A5006619027- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Study of Mite Species
- Malaria Research and Control
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Coccidia and coccidiosis research
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Livestock and Poultry Management
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Plant and animal studies
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Education, Leadership, and Health Research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
Nature Research Centre
2016-2025
Lithuanian Institute of History
2014
San Francisco State University
2006-2013
University of Missouri–St. Louis
2008-2012
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
2012
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
2012
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
2011
University of California, Los Angeles
2005-2011
NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science
2011
Vilnius University
2002-2010
We compared information obtained by both microscopy and nested mitochondrial cytochrome b PCR in determining prevalence of haemosporidian infections naturally infected birds. Blood samples from 472 birds 11 species belonging to 7 families 4 orders were collected Europe, Africa, North America. Skilled investigators investigated them using the PCR-based screening microscopic examination stained blood films. The overall infections, which was determined combining results these methods, 60%. Both...
Invasive species can displace natives, and thus identifying the traits that make aliens successful is crucial for predicting preventing biodiversity loss. Pathogens may play an important role in invasive process, facilitating colonization of their hosts new continents islands. According to Novel Weapon Hypothesis, colonizers out-compete local native by bringing with them novel pathogens which are not adapted. In contrast, Enemy Release Hypothesis suggests flourishing because they have left...
Numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods have been developed and used increasingly to screen vertebrate blood samples for the diagnosis of haemosporidian parasites (Sporozoa, Haemosporida), but a rigorous evaluation sensitivity these detecting mixed infections different species belonging same genera subgenera is lacking. This study links information obtained by nested cytochrome b PCR traditional microscopy in determining naturally infected birds. Samples from 83 individual...
Haemosporidians are a diverse group of vector-borne parasitic protozoa that includes the agents human malaria; however, most described species found in birds and reptiles. Although our understanding these parasites' diversity has expanded by analyses their mitochondrial genes, there is limited information on genes' evolutionary rates. Here, 114 genomes (mtDNA) were studied from belonging to four genera: Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, Hepatocystis, Plasmodium. Contrary previous assertions,...
Species of Haemoproteus (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae), avian haemosporidians, have traditionally been described based on morphology their gametocytes and limited experimental information vertebrate host specificity. We investigated to what extent the morphological species are represented by monophyletic groups DNA sequence data using 2 different fragment lengths cytochrome b (cyt. b) gene. Phylogenetic reconstructions obtained cyt. lineages from 6 morphospecies showed that all formed...
Abstract Haemosporidian parasites in the genus Plasmodium were recently detected through molecular screening Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus). We summarized results of an archipelago‐wide screen 3726 endemic birds representing 22 species for spp. a combination and microscopy techniques. Three additional lineages present Galapagos. Lineage A–infected penguins, Yellow Warblers (Setophaga petechia aureola), one Medium Ground Finch (Geospiza fortis) was at multiple sites years. The...
The role of zoos in conservation programmes has increased significantly last decades, and the health captive animals is essential to guarantee success such programmes. However, zoo birds suffer from parasitic infections, which often are caused by malaria parasites related haemosporidians. Studies determining occurrence diversity these parasites, aiming better understanding infection influence on fitness birds, limited. In 2011–2015, prevalence Plasmodium spp. Haemoproteus was examined blood...
Abstract Aim Migrating birds transport their parasites, often over long distances, but little is known about the transfer of these parasites to resident hosts in either wintering or breeding ranges migratory host populations. We investigated haemosporidian parasite faunas and determine connections among distant faunas, plausibly brought by Location Samples were obtained, primarily during shortly after local season, throughout Americas, from United States through Caribbean Basin into northern...
Haemoproteus and Plasmodium species are widespread avian blood parasites. Several known for their high virulence have caused significant declines in naïve bird populations. The impact of closely related parasites is largely unknown. Recently we reported a lethal disease two parrot aviaries by Here show that the causative pathogen minutus responsible further 17 outbreaks Denmark, Germany Great Britain. All affected parrots endemic to Australasia South America. We sequenced cytochrome b gene...
A parasite's shift to a new host may have serious evolutionary consequences, since switching usually is associated with change in virulence and lead the evolution of emerging diseases. This phenomenon remains insufficiently studied wildlife. Here, we combine microscopic examination blood films PCR-based methods investigate natural specificity Haemoproteus Plasmodium spp. birds 4 families Passeriformes within small geographic area. The material was collected on Curonian Spit Baltic Sea...
Land use changes including deforestation, road construction and agricultural encroachments have been linked to the increased prevalence of several infectious diseases. In order better understand how deforestation affects vector-borne diseases in wildlife, nine paired sites were sampled (disturbed vs. undisturbed habitats) Southern Cameroon. We studied diversity, distribution avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) other related haemosporidians (species Haemoproteus Leucocytozoon) from...
Critical to the mitigation of parasitic vector-borne diseases is development accurate spatial predictions that integrate environmental conditions conducive pathogen proliferation. Species Plasmodium and Trypanosoma readily infect humans, are also common in birds. Here, we develop predictive models for prevalence these blood parasites olive sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea). Since this species exhibits high natural parasite occupies diverse habitats tropical Africa, it represents a distinctive...
Some discrepancies between microscopy and PCR-based methods have been recently recorded in the diagnosis of Leucocytozoon spp. infection naturally infected birds. To clarify this issue, blood samples from 109 yellow-whiskered greenbuls Andropadus latirostris were investigated using both microscopic examination films a nested mitochondrial cytochrome b PCR. The overall prevalence was 4% after standard 17% PCR diagnostics. Samples 9 randomly chosen birds that negative, but positive, then...
Abstract Malaria parasites use vertebrate hosts for asexual multiplication and Culicidae mosquitoes sexual development, yet the literature on avian malaria remains biased towards examining stages of life cycle in birds. To fully understand parasite evolution mechanism transmission, knowledge all three components vector‐host‐parasite system is essential. Little known about parasite–vector associations African rainforests where numerous species birds are infected with haemosporidians genera...
Spatial heterogeneity influences the distribution, prevalence, and diversity of haemosporidian parasites. Previous studies have found complex patterns prevalence with respect to habitat characteristics parasite genotype, their interactions, but there is little information regarding how parasitemia intensity co-infections may vary in space. Here, using both molecular methods microscopy, we report an analysis variation avian parasites (Plasmodium Haemoproteus species) 2 common African birds...