First Records of Feather Mites and Haemosporidian Parasites in the Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) from the Westernmost Part of the Species Breeding Range

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

In the study, feather mites and haemosporidian parasites were screened in seven Isabelline wheateaters, finding three positive samples for mites and haemosporidians. The manuscript is well written and presents new findings on this bird species. Results are well presented but can be improved (please look at comments below). Introduction and discussion are complete. One concern is that the study includes only one sampling site, one host species and very low sample size. Somewhere in the text, it should be explained why only one site was selected and why sample size is so low. Considering this and the length of the manuscript, I might suggest to publish the study as a short communication instead of an article.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor editing. Please check attached file.

Author Response

Comment: In the study, feather mites and haemosporidian parasites were screened in seven Isabelline wheateaters, finding three positive samples for mites and haemosporidians. The manuscript is well written and presents new findings on this bird species. Results are well presented but can be improved (please look at comments below). Introduction and discussion are complete. One concern is that the study includes only one sampling site, one host species and very low sample size. Somewhere in the text, it should be explained why only one site was selected and why sample size is so low. Considering this and the length of the manuscript, I might suggest to publish the study as a short communication instead of an article.

RESPONSE: We accept the reviewer’s comment about the low sample size. In this furthest edge of the breeding range the local populations are small (several breeding couples) and due to logistic and time constraints this can be regarded as a pilot study. We are planning a bigger study, including more populations after we find funding for such a project. We added that this is a pilot study in the Methods (line 77).

Regarding the suggestion that the study might be published as a short communication, we are leaving this decision to the Editor since the other two reviewers do not recommend this.

 

Comment: Minor editing. Please check attached file.

RESPONSE: We made the corrections suggested by the reviewer.

 

Comment: Figure 3: Please add images of other stages of development.

RESPONSE: We did not follow this recommendation because in the smears taken from the host with P. relictum we did not find young stages of the parasite, but only gametocytes (lines 147-149).

 

Comment: Please include in the text the morphological characteristics that coincide with the description of Plamsodium relictum.

RESPONSE: We added in the Results a short description of the gametocytes of this parasite species (lines 144-147).

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The revised manuscript is a small but useful contribution to the diversity and distribution of feather mites and protozoan blood parasites on birds in Europe. The manuscript can be accepted after a minor revision. All comments and recommendations are provided in the attached text of the manuscript. There are just a few comments, which should be specifically stressed:

 

P. 1, lines 36-38: Feather mites (Acariformes: Astigmata: Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea), another group of organisms previously considered as parasites on birds, are now regarded as commensals or even mutualists [7].

 

This phrase is not precise enough and consider feather mites too one-sidedly, only in one aspect. Actually in feather mites (Astigmata: Analgoidea +Pterolichoidea), it is possible to find quite different types of relations with their avian hosts.  Besides, definition of feather mites as parasites or commensals depend upon concepts and criteria of parasitism, which a researcher follows in his studies. Indeed, the majority of feather mites, about ¾ families inhabit various microhabitats in the plumage and likely (as it seems to a researcher) do not cause any harm damage to avian hosts. Therefore they often refereed by a “neutral” term as commensals. However, in both superfamilies, there are several families, which representatives live inside the quills of feather and gnaw the internal walls of rachis. Moreover, in Analgoidea, there are three families living on the skin and under leg scales and are analogous to proroptid and scabies mites, causing mange in mammals. Finally, mites of two families of Analgoidea, (Turbinoptidae and Kytoditidae) live in nasal cavities and air sacks of birds.

 

P. 4, Fig. 2: (Photos of Alaudicola rosickyi)

 

Both photos are of a low quality. They are made too small and almost useless for comparison and any detailed examitation. On each photo, there a lot of excessive empty space. From each side of the photos, about 25-30% can be cut off, and remaining area with a mite properly can be given in a much larger size. See the model in the attached doc file "Comments"

 

Other variant to modify the photos is to take photos anew under a higher magnification, for example x40. If the view field is not enough to catch entire mite, mites can be photographed, part by part, and then the pieces can be automatically merged with some software for images.

