The leucocytozoidae of south african birds: musophagiformes, cuculiformes and piciformes
TL;DR: The leucocytozoids of the avian orders Musophagiformes, Cuculiformes and Piciformes are reviewed and a neohapantotype designated is designated.
Abstract: Summary Bennett, G. F., Earle, R. A. & Peirce, M. A. 1993. The Leucocytozoidae of South African birds: Musophagiformes, Cuculiformes and Piciformes. Ostrich 64:73-78. The leucocytozoids of the avian orders Musophagiformes, Cuculiformes and Piciformes are reviewed. Leucocytozoon dinizi Tendeiro, 1947 of the Musophagidae is re-described and a neohapantotype designated. Leucocytozoon centropi Fantham, 1921 is re-described and L. coccyzus Coatney & West, 1938 is synonymized with it and a neohapantotype designated. Leucocytozoon squamatus Nandi, 1986 of the Pi-cidae is re-described and compared with Leucocytozoon capitonis n. sp. of the piciform family Capitonidae.
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TL;DR: The valid avian species of the apicomplexan blood parasite genera Haemoproteus, Hepatozoon and Leucocytozoon are arranged according to host family, assuming host familial specificity.
Abstract: The valid avian species of the apicomplexan blood parasite genera Haemoproteus, Hepatozoon and Leucocytozoon are arranged according to host family, assuming host familial specificity; salient points of the parasite morphology are recorded where appropriate.
64 citations
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TL;DR: This is the first report of a haemosporidian infection in a White-headed woodpecker anywhere in its range, and the first reported suspected mortality from haemoproteosis for a Woodpecker (Piciformes, Picidae).
Abstract: A juvenile White-headed woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus) fitted with a radio tag was located dead at approximately 22-days post-fledging in Yakima county in central Washington in July 2015. Postmortem examination revealed an enlarged liver and spleen plus evidence of iron sequestration. Microscopic examination observed young gametocytes within the cytoplasm of erythrocytes, and exo-erythrocytic meronts within the cytoplasm of capillary endothelial cells, hepatocytes, and myocytes, and free in the tissues. These attributes implicated a haemosporidian infection that likely resulted in mortality. Subsequent sampling results of local woodpecker species in the same area during the breeding season in June–July 2016 and May–July 2017 showed other individuals infected with Haemoproteus parasites. Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), sequencing, and microscopic analyses for avian haemosporidians revealed infections with Haemoproteus velans (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae). This parasite was characterized molecularly and morphologically. This is the first report of a haemosporidian infection in a White-headed woodpecker anywhere in its range, and the first reported suspected mortality from haemoproteosis for a woodpecker (Piciformes, Picidae). The use of radio-tagged birds is an asset in wildlife haemosporidian studies because the effect of the pathogen can be monitored in real time. Additionally, this methodology provides opportunities to collect fresh material for microscopic and histological examination from wild birds that have died from natural causes.
24 citations
01 Jan 2020
TL;DR: A large number of studies on bird haemosporidians during the last century, particularly taxonomic descriptions, were conducted in a wide range of tropical birds, mainly in African countries.
Abstract: In 1884, only 5 years after A. Laveran discovered agents of human malaria, Vassily Danilewsky reported the first description of the pathological effects of avian malaria on their bird hosts. Shortly after, Sir Ronald Ross carried out the first investigation on the life cycle of avian Plasmodium parasites, being the first to show that the malaria parasite is transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Since its discovery until now, bird malaria parasites have played a major role as model organisms in human malaria research. Experiments with avian malaria have significantly contributed to the description of the life cycle of Plasmodium parasites and for early antimalaria drug screening. Avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites are globally distributed; host diversity and environmental factors in the tropical regions favor the prevalence and diversity of this group of parasites. Thus, a large number of studies on bird haemosporidians during the last century, particularly taxonomic descriptions, were conducted in a wide range of tropical birds, mainly in African countries. Although the number of publications on this topic was not big during the first half of the last century, it significantly increased from late 1970s, reaching a maximum on early 1990s. During these periods, internationally recognized researchers such as G.F. Bennett, M.A. Peirce, and R.A. Earle, among others, published a number of studies reporting data of avian haemosporidian infections in many host taxa covering many tropical regions, as well as the descriptions of 134 novel species. During the last three decades, important contributions by G. Valkiūnas have organized and enriched the knowledge on the taxonomy of this group of protozoans. Here, we have conducted an extensive search for avian haemosporidians publications in the Web of Science Core Collection and a bibliometric analysis of the found documents during the period of 1909–2000. In this chapter, we present an extensive synthesis of research conducted on avian malaria and related haemosporidian parasites across the different tropical regions (America, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Oceania).
10 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the development and application of molecular techniques would greatly advance understanding of speciation and relationships within Leucocytozoidae and in view of the intraspecific variability and, frequently, relatively minor interspecific differences within LeukocytoZoidae.
