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Michel P Valim - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Cophylogenetic analysis of lice in the Colpocephalum complex (Phthiraptera: Amblycera)
Zoologica Scripta, 2017Co-Authors: Therese A. Catanach, Michel P Valim, Jason D. Weckstein, Kevin P. JohnsonAbstract:The chewing louse genus Colpocephalum parasitizes nearly a dozen distantly related orders of birds. Such a broad host distribution is relatively unusual in lice. However, the monophyly of the genus Colpocephalum has never been tested using molecular characters. Using one nuclear and one mitochondrial gene, we inferred a phylogeny for 54 lice from the genus Colpocephalum and other morphologically similar genera. The resulting phylogeny demonstrates that Colpocephalum itself is not monophyletic. However, these data support the existence of a Colpocephalum complex within which several lineages are restricted to particular host orders. These lineages corresponded to previously described genera, some of which are morphologically distinct and currently considered subgenera. Maddison–Slatkin tests were performed on the resulting phylogeny and showed that host order, host family and biogeographic region had significant phylogenetic signal when mapped onto the Colpocephalum complex phylogeny. A PARAFIT analysis comparing the overall Colpocephalum complex phylogeny to a host phylogeny revealed significant congruence between host and parasite trees. We also compared the cophylogenetic history of Colpocephalum and their hosts to that of a second distantly related feather louse genus, Degeeriella, which also infests diurnal birds of prey. Using PARAFIT to identify individual host–parasite links that contributed to overall congruence, there was no evidence of correlated cophylogenetic patterns between these two louse groups, suggesting that their host distribution patterns have been shaped by different evolutionary processes.
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The Chewing Lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) Fauna of the Swainson's Warbler, Limnothlypis swainsonii (Aves, Parulidae).
Journal of medical entomology, 2015Co-Authors: Michel P Valim, Bryan M. ReileyAbstract:We examined Swainson's warblers (Limnothlypis swainsonii (Audubon, 1834), Aves: Parulidae) for lice fauna during 2 yr at three study sites in Arkansas, USA. A total of 66 individuals were examined; eight birds (10.6%) were parasitized with 16 lice of two new species belonging to two genera Myrsidea Waterson, 1915 (Amblycera: Menoponidae) and Brueelia Keler, 1936 (Ischnocera: Philopteridae). Parasitological parameter data are given on the prevalence of lice on Swainson's warblers. Species descriptions and illustrations are provided for Myrsidea bensoni sp. nov. and Brueelia limnothlypiae sp. nov.; including a key for females of the genus Myrsidea that parasitize Parulidae (Passeriformes).
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Immature Stages of Chewing Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Neotropical Icteridae (Aves: Passeriformes), and Descriptions of Three New Species
Annales Zoologici, 2015Co-Authors: Michel P Valim, Armando CicchinoAbstract:Abstract. A morphological study of six little known or undescribed species of chewing lice parasitic on cowbirds (Icteridae) is given, based on a holistic approach which includes descriptions of the pre-imaginal stages. Both sexes, the last two nymphal stages and eggs of the new species Myrsidea amblyramphidis (Amblycera: Menoponidae) are described and illustrated (type host: Amblyramphus holosericeus (Scopoli)). Also, the male with all pre-imaginal stages (including hatching organ of nymph, egg and the three nymphal stages) of Menacanthus leistidis Cicchino, 1984 from Leistes superciliaris (Bonaparte) is described for the first time and the female is redescribed; a discussion of the morphological affinities with its closest species, M. sturnellae Price, 1977 is included. Among the Ischnocera (Philopteridae s.l.), both sexes and the last pre-imaginal stages of two incompletely known species of Brueelia Keler, 1936, B. mirabile Carriker, 1963 from Molothrus o. oryzivorus (Gmelin), and B. oxypyga (Giebel, 1...