 

Additionally, it is necessary to note that mites are mounted not carefully. Maybe this is because of the Euparal medium. It is not good for these group mites; a classical Hoyer medium of PVA medium are much better. Besides, the mites are insufficiently pressed and not enough heated. Certainly, for this reason, the anterior legs of the female are bend down under the body, and the male lays incorrectly, it’s turned slightly sideward.

 

 

P. 5, likes 151, 152: Dubinin [15] reported the Isabelline wheatear and the northern wheatears as hosts of Alaudicola bilobata  (Robin, 1868), a species normally found on larks, in Russia.

 

In the 1950s, only one species with such appearance, "Pterodectes bilobatus”, was known. Other species currently included in the genus Alaudicola had not yet been established. It is highly probably that Dubinin (1951) actually dealt with A. rosickyi, but did not recognize that his species from wheatears differs from P. bilobatus (now A. bilobatus) associated with larks.

Comments for author File: Comments.zip

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The language is generally clear and well undertsandble , although some phrase are constructed too complicately.

Most common minor error, - article "the" is missed before common English names of of birds, when authors mean a particular avian species.

Author Response

Comment: The revised manuscript is a small but useful contribution to the diversity and distribution of feather mites and protozoan blood parasites on birds in Europe. The manuscript can be accepted after a minor revision. All comments and recommendations are provided in the attached text of the manuscript. There are just a few comments, which should be specifically stressed:

P. 1, lines 36-38: Feather mites (Acariformes: Astigmata: Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea), another group of organisms previously considered as parasites on birds, are now regarded as commensals or even mutualists [7].

This phrase is not precise enough and consider feather mites too one-sidedly, only in one aspect. Actually in feather mites (Astigmata: Analgoidea +Pterolichoidea), it is possible to find quite different types of relations with their avian hosts.  Besides, definition of feather mites as parasites or commensals depend upon concepts and criteria of parasitism, which a researcher follows in his studies. Indeed, the majority of feather mites, about ¾ families inhabit various microhabitats in the plumage and likely (as it seems to a researcher) do not cause any harm damage to avian hosts. Therefore they often refereed by a “neutral” term as commensals. However, in both superfamilies, there are several families, which representatives live inside the quills of feather and gnaw the internal walls of rachis. Moreover, in Analgoidea, there are three families living on the skin and under leg scales and are analogous to proroptid and scabies mites, causing mange in mammals. Finally, mites of two families of Analgoidea, (Turbinoptidae and Kytoditidae) live in nasal cavities and air sacks of birds.

RESPONSE: Thank you for your comment. We rewrote this sentence to describe better the diversity of relationships between the feather mites and their hosts (lines 38-42).

 

Comment: P. 4, Fig. 2: (Photos of Alaudicola rosickyi)

Both photos are of a low quality. They are made too small and almost useless for comparison and any detailed examitation. On each photo, there a lot of excessive empty space. From each side of the photos, about 25-30% can be cut off, and remaining area with a mite properly can be given in a much larger size. See the model in the attached doc file "Comments"

Other variant to modify the photos is to take photos anew under a higher magnification, for example x40. If the view field is not enough to catch entire mite, mites can be photographed, part by part, and then the pieces can be automatically merged with some software for images.

Additionally, it is necessary to note that mites are mounted not carefully. Maybe this is because of the Euparal medium. It is not good for these group mites; a classical Hoyer medium of PVA medium are much better. Besides, the mites are insufficiently pressed and not enough heated. Certainly, for this reason, the anterior legs of the female are bend down under the body, and the male lays incorrectly, it’s turned slightly sideward.

RESPONSE: We now provided photos of another two mite individuals with higher resolution and removed empty spaces as suggested by the reviewer.

We are aware that the Euparal medium is not a good choice for mounting this group of mites but we did not possess any of the other mediums mentioned by the reviewer.

 

Comment: P. 5, likes 151, 152: Dubinin [15] reported the Isabelline wheatear and the northern wheatears as hosts of Alaudicola bilobata (Robin, 1868), a species normally found on larks, in Russia.

 In the 1950s, only one species with such appearance, "Pterodectes bilobatus”, was known. Other species currently included in the genus Alaudicola had not yet been established. It is highly probably that Dubinin (1951) actually dealt with A. rosickyi, but did not recognize that his species from wheatears differs from P. bilobatus (now A. bilobatus) associated with larks.

