of these pathogens in temperate climate zones, which we suspect and aim to study, are the absence of susceptible vectors and the ecological isolation of birds from vectors during the breeding period when transmission occurs. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how the habitats of biting midges and bird breeding sites influence parasite transmission while also seeking to expand our understanding of the natural vectors for these parasites. Biting midges were collected using UV traps on the Curonian Spit, Lithuania, in different habitats, such as woodland and reeds, from May to September. Parous <i>Culicoides</i> females were identified, dissected, and investigated for the presence of <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites using both microscopy and PCR-based tools. Among the dissected 1135 parous <i>Culicoides</i> females, the sporozoites of <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> (genetic lineage hTUPHI01) have been detected for the first time in the salivary glands of <i>Culicoides festivipennis</i>. The sporozoites of four <i>Haemoproteus</i> lineages were detected in <i>Culicoides segnis</i>, <i>C. festivipennis</i>, and <i>Culicoides kibunensis</i> biting midges. PCR-based screening showed that the females of seven <i>Culicoides</i> species were naturally infected with <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites. The DNA of the parasite of owls, <i>Haemoproteus syrnii</i> (hSTAL2), was detected for the first time in <i>Culicoides punctatus</i>. The highest abundance of collected <i>Culicoides</i> females was in June, but the highest prevalence of <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites in biting midges was in July. The abundance of <i>Culicoides</i> was higher in the woodland compared with reeds during the season. The acquired findings indicate the varied abundance and diversity of biting midges throughout the season and across distinct habitats. This variability could potentially impact the transmission of <i>Haemoproteus</i> parasites among birds with diverse breeding site ecologies. These outcomes hold the potential to enhance our understanding of the epizootiology of <i>Haemoproteus</i> infections within temperate climatic zones.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/926<i>Culicoides</i><i>Haemoproteus</i>sporozoiteshaemosporidian infectionstransmissionfactors |
| spellingShingle | Rita Žiegytė Vaidas Palinauskas Rasa Bernotienė Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection Insects <i>Culicoides</i> <i>Haemoproteus</i> sporozoites haemosporidian infections transmission factors |
| title | Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection |
| title_full | Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection |
| title_fullStr | Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection |
| title_short | Natural Vector of Avian <i>Haemoproteus asymmetricus</i> Parasite and Factors Altering the Spread of Infection |
| title_sort | natural vector of avian i haemoproteus asymmetricus i parasite and factors altering the spread of infection |
| topic | <i>Culicoides</i> <i>Haemoproteus</i> sporozoites haemosporidian infections transmission factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/926 |
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