Title Exo-erythrocytic stages of Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) parasites in wild birds: insights into developmental patterns /
Translation of Title Egzoerithrocitinės Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) parazitų vystymosi stadijos laukiniuose paukščiuse: įžvalgos į vystymosi dėsningumus.
Authors Duc, Melanie Yvonne Ludivine
DOI 10.15388/vu.thesis.502
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Pages 148
Keywords [eng] Haemoproteus ; Parasites ; birds ; exo-erythrocytic stages ; Chromogenic in situ hibridization
Abstract [eng] Avian haemosporidian parasites of the genus Haemoproteus (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread and can cause mortality in non-adaptive hosts. Over 170 species of these parasites were described but little is known about their complete life cycles, especially exo-erythrocytic stages, which develop in the organs of their bird host. The objective was to expand the knowledge about exo-erythrocytic stages of Haemoproteus parasites in naturally infected birds and to unravel some patterns of their development. The results showed that the parasites were species-specific in regard of their exo-erythrocytic development, and this character is valuable for future taxonomic research. Haemoproteus majoris, H. pastoris and H. hirundinis developed megalomeronts (huge-size tissue stages) while H. dumbbellus and H. attenuatus developed only meronts (relatively small tissue stages). All found tissue stages were of different morphologies between the different parasites. The intensity of parasitemia was found to be an unreliable indicator of avian host with exo-erythrocytic stages. Chromogenic in situ hybridization technique was successfully used for the search of tissue stages and the confirmation of their generic identity. The obtained new data contribute to new knowledge about exo-erythrocytic development of Haemoproteus parasites, including the predictability of molecular phylogenies in investigation of tissue stages of avian haemoproteids.
Dissertation Institution Vilniaus universitetas.
Type Doctoral thesis
Language English
Publication date 2023