Genetic variation of avian malaria in the tropical Andes: a relationship with the spatial distribution of hosts.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Avian haemosporidia are obligate blood parasites with an ample range of hosts worldwide. To understand how host communities may influence the diversity of parasites of the neotropics, the spatial genetic variation of avian Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon was examined between areas of host endemism and along the elevational gradient in the tropical Andes.

Methods

A total of 1686 accessions of the cytochrome b gene of avian haemosporidia were selected from 43 publications, that further provides additional information on 14.2% of bird species in the Neotropics. Haplotype groups were identified using a similarity-based clustering of sequences using a cut-off level ≥ 99.3% of sequence identity. Phylogenetic-based analyses were implemented to examine the spa

SUBMITTER: Gil-Vargas DL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6458820 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature