BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Exo-erythrocytic development of two Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae), with description of Haemoproteus dumbbellus, a new blood parasite of bunting birds (Emberizidae). 2023

Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address: melanie.duc@gamtc.lt.

Avian haemosporidians are widespread parasites categorized into four families of the order Haemosporida (Apicomplexa). Species of the subgenus Parahaemoproteus (genus Haemoproteus) belong to the Haemoproteidae and are transmitted by Culicoides biting midges. Reports of death due to tissue damage during haemoproteosis in non-adapted birds have raised concerns about these pathogens, especially as their exo-erythrocytic development is known for only a few Haemoproteus spp. More research is needed to better understand the patterns of the parasites' development in tissues and their impact on avian hosts. Yellowhammers Emberiza citrinella (Emberizidae) and common house martins Delichon urbicum (Hirundinidae) were screened for Haemoproteus parasites by microscopic examination of blood films and PCR-based testing. Individuals with single infection were selected for histological investigations. H & E-stained sections were screened for detection and characterization of the exo-erythrocytic stages, while chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and phylogenetic analysis were performed to confirm the Haemoproteus origin and their phylogenetic relationships. Haemoproteus dumbbellus n. sp. was discovered in Emberiza citrinella single-infected with the lineage hEMCIR01. Meronts of H. dumbbellus n. sp. developed in various organs of five of six tested individuals, a pattern which was reported in other Haemoproteus species clustering in the same clade, suggesting this could be a phylogenetic trait. By contrast, in Delichon urbicum infected with the Haemoproteus lineage hDELURB2, which was linked to the more distantly related parasite Haemoproteus hirundinis, only megalomeronts were found in the pectoral muscles of two of six infected individuals. All exo-erythrocytic stages were confirmed to be Haemoproteus parasites by CISH using a Haemoproteus genus-specific probe. While the development of meronts seems to be typical for species of the clade containing H. dumbbellus, further investigations and data from more species are needed to explore whether a phylogenetic pattern occurs in meront or megalomeront formation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010271 Parasites Invertebrate organisms that live on or in another organism (the host), and benefit at the expense of the other. Traditionally excluded from definition of parasites are pathogenic BACTERIA; FUNGI; VIRUSES; and PLANTS; though they may live parasitically. Parasite
D010802 Phylogeny The relationships of groups of organisms as reflected by their genetic makeup. Community Phylogenetics,Molecular Phylogenetics,Phylogenetic Analyses,Phylogenetic Analysis,Phylogenetic Clustering,Phylogenetic Comparative Analysis,Phylogenetic Comparative Methods,Phylogenetic Distance,Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares,Phylogenetic Groups,Phylogenetic Incongruence,Phylogenetic Inference,Phylogenetic Networks,Phylogenetic Reconstruction,Phylogenetic Relatedness,Phylogenetic Relationships,Phylogenetic Signal,Phylogenetic Structure,Phylogenetic Tree,Phylogenetic Trees,Phylogenomics,Analyse, Phylogenetic,Analysis, Phylogenetic,Analysis, Phylogenetic Comparative,Clustering, Phylogenetic,Community Phylogenetic,Comparative Analysis, Phylogenetic,Comparative Method, Phylogenetic,Distance, Phylogenetic,Group, Phylogenetic,Incongruence, Phylogenetic,Inference, Phylogenetic,Method, Phylogenetic Comparative,Molecular Phylogenetic,Network, Phylogenetic,Phylogenetic Analyse,Phylogenetic Clusterings,Phylogenetic Comparative Analyses,Phylogenetic Comparative Method,Phylogenetic Distances,Phylogenetic Group,Phylogenetic Incongruences,Phylogenetic Inferences,Phylogenetic Network,Phylogenetic Reconstructions,Phylogenetic Relatednesses,Phylogenetic Relationship,Phylogenetic Signals,Phylogenetic Structures,Phylogenetic, Community,Phylogenetic, Molecular,Phylogenies,Phylogenomic,Reconstruction, Phylogenetic,Relatedness, Phylogenetic,Relationship, Phylogenetic,Signal, Phylogenetic,Structure, Phylogenetic,Tree, Phylogenetic
D011529 Protozoan Infections, Animal Infections with unicellular organisms formerly members of the subkingdom Protozoa. The infections may be experimental or veterinary. Animal Protozoan Infection,Animal Protozoan Infections,Infection, Animal Protozoan,Infections, Animal Protozoan,Protozoan Infection, Animal
D002519 Ceratopogonidae A family of biting midges, in the order DIPTERA. It includes the genus Culicoides which transmits filarial parasites pathogenic to man and other primates. Culicoides,Leptoconops,Midges, Biting,Biting Midge,Biting Midges,Culicoide,Leptoconop,Midge, Biting
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001715 Bird Diseases Diseases of birds not considered poultry, therefore usually found in zoos, parks, and the wild. The concept is differentiated from POULTRY DISEASES which is for birds raised as a source of meat or eggs for human consumption, and usually found in barnyards, hatcheries, etc. Avian Diseases,Avian Disease,Bird Disease,Disease, Avian,Disease, Bird,Diseases, Avian,Diseases, Bird
D016787 Haemosporida An order of heteroxenous protozoa in which the macrogamete and microgamont develop independently. A conoid is usually absent. Haemosporina,Haemosporidas,Haemosporinas
D045303 Cytochromes b Cytochromes of the b group that have alpha-band absorption of 563-564 nm. They occur as subunits in MITOCHONDRIAL ELECTRON TRANSPORT COMPLEX III. Cytochrome b,Apocytochrome b
D046109 Passeriformes A widely distributed order of perching BIRDS, including more than half of all bird species. Passerine Birds,Perching Birds,Bird, Passerine,Passerine Bird,Perching Bird

Related Publications

Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Two new Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) from columbiform birds.
June 2013, The Journal of parasitology,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Haemoproteus erythrogravidus n. sp. (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae): Description and molecular characterization of a widespread blood parasite of birds in South America.
July 2016, Acta tropica,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Novel phylogenetic clade of avian Haemoproteus parasites (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) from Accipitridae raptors, with description of a new Haemoproteus species.
January 2024, Parasite (Paris, France),
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Haemoproteus syrnii (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in owls from Brazil: morphological and molecular characterization, potential cryptic species, and exo-erythrocytic stages.
January 2021, Parasitology research,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Infection by Haemoproteus parasites in four species of frigatebirds and the description of a new species of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae).
April 2012, The Journal of parasitology,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Patterns of Haemoproteus majoris (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) megalomeront development.
December 2020, Acta tropica,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Unravelling the patterns of exo-erythrocytic development of Haemoproteus parasites (Haemoproteidae, Haemosporida), with a case of abortive tissue stages in a naturally infected bird.
January 2025, International journal for parasitology,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Molecular phylogenetic analysis of circumnuclear hemoproteids (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) of sylviid birds, with a description of Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi sp. nov.
June 2007, The Journal of parasitology,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Molecular characterization and distribution of Haemoproteus minutus (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae): a pathogenic avian parasite.
August 2013, Parasitology international,
Mélanie Duc, and Tanja Himmel, and Mikas Ilgūnas, and Vytautas Eigirdas, and Herbert Weissenböck, and Gediminas Valkiūnas
Two new species of Haemoproteus Kruse, 1890 (Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae) from European birds, with emphasis on DNA barcoding for detection of haemosporidians in wildlife.
February 2014, Systematic parasitology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!