Predictions of avian Plasmodium expansion under climate change.

Claire Loiseau (1) , Ryan J Harrigan (2) , Coraline Bichet (3) , Romain Julliard (4) , Stéphane Garnier (3) , Adám Z Lendvai (5) , Olivier Chastel (6) , Gabriele Sorci (3)

1 Department of Biology
2 DEEB - Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
3 BGS - Biogéosciences [UMR 6282]
4 CESCO - Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la COnservation
5 Institute of Biology
6 CEBC - Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé

Vector-borne diseases are particularly responsive to changing environmental conditions. Diurnal temperature variation has been identified as a particularly important factor for the development of malaria parasites within vectors. Here, we conducted a survey across France, screening populations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) for malaria (Plasmodium relictum). We investigated whether variation in remotely-sensed environmental variables accounted for the spatial variation observed in prevalence and parasitemia. While prevalence was highly correlated to diurnal temperature range and other measures of temperature variation, environmental conditions could not predict spatial variation in parasitemia. Based on our empirical data, we mapped malaria distribution under climate change scenarios and predicted that Plasmodium occurrence will spread to regions in northern France, and that prevalence levels are likely to increase in locations where transmission already occurs. Our findings, based on remote sensing tools coupled with empirical data suggest that climatic change will significantly alter transmission of malaria parasites.

Domaines: Bioclimatologie; Médecine vétérinaire et santé animale; Parasitologie

Claire Loiseau, Ryan J Harrigan, Coraline Bichet, Romain Julliard, Stéphane Garnier, et al.. Predictions of avian Plasmodium expansion under climate change.. Scientific Reports, 2013, 3 (1), pp.1126. ⟨10.1038/srep01126⟩. ⟨hal-00787157⟩