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Type specimens of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) held in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Universidade de São Paulo, 2009Co-Authors: Michel P ValimAbstract:The type specimens of 142 nominal species of chewing and sucking lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera and Anoplura) held in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) are listed. The list includes species in the families: Menoponidae and Gyropidae (Suborder Amblycera); Philopteridae (including species initially described in Heptapsogastridae) and Trichodectidae (Suborder Ischnocera); and Hoplopleuridae (Suborder Anoplura). The following type categories are represented in the collection: holotype, allotype, paratype, syntype, neotype, neoallotype, neoparatype and paralectotype. Information is taken from card data, and includes changes in nomenclatural status for each species since their original description. Two additional lists, one with updated scientific names for the lice (Appendix 1) and another with those for the host taxa (Appendix 2), are included.Os espécimes tipo de 142 espécies de malófagos e anopluros (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera e Anoplura) mantidos no Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) são listados. Essa lista inclui espécies das famílias: Menoponidae e Gyropidae (subordem Amblycera); Philopteridae (incluindo as espécies incialmente descritas em Heptapsogastridae) e Trichodectidae (subordem Ischnocera); e Hoplopleuridae (subordem Anoplura). As seguintes categorias de tipos estão representadas na coleção: holótipo, alótipo, parátipo, sintipo, neótipo, neoalótipo, neoparátipo e paralectótipo. As informações foram extraídas das fichas de depósito e incluem mudanças na nomenclatura para cada espécie desde sua descrição original. Duas listas adicionais, uma com os nomes científicos atualizados para os parasitos (Apêndice 1) e outra com os nomes dos hospedeiros (Apêndice 2), são incluídas
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Type specimens of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) held in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo), 2009Co-Authors: Michel P ValimAbstract:The type specimens of 142 nominal species of chewing and sucking lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera and Anoplura) held in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil (MZUSP) are listed. The list includes species in the families: Menoponidae and Gyropidae (Suborder Amblycera); Philopteridae (including species initially described in Heptapsogastridae) and Trichodectidae (Suborder Ischnocera); and Hoplopleuridae (Suborder Anoplura). The following type categories are represented in the collection: holotype, allotype, paratype, syntype, neotype, neoallotype, neoparatype and paralectotype. Information is taken from card data, and includes changes in nomenclatural status for each species since their original description. Two additional lists, one with updated scientific names for the lice (Appendix 1) and another with those for the host taxa (Appendix 2), are included.
Lajos Rózsa - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Clever birds are lousy: co-variation between avian innovation and the taxonomic richness of their Amblyceran lice.
International journal for parasitology, 2011Co-Authors: Zoltán Vas, Louis Lefebvre, Kevin P. Johnson, Jeno Reiczigel, Lajos RózsaAbstract:Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are ectoparasites that reduce host life expectancy and sexual attractiveness. Their taxonomic richness varies considerably among their hosts. Previous studies have already explored some important factors shaping louse diversity. An unexplored potential correlate of louse taxonomic richness is host behavioural flexibility. In this comparative study, we examine the relationship between louse generic richness, innovative capabilities (as a proxy for behavioural flexibility), and brain size while controlling for host species diversity, phylogeny, body size and research effort. Using data for 108 avian families, we found a highly significant positive relationship between host innovative capabilities and the taxonomic richness of Amblyceran lice, but a lack of a similar relationship in ischnoceran lice. Host brain size had only a marginal impact on Amblyceran diversity and no correlation with ischnoceran diversity. This suggests that the effect in Amblycera is not mediated by metabolic limitations due to the energetic costs of brain size and maintenance, rather directly caused by the ecological differences between hosts with differing cognitive capabilities. We propose four alternative and mutually non-exclusive hypotheses that may explain this phenomenon.
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Ectoparasites, uropygial glands and hatching success in birds
Oecologia, 2010Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Johannes Erritzøe, Lajos RózsaAbstract:The uropygial gland of birds secretes wax that is applied to the plumage, where the secretions are hypothesized to eliminate fungi and bacteria, thereby potentially providing important benefits in terms of plumage maintenance. We analyzed variation in size of the uropygial gland in 212 species of birds to determine the function and the ecological correlates of variation in gland size. Bird species with larger uropygial glands had more genera of chewing lice of the sub-order Amblycera, but not of the sub-order Ischnocera, and more feather mites. There was a fitness advantage associated with relatively large uropygial glands because such species had higher hatching success. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the uropygial gland functions to manage the community of microorganisms, and that certain taxa of chewing lice have diverged as a consequence of these defenses.
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Parasite biodiversity and host defenses: chewing lice and immune response of their avian hosts
Oecologia, 2005Co-Authors: Anders Pape Møller, Lajos RózsaAbstract:Antagonistic host-parasite interactions lead to coevolution of host defenses and parasite virulence. Such adaptation by parasites to host defenses may occur to the detriment of the ability of parasites to exploit alternative hosts, causing parasite specialization and speciation. We investigated the relationship between level of anti-parasite defense in hosts and taxonomic richness of two chewing louse suborders (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) on birds. While Amblyceran lice tend to occur in contact with host skin, feed on host skin and chew emerging tips of developing feathers to obtain blood, Ischnoceran lice live on feathers and feed on the non-living keratin of feather barbules. We hypothesized that Amblyceran abundance and richness would have evolved in response to interaction with the immune system of the host, while Ischnoceran taxonomic richness would have evolved independently of immunological constraints. In an interspecific comparison, the abundance of Ischnocerans was positively related to host body size, while host body mass and Ischnoceran taxonomic richness accounted for the abundance of Amblycerans. Amblyceran taxonomic richness was predicted by the intensity of T-cell mediated immune response of nestling hosts, while the T-cell response of adults had no significant effect. In contrast, Ischnoceran taxonomic richness was not predicted by host T-cell responses. These results suggest that the taxonomic richness of different parasite taxa is influenced by different host defenses, and they are consistent with the hypothesis that increasing host allocation to immune defense increases Amblyceran biodiversity.
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patterns in the distribution of avian lice phthiraptera Amblycera ischnocera
Journal of Avian Biology, 1997Co-Authors: Jözsef Rekäsi, Lajos Rózsa, Botond J. KissAbstract:The frequency distributions of 15 species of avian lice among individuals within host populations are described and 12 previously described distributions are reviewed. All of these distributions were aggregated, but some of them do not conform to the negative binomial model (4 at P <0.05 out of the 25 examined). Distribution measures (prevalence, mean and variance of louse subpopulations. the exponent k of the negative binomial distribution. and the index of d~screpancy)01' lice of colonial birds are compared to those of territorial ones. Minimum ;ampie size requirement is calculated for each case study. Louse subpopulation size and variance do not correlate with host social system, however, residuals from the log mean-log variance regression do. Lice of territorial hosts tend to form more variable subpopulations than those predicted by the regression curve, while those of colonial birds tend to form less variable subpopulations. Prevalence and k are higher, while the index of discrepancy is lower, for the distributions of lice of colonial hosts, indicating less aggregated louse distributions compared to those of territorial host species.
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Patterns in the distribution of avian lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera)
Journal of Avian Biology, 1997Co-Authors: Jözsef Rekäsi, Lajos Rózsa, Botond J. KissAbstract:The frequency distributions of 15 species of avian lice among individuals within host populations are described and 12 previously described distributions are reviewed. All of these distributions were aggregated, but some of them do not conform to the negative binomial model (4 at P
Mey Eberhard - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Der Mönchsgeier \u3ci\u3eAegypius monachus\u3c/i\u3e (L., 1766) und seine Mallophagen (Insecta, Phthiraptera) in der Mongolei = Cinereous Vulture \u3ci\u3eAegypius monachus\u3c/i\u3e (L., 1766) and Its Chewing Lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) in Mongolia
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2016Co-Authors: Mey Eberhard, Stubbe Michael, Lchagvasuren D., Stubbe AnnegretAbstract:During a series of studies on the population, ecology, and biology of the Cinereous Vulture in Mongolia, fully feathered nestlings of the species from 9 nests were examined, without the use of chemical methods, for Mallophaga infestation from 2010 to 2015. The collection resulted in several first records for Mongolia of three species: Laemobothrion vulturis (J. C. FABRICIUS, 1775) sensu lato (Amblycera, Laemobothriidae), Neocolpocephalum aegypii (TENDEIRO, 1989) (Amblycera, Menoponidae s. l.) sp. inq., and Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus (BURMEISTER, 1838) (Ischnocera, Philopteridae s. l.). Despite being expected, there has still been no record of Agypoecus brevicollis (BURMEISTER, 1838) in Mongolia. Chewing louse infestation was noted in all nests examined, though not by more than two species: L. vulturis (twice), N. aegypyii and F. quadripustulatus (6 times each). Mixed infections were found in five nests: L. vulturis x N. aegypii (once) and N. aegypii x F. quadripustulatus (5 times). Blood was found in the digestive tract of all chewing louse individuals, but no traces of feathers. Four pairs of Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus were observed copulating (subfeminal). Colpocephalum aegypii TENDEIRO, 1989 is a species incerta, its status in relation to Colpocephalum tracheleoti PRICE & BEER, 1966 remains in doubt. The discovery and first description of Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus and Aegypygus brevicollis by CHRISTIAN LUDWIG NITZSCH (1780-1837) are briefly discussed in a historical context. The type material of both species was lost in the Second World War. From these findings in Mongolia a neotype for Philopterus (Lipeurus) 4-pustulatus BURMEISTER, 1838 is erected. It is pointed out that the occurrence of the Ischnocera Degeeriella NEUMANN s. str. and of the Amblycera Nosopon HOPKINS, Ctenigogus EICHLER & ZŁOTORZYCKA, Cuculiphilus UCHIDA, and Pterophilus CLAY & PRICE must be expected on Cinereous Vulture, and not only in Mongolia. Zusammenfassung Im Rahmen von Untersuchungen über Bestand, Ökologie und Biologie des Mönchsgeiers in der Mongolei wurden dort von 2010 bis 2015 voll befiederte Nestlinge aus 9 Horsten von dieser Spezies auf Mallophagenbefall ohne Zuhilfenahme von chemischen Hilfsmitteln beprobt. Die Aufsammlungen erbrachten mehrfach mongolische Erstnachweise für drei Arten: Laemobothrion vulturis (J. C. FABRICIUS, 1775) sensu lato (Amblycera, Laemobothriidae), Neocolpocephalum aegypii (TENDEIRO, 1989) sp. inq. (Amblycera, Menoponidae s. l.) und Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus (BURMEISTER, 1838) (Ischnocera, Philopteridae s. l.). Obwohl erwartet, gelang bisher kein Nachweis von Agypoecus brevicollis (BURMEISTER, 1838) in der Mongolei. In allen beprobten Horsten wurde Federlingsbefall mit nicht mehr als zwei Arten festgestellt: L. vulturis (2mal), N. aegypyii und F. quadripustulatus (je 6mal). In fünf Horsten fanden sich Mischinfektionen vor: L. vulturis x N. aegypii (1mal) und N. aegypii x F. quadripustulatus (5mal). Bei allen Federlings-Individuen konnten Blut-, aber keine Federreste im Darmtrakt nachgewiesen werden. Vier Paare von Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus kopulierten subfeminal. „Colpocephalum aegypii TENDEIRO, 1989“ ist eine unsichere Art. Ihr Status gegenüber „Colpocephalum trachelioti PRICE & BEER, 1966“ ist noch ungeklärt. Aus wissenschaftshistorischer Sicht wird auf Entdeckung und „Erstbeschreibungen“ von Falcolipeurus quadripustulatus und Aegypygus brevicollis durch CHRISTIAN LUDWIG NITZSCH (1780-1837) eingegangen. Von beiden Arten ist das Typenmaterial im Zweiten Weltkrieg verloren gegangen. Für „Philopterus (Lipeurus) 4-pustulatus BURMEISTER, 1838” wird aus dem mongolischen Fundus ein Neotypus ausgewiesen. Es wird darauf hingewiesen, dass auf dem Mönchsgeier nicht nur in der Mongolei mit Vorkommen der Ischnozeren Degeeriella NEUMANN s. str. und der Amblyzeren Nosopon HOPKINS, Ctenigogus EICHLER & ZŁOTORZYCKA, Cuculiphilus UCHIDA, und Pterophilus CLAY & PRICE zu rechnen ist
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Chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) of Bruijn’s Brush-turkey Aepypodius bruijnii (Aves, Galliformes, Megapodiidae) from New Guinea.
