Multiple Lineages of Avian Malaria Parasites (Plasmodium) in the Galapagos Islands and Evidence for Arrival via Migratory Birds |
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Authors: | I I LEVIN P ZWIERS S L DEEM E A GEEST J M HIGASHIGUCHI T A IEZHOVA G JIMÉNEZ‐UZCÁTEGUI D H KIM J P MORTON N G PERLUT R B RENFREW E H R SARI G VALKIUNAS P G Parker |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Biology, University of Missouri–St. Louis, One University Blvd, , St. Louis, MO, 63121 U.S.A.;2. Whitney R. Harris World Ecology Center, University of Missouri–St. Louis, One University Blvd, , St. Louis, MO, 63121 U.S.A.;3. WildCare Institute, Saint Louis Zoo, , St. Louis, MO, 63110 U.S.A.;4. Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, , LT‐08412 Lithuania;5. Charles Darwin Foundation, , Galapagos, EC200350 Ecuador;6. Whooping Crane Maintenance Trust, 6611 W. Whooping Crane Dr., Wood River, , NE, 68883 U.S.A.;7. Department of Environmental Studies, University of New England, 11 Hills Beach Rd, , Biddeford, ME, 04005 U.S.A.;8. Vermont Center for Ecostudies, P.O. Box 420, , Norwich, VT, 05055 U.S.A. |
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Abstract: | Haemosporidian parasites in the genus Plasmodium were recently detected through molecular screening in the Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). We summarized results of an archipelago‐wide screen of 3726 endemic birds representing 22 species for Plasmodium spp. through a combination of molecular and microscopy techniques. Three additional Plasmodium lineages were present in Galapagos. Lineage A–infected penguins, Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia aureola), and one Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) was detected at multiple sites in multiple years. The other 3 lineages were each detected at one site and at one time; apparently, they were transient infections of parasites not established on the archipelago. No gametocytes were found in blood smears of infected individuals; thus, endemic Galapagos birds may be dead‐end hosts for these Plasmodium lineages. Determining when and how parasites and pathogens arrive in Galapagos is key to developing conservation strategies to prevent and mitigate the effects of introduced diseases. To assess the potential for Plasmodium parasites to arrive via migratory birds, we analyzed blood samples from 438 North American breeding Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), the only songbird that regularly migrates through Galapagos. Two of the ephemeral Plasmodium lineages (B and C) found in Galapagos birds matched parasite sequences from Bobolinks. Although this is not confirmation that Bobolinks are responsible for introducing these lineages, evidence points to higher potential arrival rates of avian pathogens than previously thought. Linajes Múltiples de Parásitos de Malaria Aviar (Plasmodium) en las Islas Galápagos y Evidencia de su Arribo por Medio de Aves Migratorias |
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Keywords: | Bobolink Galapagos Haemosporida migratory birds Plasmodium aves migratorias Dolichonyx oryzivorus Galá pagos Hameosporida Plasmodium |
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