Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae

Haemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ~170 avian species, the majority of which are a...

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Main Authors: Ralph E. T. Vanstreels, Carolina R. F. Chagas, Gediminas Valkiūnas, Carolina C. dos Anjos, Nola J. Parsons, David G. Roberts, Albert Snyman, Renata Hurtado, Karin Kirchgatter, Katrin Ludynia, Pierre A. Pistorius, L. C. Ranford-Cartwright
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2023-12-01
Series:Parasitology
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S003118202300029X/type/journal_article
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author Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
Carolina R. F. Chagas
Gediminas Valkiūnas
Carolina C. dos Anjos
Nola J. Parsons
David G. Roberts
Albert Snyman
Renata Hurtado
Karin Kirchgatter
Katrin Ludynia
Pierre A. Pistorius
L. C. Ranford-Cartwright
author_facet Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
Carolina R. F. Chagas
Gediminas Valkiūnas
Carolina C. dos Anjos
Nola J. Parsons
David G. Roberts
Albert Snyman
Renata Hurtado
Karin Kirchgatter
Katrin Ludynia
Pierre A. Pistorius
L. C. Ranford-Cartwright
author_sort Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
collection DOAJ
description Haemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ~170 avian species, the majority of which are aquatic, including gulls, terns, auklets, murres and skuas, among others. In spite of the diversity of this avian group, there is limited known diversity of haemosporidian parasites, with only 4 recorded Haemoproteus morphospecies thus far. We examined the blood smears of 21 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) captured at a breeding colony in South Africa, as well as Haemoproteus-positive archival blood smears of 15 kelp gulls and 1 Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii) sampled while under care at seabird rehabilitation facilities in South Africa. Haemoproteus sp. infection was detected in 19% of wild-caught kelp gulls. All parasites from the gulls were morphologically identified as Haemoproteus jenniae, a species previously recorded in Lari birds at the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Rocas Atoll (Brazil) and Poland. Gene sequencing uncovered a new cytochrome b lineage, LARDOM01, which was closely related to the previously reported H. jenniae lineage CREFUR01. Additionally, we evaluated a hapantotype blood smear of Haemoproteus skuae, which had been described infecting a brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) in South Africa. We provide a redescription of H. skuae and discuss the morphological characters distinguishing it from H. jenniae. Further research is necessary to improve our knowledge about the host and geographic distribution, health effects and phylogeny of H. jenniae and H. skuae.
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spelling doaj.art-bb08f1faf4ef427a85102aa22c6a0cf72024-02-05T10:26:15ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-81612023-12-011501286129510.1017/S003118202300029XHaemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuaeRalph E. T. Vanstreels0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2359-4828Carolina R. F. Chagas1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7884-9085Gediminas Valkiūnas2Carolina C. dos Anjos3Nola J. Parsons4David G. Roberts5Albert Snyman6Renata Hurtado7Karin Kirchgatter8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2449-2316Katrin Ludynia9Pierre A. Pistorius10L. C. Ranford-CartwrightMarine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South AfricaNature Research Centre, Institute of Ecology, Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Institute of Ecology, Vilnius, LithuaniaFaculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilSouthern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South AfricaSouthern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South AfricaSouthern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South AfricaSouthern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South AfricaFaculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo, BrazilSouthern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cape Town, South AfricaMarine Apex Predator Research Unit (MAPRU), Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South AfricaHaemoproteus spp. are dipteran-borne protozoa that infect erythrocytes and reticulo-endothelial cells of birds. These parasites are not usually transmitted between birds belonging to different orders. The suborder Lari (order Charadriiformes) comprises ~170 avian species, the majority of which are aquatic, including gulls, terns, auklets, murres and skuas, among others. In spite of the diversity of this avian group, there is limited known diversity of haemosporidian parasites, with only 4 recorded Haemoproteus morphospecies thus far. We examined the blood smears of 21 kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) captured at a breeding colony in South Africa, as well as Haemoproteus-positive archival blood smears of 15 kelp gulls and 1 Hartlaub's gull (Larus hartlaubii) sampled while under care at seabird rehabilitation facilities in South Africa. Haemoproteus sp. infection was detected in 19% of wild-caught kelp gulls. All parasites from the gulls were morphologically identified as Haemoproteus jenniae, a species previously recorded in Lari birds at the Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Rocas Atoll (Brazil) and Poland. Gene sequencing uncovered a new cytochrome b lineage, LARDOM01, which was closely related to the previously reported H. jenniae lineage CREFUR01. Additionally, we evaluated a hapantotype blood smear of Haemoproteus skuae, which had been described infecting a brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) in South Africa. We provide a redescription of H. skuae and discuss the morphological characters distinguishing it from H. jenniae. Further research is necessary to improve our knowledge about the host and geographic distribution, health effects and phylogeny of H. jenniae and H. skuae.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S003118202300029X/type/journal_articleBlood parasiteHaemoproteusHippoboscidaeLarusseabirdvector-borne pathogen
spellingShingle Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
Carolina R. F. Chagas
Gediminas Valkiūnas
Carolina C. dos Anjos
Nola J. Parsons
David G. Roberts
Albert Snyman
Renata Hurtado
Karin Kirchgatter
Katrin Ludynia
Pierre A. Pistorius
L. C. Ranford-Cartwright
Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae
Parasitology
Blood parasite
Haemoproteus
Hippoboscidae
Larus
seabird
vector-borne pathogen
title Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae
title_full Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae
title_fullStr Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae
title_full_unstemmed Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae
title_short Haemoproteus jenniae (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) infects gulls (Larus spp.) in South Africa, with redescription of Haemoproteus skuae
title_sort haemoproteus jenniae haemoproteidae haemosporida infects gulls larus spp in south africa with redescription of haemoproteus skuae
topic Blood parasite
Haemoproteus
Hippoboscidae
Larus
seabird
vector-borne pathogen
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S003118202300029X/type/journal_article
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