Fast Kayla M, Walstrom V Woody, Outlaw Diana C
Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, 295 East Lee Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi 39762.
J Parasitol. 2016 Dec;102(6):636-642. doi: 10.1645/15-935. Epub 2016 Aug 25.
Hemosporidians are a diverse group of blood parasites that infect terrestrial vertebrates worldwide, but there is variability in parasite prevalence and parasitemia with infections ranging from virtually inconsequential to lethal. In this study, we determined prevalence and parasitemia of avian hemosporidians in the Tufted Titmouse ( Baeolophus bicolor ; n = 81). Plasmodium and Parahaemoproteus were detected and quantified from blood samples using microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and quantitative PCR. Thirteen mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages of hemosporidian parasites were found, including generalist and specialist lineages, and the data indicate that prevalence is 69.1% (Plasmodium 89.3%; Parahaemoproteus 7.1%; double infection 3.6%). However, parasitemia was low in all infected birds. Seasonally, parasite prevalence varied significantly, although prevalence and parasitemia were not associated with host sex, age, or health. Observations of infection in this naturally infected bird provide details on host susceptibility that are applicable to the understanding of hemosporidian parasites in other avian hosts.
血孢子虫是一类多样的血液寄生虫，感染全球范围内的陆生脊椎动物，但寄生虫的患病率和寄生虫血症存在差异，感染程度从几乎无关紧要到致命不等。在本研究中，我们测定了簇山雀（Baeolophus bicolor；n = 81）体内禽血孢子虫的患病率和寄生虫血症。使用显微镜检查、聚合酶链反应（PCR）和定量PCR从血液样本中检测并定量疟原虫和副血疟原虫。发现了13种血孢子虫寄生虫的线粒体细胞色素b谱系，包括广布谱系和特化谱系，数据表明患病率为69.1%（疟原虫89.3%；副血疟原虫7.1%；双重感染3.6%）。然而，所有感染鸟类的寄生虫血症都很低。按季节来看，寄生虫患病率差异显著，尽管患病率和寄生虫血症与宿主的性别、年龄或健康状况无关。对这种自然感染鸟类的感染观察提供了关于宿主易感性的详细信息，适用于理解其他鸟类宿主中的血孢子虫寄生虫。
