Bagaza virus and Plasmodium spp. coinfection in red-legged partridges (
Alectoris rufa ), in southern Spain 2019
Abstract
Flaviviruses West Nile (WNV), Usutu (USUV) and Bagaza (BAGV) virus and
avian malaria parasites are vector borne pathogens that circulate
naturally between avian and mosquito hosts. WNV and USUV and potentially
also BAGV constitute zoonoses. Temporal and spatial co-circulation and
co-infection with Plasmodium spp., and West Nile virus has been
documented in birds and mosquito vectors, and fatally USUV infected
passerines coinfected with Plasmodium spp. had more severe
lesions. Also, WNV, USUV and BAGV have been found to co-circulate. Yet
little is known about the interaction of BAGV and malaria parasites
during consecutive or co-infections of avian hosts. Here we report
mortality of free-living red-legged partridges in a hunting estate in
Southern Spain due to coinfection with BAGV and Plasmodium spp.
The outbreak occurred in the area where BAGV first emerged in Europe in
2010 and where co-circulation of BAGV, USUV and WNV was confirmed in
2011 and 2013. Partridges were found dead in early October 2019. Birds
had mottled locally pale pectoral muscles, enlarged, congestive
greenish-black tinged livers and enlarged kidneys. Microscopically
congestion and predominantly mononuclear inflammatory infiltrates were
evident and Plasmodium phanerozoites were present in the liver,
spleen, kidneys, muscle and skin. Molecular testing and sequencing
detected Plasmodium spp. and BAGV in different tissues of the
partridges, and immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence and
co-localization of both pathogens in the liver and spleen. Although
Plasmodium spp. are known to be highly prevalent in red-legged
partridges, this is the first account of mortality caused by
co-infection with BAGV and Plasmodium sp. Due to the importance
of the red-legged partridge in the ecosystem of the Iberian Peninsula
and as driver of regional economy such mortalities are of concern. Also,
they may reflect climate change related changes in host, vector and
pathogen ecology and interactions that could emerge similarly in other
pathogens.