Sex and nest type influence avian blood parasite prevalence in a high-elevation bird community

Marina D Rodriguez,Paul F Doherty,Kathryn P Huyvaert,Antoinette J Piaggio

doi:10.1186/s13071-021-04612-w

Marina D Rodriguez, Paul F Doherty + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04612-w

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Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed.MethodsUsing an occupancy modeling framework, we conducted a survey of haemosporidian parasite species infecting an avian community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in order to estimate the prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and to investigate species-level and individual-level characteristics that may influence infection.ResultsWe estimated the prevalence and diversity of avian Haemosporidia across 24 bird species, detecting 39 parasite haplotypes. We found that open-cup nesters have higher Haemoproteus prevalence than cavity or ground nesters. Additionally, we found that male Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, and Wilson’s Warblers have higher Haemoproteus prevalence compared to other host species. Plasmodium prevalence was relatively low (5%), consistent with the idea that competent vectors may be rare at high altitudes.ConclusionsOur study presents baseline knowledge of haemosporidian parasite presence, prevalence, and diversity among avian species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and adds to our knowledge of host–parasite relationships of blood parasites and their avian hosts.Graphical

Highlights

The prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown
We identified all sequences at the genus level using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) feature in the MalAvi database [13], a database for avian blood parasites
Using an occupancy-modeling framework to account for imperfect detection of avian blood parasites, we found that nest type is an important species-level factor influencing Haemoproteus parasitism at our study site, with open-cup nesters having a higher prevalence than cavity and ground nesters

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed. Haemosporida (Phylum: Apicomplexa) are protozoan parasites that infect the blood cells of vertebrates and are transmitted by dipteran vectors [10]. These blood parasites—haemosporidian parasites—are distributed worldwide and infect a number of vertebrates, including mammals [11], reptiles [12], and birds [10]. Blood parasites go through sexual reproduction in dipteran vectors and are transmitted to vertebrate hosts during vectors’ blood meals [10]. Once in a competent host, the parasite undergoes asexual reproduction and the infected host becomes a reservoir, carrying developed gametocytes within its red blood cells [10].

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