Senckenberg Deutsches Entomologisches Institut Müncheberg, 2013Co-Authors: Mey EberhardAbstract:Nach dem Autor vorliegendem noch sehr lückenhaften und zumeist von alten Museumsbälgen stammenden Material werden die folgenden auf dem Braunbrusttalegalla Aepypodius bruijnii (Oustalet, 1880) nachgewiesenen Federlinge beschrieben: die Amblyceren Kelerimenopon aepypodi Price & Emerson, 1966 sensu lato und Talegalligogus wilhelmi waigeuensis n. ssp. und die Ischnoceren Megathellipeurus mumesensis n. sp., „Oxylipeurus“ aepypodius Clay, 1938, Talegallipeurus tenuis Mey, 1983, Weehalia hakalphilus n. sp. und Homocerus sp. Diese Arten weisen auf enge verwandtschaftliche Beziehungen ihrer Wirtsgattungen Aepypodius und Talegalla, denen Alcetura ferner steht. Unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Aepypodius arfakianus und A. bruijnii wird die hospitale Verbreitung aller bisher auf Großfußhühnern (Megapodiidae) festgestellten amblyzeren und ischnozeren Federlingsgattungen zur Übersicht gebracht.Stichwörter Aepypodius bruijnii, Amblycera, Ischnocera, new species & subspecies, parasitophyletic studies, Waigeo.Nomenklatorische Handlungenmumesensis Mey, 2013 (Megathellipeurus), spec. nov.waigeuensis Mey, 2013 (Talegalligogus wilhelmi), sspec. nov.hakalphila Mey, 2013 (Weehalia), spec. nov.On the basis of the material examined by the author (with is very incomplete and mostly off old museum skins), the following chewing lice species known to infest Aepypodius bruijnii are here treated or described: Amblycera: Kelerimenopon aepypodi Price & Emerson, 1966 sensu lato and Talegalligogus wilhelmi waigeuensis n. ssp.; Ischnocera: Megathellipeurus mumesensis n. sp., “Oxylipeurus” aepypodius Clay, 1938, Talegallipeurus tenuis Mey, 1982, Weehalia hakalphila n. sp., and Homocerus sp. These species illustrate the close relationships between their host genera Aepypodius and Talegalla, and suggest that Alectura is more distantly related. An overview is given of the hospitalic distribution of all genera of chewing lice so far known off the Megapodiidae, with special reference to Aepypodius arfakianus and A. bruijnii.Keywords Aepypodius bruijnii, Amblycera, Ischnocera, new species & subspecies, parasitophyletic studies, Waigeo.Nomenclatural Actsmumesensis Mey, 2013 (Megathellipeurus), spec. nov.waigeuensis Mey, 2013 (Talegalligogus wilhelmi), sspec. nov.hakalphila Mey, 2013 (Weehalia), spec. nov
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A phenomenon noted particularly in birds: drinking of eye secretion (lachrymophagy) by lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera)
2013Co-Authors: Mey EberhardAbstract:Die hier dokumentierte neue Beobachtung einer Augensekret trinkenden Myrsidea-Art auf einem verhaltensauffälligen Prachtstaffelschwanz Malurus cyaneus cyanochlamys in New South Wales (Australia) wird zum Anlass genommen, alle bisher bekannten Fälle von Lachrymophagie respektive Ophthalmotropismus bei amblyzeren und ischnozeren Tierläusen (Phthiraptera) zu neuer Übersicht zu bringen. Das für die zumeist lichtscheuen Tierläuse bemerkenswerte Phänomen (erstmals 1734 erwähnt) ist anscheinend weiter verbreitet, als es bisherige Nachweise (mindestens 18 von Amblyzeren, zwei von Ischnozeren) nahe legen. Dabei handelt es sich um zwölf amblyzere und zwei ischnozere Spezies aus neun Gattungen, die auf zehn Wirtsfamilien schmarotzen: 1 Menacanthus (Alaudidae ?), 1 Gallacanthus (Phasianidae), 2 Dennyus (Apodidae), 4 Myrsidea (Furnariidae, Corvidae, Maluridae), 1 Heteromenopon (Psittacidae), 2 Neocolpocephalum (Accipitridae) und 1 Laemobothrion (Accipitridae) sowie je 1 Bovicola (Bovidae) und Trichodectes (Mustelidae). Lachrymophagie ist nicht nur an lebenden, sondern auch an frischtoten Wirtsindividuen beobachtet worden. Tränenflüssigkeit dürfte vor allem für Tierläuse, die nicht ausschließlich oder überwiegend Blutnahrung zu sich nehmen und zumeist über beißend-kauende Mundwerkzeuge verfügen, eine wichtige Nahrungsressource darstellen. Ob diese Annahme auch für die mit Abstand artenreichste Gruppe der Phthiraptera, nämlich die vorwiegend Keratin fressenden Vogel- Ischnozeren, zutreffen mag, steht dahin. Auch von Echten Läusen (Unterordnung Anoplura) und Rüsselläusen (Unterordnung Rhynchophthirina) ist Lachrymophagie nicht bekannt. Der Ophthalmotropismus der Tierläuse (im Besonderen der der Amblycera) widerspricht der Auffassung, sie seien grundsätzlich von negativ fototaktischem Verhalten. Weitere Beobachtungen erscheinen dringend notwendig.The new observation documented here from Myall Lakes National Park, New South Wales (Australia) on 8.9.2011 of a Myrsidea species drinking eye secretion on a Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus cyanochlamys Sharpe, which was behaving unusually, provides an opportunity for an updated general review of all currently known cases of lachrymophagy (or