RESPONSE: We rewrote this part to reflect the reviewer’s comment (lines 167-171).

 

Comment: Line 161: Remember that this study of Dona et al. was focused on detecting accidental but natural transfers of feather mites between passerines in the nature. These mite species were detected by molecular techniques, but it does not mean that these species have established stable intrapopulations on wheatears.

RESPONSE: We added two sentences in line with the reviewer’s comment (lines 186-188).

 

Comment: The language is generally clear and well undertsandble , although some phrase are constructed too complicately.

RESPONSE: After revising the article according to the suggestions of the three reviewers we hope that the reading of the text is better.

 

Comment: Most common minor error, - article "the" is missed before common English names of birds, when authors mean a particular avian species.

RESPONSE: Thank you for pointing this out. We added “the” in these cases.

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Review comments to Diversity_3094581

 

This study reports the detections of feather mites and avian malaria parasites from a migratory bird species of Isabelline wheratear for the first time. These findings are worth enough to understand the host-parasite relationship especially for considering the probable changes of host bird distribution. This simple and concise study may contribute for further investigations on the prevalence and any effects to host birds. So the reviewer concludes that this article can be published in this journal after the revision according to the comments as shown below:

 

General comments:

Malaria is the disease name, so the authors need to clarify the word again. For example, “known as malaria” in Line 36 should be written as “known as causative agents of malaria”. Please check other descriptions through the manuscript.

 

Minor comments:

Line 23: avian malaria >>> avian malaria parasites

 

Line 41: Please delete “there are still” and “that”.

 

Line 44: the >>> this

 

Line 60: avian malaria >>> avian malaria parasites

 

Line 115-116: The authors can find only signals for the amplification but did not know if they were avian haemosporidian parasite DNA at this point. So alter “avian haemosporidians” to “amplified signals”.

 

Line 124-126: It should be written more simply in order, namely, the authors found feather mites and they were identified as Alaudicola rosickyi. Then you can describe as below;

Feather mites were collected from wing feathers of the three adult birds and 5 males and 15 females were found (Figure 2), while no mites were found on the juvenile birds. All collected mites were morphologically identified as Alaudicola rosickyi (Černy, 124 1963).

 

Line 129: Please delete “Macro-photographs of”.

 

Figure 2: Please cut unnecessary spaces around mite pictures.

 

Line 134: was >>> were

 

Line 135: Please delete “according to the microscopic examination”.

 

Line 136-127: No photos for young form parasites?

 

Line 137: Where did the author show the quantity of template DNA?

 

Line 140: Please delete “Microphotographs of”.

 

Line 143: only >>> a

 

Line 152-155: Please try to describe simply as below;

We did not find other species of feather mites, but Isabelline wheatears was reported as a host of Proctophyllodes leptocaulus Gaud, 1953, Pterodectes sp. from Kyrgyzstan [16] and Proctophyllodes hipposideros found in Ukraine [17].

 

Line 184: Nourani >>> Nouarni et al.

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Review comments to Diversity_3094581

 

This study reports the detections of feather mites and avian malaria parasites from a migratory bird species of Isabelline wheratear for the first time. These findings are worth enough to understand the host-parasite relationship especially for considering the probable changes of host bird distribution. This simple and concise study may contribute for further investigations on the prevalence and any effects to host birds. So the reviewer concludes that this article can be published in this journal after the revision according to the comments as shown below:

 

General comments:

Malaria is the disease name, so the authors need to clarify the word again. For example, “known as malaria” in Line 36 should be written as “known as causative agents of malaria”. Please check other descriptions through the manuscript.

 

Minor comments:

Line 23: avian malaria >>> avian malaria parasites

 

Line 41: Please delete “there are still” and “that”.

 

Line 44: the >>> this

 

Line 60: avian malaria >>> avian malaria parasites

 

Line 115-116: The authors can find only signals for the amplification but did not know if they were avian haemosporidian parasite DNA at this point. So alter “avian haemosporidians” to “amplified signals”.

