A global database for Avian Malaria parasites

Birds are hosts of a stunning diversity of malaria (Plasmodium) and related haemosporidan parasites (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon). Globally, a few hundred species have been described morphologically but the true number of species probably counts in thousands as revealed by recent molecular analyses. The species diversity is highest in the tropics but many have active transmission as far north as in Sweden. A particular concern is that with a warmer climate, tropical parasites will expand their ranges and infect resident species of Europe that have not encountered these parasites before. This may have substantial effects on their populations as has been seen on Hawaii where malaria was accidentally introduced in the beginning of the 20^th century and since then, has contributed to the decline and extinction of several endemic bird species.

To evaluate whether global change will impact the distribution of parasites and their potential effects on resident bird populations at northern latitudes require good basic knowledge of their present distribution. For most parasitic groups we have a very poor knowledge of their natural distribution. The past decade has seen a strong increase in the interest of bird malaria parasites. Research groups all over the world are now screening bird malaria parasites using a barcoding approach, i.e. identifying infections by sequencing a part of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. This data has since a few years been summarized in a Microsoft Access database MalAvi that has been available for download (Bensch et al , Molecular Ecology Resources, 9: 2009).

Now, CAnMove researchers Staffan Bensch and Björn Canbäck, together with a master student in Bioinformatics at Lund University, Martin Egerhill, have rebuilt the database in SQL and made it available online at “http://mbio-serv2.mbioekol.lu.se/Malavi”. It presently contains the distribution of more than 1300 parasite lineages in nearly 700 species of birds. This resource will serve the research community with important background information to examine range and host shifts of parasites and will offer unique opportunities to study the role of migratory birds in the spread of parasites and disease. 

//Staffan