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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Evolutionary ecology, taxonomy, and systematics of avian malaria and related parasites

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Author(s):
Fecchio, Alan [1] ; Chagas, Carolina R. F. [2] ; Bell, Jeffrey A. [3] ; Kirchgatter, Karin [4, 5]
Total Authors: 4
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Fed Mato Grosso, Programa Posgrad Ecol & Conservacao Biodiversidad, BR-78060900 Cuiaba, MT - Brazil
[2] Nat Res Ctr, Inst Ecol, Akad 2, LT-08412 Vilnius - Lithuania
[3] Univ North Dakota, Dept Biol, Grand Forks, ND 58202 - USA
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop, Programa Posgrad Med Trop, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[5] Lab Bioquim & Biol Mol, Superintendencia Controle Endemias, BR-01027000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 5
Document type: Review article
Source: Acta Tropica; v. 204, APR 2020.
Web of Science Citations: 1
Abstract

Haemosporidian parasites of the genera Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, and Haemoproteus are one of the most prevalent and widely studied groups of parasites infecting birds. Plasmodium is the most well-known haemosporidian as the avian parasite Plasmodium relictum was the original transmission model for human malaria and was also responsible for catastrophic effects on native avifauna when introduced to Hawaii. The past two decades have seen a dramatic increase in research on avian haemosporidian parasites as a model system to understand evolutionary and ecological parasite-host relationships. Despite haemosporidians being one the best studied groups of avian parasites their specialization among avian hosts and variation in prevalence amongst regions and host taxa are not fully understood. In this review we focus on describing the current phylogenetic and morphological diversity of haemosporidian parasites, their specificity among avian and vector hosts, and identifying the determinants of haemosporidian prevalence among avian species. We also discuss how these parasites might spread across regions due to global climate change and the importance of avian migratory behavior in parasite dispersion and subsequent diversification. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/51427-1 - Plasmodium spp. in wild birds from the São Paulo Zoo: species Identification by microscopy and DNA barcoding
Grantee:Karin Kirchgatter Hildebrand
Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants