6 research outputs found
Haemosporidian infections in skylarks (Alauda arvensis): a comparative PCR-based and microscopy study on the parasite diversity and prevalence in southern Italy and the Netherlands
Changes in agricultural management have been identified as the most probable cause for the decline of Skylark (Alauda arvensis) populations in Europe. However, parasitic infections have not been considered as a possible factor influencing this process. Four hundred and thirty-four Skylarks from the Southern Italy and the Netherlands were screened for haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida) using the microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. The overall prevalence of infection was 19.5%; it was 41.8% in Italian birds and 8.3% in Dutch birds. The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. was 34.1% and 6.5% in Skylarks from Italy and Netherlands, respectively. Approximately 15% of all recorded haemosporidian infections were simultaneous infections both in Italian and Dutch populations. Six different mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) lineages of Plasmodium spp. and three lineages of Haemoproteus tartakovskyi were found. The lineage SGS1 of Plasmodium relictum was the most prevalent at both study sites; it was recorded in 24.7% of birds in Italy and 5.5% in the Netherlands. The lineages SYAT05 of Plasmodium vaughani and GRW11 of P. relictum were also identified with a prevalence of <2% at both study sites. Two Plasmodium spp. lineages (SW2 and DELURB4) and three H. tartakovskyi lineages have been found only in Skylarks from Italy. Mitochondrial cyt b lineages SYAT05 are suggested for molecular identification of P. vaughani, a cosmopolitan malaria parasite of birds. This study reports the greatest overall prevalence of malaria infection in Skylarks during the last 100 years and shows that both Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp. haemosporidian infections are expanding in Skylarks so it might contribute to a decrease of these bird populations in Europe
Environmental, geographical and time-related impacts on avian malaria infections in native and introduced populations of house sparrows (Passer domesticus), a globally invasive species
AC K N OW L E D G M E N T S
This study was funded by projects: IB20089 from the Consejería
de Economía, Ciencia y Agenda Digital of the Junta de Extremadura
and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, P11-RNM-7038
from Junta de Andalucía, and PR(19_ECO_0070) from Ayudas
Fundación BBVA a Equipos de Investigación Científica 2019. MF
was supported by a Juan de la Cierva 2017 Formación contract
(FJCI-2017-34394) from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and
Universities, by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and
innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie (grant
agreement No 844285, ‘EpiEcoMod’) and she is currently funded
by a Ramón y Cajal postdoctoral contract (RYC2021- 031613-I) from
the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN). JJP was
supported by the Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno.
JMP was supported by ProyExcel_00049 financed by Proyectos
I+D+i of Junta de Andalucía 2021. LGL was supported by Junta de
Extremadura (IB20089, Post-Doc grant). JM was supported by a
Juan de la Cierva - Formación contract (FJCI-2017-34109) from the
Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and he is currently
supported by a postdoctoral researcher contract for scientific
excellence under the Plan Propio de I+D+i of the Universidad de
Castilla - La Mancha (UCLM), co-funded by the European Social
Fund Plus (ESF+). LZG was supported by funds from the Hungary's
National Research, Development and Innovation Office (K135841,
RRF-2.3.1-21-2022- 00006). We also acknowledge the comments of
four anonymous reviewers who improved the final version of this
manuscript.DATA AVA I L A B I L I T Y S TAT E M E N T
Data supporting the conclusions of this study are available in the
supplementary material to this article. Any further details are
available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.Aim
The increasing spread of vector-borne diseases has resulted in severe health concerns for humans, domestic animals and wildlife, with changes in land use and the introduction of invasive species being among the main possible causes for this increase. We explored several ecological drivers potentially affecting the local prevalence and richness of avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) populations.
Location
Global.
Time period
2002–2019.
Major taxa studied
Avian Plasmodium parasites in house sparrows.
Methods
We analysed data from 2,220 samples from 69 localities across all continents, except Antarctica. The influence of environment (urbanization index and human density), geography (altitude, latitude, hemisphere) and time (bird breeding season and years since introduction) were analysed using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) and random forests.
Results
Overall, 670 sparrows (30.2%) were infected with 22 Plasmodium lineages. In native populations, parasite prevalence was positively related to urbanization index, with the highest prevalence values in areas with intermediate urbanization levels. Likewise, in introduced populations, prevalence was positively associated with urbanization index; however, higher infection occurred in areas with either extreme high or low levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, the number of parasite lineages increased with altitude and with the years elapsed since the establishment of sparrows in a new locality. Here, after a decline in the number of parasite lineages in the first 30 years, an increase from 40 years onwards was detected.
