Dovilė Bukauskaitė

Nature Research Centre

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Tatjana A. Iezhova

Nature Research Centre

Gediminas Valkiūnas

Nature Research Centre

Mikas Ilgūnas

Nature Research Centre

Rasa Bernotienė

Nature Research Centre

Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas

Nature Research Centre

Vaidas Palinauskas

Nature Research Centre

Herbert Weißenböck

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Mélanie Duc

Nature Research Centre

Margarita Kazak

Nature Research Centre

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Rita Žiegytė

Nature Research Centre

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Nature Research Centre

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

University of Melbourne

Murdoch University

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

University of Veterinary Medicine

Vilnius University

Atatürk University

Universidad de Granada

University of Zurich

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Mortality and pathology in birds due to Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) homocircumflexum infection, with emphasis on the exoerythrocytic development of avian malaria parasites

Malaria Journal (2016)

Mikas Ilgūnas Dovilė Bukauskaitė Vaidas Palinauskas Tatjana A. Iezhova Nora Dinhopl

Species of avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium) are widespread, but their virulence has been insufficiently investigated, particularly in wild birds. During avian malaria, several cycles of tissue merogony occur, and many Plasmodium spp. produce secondary exoerythrocytic meronts (phanerozoites), which are induced by merozoites developing in erythrocytic meronts. Phanerozoites markedly damage organs, but remain insufficiently investigated in the majority of described Plasmodium spp. Avian malaria parasite Plasmodium (Giovannolaia) homocircumflexum (lineage pCOLL4) is virulent and produces phanerozoites in domestic canaries Serinus canaria, but its pathogenicity in wild birds remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathology caused by this infection in species of common European birds.One individual of Eurasian siskin Carduelis spinus, common crossbill Loxia curvirostra and common starling Sturnus vulgaris were exposed to P. homocircumflexum infection by intramuscular sub-inoculation of infected blood. The birds were maintained in captivity and parasitaemia was monitored until their death due to malaria. Brain, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidney, and a piece of breast muscle were examined using histology and chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) methods.All exposed birds developed malaria infection, survived the peak of parasitaemia, but suddenly died between 30 and 38 days post exposure when parasitaemia markedly decreased. Numerous phanerozoites were visible in histological sections of all organs and were particularly easily visualized after ISH processing. Blockage of brain capillaries with phanerozoites may have led to cerebral ischaemia, causing cerebral paralysis and is most likely the main reason of sudden death of all infected individuals. Inflammatory response was not visible around the brain, heart and muscle phanerozoites, and it was mild in parenchymal organs. The endothelial damage likely causes dysfunction and failure of parenchymal organs.Plasmodium homocircumflexum caused death of experimental passerine birds due to marked damage of organs by phanerozoites. Patterns of phanerozoites development and pathology were similar in all exposed birds. Mortality was reported when parasitaemia decreased or even turned into chronic stage, indicating that the light parasitaemia is not always indication of improved health during avian malaria. Application of traditional histological and ISH methods in parallel simplifies investigation of exoerythrocytic development and is recommended in avian malaria research.

Avian Malaria

Plasmodium (life cycle)

Plasmodium berghei

Sturnus

Starling

10.1186/s12936-016-1310-x

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Citations (70)

Corrigendum to “Unexpected absence of exo-erythrocytic merogony during high gametocytaemia in two species of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), including description of Haemoproteus angustus n. sp. (lineage hCWT7) and a report of previously unknown residual bodies during in vitro gametogenesis” [Int. J. Parasitol.: Parasites and Wildlife 23 (April 2024) 100905]

International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife (2024)

Gediminas Valkiūnas Tatjana A. Iezhova Mikas Ilgūnas Mélanie Tchoumbou Mélanie Duc

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100905.].

