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Euclydes R, Campião KM. Patterns in parasite diversity and interactions with anurans from the Atlantic Forest. Parasitol Int 2024; 102:102914. [PMID: 38908472 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Knowledge of parasite-host interactions is essential for understanding factors associated with the ecology and evolution of both groups. Some aspects, such as host size and phylogeny, as well as parasite specificity, are significant predictors that help unveil the parasite-host relationship. Thus, the goals of this study were: (1) to describe parasite diversity in regions of the Atlantic Forest; (2) to analyze which host characteristics can influence parasite richness of anuran's parasite component community; and (3) to investigate if the prevalence of parasite infection is related to specificity metrics (ecological and phylogenetic), number of infected hosts and parasite's abundance. We identified 49 parasite taxa, classified into three phyla: Nematoda, Acanthocephala, and Platyhelminthes. Supporting the existing literature, our findings corroborate the positive relationship between host size and parasite richness, further emphasizing the significance of this predictor. Parasite prevalence in the host community is related to the number of infected host species and parasite abundance, but not to phylogenetic and ecological specificity indices. This shows that parasite prevalence is strongly associated with infection opportunity, host sampling effort, and high parasite abundance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Euclydes
- Department of Zoology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná 81531-980, Brazil.
| | - Karla Magalhães Campião
- Department of Zoology, Biological Sciences Sector, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná 81531-980, Brazil
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Musese LJ, Kitegile AS, Kilawe CJ. Ectoparasites of wild rodents in forest sites invaded and uninvaded by Maesopsis eminii in Amani nature forest reserve, Tanzania. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 24:100932. [PMID: 38601057 PMCID: PMC11002661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Parasites are important component of communities in a forest ecosystem with profound effects on trophic interactions such as food web. Modification of the forest structure (e.g. changes in species composition and abundance of key species) can have a strong impact on the occurrence, diversity, and abundance of parasites, with subsequent repercussions for ecosystem functioning. In this study, we compared the occurrence and abundance of wild rodents' ectoparasites from forest sites invaded and uninvaded by an invasive tree, Maesopsis eminii in Amani Nature Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Three large plots (40 m × 100 m) were randomly established in each forest sites invaded and uninvaded by M. eminii. In each plot, 50 Sherman traps were systematically placed at 10 m interval for capturing wild rodents through a capture-mark-recapture technique. Wilcox rank sum test was used to compare for differences in the abundance of infested rodents and ectoparasites between the invaded and uninvaded forest sites. A total of 297 individual rodents were captured and screened for ectoparasites, including 174 rodents from uninvaded forest site and 123 rodents from invaded forest site. The number of infested rodents were significantly (W = 8592, P < 0.001) greater in uninvaded forest site (66.27%) than in the invaded forest site (36.2%). Furthermore, a significant greater number of Echinolaelaps echidninus (W = 1849, P < 0.01) and Dinopsyllus ellobius (W = 2800.5, P < 0.05) ectoparasites were found in uninvaded as compared to the invaded forest sites. The results of this study suggest that the invasion and dominance by, M. eminii in Amani Nature Reserve has created unfavorable conditions for rodents and ectoparasites and therefore impacting the diversity and function of the forest ecosystem. We recommend prevention of further introduction of the M. eminii outside their natural range and mitigating the impact of the established M. eminii in Amani Forest Nature Reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia J. Musese
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Amani S. Kitegile
- Department of Wildlife Management, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
| | - Charles J. Kilawe
- Department of Ecosystems and Conservation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania
