clove and Protozoan-Infections--Animal

Numerous studies have been undertaken to advance knowledge of apicomplexan parasites infecting vertebrates, including humans. Of these parasites, the genus Plasmodium has been most extensively studied because of the socio-economic and public health impacts of malaria. In non-human vertebrates, studies on malaria or malaria-like parasite groups have been conducted but information is far from complete. In Madagascar, recent studies on bat blood parasites indicate that three chiropteran families (Miniopteridae, Rhinonycteridae, and Vespertilionidae) are infected by the genus Polychromophilus with pronounced host specificity: Miniopterus spp. (Miniopteridae) harbour Polychromophilus melanipherus and Myotis goudoti (Vespertilionidae) is infected by Polychromophilus murinus. However, most of the individuals analysed in previous studies were sampled on the western and central portions of the island. The aims of this study are (1) to add new information on bat blood parasites in eastern Madagascar, and (2) to highlight biotic and abiotic variables driving prevalence across the island.. Fieldworks were undertaken from 2014 to 2016 in four sites in the eastern portion of Madagascar to capture bats and collect biological samples. Morphological and molecular techniques were used to identify the presence of haemosporidian parasites. Further, a MaxEnt modelling was undertaken using data from Polychromophilus melanipherus to identify variables influencing the presence of this parasite RESULTS: In total, 222 individual bats belonging to 17 species and seven families were analysed. Polychromophilus infections were identified in two families: Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae. Molecular data showed that Polychromophilus spp. parasitizing Malagasy bats form a monophyletic group composed of three distinct clades displaying marked host specificity. In addition to P. melanipherus and P. murinus, hosted by Miniopterus spp. and Myotis goudoti, respectively, a novel Polychromophilus lineage was identified from a single individual of Scotophilus robustus. Based on the present study and the literature, different biotic and abiotic factors are shown to influence Polychromophilus infection in bats, which are correlated based on MaxEnt modelling.. The present study improves current knowledge on Polychromophilus blood parasites infecting Malagasy bats and confirms the existence of a novel Polychromophilus lineage in Scotophilus bats. Additional studies are needed to obtain additional material of this novel lineage to resolve its taxonomic relationship with known members of the genus. Further, the transmission mode of Polychromophilus in bats as well as its potential effect on bat populations should be investigated to complement the results provided by MaxEnt modelling and eventually provide a comprehensive picture of the biology of host-parasite interactions.

Topics: Animals; Chiroptera; Haemosporida; Host-Parasite Interactions; Madagascar; Phylogeny; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The diversity of the haemosporidian genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon in birds from rain forests in Madagascar is characterized combining techniques of PCR and microscopy and based on the examination of 72 host individuals of 23 species in 15 families. High total prevalence of haemosporidians (68%) is detected, with Leucocytozoon infections being predominant (59.7%) and lower comparable prevalence of Plasmodium (18.0%) and Haemoproteus (23.6%) infections. Using mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) marker, 23 genetically distinct lineages are identified: 9 of Plasmodium spp., 6 of Haemoproteus spp. and 8 of Leucocytozoon spp. Fifteen of all lineages have not been reported by previous studies. This study provides the first data on haemosporidian morphological and molecular diversity found in the endemic families Vangidae and Bernieriidae. Two haemoproteid species, Haemoproteus fuscae Mello and Fonseca, 1937 and H. killangoi Bennett and Peirce, 1981, are redescribed based on the present samples and linked to the cytb lineages hCELEC01 and hZOSMAD01, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis is performed to test the relationship of the discovered new lineages with parasites from closely related avian hosts suggesting that multiple colonisation of hosts by haemosporidian parasites has occurred on the island.

Topics: Animals; Bayes Theorem; Bird Diseases; DNA, Mitochondrial; DNA, Protozoan; Haemosporida; Madagascar; Phylogeny; Plasmodium; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Rainforest