Main conclusions
Urbanization was related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced bird populations. In invaded areas, altitude and time since bird introduction were related to the number of Plasmodium lineages found to be infecting sparrows.Consejería de Economía, Innovación,
Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía,
Grant/Award Number: P11-RNM-7038Fundación BBVA, Grant/Award Number:
PR(19_ECO_0070Junta de Extremadura,
Grant/Award Number: IB20089 and
PO17024Marie Sklodowska- Curie
Actions, Grant/Award Number: 844285Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y
Universidades, Grant/Award Number:
FJCI-2017-34109 and FJCI-2017-34394Proyectos I+D+i of Junta de Andalucía
2021, Grant/Award Number:
ProyExcel_00049Universidad de Castilla-
La Manch
Impactos ambientales, geográficos y relacionados con el tiempo en las infecciones por malaria aviar en poblaciones nativas e introducidas de gorriones domésticos (Passer domesticus), una especie invasora a nivel mundial
Aim: The increasing spread of vector-borne diseases has resulted in severe health concerns for humans, domestic animals and wildlife, with changes in land use and the introduction of invasive species being among the main possible causes for this increase. We explored several ecological drivers potentially affecting the local prevalence and richness of avian malaria parasite lineages in native and introduced house sparrows (Passer domesticus) populations. Location: Global. Time period: 2002–2019. Major taxa studied: Avian Plasmodium parasites in house sparrows. Methods: We analysed data from 2,220 samples from 69 localities across all continents, except Antarctica. The influence of environment (urbanization index and human density), geography (altitude, latitude, hemisphere) and time (bird breeding season and years since introduction) were analysed using generalized additive mixed models (GAMMs) and random forests. Results: Overall, 670 sparrows (30.2%) were infected with 22 Plasmodium lineages. In native populations, parasite prevalence was positively related to urbanization index, with the highest prevalence values in areas with intermediate urbanization levels. Likewise, in introduced populations, prevalence was positively associated with urbanization index; however, higher infection occurred in areas with either extreme high or low levels of urbanization. In introduced populations, the number of parasite lineages increased with altitude and with the years elapsed since the establishment of sparrows in a new locality. Here, after a decline in the number of parasite lineages in the first 30 years, an increase from 40 years onwards was detected. Main conclusions: Urbanization was related to parasite prevalence in both native and introduced bird populations. In invaded areas, altitude and time since bird introduction were related to the number of Plasmodium lineages found to be infecting sparrows.Objetivo: La creciente propagación de enfermedades transmitidas por vectores ha generado graves problemas de salud para los seres humanos, los animales domésticos y la vida silvestre, y los cambios en el uso de la tierra y la introducción de especies invasoras se encuentran entre las principales causas posibles de este aumento. Exploramos varios impulsores ecológicos que podrían afectar la prevalencia local y la riqueza de linajes de parásitos de la malaria aviar en poblaciones nativas e introducidas de gorriones domésticos (Passer domesticus). Ubicación: Mundial. Período de tiempo: 2002–2019. Principales taxones estudiados: parásitos aviares Plasmodium en gorriones domésticos. Métodos: Analizamos datos de 2220 muestras de 69 localidades de todos los continentes, excepto la Antártida. La influencia del medio ambiente (índice de urbanización y densidad humana), la geografía (altitud, latitud, hemisferio) y el tiempo (temporada de reproducción de aves y años desde la introducción) se analizaron utilizando modelos mixtos aditivos generalizados (GAMM) y bosques aleatorios. Resultados: En general, 670 gorriones (30,2%) estaban infectados con 22 linajes de Plasmodium. En poblaciones nativas, la prevalencia del parásito se relacionó positivamente con el índice de urbanización, con los valores de prevalencia más altos en áreas con niveles de urbanización intermedios. Asimismo, en poblaciones introducidas, la prevalencia se asoció positivamente con el índice de urbanización; sin embargo, se produjo una mayor infección en áreas con niveles de urbanización extremadamente altos o bajos. En las poblaciones introducidas, el número de linajes de parásitos aumentó con la altitud y con los años transcurridos desde el establecimiento de los gorriones en una nueva localidad. Aquí, después de una disminución en el número de linajes de parásitos en los primeros 30 años, se detectó un aumento a partir de los 40 años. Conclusiones principales: La urbanización se relacionó con la prevalencia de parásitos en las poblaciones de aves nativas e introducidas. En las áreas invadidas, la altitud y el tiempo transcurrido desde la introducción de las aves se relacionaron con el número de linajes de Plasmodium que infectaron a los gorriones