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Description, molecular characterization, and patterns of distribution of a widespread New World avian malaria parasite (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae), Plasmodium (Novyella) homopolare sp. nov.

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Abstract

Plasmodium (Novyella) homopolare, a newly described Plasmodium species, was found in a wide range of Passeriformes species in California, USA, and Colombia. This parasite infected more than 20 % of the sampled bird community (N = 399) in California and was found in 3.6 % of birds sampled (N = 493) in Colombia. Thus far, it has been confirmed in North and South America where it is present in numerous species of migratory and resident birds from six families. Based on 100 % matches, or near-100 % matches (i.e., ≤2-nucleotide difference), to DNA sequences previously deposited in GenBank, this parasite is likely also distributed in the Eastern USA, Central America, and the Caribbean. Here, we describe the blood stages of P. homopolare and its mtDNA cytochrome b sequence. P. homopolare belongs to the subgenus Novyella and can be readily distinguished from the majority of other Novyella species, primarily, by the strictly polar or subpolar position of meronts and advanced trophozoites in infected erythrocytes. We explore possible reasons why this widespread parasite has not been described in earlier studies. Natural malarial parasitemias are usually light and co-infections predominate, making the parasites difficult to detect and identify to species when relying exclusively on microscopic examination of blood films. The combined application of sequence data and digital microscopy techniques, such as those used in this study, provides identifying markers that will facilitate the diagnosis of this parasite in natural avian populations. We also address the evolutionary relationship of this parasite to other species of Plasmodium using phylogenetic reconstruction.

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Acknowledgments

Tatjana Iezhova is acknowledged for technical assistance during preparation of the plate of the illustrations. Work in California was partially supported by a grant from the San Francisco State University Arthur Nelson Scholarship and the San Francisco State University Instructionally Related Activities Grant. Work in Colombia was supported by the Departamento Administrativo de Ciencias, Tecnología e Innovación COLCIENCIAS contract no. 359 and ECOPETROL SA. The authors wish to thank the students belonging to the Host-Parasite Relationship Research Group: avian haemoparasite model of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and the staff of the Unidad Administrativa Especial del Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales for support with field logistics and work, as well as the many field assistants who aided in sampling California birds. R. E. Ricklefs’s studies on avian haemosporidians have been supported by the National Geographic Society, the US National Science Foundation, and the Curators of the University of Missouri, with field and laboratory assistance from many individuals. We thank Holly Archer for contributing data from her research on avian malaria in Costa Rican birds.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94132, USA

    Erika L. Walther & Ravinder N. M. Sehgal

  2. Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Gediminas Valkiūnas

  3. Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45–03, Bogotá, Colombia

    Angie D. González & Nubia E. Matta

  4. Department of Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, One University Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63121, USA

    Robert E. Ricklefs

  5. Mosquito Research Control Laboratory, Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, 9240 S. Riverbend Avenue, Parlier, CA, 93648, USA

    Anthony Cornel

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  1. Erika L. Walther
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  2. Gediminas Valkiūnas
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  3. Angie D. González
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Correspondence to Ravinder N. M. Sehgal.

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Walther, E.L., Valkiūnas, G., González, A.D. et al. Description, molecular characterization, and patterns of distribution of a widespread New World avian malaria parasite (Haemosporida: Plasmodiidae), Plasmodium (Novyella) homopolare sp. nov.. Parasitol Res 113, 3319–3332 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-3995-5

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