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Animals
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Avian Blood Parasites
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Avian Blood Parasites

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Birds".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 22013

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Josef Harl

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Pathology, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria
Interests: evolutionary biology; avian haemosporidian parasites; phylogeography; systematics; population genetics; apicomplexan parasites; pathology of avian blood parasites
Dr. Mikas Ilgūnas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Nature Research Centre, Akademijos str. 2, Vilnius, LT-08412, Lithuania
Interests: avian parasitology; parasite ecology; parasite biology; molecular parasitology; avian haemosporidian parasites; exo-erythrocytic development of avian haemosporidian parasites; pathology caused by avian haemosporidian parasites

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue in Animals (MDPI Journals) entitled “Avian blood parasites”. The journal Animals is devoted to animal research, covering general zoology and veterinary science, and is currently classified as Q1 (category: Veterinary Sciences) with an impact factor of 2.323 (2019). 

Like other groups of vertebrates, birds suffer from a large variety of parasitic diseases caused by haemosporidian parasites, helminths, and other parasitic agents. Due to the ability of most birds to fly and therefore passively transport pathogens, the geographic and host distribution of avian parasites is generally more complex than that of strictly terrestrial animals. Moreover, the life cycles of many endoparasites include the development in and transmission by arthropod vectors such as dipteran insects and arachnids. This is particularly prevalent in haemosporidian parasites, which are obligate heteroxenous parasites that undergo sexual reproduction in blood-sucking dipteran vectors and infect certain tissue and blood cells of their bird hosts. Morphological analyses have allowed more than 250 avian haemosporidian parasite species to be identified. Moreover, DNA-barcoding has revealed more than 3,500 unique avian haemosporidian lineages, many of which might represent distinct species according to recent studies. Haemosporidian parasites are common in birds and infections often used to be considered benign; however, high parasitemia and tissue stage formation in the internal organs can cause severe damage and lead to the death of the infected vertebrate hosts. Avian parasitology has therefore attracted scientists from multiple disciplines such as parasitology, ornithology, entomology, molecular biology, genetics, and veterinary science. Simultaneously, research on other avian parasites such as apicomplexans (Lankesterella spp., Eimeria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., etc.), filarial worms (Dirofilaria spp.), Trypanosoma spp., or Trichomonas spp. is also progressing, particularly due to the application of various molecular tools. Despite this new spike in interest, many aspects of avian parasite biology remain scarcely studied, particularly in parasites infecting wild birds.

This Special Issue calls for original research and review articles dealing with various aspects of avian parasitology, involving research on biogeography, population genetics, taxonomy, systematics, host–parasite or parasite–vector interaction studies, and veterinary pathology. The focus of this issue is avian haemosporidian parasites, but we also welcome submissions dealing with other avian parasites.

