Molecular detection of Haemoproteus in homing pigeons (Colombia livia domestica) in Mazandaran Province

Authors

1 1Department of Cellular and Molecular, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran

2 Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Babol Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran.

3 Department of Veterinary Parasitology,Tehran Veterinary Faculty,Tehran University,Tehran Iran

4 2-Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: Haemoproteus is a parasitic protozoa that over 120 species of it has been reported from wild aquatic birds, sparrows and other birds orders. So far, no study has been performed to determine the species of this protozoa in the north of Iran.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular and structural properties of Heamoproteus protozoa in the blood of infected pigeons in Mazandaran province.
Methods: In the present study molecular investigation of Haemoproteus infection was carried out in domestic pigeons of Mazandaran province. For this purpose, samples obtained randomly from 150 pigeons in different regions of Mazandaran. At first, blood samples were stained with Gimsa stain and examined for presence of Haemoproteus gametocytes. Then, positive samples were used for PCR by Cytochrome b genes..
Results: Obtained results after morphological survey showed that 17 samples were positive indicating infection rate of 11.33%. Molecular investigation and analysis of PCR products showed that all of the samples belonged to Haemoproteus columbae species.
Conclusion: So, being precisely familiar with this kind of protozoan and its species can limit many mistakes and be helpful in differential diagnosis of different species. This study has revealed that the most common species of Haemoproteus in Mazanadran province is Haemoproteus columbae.

Keywords


 
Adriano, E.A., Cordeiro, N.S. (2001) Prevalence and Intensity of Haemoproteus columbae in Three Species of Wild Doves from Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 96: 175-178. ##
Akinpelu, AI. (2008) Prevalence and Intensity of Blood Parasites in Wild Pigeons and Doves (Family: Columbidae) from Shasha Forest Reserve, Nigeria, Asian. J Anim Vet Adv. 3: 109-114. ##
Apanius, V. (2000) Island and taxon effects in parasitism and resistance of lesser Antillean birds. Ecolog. 81: 1959-1969. ##
Bentz, S.,  Rigaud, T., Barrcoa, M., Martin-Laurent, F., Bru, D., Moreau, G., Faivre, B. (2006) Sensitive measure of prevalence and parasitaemia of  haemosporidia from European blackbird (Turdus merula) populations: value of PCR-RFLP and quantitative PCR. Parasit. 133: 685-692. ##
Benyon, PH., Forbes, NA.,  Harcout, NH. (1996) Manual of Raptors, Pigeons and Waterfowl. (2nd ed.) Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa. ##
Bishop, MA., Bennett, GF. (1992) Host-parasite Catalogue of the Avian Haematozoa: Bibliography of the Avian Blood-Inhabiting Haematozoa. Memorial University of Newfoundland. (1st ed.) A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication. Iowa, USA. ##
Cardona, C.J., Ihejirika, A., McClellan, L. (2002) Haemoproteus lophortyx infection in bobwhite quail. Avian Dis. 46: 249-255. ##
Earle, RA., Bastianello, SS., Bennett, GF., Krecek, RC. (1993) Histopathology and morphology of the tissue stages of Haemoproteus columbae causing mortality in columbiformes. Avian Pathol. 22: 67-80. ##
Fakhar, M., Kalani, H., Rahimi-Esboei, B. (2012) Hemoprotozoa in free-ranging birds from rural areas of Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Comp Clin Pathol. DOI 10.1007/s00580-012-1441-6. ##
Garnham, PCC. (1966) Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia. (2nd ed.) Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications. london, UK. ##
Heidenreich, M. (1997) Birds of Prey Medicine and Management. (1st ed.) Blackwell Science Limited, Oxford, london, UK. ##
Iezhova, TA., Dodge, M., Sehgal, RNM., Smith, TB., Valkiūnas, G. (2011) New avian Haemoproteus species (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) from African birds, with a critique of the use of host taxonomic information in hemoproteid classification. J Parasit. 97:682-94. ##
Križanauskienė, A., Pérez-Tris, J., Palinauskas, V., Hellgren, O., Bensch, S., Valkiūnas, G. (2010) Molecular phylogenetic and morphological analysis of haemosporidian parasites (Haemosporida) in a naturally infected European songbird, the blackcap Sylvia atricapilla, with description of Haemoproteus pallidulus sp.  Parasit. 137: 217-27. ##
Levine,N. (1973) Protozoan Parasites of Domestic Animals and of Man. (2nd ed.) Burgess Publishing Company, Minneapolis, USA. ##
Marques, SMT., Quadroz, RMD., Silva, CJD., Baldo, M. (2007) Parasites of Pigeons (columba livia) in Urban of Lages, South. Braz., Parasit Latin. 62: 183-187. ##
Palinauskas, V.,  Iezhova, T. A.,  Križanauskienė, A., Markovets, M. Y., Bensch, S., Valkiūnas, G.(2013) Molecular characterization and distribution of Haemoproteus minutes(Haemosporida, Haemoproteidae): A pathogenic avian parasite. Parasit Intern. 62: 358-363. ##
Richard, FA., Sehgal, NM., Jones,HI., Smith,TB.(2002) A Comprative of PCR-Based Detection Methods For Avian Maiaria. J Parasitol. 88819-822. ##
Sá, MR. (2011) Studies of avian malaria and Brazilin the international scientific context (1907-1945). Hist Cienc Saude Mang. 18: 499-518. ##
Tabaripour, R., Youssefi, MR., Tabaripour, R. (2015) Genetic Identification of Orientobilharzia turkestanicum from sheep isolates in Iran. Iran J Parasit. 10: 62-68. ##
Valkiūnas, G. (2005) Avian Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia. (2nd ed.) Boca Raton CRC Press, Florida: USA.  ##
Valkiūnas, G., Iezhova, TA., Križanauskienė, A., Palinauskas, V., Sehgal, RNM., Bensch S. (2008) A comparative analysis of microscopy and PCR-based detection methods for blood parasites. J Parasit. 94: 1395-401. ##
Youssefi, MR., Gerami sadeghian, A., Esfandiari B. (2010) Prevalence of Haemoproteus columbae infection in Columba livia in north of Iran. Word J Zoo. 5: 275-277. ##
Youssefi, MR., Tabaripour, R., Fallah-Omrani, V., Spotin, A., Esfandiari, B. (2013) Genotypic characteri-zation of Echinococcus granulosus in Iranian goats. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 3: 362-366. ##
Ziegyte, R., Palinauskas, V., Bernotiene˙, R., Iezhova, T. A., Valkiunas, G. (2014) Haemoproteus minutus and Haemoproteus belopolskyi (Haemoproteidae): Complete sporogony in the biting midge Culicoides impunctatus (Ceratopogonidae), with implications on epidemiology of haemoproteosis. Exp Parasit. 145: 74-79. ##