Abstract
The use of a sensitive and accurate parasite detection methodology is crucial in studies exploring prevalence of parasites in host populations or communities, and uncertainty in identifying parasite genera and/or lineages may limit the understanding of host-parasite interactions. Here, we used a multistate occupancy approach that accounts for imperfect detection to assess whether sex and breeding season influenced the prevalence of a specific Haemoproteus lineage (TARUF02) in a white-lined tanager population. Likewise, we explored whether the probability of detecting the target parasite in an infected bird using PCR and sequencing analyses may be influenced by season and host sex. We found little evidence that sex influenced the probability of an individual host being infected by a haemosporidian parasite. Conversely, we found that the probability of infection by Haemoproteus TARUF02 was ~30% higher during the breeding season, reflecting a higher prevalence of this parasite in this season. The probability that PCR detects DNA of haemosporidian parasite was higher for female birds, suggesting that they are more prone to be parasitized with parasitemia levels that are more successfully detected by molecular analysis. Sequencing successfully determined the Haemoproteus TARUF02 lineage in 60% of samples collected during the breeding season and 84% of samples collected during the non-breeding season. Understanding the ecology of hosts and aspects of their physiology that may influence the parasite infection is essential to better understanding of hemoparasite infections and how parasites influence their native hosts, through decreasing reproductive success, lifespan, and/or survival.
Highlights
The use of a sensitive and accurate parasite detection methodology is crucial in studies exploring prevalence of parasites in host populations or communities, and uncertainty in identifying parasite genera and/or lineages may limit the understanding of host-parasite interactions
Sequence analysis and BLAST search of the samples revealed the presence of five lineages infecting white-lined tanagers in the study site, including three Plasmodium lineages detected in six samples and two Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) lineages, detected in 65 blood samples (Table S2, Supporting information)
Our study provides information about a specific interaction between a haemosporidian parasite and a host population, allowing us to understand relationships that might not be observed in community studies where species-specific relationships could be masked when investigating host-parasite interactions in multiple host species
Summary
The use of a sensitive and accurate parasite detection methodology is crucial in studies exploring prevalence of parasites in host populations or communities, and uncertainty in identifying parasite genera and/or lineages may limit the understanding of host-parasite interactions. Factors inducing a weakening of the immune system frequently lead to a short-term increase in the number of parasites in the blood (i.e. recrudescence or relapse)[41], which occurs in most of the haemosporidian species during the breeding season of the vertebrate hosts and facilitates the infection of vectors and the transfer of infection to offspring[1]. Another factor that may interfere with haemosporidian parasitemia is the sex of the host. This could elevate the level of physiological stress and the level of chronic parasitemia in females during the breeding season
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