Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites
Avian haemosporidian parasites (<i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, <i>Plasmodium</i>) in Texas are relatively understudied for such a large geographic area with diverse ecoregions. Our study sites in south Texas, located in two adjacent ecoregions, present...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/378 |
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| author | Katrina D. Keith John P. Pistone Tyler A. Campbell Gary A. Voelker |
| author_facet | Katrina D. Keith John P. Pistone Tyler A. Campbell Gary A. Voelker |
| author_sort | Katrina D. Keith |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Avian haemosporidian parasites (<i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, <i>Plasmodium</i>) in Texas are relatively understudied for such a large geographic area with diverse ecoregions. Our study sites in south Texas, located in two adjacent ecoregions, present the opportunity for investigating patterns and possible causes of infections between habitats, and characterizing the baseline makeup of the avian malaria community. We assessed the avian haemosporidian community using their mtDNA <i>cytb</i> gene in 576 birds, 25.69% of which were infected. The overall detection rate was much higher from blood samples than tissue samples, and the more arid ecoregion had a significantly lower overall prevalence. Findings also revealed significantly lower <i>Plasmodium</i> infections in the more arid ecoregion. We identified 25 novel lineages which included 16 <i>Haemoproteus</i>, 2 <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, and 7 <i>Plasmodium</i> lineages. This information establishes a baseline of prevalence for these ecoregions and provides insight to the disease ecology of resident and migrant birds of this area. We assert that baseline knowledge of this type is necessary for meaningful comparisons to areas of high anthropogenic change, and essential to aiding conservation efforts of birds in future. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:01:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-db7b65b16f254f9180b463ee4267e67d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:01:29Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-db7b65b16f254f9180b463ee4267e67d2023-11-23T10:43:20ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-05-0114537810.3390/d14050378Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and SitesKatrina D. Keith0John P. Pistone1Tyler A. Campbell2Gary A. Voelker3Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USADepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAEast Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Dr., #410, San Antonio, TX 78216, USADepartment of Ecology and Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USAAvian haemosporidian parasites (<i>Haemoproteus</i>, <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, <i>Plasmodium</i>) in Texas are relatively understudied for such a large geographic area with diverse ecoregions. Our study sites in south Texas, located in two adjacent ecoregions, present the opportunity for investigating patterns and possible causes of infections between habitats, and characterizing the baseline makeup of the avian malaria community. We assessed the avian haemosporidian community using their mtDNA <i>cytb</i> gene in 576 birds, 25.69% of which were infected. The overall detection rate was much higher from blood samples than tissue samples, and the more arid ecoregion had a significantly lower overall prevalence. Findings also revealed significantly lower <i>Plasmodium</i> infections in the more arid ecoregion. We identified 25 novel lineages which included 16 <i>Haemoproteus</i>, 2 <i>Leucocytozoon</i>, and 7 <i>Plasmodium</i> lineages. This information establishes a baseline of prevalence for these ecoregions and provides insight to the disease ecology of resident and migrant birds of this area. We assert that baseline knowledge of this type is necessary for meaningful comparisons to areas of high anthropogenic change, and essential to aiding conservation efforts of birds in future.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/378avian malariahaemosporidiansMalAvi<i>Haemoproteus</i><i>Plasmodium</i> |
| spellingShingle | Katrina D. Keith John P. Pistone Tyler A. Campbell Gary A. Voelker Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites Diversity avian malaria haemosporidians MalAvi <i>Haemoproteus</i> <i>Plasmodium</i> |
| title | Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites |
| title_full | Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites |
| title_fullStr | Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites |
| title_short | Avian Haemosporidian Diversity in South Texas: New Lineages and Variation in Prevalence between Sampling Sources and Sites |
| title_sort | avian haemosporidian diversity in south texas new lineages and variation in prevalence between sampling sources and sites |
| topic | avian malaria haemosporidians MalAvi <i>Haemoproteus</i> <i>Plasmodium</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/5/378 |
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