Genetic characterization of avian malaria (Protozoa) in the endangered lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni (original) (raw)

Abstract

We genetically analyzed avian malaria (Protozoa) isolated from lesser kestrels (Falco naumanni) breeding in La Mancha, Central Spain. A total of 586 adult individuals were screened for blood parasites using a very efficient polymerase chain reaction approach that amplifies a partial segment (498 bp) of the cytochrome b gene of avian malaria of the genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium. The prevalence of Plasmodium was 8.2%, and the prevalence of Haemoproteus was 4.1%. Sequence analyses revealed six unique lineages of avian malaria, three Plasmodium (LK5, LK6, RTSR1) and three Haemoproteus (LK2, LK3, LK4). According to sequence divergence, these lineages seem to correspond to at least three different species, although all recovered lineages could be independent evolutionary units. The third most common lineage (RTSR1) has been previously retrieved from two other avian host species, including a resident African bird species and a trans-Saharan migrant passerine, suggesting that lesser kestrels could acquire this Plasmodium lineage at their winter quarters in Africa.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank L. Zapero for determining blood parasite prevalence and intensities of infections in the blood smears. E. Ferrero assisted us with the program PAUP. We manipulated and banded lesser kestrels under license from the Spanish institutional authorities (Environmental Agency of the Community of Castilla—La Mancha and the Ringing Office of the Ministry of Environment), and we followed general ethical guidelines for animal welfare and nature conservation. We performed all the laboratory work at the Laboratory of Genetics of the IREC, and sequencing was performed by the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC) of Madrid. This work received financial support from the projects: CGL2005-05611-C02-02/BOS (MEC) and PAI05-053 (JCCM). During this work, J.O and G.C. were supported by predoctoral fellowships from the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla—La Mancha and the European Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos—IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005, Ciudad Real, Spain
   Joaquín Ortego, Gustau Calabuig, Pedro J. Cordero & José Miguel Aparicio

Authors

1. Joaquín Ortego
2. Gustau Calabuig
3. Pedro J. Cordero
4. José Miguel Aparicio

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Correspondence toJoaquín Ortego.

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Ortego, J., Calabuig, G., Cordero, P.J. et al. Genetic characterization of avian malaria (Protozoa) in the endangered lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni .Parasitol Res 101, 1153–1156 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0575-y

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• Received: 23 April 2007
• Accepted: 02 May 2007
• Published: 19 May 2007
• Issue date: September 2007
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0575-y

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