Discovering potential sources of emerging pathogens: South America is a reservoir of generalist avian blood parasites

International Journal for Parasitology
Michaël A J Moens, Javier Pérez-Tris

Abstract

Generalist pathogens are capable of infecting a wide range of host species, and may pose serious disease emergence threats if accidentally moved outside their native areas. To date little effort has been devoted to identifying geographic areas that may act as reservoirs of generalist pathogens. According to current theory, where host diversity is high, parasite specialisation in one host species may be penalised by reduced host availability, while generalist parasites may benefit from the exploitation of various host species. Therefore natural selection could favor generalist parasites where host diversity is high. Here we explored if, in a highly diverse bird community in Ecuador, a generalist strategy is promoted among local Haemoproteus and Plasmodium blood-borne parasites compared with similar parasite communities throughout the world. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of every parasite lineage in order to understand the evolution of host specificity in this megadiverse area. We found high levels of host generalisation for both parasite genera, and the mean host range of the Haemoproteus community in Ecuador was significantly higher than other parasite communities in other areas outside the Neotropics. General...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 14, 2016·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Michaël A J MoensJavier Pérez-Tris
Jan 19, 2019·Parasites & Vectors·Luis Ortiz-CatedralPhilipp Olias
Jan 15, 2019·Ecology Letters·Alan FecchioNicholas J Clark
Mar 13, 2020·The Journal of Parasitology·Jeffrey A BellVasyl V Tkach
Jan 23, 2021·Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine : Official Publication of the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians·Marina García-Del-RíoSantiago Merino
Mar 27, 2019·International Journal for Parasitology·Jessie L WilliamsonChristopher C Witt

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