 

Line 124-126: It should be written more simply in order, namely, the authors found feather mites and they were identified as Alaudicola rosickyi. Then you can describe as below;

Feather mites were collected from wing feathers of the three adult birds and 5 males and 15 females were found (Figure 2), while no mites were found on the juvenile birds. All collected mites were morphologically identified as Alaudicola rosickyi (Černy, 124 1963).

 

Line 129: Please delete “Macro-photographs of”.

 

Figure 2: Please cut unnecessary spaces around mite pictures.

 

Line 134: was >>> were

 

Line 135: Please delete “according to the microscopic examination”.

 

Line 136-127: No photos for young form parasites?

 

Line 137: Where did the author show the quantity of template DNA?

 

Line 140: Please delete “Microphotographs of”.

 

Line 143: only >>> a

 

Line 152-155: Please try to describe simply as below;

We did not find other species of feather mites, but Isabelline wheatears was reported as a host of Proctophyllodes leptocaulus Gaud, 1953, Pterodectes sp. from Kyrgyzstan [16] and Proctophyllodes hipposideros found in Ukraine [17].

 

Line 184: Nourani >>> Nouarni et al.

Author Response

Comment: This study reports the detections of feather mites and avian malaria parasites from a migratory bird species of Isabelline wheratear for the first time. These findings are worth enough to understand the host-parasite relationship especially for considering the probable changes of host bird distribution. This simple and concise study may contribute for further investigations on the prevalence and any effects to host birds. So the reviewer concludes that this article can be published in this journal after the revision according to the comments as shown below:

 General comments:

Malaria is the disease name, so the authors need to clarify the word again. For example, “known as malaria” in Line 36 should be written as “known as causative agents of malaria”. Please check other descriptions through the manuscript.

RESPONSE: Thank you for pointing this out. We made this change as suggested (line 37) and corrected the other cases when we used “malaria”.

 

Comment: Minor comments:

Line 23: avian malaria >>> avian malaria parasites

Line 41: Please delete “there are still” and “that”.

 Line 44: the >>> this

Line 60: avian malaria >>> avian malaria parasites

Line 115-116: The authors can find only signals for the amplification but did not know if they were avian haemosporidian parasite DNA at this point. So alter “avian haemosporidians” to “amplified signals”.

RESPONSE: We made the above corrections suggested by the reviewer.

 

Comment: Line 124-126: It should be written more simply in order, namely, the authors found feather mites and they were identified as Alaudicola rosickyi. Then you can describe as below;

Feather mites were collected from wing feathers of the three adult birds and 5 males and 15 females were found (Figure 2), while no mites were found on the juvenile birds. All collected mites were morphologically identified as Alaudicola rosickyi (Černy, 124 1963).

 RESPONSE: We rewrote this part according to the suggestion of the reviewer (lines 130-133).  

 

Comment: Line 129: Please delete “Macro-photographs of”.

 Figure 2: Please cut unnecessary spaces around mite pictures.

 Line 134: was >>> were

 Line 135: Please delete “according to the microscopic examination”.

 RESPONSE: We made the above corrections suggested by the reviewer.  

 

Comment: Line 136-127: No photos for young form parasites?

RESPONSE: We did not observe young forms in the smears taken from the bird with P. relictum.  

 

Comment: Line 137: Where did the author show the quantity of template DNA?

RESPONSE: The DNA concentration was really low despite our efforts to extract the second half of the sample with a kit. One possible explanation was some problem with the buffer in which these particular samples were taken. You can now see the quantity at line 151.  

 

Comment: Line 140: Please delete “Microphotographs of”.

Line 143: only >>> a

RESPONSE: We made the above corrections suggested by the reviewer.  

 

Comment: Line 152-155: Please try to describe simply as below;

We did not find other species of feather mites, but Isabelline wheatears was reported as a host of Proctophyllodes leptocaulus Gaud, 1953, Pterodectes sp. from Kyrgyzstan [16] and Proctophyllodes hipposideros found in Ukraine [17].

RESPONSE: We changed the text as suggested by the reviewer (lines 174-177).  

 

Comment: Line 184: Nourani >>> Nouarni et al.

RESPONSE: Corrected.