A PCR test for avian malaria in Hawaiian birds.
Mol Ecol
; 4(6): 663-73, 1995 Dec.
Article
de En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-8564006
ABSTRACT
The decline of native Hawaiian forest birds since European contact is attributed to factors ranging from habitat destruction to interactions with introduced species. Remaining populations of Hawaiian honeycreepers (Fringillidae Drepanidinae) are most abundant and diverse in high elevation refuges above the normal range of disease-carrying mosquitoes. Challenge experiments suggest that honeycreepers are highly susceptible to avian malaria (Plasmodium sp.) but resistance exists in some species. In order to detect low levels of malarial infection and quantify prevalence of Plasmodium in high elevation natural populations of Hawaiian birds, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based diagnostic test was developed that identifies rRNA genes of Plasmodium in avian blood samples. Quantitative competitive PCR (QC-PCR) experiments indicate that the detection limit of our test is an order of magnitude greater than that reported for human malaria DNA blot tests. Compared with standard histological methods, the PCR test detected a higher prevalence of diseased birds at mid-elevations. Malaria was detected in three species of native birds living in a high elevation wildlife refuge on the island of Hawaii and in four species from Maui. Our results show that avian malaria is more widespread in Hawaiian forests than previously thought, a finding that has important conservation implications for these threatened species.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Base de données:
MEDLINE
Sujet principal:
Plasmodium
/
Oiseaux
/
Réaction de polymérisation en chaîne
/
Paludisme aviaire
Type d'étude:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limites:
Animals
/
Humans
Pays/Région comme sujet:
America do norte
Langue:
En
Journal:
Mol Ecol
Sujet du journal:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
SAUDE AMBIENTAL
Année:
1995
Type de document:
Article
Pays d'affiliation:
États-Unis d'Amérique