alternatively ophthalmotropism) in Amblyceran and ischnoceran chewing lice (Phthiraptera). This surprising phenomenon – first mentioned in 1734 – in lice that generally avoid the light appears to be more widespread than indicated by the records known until now (at least 18 in Amblycera, 2 in Ischnocera). These records involve 12 Amblyceran and 2 ischnoceran species belonging to 9 genera parasitizing 10 host families: 1 Menacanthus (Alaudidae?), 1 Gallacanthus (Phasianidae), 2 Dennyus (Apodidae), 4 Myrsidea (Furnariidae, Corvidae, Maluridae), 1 Heteromenopon (Psittacidae), 2 Neocolpocephalum (Accipitridae), and 1 Laemobothrion (Accipitridae), as well as 1 Bovicola (Bovidae) and 1 Trichodectes (Mustelidae). Lachrymophagy has not only been observed on living but also on freshly dead host individuals. The liquid secreted by the lacrimal glands must be an important food resource for those lice in particular that do not live exclusively or mainly on a diet of blood and that mostly possess biting-chewing mouth parts. Whether this assumption also applies to the most species-rich group of Phthiraptera, the mainly keratin-eating Ischnocera that parasitize birds, remains to be seen. Lachrymophagy also remains unknown among both the sucking lice (suborder Anoplura) and proboscidean lice (suborder Rhynchophthirina). Ophthalmotropism in chewing lice, and especially in the Amblycera, contradicts the general belief that the behavior of these insects is fundamentally negatively photophilic. Further observations are urgently required
Kevin P. Johnson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Structure, gene order, and nucleotide composition of mitochondrial genomes in parasitic lice from Amblycera.
Gene, 2020Co-Authors: Andrew D. Sweet, Kevin P. Johnson, Yanghui Cao, Robert S. De Moya, Rachel K. Skinner, Milton Tan, Stephany Virrueta Herrera, Stephen L. CameronAbstract:Abstract Parasitic lice have unique mitochondrial (mt) genomes characterized by rearranged gene orders, variable genome structures, and less AT content compared to most other insects. However, relatively little is known about the mt genomes of Amblycera, the suborder sister to all other parasitic lice. Comparing among nine different genera (including representative of all seven families), we show that Amblycera have variable and highly rearranged mt genomes. Some genera have fragmented genomes that vary considerably in length, whereas others have a single mt chromosome. Notably, these genomes are more AT-biased than most other lice. We also recover genus-level phylogenetic relationships among Amblycera that are consistent with those reported from large nuclear datasets, indicating that mt sequences are reliable for reconstructing evolutionary relationships in Amblycera. However, gene order data cannot reliably recover these same relationships. Overall, our results suggest that the mt genomes of lice, already know to be distinctive, are even more variable than previously thought.
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Cophylogenetic analysis of lice in the Colpocephalum complex (Phthiraptera: Amblycera)
Zoologica Scripta, 2017Co-Authors: Therese A. Catanach, Michel P Valim, Jason D. Weckstein, Kevin P. JohnsonAbstract:The chewing louse genus Colpocephalum parasitizes nearly a dozen distantly related orders of birds. Such a broad host distribution is relatively unusual in lice. However, the monophyly of the genus Colpocephalum has never been tested using molecular characters. Using one nuclear and one mitochondrial gene, we inferred a phylogeny for 54 lice from the genus Colpocephalum and other morphologically similar genera. The resulting phylogeny demonstrates that Colpocephalum itself is not monophyletic. However, these data support the existence of a Colpocephalum complex within which several lineages are restricted to particular host orders. These lineages corresponded to previously described genera, some of which are morphologically distinct and currently considered subgenera. Maddison–Slatkin tests were performed on the resulting phylogeny and showed that host order, host family and biogeographic region had significant phylogenetic signal when mapped onto the Colpocephalum complex phylogeny. A PARAFIT analysis comparing the overall Colpocephalum complex phylogeny to a host phylogeny revealed significant congruence between host and parasite trees. We also compared the cophylogenetic history of Colpocephalum and their hosts to that of a second distantly related feather louse genus, Degeeriella, which also infests diurnal birds of prey. Using PARAFIT to identify individual host–parasite links that contributed to overall congruence, there was no evidence of correlated cophylogenetic patterns between these two louse groups, suggesting that their host distribution patterns have been shaped by different evolutionary processes.