Abstract: Five species of Leucocytozoon were recovered from 35/828 birds of 95 species examined from 6 sites in West Africa between May 1995 and June 2001. Leucocytozoon pogoniuli n. sp. is described from the tinker barbets Pogoniulus subsulphureus and Pogoniulus atroflavus. Leucocytozoon trachyphoni n. sp. is described from the barbet Trachyphonus purpureus. No leucocytozoids have been reported previously in species of Pogoniulus. Leucocytozoon nectariniae was identified from the sunbird Nectarinia olivacea, and Leucocytozoon brimonti was recovered from 4 species of Pycnonotidae (bulbuls), all of which are new host records. We also report the first Leucocytozoon to be recovered from the phylogenetically isolated bird, Picathartes sp. (Picathartidae). This parasite is similar in appearance to Leucocytozoon sakharoffi, and probably represents a previously undescribed species. In view of the intraspecific variability and, frequently, relatively minor interspecific differences within Leucocytozoidae, we suggest that the development and application of molecular techniques would greatly advance understanding of speciation and relationships within this family.
4 citations
Cites background from "The leucocytozoidae of south africa..."
...Bennett et al. (1993) assigned all these records from Capitonidae to L. capitonis, although stating that the available material from these African studies in the International Reference Centre for Avian Haematozoa were not suitable for taxonomic purposes....
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...One species of Leucocytozoon has been described hitherto from the Capitonidae, i.e., Leucocytozoon capitonis, from the Asian barbets Megalaima viridis and Megalaima franklini in south India and in Thailand (Bennett et al., 1993)....
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...Leucocytozoon fringillinarum was identified in 1 Trachyphonus darnaudii (Peirce et al., 1977), but this was subsequently stated to be in error (Bennett et al., 1993), and in 1 Trachyphonus erythrocephalus (Peirce and Backhurst, 1970) in northern Kenya....
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TL;DR: Phylogenetic analysis identified DNA lineages associated with L. polynuclearis n.
4 citations
References
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TL;DR: The literature pertaining to the prevalence of avian hematozoa in North America, north of Mexico, together with unpublished records from the files of the International Reference Centre for Avian Malaria Parasites have been collated and analyzed with respect to the distribution of parasite genera by region, host family, and vertical stratification of nesting sites.
Abstract: The literature pertaining to the prevalence of avian hematozoa in North America, north of Mexico, together with unpublished records from the files of the International Reference Centre for Avian Malaria Parasites, have been collated and analyzed with respect to the distribution of parasite genera by region, host family, and vertical stratification of nesting sites. The blood parasites of 57 026 birds of 388 species (representing 55 families) breeding in North America are the basis of this analysis. A total of 21 048 (36.9%) birds harbored one or more species of Haemoproteus (19.5%), Leucocytozoon (17.7%), Trypanosoma (3.9%), Plasmodium (3.8%), microfilariae (3.1%), and Haemogregarina/Lankesterella (0.6%). The continent was arbitrarily divided into seven regions along a topographic basis. Overall hematozoan prevalence varied markedly from region to region, as did the relative frequencies of the different genera. Overall hematozoan prevalence also varied markedly from avian family to family, as did the rela...
246 citations
Journal Article•
168 citations
TL;DR: In comparison with a similar review of Nearctic avian hematozoan distribution, the Neotropics demonstrated a much lower prevalence and a near absence of Leucocytozoon.
Abstract: The literature pertaining to the prevalence of avian hematozoa in the Neotropics, together with unpublished records from the files of the International Reference Centre for Avian Haematozoa, has been examined with respect to the distribution of parasite genera by host family and region. The blood parasites of 35555 birds of 955 species (80 families) occurring in the Neotropics formed the basis for the comparisons. Only 3743 (10.5%) individuals harbored one or more species of hematozoa. Haemoproteus was the most commonly observed form exhibiting a 7.4% prevalence, followed by Plasmodium (1.9%), microfilaria (1.2%), Trypanosoma (0.6%), and Leucocytozoon (0.2%). Hematozoan prevalence varied markedly from region to region and among families. In comparison with a similar review of Nearctic avian hematozoan distribution, the Neotropics demonstrated a much lower prevalence and a near absence of Leucocytozoon.
101 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The most commonly occurring blood parasites were members of the genus Haemoproteus which were represented by 63 species which occurred in 19.1% of the sample and Leucocytozoon which represented the second most frequently encountered group of haematozoa.
Abstract: The prevalence of avian haematozoa in 826 species of birds representing 73 families of sub-Saharan birds as recorded in the literature or in the files of the International Reference Centre for Avian Haematozoa and the Veterinary Research Institute is presented. The most commonly occurring blood parasites were members of the genus Haemoproteus which were represented by 63 species which occurred in 19.1% of the sample. Twenty-five species of Leucocytozoon were recorded in 8.3% of the birds and represented the second most frequently encountered group of haematozoa. Species of Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, and filarioids (as microfilariae) occurred in 3.5%, 2.5% and 2.8% respectively of the birds sampled; species of Aegyptianella, Atoxoplasma, Babesia and Hepatozoon were infrequently seen. An annotated list of the birds examined for haematozoa is presented and brief descriptions of the species of Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon in birds of the sub-Saharan zone are included.
82 citations