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Orlandi Neto A, Franceschini L, Dias JHP, Ribeiro CDS, Ramos IP. Endoparasitic helminth fauna and diet of Geophagus sveni (Pisces) in Upper Paraná River basin. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:208. [PMID: 38724709 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08222-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
In freshwater ecosystems, parasite infection patterns are influenced by factors including spatial-temporal variations, host diet, and habitat. Fish often change diets, affecting their parasite communities. This study focused on non-native host fish Geophagus sveni, aiming to characterize diet and endoparasitic helminth fauna patterns in the invaded area, investigating spatial and seasonal possible differences of endoparasite infections and correlating with host diet, in São José dos Dourados River and Tietê River areas. The host fish were collected in these areas during the dry and rainy season using gillnets. The endoparasites were collected and preserved in alcohol and identified using taxonomic methods, and stomach contents were examined for diet analysis. Parasitism descriptors were calculated and evaluated spatially and seasonally by ANOVA and the Kruskal-Wallis tests. PERMANOVA assessed G. sveni diet differences, and RDA correlated the endohelminth abundance with the host diet. Two endoparasites were recorded: metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum compactum (Trematoda) and larvae and adults of Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) lanfrediae (Nematoda). Spatial differences were observed for the mean abundance and prevalence of R. (S.) lanfrediae and A. compactum prevalence. Seasonal variations of parasitic descriptors occurred for the nematode in the Tietê River area. The detritus and aquatic insects were the most consumed items by G. sveni. Detritus consumption positively correlates with nematode abundance. The findings indicate that factors such as artificial channels and rainfall, which can influence resource availability, may affect the fish's diet and potentially influence the structure of its endoparasite community. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding trophic chain-transmitted parasites and calls for further research in Neotropical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymar Orlandi Neto
- Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
| | - Lidiane Franceschini
- Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José Do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | | | | | - Igor Paiva Ramos
- School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ilha Solteira, Brazil
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de Angeli Dutra D. Assessing global drivers of parasite diversity: host diversity and body mass boost avian haemosporidian diversity. Parasitology 2024; 151:478-484. [PMID: 38634315 PMCID: PMC11106501 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Biodiversity varies worldwide and is influenced by multiple factors, such as environmental stability and past historical events (e.g. Panama Isthmus). At the same time, organisms with unique life histories (e.g. parasites) are subject to unique selective pressures that structure their diversity patterns. Parasites represent one of the most successful life strategies, impacting, directly and indirectly, ecosystems by cascading effects on host fitness and survival. Here, I focused on a highly diverse, prevalent and cosmopolitan group of parasites (avian haemosporidians) to investigate the main drivers (e.g. host and environmental features) of regional parasite diversity on a global scale. To do so, I compiled data from 4 global datasets on (i) avian haemosporidian (malaria and malaria-like) parasites, (ii) bird species diversity, (iii) avian functional traits and (iv) climate data. Then, using generalized least square models, I evaluated the effect of host and environmental features on haemosporidian diversity. I found that haemosporidian diversity mirrors host regional diversity and that higher host body mass increases haemosporidian diversity. On the other hand, climatic conditions had no effect on haemosporidian diversity in any model. When evaluating Leucocytozoon parasites separately, I found parasite diversity was boosted by a higher proportion of migratory hosts. In conclusion, I demonstrated that haemosporidian parasite diversity is intrinsically associated with their hosts’ diversity and body mass.