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KP: How stable is the “polyphyly of lice” hypothesis (Insecta: Psocodea)?: A comparison of phylogenetic signal in multiple genes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2010
2015Co-Authors: Kevin P. Johnson, Kazunori YoshizawaAbstract:Click here to view linked References Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA have indicated that parasitic lice (order Phthiraptera) are possibly polyphyletic. These analyses recovered one of the parasitic louse suborders, Amblycera, as the sister group to the free-living booklouse family Liposcelididae. We further tested this hypothesis using DNA sequences from five genes: nuclear 18S rDNA, Histone 3, and wingless and mitochondrial 16S rDNA and COI. Combined analyses of these five genes provided reasonably strong support for the Amblycera + Liposcelididae clade, supporting the polyphyly of lice hypothesis. To explore the robustness of this result, we examined the phylogenetic signal contained in each gene independently (except for wingless, which could not be readily amplified in many target taxa). Analyses of each gene separately and in various combinations with other genes revealed that clear signal supporting Amblycera + Liposcelididae only existed in the 18S data, although no analysis supported monophyly of parasitic lice. Nevertheless, combined analyses of all genes provided stronger support for this relationship than that obtained from 18S data alone. The increase in support for this clade was mostly explained by the stabilization of other parts of the tree and potentially inappropriate substitution modeling. These findings demonstrate that the increased support values provided by combined data set does not always indicate corroboration of the hypothesis
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Clever birds are lousy: co-variation between avian innovation and the taxonomic richness of their Amblyceran lice.
International journal for parasitology, 2011Co-Authors: Zoltán Vas, Louis Lefebvre, Kevin P. Johnson, Jeno Reiczigel, Lajos RózsaAbstract:Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) are ectoparasites that reduce host life expectancy and sexual attractiveness. Their taxonomic richness varies considerably among their hosts. Previous studies have already explored some important factors shaping louse diversity. An unexplored potential correlate of louse taxonomic richness is host behavioural flexibility. In this comparative study, we examine the relationship between louse generic richness, innovative capabilities (as a proxy for behavioural flexibility), and brain size while controlling for host species diversity, phylogeny, body size and research effort. Using data for 108 avian families, we found a highly significant positive relationship between host innovative capabilities and the taxonomic richness of Amblyceran lice, but a lack of a similar relationship in ischnoceran lice. Host brain size had only a marginal impact on Amblyceran diversity and no correlation with ischnoceran diversity. This suggests that the effect in Amblycera is not mediated by metabolic limitations due to the energetic costs of brain size and maintenance, rather directly caused by the ecological differences between hosts with differing cognitive capabilities. We propose four alternative and mutually non-exclusive hypotheses that may explain this phenomenon.
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How stable is the "Polyphyly of Lice" hypothesis (Insecta: Psocodea)?: a comparison of phylogenetic signal in multiple genes.
Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 2010Co-Authors: Kazunori Yoshizawa, Kevin P. JohnsonAbstract:Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA have indicated that parasitic lice (order Phthiraptera) are possibly polyphyletic. These analyses recovered one of the parasitic louse suborders, Amblycera, as the sister group to the free-living booklouse family Liposcelididae. We further tested this hypothesis using DNA sequences from five genes: nuclear 18S rDNA, Histone 3, and wingless and mitochondrial 16S rDNA and COI. Combined analyses of these five genes provided reasonably strong support for the Amblycera+Liposcelididae clade, supporting the polyphyly of lice hypothesis. To explore the robustness of this result, we examined the phylogenetic signal contained in each gene independently (except for wingless, which could not be readily amplified in many target taxa). Analyses of each gene separately and in various combinations with other genes revealed that clear signal supporting Amblycera+Liposcelididae only existed in the 18S data, although no analysis supported monophyly of parasitic lice. Nevertheless, combined analyses of all genes provided stronger support for this relationship than that obtained from 18S data alone. The increase in support for this clade was mostly explained by the stabilization of other parts of the tree and potentially inappropriate substitution modeling. These findings demonstrate that the increased support values provided by combined data set does not always indicate corroboration of the hypothesis.
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an annotated checklist of Amblyceran chewing lice phthiraptera Amblycera from wild passerine birds passeriformes in south africa
African Entomology, 2014Co-Authors: Ali Halajian, Oldřich Sychra, D. Engelbrecht, Wilmien J Luuspowell, Ivo PapoušekAbstract:A total of 778 individuals of 150 bird species were examined: 123 (16 %) individuals of 40 non-passerine bird species belonging to 16 orders; and 655 (84 %) individuals of 110 passerine bird species (Passeriformes) belonging to 28 families. A total of 2041 chewing lice belonging to nine genera were found on passerine birds. Amblyceran lice were less frequent than ischnoceran lice (32.8 % vs 67.2 %, n = 2041). A total of 670 Amblyceran lice (mean intensity = 5.0) were found on 133 passerine birds (20.3 %) of 43 species. The dominant Amblyceran genus was Menacanthus with a dominance of 59.3 %, while the other two genera were less frequent: Myrsidea (36.9 %) and Ricinus (3.9 % ). A total of 50 Amblyceran louse-host associations were recorded. An equal overall sex ratio as well as age ratio was found among the collected lice. An updated checklist of the species of Amblyceran lice from passerine birds from South Africa is included and discussed. Two families, five genera and 32 species of lice are listed from ...
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Chewing Lice in Azorean Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla): A Contribution to Parasite Island Syndromes
The Journal of parasitology, 2014Co-Authors: Ivan Literák, Oldřich Sychra, Roberto Resendes, Pedro RodriguesAbstract:Abstract: Focusing upon chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) parasitizing blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) in the Azores (Portugal), we found a lower number of louse species in the Azores compared to mainland Europe. Only chewing lice host specific to blackcaps were found in the Azores. Louse prevalences were much higher in blackcaps from the Azores compared to those of various mainland populations. Chewing lice are permanent parasites of birds, and for such parasites the parasite island syndrome could be characterized by higher parasite prevalence on the islands compared to the mainland.
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Amblyceran chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) from wild passerines (Passeriformes) in South Africa, with a note to their phylogenetic relationships and with the description of a new species in the genus Myrsidea
African Entomology, 2014Co-Authors: Oldřich Sychra, Ali Halajian, Wilmien J. Luus-powell, D. Engelbrecht, Craig T. Symes, Ivo PapoušekAbstract:A total of 655 individuals of 110 passerine species belonging to 28 families were examined for chewing lice in South Africa. A total of 80 (12 %) birds of 33 species were parasitized with Amblyceran chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) belonging to three genera: Menacanthus, Myrsidea and Ricinus. In this paper we report the occurrence of 11 species of chewing lice identified from 38 birds of 16 species. Three samples of chewing lice containing only nymphs were identified to the generic level only. Description and illustrations are given for Myrsidea oatleyi Sychra & Halajian, sp. n. ex Pogonocichla stellata (Vieillot, 1818) (Muscicapidae). Our data represent the first louse records for Lanius collaris Linnaeus, 1766 (Laniidae), Cossypha dichroa (Gmelin, 1789) and Pogonocichla stellata (Muscicapidae), and Andropadus importunus (Vieillot, 1818) and Chlorocichla flaviventris (A. Smith, 1834) (Pycnonotidae). Records of new host—louse associations are: Cecropis abyssinica (Guerin-Meneville, 1843) (Hirundinid...
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The Chewing Lice (Phthiraptera) of Red-Billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) in Senegal, with a Description of a New Species
African Entomology, 2010Co-Authors: Oldřich Sychra, Ivan Literák, E Barlev, Miroslav Capek, Petr Koubek, Petr ProcházkaAbstract:One hundred and six individuals of red-billed quelea (Quelea quelea) were examined for chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) in Senegal. Chewing lice were found on 91 (86 %) birds examined. Three species of chewing lice were identified; they had the following prevalences and mean intensities: Brueelia queleae n. sp. (81 %; 5.3 lice), Myrsidea queleae (37 %; 1.7) and Machaerilaemus plocei (9 %; 1.7). These are the first records of chewing lice from red-billed quelea from Senegal. A new species of Brueelia is described and illustrated. This is the first ischnoceran louse described from this host.
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Chewing lice (Phthiraptera) on chickens (Gallus gallus) from small backyard flocks in the eastern part of the Czech Republic.
Veterinary Parasitology, 2008Co-Authors: Oldřich Sychra, P. Harmat, Ivan LiterákAbstract:One hundred and sixty chickens (Gallus gallus) from 31 small, private backyard flocks in the eastern part of the Czech Republic were examined for chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera). At least one species of chewing lice was found on every bird examined. Seven species of chewing lice were identified in all; they had the following prevalences and mean intensities: Goniocotes gallinae (100%; 110 lice), Menopon gallinae (88%; 50), Menacanthus stramineus (48%; 17), Lipeurus caponis (35%; 12), Menacanthus cornutus (12%; 9), Cuclotogaster heterographus (1%; 4) and Goniocotes microthorax (1%; 3). Just two birds from a single flock were heavily infested with the ischnoceran species G. gallinae.