Haemoproteus

Lineage (genetic)

10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100936

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Citations (0)

Description of Haemoproteus ciconiae sp. nov. (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida) from the white stork Ciconia ciconia, with remarks on insensitivity of established polymerase chain reaction assays to detect this infection

Parasitology Research (2016)

Gediminas Valkiūnas Mikas Ilgūnas Dovilė Bukauskaitė Tatjana A. Iezhova

Haemoproteus

10.1007/s00436-016-5007-4

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Citations (14)

Patterns of Plasmodium homocircumflexum virulence in experimentally infected passerine birds

Malaria Journal (2019)

Mikas Ilgūnas Dovilė Bukauskaitė Vaidas Palinauskas Tatjana A. Iezhova Karin Fragner

Avian malaria parasites (genus Plasmodium) are cosmopolitan and some species cause severe pathologies or even mortality in birds, yet their virulence remains fragmentally investigated. Understanding mechanisms and patterns of virulence during avian Plasmodium infections is crucial as these pathogens can severely affect bird populations in the wild and cause mortality in captive individuals. The goal of this study was to investigate the pathologies caused by the recently discovered malaria parasite Plasmodium homocircumflexum (lineage pCOLL4) in four species of European passeriform birds.One cryopreserved P. homocircumflexum strain was multiplied and used for experimental infections. House sparrows (Passer domesticus), common chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), common crossbills (Loxia curvirostra) and common starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were exposed by subinoculation of infected blood. Experimental and control groups (8 individuals in each) were observed for over 1 month. Parasitaemia, haematocrit value and body mass were monitored. At the end of the experiment, samples of internal organs were collected and examined using histological and chromogenic in situ hybridization methods.All exposed birds were susceptible, with similar average prepatent period and maximum parasitaemia, yet virulence was different in different bird species. Mortality due to malaria was reported in chaffinches, house sparrows and crossbills (7, 5 and 3 individuals died respectively), but not in starlings. Exoerythrocytic meronts (phanerozoites) were observed in the brain of all dead experimental birds. Blockage of blood vessels in the brain led to cerebral ischaemia, invariably causing brain damage, which is likely the main reason of mortality. Phanerozoites were observed in parenchymal organs, heart and muscles of all infected individuals, except starlings.This study shows that P. homocircumflexum is generalist and the same lineage caused similar parasitaemia-related pathologies in different host species. Additionally, the mode of exo-erythrocytic development is different in different birds, resulting in different mortality rates. This should be taken into consideration in studies addressing pathology during avian malaria infections.

Parasitology

Plasmodium (life cycle)

10.1186/s12936-019-2810-2

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Citations (41)

PAR volume 144 issue 13 Cover and Back matter

Parasitology (2017)

Amin Zakeri Sita Bennema Marcelo Beltrão Molento Ronaldo Guilherme Carvalho Scholte Omar dos Santos Carvalho

An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Content (measure theory)

10.1017/s0031182017001871

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Molecular characterization and distribution of Plasmodium matutinum, a common avian malaria parasite

Parasitology (2017)

Gediminas Valkiūnas Mikas Ilgūnas Dovilė Bukauskaitė Vaidas Palinauskas Rasa Bernotienė

Species of Plasmodium (Plasmodiidae, Haemosporida) are widespread and cause malaria, which can be severe in avian hosts. Molecular markers are essential to detect and identify parasites, but still absent for many avian malaria and related haemosporidian species. Here, we provide first molecular characterization of Plasmodium matutinum, a common agent of avian malaria. This parasite was isolated from a naturally infected thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia (Muscicapidae). Fragments of mitochondrial, apicoplast and nuclear genomes were obtained. Domestic canaries Serinus canaria were susceptible after inoculation of infected blood, and the long-lasting light parasitemia developed in two exposed birds. Clinical signs of illness were not reported. Illustrations of blood stages of P. matutinum (pLINN1) are given, and phylogenetic analysis identified the closely related avian Plasmodium species. The phylogeny based on partial cytochrome b (cyt b) sequences suggests that this parasite is most closely related to Plasmodium tejerai (cyt b lineage pSPMAG01), a common malaria parasite of American birds. Both these parasites belong to subgenus Haemamoeba, and their blood stages are similar morphologically, particularly due to marked vacuolization of the cytoplasm in growing erythrocytic meronts. Molecular data show that transmission of P. matutinum (pLINN1) occurs broadly in the Holarctic, and the parasite likely is of cosmopolitan distribution. Passeriform birds and Culex mosquitoes are common hosts. This study provides first molecular markers for detection of P. matutinum.

