title: Leucocytozoon Diversity and Possible Vectors in the Neotropical highlands of Colombia.
abstract: Studies of the lowland avifauna in the Neotropical Region have shown a paucity of Leucocytozoon species. However, surveys conducted in the Colombian highlands revealed a great diversity of these parasites infecting resident birds. To further investigate the relationship between Leucocytozoon diversity, the potential vectors, and altitudinal distribution, birds from 41 families were sampled at low and high elevations in Colombia. Blood samples were screened by microscopy, and a fragment of cytochrome b was amplified from Leucocytozoon-positive samples. The complete mitochondrial genome was also obtained for each morphospecies of Leucocytozoon. Leucocytozoon species were detected in resident birds, with various degrees of host specificity, at elevations from 2,400 to 3,950 meters above sea level, where five new host-parasite associations were discovered. Phylogenetic analysis based on the cytochrome b fragment suggested that two nominal taxa, L. fringillinarum and L. majoris, are species complexes. Blood sources of Simuliidae revealed generalist-feeding habits that included avian and mammalian hosts. Molecular analysis of parasites in black flies indicated a close relationship with the parasites found in birds. Our investigation provides further evidence that the distribution and transmission of Leucocytozoon species in the Neotropics are influenced by elevation, with the highest prevalence between 2,400 and 3,200 m asl.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización genética e inmunología, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ingrid A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Lotta
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: M Andreína
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (igem), Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Ananias A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Escalante
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización genética e inmunología, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia.
authors.forename: Angie D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización genética e inmunología, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Mantilla
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Salud Pública, Grupo de Investigación Infecciones y Salud en el Trópico, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ligia I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0310 USA.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Biología, Grupo de Investigación Caracterización genética e inmunología, Carrera 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, 111321, Colombia. Electronic address: nemattac@unal.edu.co.
authors.forename: Nubia E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Matta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000635:transmission*; D001717:Birds / Q000469:parasitology*; D003105:Colombia; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics*; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005843:Geography; D016787:Haemosporida / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D058507:Host Specificity; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D045303:Cytochromes b
keywords: Leucocytozoon diversity; Neotropical Andes; black flies; cytochrome b.; elevation; host-feeding sources