Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil
Avian Plasmodium parasites can be pathogenic to their vertebrate hosts. Although cases of anaemia are frequently reported in parasitized birds, the potential damage caused by the parasite during the exoerythrocytic reproduction phase remains poorly investigated. Here, we report 2 individuals of red-...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Parasitology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S003118202500006X/type/journal_article |
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| author | Lis Marques de Carvalho e Vieira Sabrina Epiphanio Natália Coelho Couto de Azevedo Fernandes Juliana Mariotti Guerra José Luiz Catão Dias Maria Andreína Pacheco Ananias A. Escalante Érika Martins Braga |
| author_facet | Lis Marques de Carvalho e Vieira Sabrina Epiphanio Natália Coelho Couto de Azevedo Fernandes Juliana Mariotti Guerra José Luiz Catão Dias Maria Andreína Pacheco Ananias A. Escalante Érika Martins Braga |
| author_sort | Lis Marques de Carvalho e Vieira |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Avian Plasmodium parasites can be pathogenic to their vertebrate hosts. Although cases of anaemia are frequently reported in parasitized birds, the potential damage caused by the parasite during the exoerythrocytic reproduction phase remains poorly investigated. Here, we report 2 individuals of red-legged seriemas (Cariama cristata) infected with 2 different lineages of Plasmodium huffi, one of them exhibiting potential malarial-compatible tissue lesions in the spleen, liver, brain and lungs, alongside molecular confirmation of parasite presence in the spleen. Previously classified as specific to birds from the order Piciformes, this parasite has shown different associated lineages amplified across diverse host orders in South America (Anseriformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Pelecaniformes and Passeriformes). Those infections, however, were defined as abortive due to the absence of gametocytes visualized in blood smear slides. Herein, we confirm P. huffi as a generalist parasite based on the first morphological characterization in the peripheral blood of a bird outside the Piciformes order. This is also the first morphological and molecular description of a Plasmodium species in Cariamiformes. In addition to the morphological analyses, we have also proposed a novel phylogenetic hypothesis based on the partial cytb gene and the near-complete mitochondrial genome of this parasite. Our findings support that the division of the genus Plasmodium into subgenera is not monophyletic, as P. (Huffia) huffi and its associated lineages cluster more closely with Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) gallinaceum than with Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf2f2be7bf7c489b93cdeae1be8b3bb9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0031-1820 1469-8161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasitology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf2f2be7bf7c489b93cdeae1be8b3bb92025-08-20T03:48:06ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-81612025-02-0115215617110.1017/S003118202500006XUnraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from BrazilLis Marques de Carvalho e Vieira0Sabrina Epiphanio1Natália Coelho Couto de Azevedo Fernandes2Juliana Mariotti Guerra3José Luiz Catão Dias4Maria Andreína Pacheco5Ananias A. EscalanteÉrika Martins Braga6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5550-7157Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilDepartamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilCentro de Patologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, BrazilCentro de Patologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDepartamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, BrazilBiology Department, Institute of Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USADepartamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilAvian Plasmodium parasites can be pathogenic to their vertebrate hosts. Although cases of anaemia are frequently reported in parasitized birds, the potential damage caused by the parasite during the exoerythrocytic reproduction phase remains poorly investigated. Here, we report 2 individuals of red-legged seriemas (Cariama cristata) infected with 2 different lineages of Plasmodium huffi, one of them exhibiting potential malarial-compatible tissue lesions in the spleen, liver, brain and lungs, alongside molecular confirmation of parasite presence in the spleen. Previously classified as specific to birds from the order Piciformes, this parasite has shown different associated lineages amplified across diverse host orders in South America (Anseriformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Galliformes, Pelecaniformes and Passeriformes). Those infections, however, were defined as abortive due to the absence of gametocytes visualized in blood smear slides. Herein, we confirm P. huffi as a generalist parasite based on the first morphological characterization in the peripheral blood of a bird outside the Piciformes order. This is also the first morphological and molecular description of a Plasmodium species in Cariamiformes. In addition to the morphological analyses, we have also proposed a novel phylogenetic hypothesis based on the partial cytb gene and the near-complete mitochondrial genome of this parasite. Our findings support that the division of the genus Plasmodium into subgenera is not monophyletic, as P. (Huffia) huffi and its associated lineages cluster more closely with Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) gallinaceum than with Plasmodium (Huffia) elongatum.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S003118202500006X/type/journal_articleavian malariacytbHaemosporidahistopathologymtDNA |
| spellingShingle | Lis Marques de Carvalho e Vieira Sabrina Epiphanio Natália Coelho Couto de Azevedo Fernandes Juliana Mariotti Guerra José Luiz Catão Dias Maria Andreína Pacheco Ananias A. Escalante Érika Martins Braga Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil Parasitology avian malaria cytb Haemosporida histopathology mtDNA |
| title | Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil |
| title_full | Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil |
| title_short | Unraveling the host range of Plasmodium huffi: morphological, histopathological and molecular characterization in red-legged seriemas from Brazil |
| title_sort | unraveling the host range of plasmodium huffi morphological histopathological and molecular characterization in red legged seriemas from brazil |
| topic | avian malaria cytb Haemosporida histopathology mtDNA |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S003118202500006X/type/journal_article |
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