LAUSR.org creates dashboard-style pages of related content for over 1.5 million academic articles. Sign Up to like articles & get recommendations!

Mitochondrial Gene Diversity and Host Specificity of Isospora in Passerine Birds

Photo from wikipedia

Isospora infections are common in both wild and captive passerine species. Many bird species have been shown to have co-evolved with a particular species of Isospora. Disease can range from… Click to show full abstract

Isospora infections are common in both wild and captive passerine species. Many bird species have been shown to have co-evolved with a particular species of Isospora. Disease can range from subclinical to severe and fatal, making infection and transmission of this parasite a concern for birds under managed care, particularly in institutions housing endangered species for breeding and reintroduction purposes. Whether birds in mixed-species enclosures represent a risk factor for severe isosporiasis due to infection with non-host-adapted strains is of concern for institutions managing these populations. To begin answering this question, we sought to characterize the host-specificity of Isospora spp. in a large number of passerine birds via retrospective sequencing of mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Despite outliers, Isospora sequences largely grouped by host species and/or host family. Additional research is warranted into the degree of interspecies transmission and host-switching of Isospora parasites, and risk factors for the development of severe disease in passerine birds.

Keywords: mitochondrial gene; host specificity; specificity isospora; passerine; passerine birds; host

Journal Title: Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Year Published: 2022

Link to full text (if available)


Share on Social Media:                               Sign Up to like & get
recommendations!

Related content

More Information              News              Social Media              Video              Recommended



                Click one of the above tabs to view related content.