Bats are home to diverse haemosporidian parasites namely Plasmodium and Plasmodium-related. While information is available at a worldwide level, haemosporidian infection in bats from Madagascar is still scarce and recent changes in the taxonomy of the island's bat fauna, particularly the description of several new species, require a reassessment of previously described patterns, including blood parasite ecology and vectorial transmission.. A sample representing seven of the nine known bat families and 31 of the 46 currently recognized taxa from Madagascar and collected in the western and central portions of the island were screened by PCR for the presence of Polychromophilus. In addition, Nycteribiidae flies parasitizing Miniopteridae and Vespertilionidae were screened for parasites with the aim to better understand aspects of vector transmission. Phylogenetic reconstruction using the mitochondrial cytochrome b encoding gene was used in a Bayesian analysis to examine the relationship between Polychromophilus recovered from Malagasy bats and those identified elsewhere.. Polychromophilus infection was restricted to Miniopterus spp. (Miniopteridae), Myotis goudoti (Vespertilionidae), and Paratriaenops furculus (Rhinonycteridae), with an overall infection rate of 13.5%. Polychromophilus melanipherus was found infecting Miniopterus spp. and P. furculus, whereas Polychromophilus murinus was only recovered from M. goudoti. These two protozoan parasites species were also detected in bat flies species known to parasitize Miniopterus spp. and M. goudoti, respectively. Generalized linear model analyses were conducted to elucidate the effect of species and sex on haemoparasites infection in Miniopterus spp., which revealed that males have higher risk of infection than females and prevalence differed according to the considered Miniopterus host. Molecular screening of nycteribiid flies revealed three positive species for Polychromophilus spp., including Penicillidia sp. (cf. fulvida), Penicillidia leptothrinax, and Nycteribia stylidiopsis. These three fly species are known to parasitize Miniopterus spp. and M. goudoti and should be considered as potential vectors of Polychromophilus spp.. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the existence of at least four distinct clades within the genus Polychromophilus, two of which were documented in the present study. The screening of nycteribiid flies overlaid on the highly diversified genus Miniopterus, provides considerable insight into parasite transmission, with bat infection being associated with their roosting behaviour and the occurrence of specific arthropod vectors.

Topics: Animals; Bayes Theorem; Chiroptera; Cytochromes b; Diptera; Female; Haemosporida; Host Specificity; Madagascar; Male; Mitochondrial Proteins; Phylogeny; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Zoonotic diseases are a looming threat to global populations, and nearly 75% of emerging infectious diseases can spread among wildlife, domestic animals and humans. A 'One World, One Health' perspective offers us an ideal framework for understanding and potentially mitigating the spread of zoonoses, and the island of Madagascar serves as a natural laboratory for conducting these studies. Rapid habitat degradation and climate change on the island are contributing to more frequent contact among humans, livestock and wildlife, increasing the potential for pathogen spillover events. Given Madagascar's long geographical isolation, coupled with recent and repeated introduction of agricultural and invasive species, it is likely that a number of circulating pathogens remain uncharacterized in lemur populations. Thus, it is imperative that new approaches be implemented for de novo pathogen discovery. To this end, we used non-targeted deep sequencing of blood transcriptomes from two species of critically endangered wild lemurs (Indri indri and Propithecus diadema) to characterize blood-borne pathogens. Our results show several undescribed vector-borne parasites circulating within lemurs, some of which may cause disease in wildlife, livestock and humans. We anticipate that advanced methods for de novo identification of unknown pathogens will have broad utility for characterizing other complex disease transmission systems.

Topics: Animals; Endangered Species; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Lemur; Madagascar; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Transcriptome; Zoonoses

Although parasites are important regulatory factors in animal populations, basic knowledge on their fauna in many vertebrate taxa is lacking. In particular, parasite infections of primate species have gained little attention. Here, I present data on the gastro-intestinal fauna of a population of wild red-fronted lemurs ( Eulemur fulvus rufus; Primates: Lemuriformes) monitored over a total of 8 mo during 2 consecutive field seasons in 2006 and 2007 in Kirindy Forest, western Madagascar. Using fecal samples for parasite analyses, I identified 10 parasite species, including 6 nematodes (Lemuricola vauceli, Trichuris sp., 2 species of Callistoura, 1 trichostrongylid, and 1 strongyloid), 1 anoplocephalid cestode, a dicrocoeliid trematode, as well as 2 protozoans (Entamoeba sp. and Balantidium coli). The population in Kirindy Forest had the highest prevalence and number of parasite species ever recorded for species of lemurs. Additionally, prevalence of some parasite species differed between the social groups studied. These findings lead to 2 conclusions. First, it is important to extend a parasitological study to several social groups of a host population, since groups may differ in parasite fauna as a result of minor microclimatic or habitat parameters, and, second, short-term assessments of lemur health might underestimate the real parasite burden.

Topics: Animals; Feces; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Helminthiasis, Animal; Lemur; Linear Models; Madagascar; Male; Prevalence; Primate Diseases; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Seasons

Leucocytozoon coracinae sp. nov. is described from the avian family Campephagidae and Hepatozoon apodis sp. nov. from the Apodidae. The distribution of these parasites within their respective families is discussed.