Dr. Josef Harl
Dr. Mikas Ilgūnas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • avian parasites
  • avian haemosporidian parasites
  • helminths
  • vector-borne diseases
  • Trypanosoma
  • trichomonas
  • parasite genetics
  • biogeography of parasites
  • veterinary pathology
  • parasite biology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 6904 KiB  
Article
Exo-Erythrocytic Development of Avian Haemosporidian Parasites in European Owls
by Mikas Ilgūnas, Tanja Himmel, Josef Harl, Mindaugas Dagys, Gediminas Valkiūnas and Herbert Weissenböck
Animals 2022, 12(17), 2212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12172212 - 28 Aug 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2442
Abstract
Avian haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) are globally distributed and infect birds of many orders. These pathogens have been much investigated in domestic and wild passeriform birds, in which they are relatively easy to access. In birds belonging to other orders, including owls (order [...] Read more.
Avian haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) are globally distributed and infect birds of many orders. These pathogens have been much investigated in domestic and wild passeriform birds, in which they are relatively easy to access. In birds belonging to other orders, including owls (order Strigiformes), these parasites have been studied fragmentarily. Particularly little is known about the exo-erythrocytic development of avian haemosporidians. The goal of this study was to gain new knowledge about the parasites infecting owls in Europe and investigate their exo-erythrocytic stages. Tissue samples of 121 deceased owls were collected in Austria and Lithuania, and examined using polymerase chain reactions (PCR), histology, and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). PCR-based diagnostics showed a total prevalence of 73.6%, revealing two previously unreported Haemoproteus and five novel Leucocytozoon lineages. By CISH and histology, meronts of several Leucocytozoon lineages (lASOT06, lSTAL5, lSTAL7) were discovered in the brains, heart muscles, and kidneys of infected birds. Further, megalomeronts of Haemoproteus syrnii (lineage hSTAL2) were discovered. This study contributes new knowledge to a better understanding of the biodiversity of avian haemosporidian parasites infecting owls in Europe, provides information on tissue stages of the parasites, and calls for further research of these under-investigated pathogens relevant to bird health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Blood Parasites)
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11 pages, 1086 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on Primary Bird Co-Infection with Two Plasmodium relictum Lineages—pSGS1 and pGRW11
by Vaidas Palinauskas, Rita Žiegytė, Jakov Šengaut and Rasa Bernotienė
Animals 2022, 12(15), 1879; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151879 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1749
Abstract
Background: Co-infections are common in the wild. Thus, studies focused on parasite interactions are essential. We aimed to (i) follow the development of two genetic lineages of Plasmodium relictum—pSGS1 and pGRW11—during single infections and co-infections and (ii) evaluate their impact on bird [...] Read more.
Background: Co-infections are common in the wild. Thus, studies focused on parasite interactions are essential. We aimed to (i) follow the development of two genetic lineages of Plasmodium relictum—pSGS1 and pGRW11—during single infections and co-infections and (ii) evaluate their impact on bird host health. Materials: Twenty-four domestic canaries were allocated to four groups: two groups were infected with parasites of a single genetic lineage, one group was infected with parasites of both genetic lineages, and one group was considered as the control group. Parasitemia, the number of polychromatophils, changes in body weight, and hemoglobin levels were all quantified up to 32 days post-infection. Results: Three birds infected with pSGS1 died within 20 days post-infection. The prepatent period and the peak of parasitemia did not differ significantly between groups. Differences in hemoglobin levels between the control and experimental groups were observed and there was an abnormal increase in the number of polychromatophils in infected birds. In all infected groups, correlations were detected between the number of polychromatophils and parasitemia (positive), and between the number of polychromatophils and hemoglobin levels (negative). Conclusion: This study shows that co-infection with two phylogenetically closely related P. relictum parasites does not alter overall parasitemia and does not cause higher virulence to the host. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Blood Parasites)
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25 pages, 3743 KiB  
Article
Description and Molecular Characterization of Two Species of Avian Blood Parasites, with Remarks on Circadian Rhythms of Avian Haematozoa Infections
by Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas, Rasa Binkienė and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Animals 2021, 11(12), 3490; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123490 - 7 Dec 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6450
Abstract
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 [...] Read more.
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 (Turdus merula) and a Song thrush (Turdus philomelos). This study aimed to describe a new avian Lankesterella species and molecularly characterize and redescribe Splendidofilaria mavis, a common avian filarioid nematode. Additionally, it was possible to investigate the circadian rhythms of the avian blood parasites belonging to Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Trypanosoma, which occurred in co-infection in the same avian host individuals. Different circadian rhythms were seen in different parasites, with Plasmodium sp. peaks occurring at midday, Leucocytozoon spp. peaks mainly during the evening and night, and Trypanosoma spp. and microfilariae peaks at midnight. No periodicity was seen in Haemoproteus and Lankesterella 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. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Blood Parasites)
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15 pages, 6290 KiB  
Article
Massive Infection of Lungs with Exo-Erythrocytic Meronts in European Robin Erithacus rubecula during Natural Haemoproteus attenuatus Haemoproteosis
by Carolina Hernández-Lara, Mélanie Duc, Mikas Ilgūnas and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Animals 2021, 11(11), 3273; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113273 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2046
Abstract
