The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast
Parasitism is a known cause of morbidity and mortality in wildlife species and may exacerbate population declines in species threatened by changing landscapes. The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is an unusual seabird that forages in the ocean but uses trees in old growth and late succes...
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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/S2213224425000434 |
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| author | Miranda Michlanski Jonathan Dachenhaus Jennifer Johns S. Kim Nelson Shannon Phelps James W. Rivers Daniel D. Roby Ethan Woodis Kelsey Ryan Lindsay J. Adrean Justin L. Sanders Brianna R. Beechler |
| author_facet | Miranda Michlanski Jonathan Dachenhaus Jennifer Johns S. Kim Nelson Shannon Phelps James W. Rivers Daniel D. Roby Ethan Woodis Kelsey Ryan Lindsay J. Adrean Justin L. Sanders Brianna R. Beechler |
| author_sort | Miranda Michlanski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Parasitism is a known cause of morbidity and mortality in wildlife species and may exacerbate population declines in species threatened by changing landscapes. The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is an unusual seabird that forages in the ocean but uses trees in old growth and late successional forests for nesting. Populations have declined in some areas due to both changing ocean conditions and reduction in breeding habitat, making it important to consider the impacts of other factors, such as parasites and pathogens, on murrelet health and reproduction. In this study we describe a novel blood parasite (Leucocytozoon marmoratus sp. nov.) found in a murrelet population on the Oregon coast, USA and quantify its prevalence and burden in 374 individuals along the Oregon coast over a 6-year period. Genetic sequencing revealed that the species of Leucocytozoon we identified has a mitochondrial lineage most closely related to a Leucocytozoon found in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) of New Zealand. The prevalence of Leucocytozoon in murrelets was 62 % (233/374) and within an infected individual the mean burden of parasitism was 7.1 parasites/100 white blood cells, with substantial variation between individuals (from 1 to 113 parasites/100 white blood cells). Both parasite prevalence and burden varied across years and were higher in years of poorer ocean conditions suggesting that birds experiencing poor conditions may have had reduced ability to fight infection. Male murrelets had significantly lower parasite burdens than females, which may be due to energetic constraints of egg production in breeding females. Importantly, murrelets that did not attempt a nest were associated with higher parasite burdens at the time of capture, perhaps due to correlations between parasitism and systemic health. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e51c946398ef4d80b91a81b85bb551d3 |
| 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-e51c946398ef4d80b91a81b85bb551d32025-08-20T03:23:29ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442025-08-012710107810.1016/j.ijppaw.2025.101078The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coastMiranda Michlanski0Jonathan Dachenhaus1Jennifer Johns2S. Kim Nelson3Shannon Phelps4James W. Rivers5Daniel D. Roby6Ethan Woodis7Kelsey Ryan8Lindsay J. Adrean9Justin L. Sanders10Brianna R. Beechler11Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USADepartment of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USACarlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USADepartment of Fisheries,Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USACarlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USADepartment of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USADepartment of Fisheries,Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USADepartment of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USACarlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USADepartment of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USACarlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USACarlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA; Corresponding author. OSU CCVM, 700 SW 30th Street, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.Parasitism is a known cause of morbidity and mortality in wildlife species and may exacerbate population declines in species threatened by changing landscapes. The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is an unusual seabird that forages in the ocean but uses trees in old growth and late successional forests for nesting. Populations have declined in some areas due to both changing ocean conditions and reduction in breeding habitat, making it important to consider the impacts of other factors, such as parasites and pathogens, on murrelet health and reproduction. In this study we describe a novel blood parasite (Leucocytozoon marmoratus sp. nov.) found in a murrelet population on the Oregon coast, USA and quantify its prevalence and burden in 374 individuals along the Oregon coast over a 6-year period. Genetic sequencing revealed that the species of Leucocytozoon we identified has a mitochondrial lineage most closely related to a Leucocytozoon found in yellow-eyed penguins (Megadyptes antipodes) of New Zealand. The prevalence of Leucocytozoon in murrelets was 62 % (233/374) and within an infected individual the mean burden of parasitism was 7.1 parasites/100 white blood cells, with substantial variation between individuals (from 1 to 113 parasites/100 white blood cells). Both parasite prevalence and burden varied across years and were higher in years of poorer ocean conditions suggesting that birds experiencing poor conditions may have had reduced ability to fight infection. Male murrelets had significantly lower parasite burdens than females, which may be due to energetic constraints of egg production in breeding females. Importantly, murrelets that did not attempt a nest were associated with higher parasite burdens at the time of capture, perhaps due to correlations between parasitism and systemic health.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000434Brachyramphus marmoratusLeucocytozoonHemoparasitesMarbled murreletParasite |
| spellingShingle | Miranda Michlanski Jonathan Dachenhaus Jennifer Johns S. Kim Nelson Shannon Phelps James W. Rivers Daniel D. Roby Ethan Woodis Kelsey Ryan Lindsay J. Adrean Justin L. Sanders Brianna R. Beechler The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife Brachyramphus marmoratus Leucocytozoon Hemoparasites Marbled murrelet Parasite |
| title | The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast |
| title_full | The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast |
| title_fullStr | The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast |
| title_full_unstemmed | The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast |
| title_short | The epidemiology of a novel Leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) on the Oregon coast |
| title_sort | epidemiology of a novel leucocytozoon parasite in an endangered population of marbled murrelets brachyramphus marmoratus on the oregon coast |
| topic | Brachyramphus marmoratus Leucocytozoon Hemoparasites Marbled murrelet Parasite |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000434 |
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