Topics: Animals; Apicomplexa; Bird Diseases; Birds; Haemosporida; Host-Parasite Interactions; Madagascar; Malaysia; Passeriformes; Phylogeny; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Species Specificity

Species of Leucocytozoon (Haemosporida, Leucocytozoidae) traditionally have been described based on morphological characters of their blood stages and host cells, with limited information on their avian host specificity. Based on the current taxonomy, Leucocytozoon toddi is the sole valid species of leucocytozoids parasitizing falconiform birds. Using a nested polymerase chain reaction protocol, we determined the prevalence of Leucocytozoon infection in 5 species of diurnal raptors from California. Of 591 birds tested, 177 (29.9%) were infected with Leucocytozoon toddi. Subsequent phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome b gene revealed that distinct haplotypes are present in hawks of these genera. Haplotypes present in Buteo spp. are not found in Accipiter spp., and there is a 10.9% sequence divergence between the 2 lineage clades. In addition, Leucocytozoon sp. from Accipiter spp. from Europe group more closely with parasites found in Accipiter spp. from California than the same California Accipiter species do with their sympatric Buteo spp. Similarly, a Leucocytozoon haplotype from a Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) from Kazakhstan forms a monophyletic lineage with a parasite from B. jamaicensis from California. These results suggest that Leucocytozoon toddi is most likely a group of cryptic species, with 1 species infecting Buteo spp. and 1 or more species, or subspecies, infecting Accipiter spp.

Topics: Animals; Baltic States; Bird Diseases; California; Circadian Rhythm; Cytochromes b; DNA, Protozoan; Falconiformes; Haemosporida; Kazakhstan; Madagascar; Phylogeny; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prevalence; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Dicrurids are a widespread avian family in Africa and Asia. Earlier surveys of this family in these areas have reported the presence of hematozoa and 1 species of Haemoproteus, i.e., Haemoproteus dicruri (De Mello, 1935). One species of drongo occurs in Madagascar and has not been examined previously. Blood smears collected from wild-caught crested drongos, Dicrurus forficatus, in Madagascar were examined using a compound microscope for the presence of hematozoa. A new species, Haemoproteus khani, is described in this study. This new species has circumnuclear gametocytes, in contrast to the halteridial H. dicruri. In addition, H. dicruri is reported for the first time from the crested drongo and is redescribed. This is the first report of hematozoa in drongos of Madagascar.

Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Erythrocytes; Haemosporida; Madagascar; Passeriformes; Protozoan Infections, Animal

The Brachypteraciidae is an avian family endemic to Madagascar. Members of this family were mist-netted in Madagascar, and blood smears were made to screen for the presence of hematozoa. Smears were stained with Giemsa and examined at x100, x160, and x1000 for hematozoa. Three new species of avian hematozoa from wild-caught ground-rollers in Madagascar are described. Haemoproteus goodmani n. sp. is found in the pitta-like ground-roller (Atelornis pittoides), whereas Haemoproteus forresteri n. sp. and Leucocytozoon frascai n. sp. are from the rufous-headed ground-roller (Atelornis crossleyi). These represent the first hematozoa described from this family.

Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Birds; Female; Haemosporida; Madagascar; Male; Protozoan Infections, Animal

Blood smears from birds in the Philepittidae, endemic to Madagascar, were examined for the presence of hematozoa. All slides were read on a compound microscope at x100, x160, and x1000. To date, no species of avian hematozoa has been reported from asities in Madagascar, although parasites have been observed. Leucocytozoon greineri n. sp. is described from the common sunbird asity (Neodrepanis coruscans) and is also reported from the velvet asity (Philepitta castanea). It is a relatively small species of Leucocytozoon, less than 2 times the size of uninfected erythrocytes. The parasite is capped by the host cell nucleus, covering 38% of the parasite perimeter. This represents the first description of hematozoa from this family.

Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Erythrocytes; Haemosporida; Madagascar; Male; Parasitemia; Passeriformes; Protozoan Infections, Animal

To date, limited surveys have been conducted on the endemic avifauna of Madagascar with regard to hematozoa. Wild-caught birds from the Vangidae, endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, were mist-netted, and blood smears were made. Slides were examined for the presence of hematozoa at x100, x160, and x1000 using a light microscope. Parasites were measured using established techniques, and morphometrics were compared. On the basis of their distinctive morphologies and morphometrics, 4 new species of avian hematozoa are described in this study. Haemoproteus vangii n. sp. and Leucocytozoon lairdi n. sp. occur in the blue vanga (Cyanolanius madagascarinus), whereas Haemoproteus madagascariensis n. sp. and Leucocytozoon bennetti n. sp. are described from the hook-billed vanga (Vanga curvirostris). These represent the first hematozoa described from this family.

Topics: Animals; Bird Diseases; Erythrocytes; Haemosporida; Madagascar; Male; Parasitemia; Passeriformes; Protozoan Infections, Animal

Topics: Animals; Apicomplexa; Bird Diseases; Birds; Blood; Madagascar; Malaria, Avian; Plasmodium; Protozoan Infections; Protozoan Infections, Animal; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis