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Morphological and molecular characterization of Plasmodium cathemerium (lineage PADOM02) from the sparrow Passer domesticus with complete sporogony in Culex pipiens complex

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2020

Mohamed Z. Y. Aly ,
Ibrahem I. I. Mohamed ,
Salwa I. Sebak ,
Ralph E. T. Vanstreels Open the ORCID record for Ralph E. T. Vanstreels [Opens in a new window]  and
Azza M. El gendy Open the ORCID record for Azza M. El gendy [Opens in a new window]
Mohamed Z. Y. Aly
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
Ibrahem I. I. Mohamed
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
Salwa I. Sebak
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
Ralph E. T. Vanstreels
Affiliation:
Marine Apex Predator Research Units (MAPRU), Institute for Coastal and Marine Research, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa Department of Zoology, DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the Fitz Patrick Institute for African Ornithology, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
Azza M. El gendy*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Science, Department of Entomology, Cairo University, Giza, PO Box 12613, Egypt
*
Author for correspondence: Azza M. El gendy, E-mail: aelgendy@sci.cu.edu.eg
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Abstract

Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium spp. protozoa. Although these parasites have been extensively studied in North America and Eurasia, knowledge on the diversity of Plasmodium, its vectors and avian hosts in Africa is scarce. In this study, we report on natural malarial infections in free-ranging sparrows (Passer domesticus) sampled at Giza Governorate, Egypt. Parasites were morphologically characterized as Plasmodium cathemerium based on the examination of thin blood smears from the avian host. Sequencing a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene showed that the parasite corresponded to lineage PADOM02. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this parasite is closely related to the lineages SERAU01 and PADOM09, both of which are attributed to P. cathemerium. Experimental infection of Culex pipiens complex was successful, with ookinetes first detected at 1-day post infection (dpi), oocysts at 4 dpi and sporozoites at 6 dpi. The massive infection of the salivary glands by sporozoites corroborates that Cx. pipiens complex is a competent vector of PADOM02. Our findings confirm that Plasmodium lineage PADOM02 infects sparrows in urban areas along the Nile River, Egypt, and corroborate that Cx. pipiens complex is a highly competent vector for these parasites. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that this lineage corresponds to the morphospecies P. cathemerium and not P. relictum as previously believed.

Keywords

Avian malariaCulicidaecytochrome bHaemosporidalight microscopyPCRsporogonyvector-borne pathogen
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 147 , Issue 9 , August 2020 , pp. 985 - 993
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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