Haemoproteus species are widespread avian blood parasites belonging to Haemoproteidae (Haemosporida). Blood stages of these pathogens have been relatively well-investigated, though exo-erythrocytic (tissue) stages remain unidentified for the majority of species. However, recent histopathological studies show that haemoproteins markedly affect bird organs during [...] Read more.
Haemoproteus species are widespread avian blood parasites belonging to Haemoproteidae (Haemosporida). Blood stages of these pathogens have been relatively well-investigated, though exo-erythrocytic (tissue) stages remain unidentified for the majority of species. However, recent histopathological studies show that haemoproteins markedly affect bird organs during tissue merogony. This study investigated the exo-erythrocytic development of Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) attenuatus (lineage hROBIN1), the common parasite of flycatchers (Muscicapidae). Naturally infected European robins Erithacus rubecula were examined. Parasite species and lineage were identified using microscopic examination of blood stages and DNA sequence analysis. Parasitaemia intensity varied between 0.8 and 26.5% in seven host individuals. Organs of infected birds were collected and processed for histological examination. Tissues stages (meronts) were seen in six birds and were present only in the lungs. The parasites were usually located in groups and were at different stages of maturation, indicating asynchronous exo-erythrocytic development. In most parasitized individuals, 100 meronts were observed in 1 cm2 section of lungs. The largest meronts reached 108 µm in length. Mature meronts contained numerous roundish merozoites of approximately 0.8 µm in diameter. Megalomeronts were not observed. Massive merogony and resulting damage of lungs is a characteristic feature during H. attenuatus infections and might occur in related parasite lineages, causing haemoproteosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Blood Parasites)
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17 pages, 3943 KiB  
Article
First Report of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) Megalomeronts in the Brain of an Avian Host, with Description of Megalomerogony of Haemoproteus Pastoris, the Blood Parasite of the Common Starling
by Mélanie Duc, Mikas Ilgūnas, Monika Kubiliūnaitė and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Animals 2021, 11(10), 2824; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102824 - 27 Sep 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2757
Abstract
Species of Haemoproteus (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) are common bird pathogens. Recent molecular studies combined with histopathology research have reported development of megalomeronts of these parasites in various organs, sometimes resulting in the death of the avian host. Five Common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) [...] Read more.
Species of Haemoproteus (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) are common bird pathogens. Recent molecular studies combined with histopathology research have reported development of megalomeronts of these parasites in various organs, sometimes resulting in the death of the avian host. Five Common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were found naturally infected with Haemoproteus pastoris lineage hLAMPUR01. The parasite was identified using microscopic examination of blood films and DNA sequences. Infected bird organs were investigated histologically for (i) the presence of exo-erythrocytic stages and (ii) the patterns of development (morphology and localization) in different host individuals. For the first time, megalomeronts of Haemoproteus parasites were seen developing in the brain, while numerous others at different stages of maturation were found in the intestine, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, esophagus, spleen, gizzard, and trachea. Megalomeronts were predominantly roundish or oval, up to 800 μm, they were surrounded by a capsular-like wall and developed asynchronously in the same bird individual. After megalomeront maturation and rupture, a massive infiltration of blood cells occurred, indicating the hemorrhagic processes. Review of available data showed that different Haemoproteus species produce markedly different megalomeronts, morphology of which can probably be predicted using phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of cytochrome b gene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Blood Parasites)
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27 pages, 6873 KiB  
Article
Lankesterella (Apicomplexa, Lankesterellidae) Blood Parasites of Passeriform Birds: Prevalence, Molecular and Morphological Characterization, with Notes on Sporozoite Persistence In Vivo and Development In Vitro
by Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas, Josef Harl, Vytautas Preikša, Dovilė Bukauskaitė, Mikas Ilgūnas, Herbert Weissenböck and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Animals 2021, 11(5), 1451; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051451 - 18 May 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4539
Abstract
Recent studies confirmed that some Hepatozoon-like blood parasites (Apicomplexa) of birds are closely related to the amphibian parasite Lankesterella minima. Little is known about the biology of these pathogens in birds, including their distribution, life cycles, specificity, vectors, and molecular characterization. [...] Read more.
Recent studies confirmed that some Hepatozoon-like blood parasites (Apicomplexa) of birds are closely related to the amphibian parasite Lankesterella minima. Little is known about the biology of these pathogens in birds, including their distribution, life cycles, specificity, vectors, and molecular characterization. Using blood samples of 641 birds from 16 species, we (i) determined the prevalence and molecular diversity of Lankesterella parasites in naturally infected birds; (ii) investigated the development of Lankesterella kabeeni in laboratory-reared mosquitoes, Culex pipiens forma molestus and Aedes aegypti; and (iii) tested experimentally the susceptibility of domestic canaries, Serinus canaria, to this parasite. This study combined molecular and morphological diagnostic methods and determined 11% prevalence of Lankesterella parasites in Acrocephalidae birds; 16 Lankesterella lineages with a certain degree of host specificity and two new species (Lankesterella vacuolata n. sp. and Lankesterella macrovacuolata n. sp.) were found and characterized. Lankesterella kabeeni (formerly Hepatozoon kabeeni) was re-described. Serinus canaria were resistant after various experimental exposures. Lankesterella sporozoites rapidly escaped from host cells in vitro. Sporozoites persisted for a long time in infected mosquitoes (up to 42 days post exposure). Our study demonstrated a high diversity of Lankesterella parasites in birds, and showed that several avian Hepatozoon-like parasites, in fact, belong to Lankesterella genus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Avian Blood Parasites)
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