Project: Dynamics and persistence of avian blood parasite infection
Research group: Avian parasites, Department of Parasitology
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Parasitic protists are important both for humans and wildlife, and as such they are readily studied, not only as disease agents but as models of host-parasite interactions as well. Two main groups of dixenous avian blood parasites occur in wild avian hosts; haemosporidians (Apicomplexa), and trypanosomes (Kinetoplastea), the former being much more intensively studied. The aim of the project is to study the occurrence, dynamics (at which age the birds get infected?), persistence (do individual hosts retain their infection status?), and survival impact (life expectancy of avian and insect hosts) of haemoproteid genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, as well as Trypanosoma spp., all of which occur in high prevalences in the studied populations of birds and vectors. By comparing different host and parasite species, we can assess the impact of avian life history traits as well as parasite vectors on the relative distribution of different parasite genera. Studying species with different life-history traits at a single locality ensures similar exposure to bloodsucking vectors. Different diagnostic techniques (PCR, microscopy, culture) will be used in parallel to minimize sampling bias. Last but not least, the interaction of parasites with vectors, and adaptations for increase of transmission, will be studied on the model of avian trypanosomes and their vectors.
Svobodová M; Dolnik OV; Čepička I; Rádrová J (2017) Biting midges as vectors of avian trypanosomes. Parasites and Vectors 10: DOI: 10.1186/s13071-017-2158-9
Svobodová M; Volf P; Votýpka J (2015) Trypanosomatids in ornithophilic bloodsucking Diptera. Medical and Veterinary Entomology 29: 444-447
Svobodová M; Weidinger K; Peške L; Volf P; Votýpka J; Voříšek P. (2015) Trypanosomes and haemosporidia in the buzzard (Buteo buteo) and sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus): factors affecting the prevalence of parasites. Parasitology Research 114: 551-560
Zídková L, Szabová J, Čepička I, Svobodová M. (2012) Biodiversity of avian trypanosomes. Infection, Genetics and Evolution 12:102-12
Votýpka J, Szabová J, Rádrová J, Zídková L, Svobodová M. (2012) Trypanosoma culicavium sp. nov., an avian trypanosome transmitted by Culex mosquitoes. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Biology 62: 745-54
Progress Q43
Deadline is closed