Title
Exo-Erythrocytic Development of Avian Haemosporidian Parasites in European Owls
Language
English
Description (en)
Avian haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida, Apicomplexa) are globally distributed and infect birds of many orders. These pathogens have been much investigated in domestic and wild passeriform birds, in which they are relatively easy to access. In birds belonging to other orders, including owls (order Strigiformes), these parasites have been studied fragmentarily. Particularly little is known about the exo-erythrocytic development of avian haemosporidians. The goal of this study was to gain new knowledge about the parasites infecting owls in Europe and investigate their exo-erythrocytic stages. Tissue samples of 121 deceased owls were collected in Austria and Lithuania, and examined using polymerase chain reactions (PCR), histology, and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). PCR-based diagnostics showed a total prevalence of 73.6%, revealing two previously unreported Haemoproteus and five novel Leucocytozoon lineages. By CISH and histology, meronts of several Leucocytozoon lineages (lASOT06, lSTAL5, lSTAL7) were discovered in the brains, heart muscles, and kidneys of infected birds. Further, megalomeronts of Haemoproteus syrnii (lineage hSTAL2) were discovered. This study contributes new knowledge to a better understanding of the biodiversity of avian haemosporidian parasites infecting owls in Europe, provides information on tissue stages of the parasites, and calls for further research of these under-investigated pathogens relevant to bird health.
Keywords (en)
Blood Parasites; Molecular Characterization; Leucocytozoon-Ziemanni; Malaria Parasites; Haemoproteus; Hematozoa; Plasmodium; Infection; Prevalence; Diversity
DOI
10.3390/ani12172212
Author of the digital object
Mikas  Ilgūnas  (Nature Research Centre)
Herbert  Weissenböck  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Gediminas  Valkiūnas  (Nature Research Centre)
Mindaugas  Dagys  (Nature Research Centre)
Tanja  Himmel  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Josef  Harl  (University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna)
Format
application/pdf
Size
951.6 kB
Licence Selected
CC BY 4.0 International
Type of publication
Article
Name of Publication (en)
Animals
Pages or Volume
23
Volume
12
Number
17
Publisher
MDPI
Publication Date
2022
Content
Details
Object type
PDFDocument
Format
application/pdf
Created
18.09.2023 02:16:13
This object is in collection
Metadata
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien (Vetmeduni) | Veterinärplatz 1 | 1210 Wien - Österreich | T +43 1 25077 1414 | Web: vetmeduni.ac.at