Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae)
Ectoparasites play a key role in ecosystems, affecting the health, behaviour, and reproductive success of their hosts. The parasite-host relationships are complex and dynamic, and selective pressures exerted by the hosts can lead to local adaptations and changes in the genetic structure of the paras...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221322442500046X |
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| author | Aleksandra Janiszewska Tomasz Rewicz Piotr Minias Radosław Włodarczyk Maciej Kamiński Patryk Fiutek Dariusz Jakubas Jan Rapczyński Magdalena Remisiewicz Hanna Sztwiertnia Maciej Bartos |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Janiszewska Tomasz Rewicz Piotr Minias Radosław Włodarczyk Maciej Kamiński Patryk Fiutek Dariusz Jakubas Jan Rapczyński Magdalena Remisiewicz Hanna Sztwiertnia Maciej Bartos |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Janiszewska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ectoparasites play a key role in ecosystems, affecting the health, behaviour, and reproductive success of their hosts. The parasite-host relationships are complex and dynamic, and selective pressures exerted by the hosts can lead to local adaptations and changes in the genetic structure of the parasite population. Our aim was to investigate how parasitism on a diverse range of avian hosts with varying ecology and habitat preferences shapes the genetic variation of the parasite. For this purpose, we quantified the genetic structure and differentiation of host-related populations of a common polyxenic avian ectoparasite Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae, Ornithomyinae), a louse fly species parasitizing various bird species occupying diverse ecological niches. Using 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers, we genotyped louse flies collected from four phylogenetically (passerine and non-passerine) and ecologically (wetland vs. forest) divergent avian hosts caught during autumn migration. Despite the ecological and phylogenetic differences among hosts, the genetic differentiation among louse fly populations was modest, indicating ongoing gene flow. Bayesian clustering and discriminant analysis identified two genetic clusters with relatively weak barriers to gene flow, but this clustering reflected neither phylogenetic nor ecological differences between hosts. We suggest that the high dispersal abilities and the specific reproductive strategy of O. avicularia likely contribute to the genetic homogeneity of its populations across ecologically and phylogenetically distant hosts. This study provides novel insights into the population genetics of an understudied ectoparasite, with implications for understanding host-parasite interactions and disease transmission in avian systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0347655fdfc4ec4b841ec554d6d7d63 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0347655fdfc4ec4b841ec554d6d7d632025-08-20T03:02:30ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442025-08-012710108110.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101081Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae)Aleksandra Janiszewska0Tomasz Rewicz1Piotr Minias2Radosław Włodarczyk3Maciej Kamiński4Patryk Fiutek5Dariusz Jakubas6Jan Rapczyński7Magdalena Remisiewicz8Hanna Sztwiertnia9Maciej Bartos10University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, Poland; Corresponding author.University of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, Banacha 12/16, 90-237, Lodz, PolandUniversity of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, PolandUniversity of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, PolandUniversity of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, PolandWojska Polskiego 32, Przybynów, 42-310, PolandDepartment of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-309, Gdansk, PolandForestry Student Scientific Association, Ornithological Section, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787, Warszawa, PolandUniversity of Gdańsk, Faculty of Biology, Bird Migration Research Station, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdansk, PolandSilesian Ornithological Society, Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335, Wroclaw, PolandUniversity of Lodz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Department of Biodiversity Studies and Bioeducation, Banacha 1/3, 90-237, Lodz, Poland; Corresponding author.Ectoparasites play a key role in ecosystems, affecting the health, behaviour, and reproductive success of their hosts. The parasite-host relationships are complex and dynamic, and selective pressures exerted by the hosts can lead to local adaptations and changes in the genetic structure of the parasite population. Our aim was to investigate how parasitism on a diverse range of avian hosts with varying ecology and habitat preferences shapes the genetic variation of the parasite. For this purpose, we quantified the genetic structure and differentiation of host-related populations of a common polyxenic avian ectoparasite Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae, Ornithomyinae), a louse fly species parasitizing various bird species occupying diverse ecological niches. Using 20 polymorphic microsatellite markers, we genotyped louse flies collected from four phylogenetically (passerine and non-passerine) and ecologically (wetland vs. forest) divergent avian hosts caught during autumn migration. Despite the ecological and phylogenetic differences among hosts, the genetic differentiation among louse fly populations was modest, indicating ongoing gene flow. Bayesian clustering and discriminant analysis identified two genetic clusters with relatively weak barriers to gene flow, but this clustering reflected neither phylogenetic nor ecological differences between hosts. We suggest that the high dispersal abilities and the specific reproductive strategy of O. avicularia likely contribute to the genetic homogeneity of its populations across ecologically and phylogenetically distant hosts. This study provides novel insights into the population genetics of an understudied ectoparasite, with implications for understanding host-parasite interactions and disease transmission in avian systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221322442500046XBirdsEctoparasitesAvian parasitesMicrosatellite markersLouse fliesOrnithomya avicularia |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Janiszewska Tomasz Rewicz Piotr Minias Radosław Włodarczyk Maciej Kamiński Patryk Fiutek Dariusz Jakubas Jan Rapczyński Magdalena Remisiewicz Hanna Sztwiertnia Maciej Bartos Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae) International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Birds Ectoparasites Avian parasites Microsatellite markers Louse flies Ornithomya avicularia |
| title | Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae) |
| title_full | Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae) |
| title_fullStr | Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae) |
| title_short | Host-related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite, Ornithomya avicularia (Hippoboscidae) |
| title_sort | host related genetic differentiation of a polyxenic avian ectoparasite ornithomya avicularia hippoboscidae |
| topic | Birds Ectoparasites Avian parasites Microsatellite markers Louse flies Ornithomya avicularia |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221322442500046X |
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