Avian Malaria

Plasmodium (life cycle)

10.1017/s0031182017000737

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Citations (27)

Trypanosomatids in Bloodsucking Diptera Insects (Ceratopogonidae and Simuliidae) Wild-Caught at Raptor Bird Nests in Temperate Forests

Diversity (2023)

Margarita Kazak Rasa Bernotienė Rimgaudas Treinys Dovilė Bukauskaitė

Trypanosomatids are a huge group of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant parasites that can cause severe illnesses in hosts. Although avian trypanosomes are widely spread throughout the world, information about their transmission and vector–host relationships is still scarce. This study aimed to investigate Trypanosoma prevalence in bloodsucking Diptera collected at tree-nesting raptor birds’ nests. Insects were collected in temperate forests of Eastern-Central Europe, in Lithuania, using UV light traps hung near common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and lesser spotted eagle (Clanga pomarina) nests at about 15 m height above the ground. A total of 1248 Culicoides (Ceratopogonidae) females and 3 blackflies (Simuliidae) were collected and tested for the presence of trypanosomatids using PCR-based methods. The blood of 85 nestlings, belonging to three different species (Buteo buteo, Clanga pomarina and Haliaeetus albicilla) was collected and tested using the same methods. We found that 11.1% of the investigated insects (one Simulium female and Culicoides biting midges belonging to five species) were infected with Trypanosoma parasites (Trypanosoma sp., T. bennetti group, T. avium) and monoxenous trypanosomatids (Crithidia sp., Obscuromonas sp.). Only one common buzzard nestling was found to be infected with Trypanosoma avium. The phylogenetic relationships of detected parasites were determined. Our findings supplement information on the ornithophilic behavior of Culicoides females, potential vector species of avian Trypanosoma, and produce some new information on the detection of monoxenous trypanosomatids (Crithidia sp. and Obscuromonas sp.) in Culicoides.

Ceratopogonidae

Buzzard

Culicoides

Buteo

10.3390/d15050692

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Citations (4)

Vertical Distribution of Culicoides Biting Midges in Temperate Forests

Diversity (2024)

Rasa Bernotienė Rimgaudas Treinys Dovilė Bukauskaitė

Culicoides biting midges are small dipterous insects known as biological vectors of arboviruses, protozoa, and filaria parasites worldwide. Many studies on Culicoides focus on trapping them at ground level, without considering the best trap heights for different vector species. This implies that we might overlook insects positioned higher in the canopy. From June to August, we used UV traps to catch Culicoides biting midges at three different heights in three temperate mature forest areas in east Lithuania, Baltic region of Europe. We conducted this study to test the differences in midge numbers, male and female proportions, and female parity at each height. We caught the majority of biting midges (80.6%) at the mid-canopy and high-canopy. A higher number of female Culicoides midges than males was caught, with the proportion of males varying based on height and reaching its lowest point at ground level. No significant difference between the proportion of nulliparous and parous females caught at different height was detected. Culicoides pictipennis and C. festivipennis were the most common species of biting midge we found. They were found in the mid-canopy (86.8%) and the high-canopy (50.0%), respectively. Culicoides kibunensis was next, found at ground level (66.2%), and C. punctatus was found at the high canopy strata (63.0%). Each species’ abundance was seasonal dependent. Information on the vertical distribution of vector species in the temperate forest ecosystem is an important step in understanding patterns of vector borne disease transmission in wildlife.

Culicoides

Biting

Ceratopogonidae

10.3390/d16090585

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Citations (1)

Unexpected absence of exo-erythrocytic merogony during high gametocytaemia in two species of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), including description of Haemoproteus angustus n. sp. (lineage hCWT7) and a report of previously unknown residual bodies during in vitro gametogenesis

International Journal for Parasitology Parasites and Wildlife (2024)

Gediminas Valkiūnas Tatjana A. Iezhova Mikas Ilgūnas Mélanie Tchoumbou Mélanie Duc

Neglected avian blood parasites of the genus

Haemoproteus

Lineage (genetic)