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La Chapelle M, Ruta M, Dunn JC. Bird species with wider geographical ranges have higher blood parasite diversity but not prevalence across the African-Eurasian flyway. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:787-796. [PMID: 37467874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Avian blood parasites, from the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon, are predicted to alter their range and prevalence as global temperatures change, and host and vector ranges shift. Understanding large-scale patterns in the prevalence and diversity of avian malaria and malaria-like parasites is important due to an incomplete understanding of their effects in the wild, where studies suggest even light parasitaemia can potentially cause rapid mortality, especially in naïve populations. We conducted phylogenetically controlled analyses to test for differences in prevalence and lineage diversity of haemoparasite infection (for Plasmodium, Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) in and between resident and migratory species along the African-Eurasian flyway. To test whether migratory strategy or range size drives differences in parasite prevalence and diversity between resident and migrant species, we included three categories of resident species: Eurasian only (n = 36 species), African only (n = 41), and species resident on both continents (n = 17), alongside intercontinental migrants (n = 64), using a subset of data from the MalAvi database comprising 27,861 individual birds. We found that species resident on both continents had a higher overall parasite diversity than all other categories. Eurasian residents had lower Plasmodium diversity than all other groups, and both migrants and species resident on both continents had higher Haemoproteus diversity than both African and Eurasian residents. Leucocytozoon diversity did not differ between groups. Prevalence patterns were less clear, with marked differences between genera. Both Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon prevalence was higher in species resident on both continents and African residents than in migrants and Eurasian residents. Haemoproteus prevalence was lower in Eurasian residents than species resident on both continents. Our findings contrast with previous findings in the North-South American flyway, where long-distance migrants had higher parasite diversity than residents and short-distance migrants, although we found contrasting patterns for parasite diversity to those seen for parasite prevalence. Crucially, our results suggest that geographic range may be more important than migratory strategy in driving parasite diversity within species along the African-Palaearctic flyway. Our findings differ between the three parasite genera included in our analysis, suggesting that vector ecology may be important in determining these large-scale patterns. Our results add to our understanding of global patterns in parasite diversity and abundance, and highlight the need to better understand the influence of vector ecology to understand the drivers of infection risk and predict responses to environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary La Chapelle
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Marcello Ruta
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK
| | - Jenny C Dunn
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Lincoln, Joseph Banks Laboratories, Green Lane, Lincoln LN6 7DL, UK.
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Sromek L, Ylinen E, Kunnasranta M, Maduna SN, Sinisalo T, Michell CT, Kovacs KM, Lydersen C, Ieshko E, Andrievskaya E, Alexeev V, Leidenberger S, Hagen SB, Nyman T. Loss of species and genetic diversity during colonization: Insights from acanthocephalan parasites in northern European seals. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10608. [PMID: 37869427 PMCID: PMC10585441 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies on host-parasite systems that have experienced distributional shifts, range fragmentation, and population declines in the past can provide information regarding how parasite community richness and genetic diversity will change as a result of anthropogenic environmental changes in the future. Here, we studied how sequential postglacial colonization, shifts in habitat, and reduced host population sizes have influenced species richness and genetic diversity of Corynosoma (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) parasites in northern European marine, brackish, and freshwater seal populations. We collected Corynosoma population samples from Arctic, Baltic, Ladoga, and Saimaa ringed seal subspecies and Baltic gray seals, and then applied COI barcoding and triple-enzyme restriction-site associated DNA (3RAD) sequencing to delimit species, clarify their distributions and community structures, and elucidate patterns of intraspecific gene flow and genetic diversity. Our results showed that Corynosoma species diversity reflected host colonization histories and population sizes, with four species being present in the Arctic, three in the Baltic Sea, two in Lake Ladoga, and only one in Lake Saimaa. We found statistically significant population-genetic differentiation within all three Corynosoma species that occur in more than one seal (sub)species. Genetic diversity tended to be high in Corynosoma populations originating from Arctic ringed seals and low in the landlocked populations. Our results indicate that acanthocephalan communities in landlocked seal populations are impoverished with respect to both species and intraspecific genetic diversity. Interestingly, the loss of genetic diversity within Corynosoma species seems to have been less drastic than in their seal hosts, possibly due to their large local effective population sizes resulting from high infection intensities and effective intra-host population mixing. Our study highlights the utility of genomic methods in investigations of community composition and genetic diversity of understudied parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludmila Sromek
- Department of Marine Ecosystems Functioning, Institute of OceanographyUniversity of GdanskGdyniaPoland
| | - Eeva Ylinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Mervi Kunnasranta
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
- Natural Resources Institute FinlandJoensuuFinland
| | - Simo N. Maduna
- Department of Ecosystem in the Barents RegionNorwegian Institute of Bioeconomy ResearchSvanvikNorway
| | - Tuula Sinisalo
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of JyväskyläJyväskyläFinland
| | - Craig T. Michell
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
- Red Sea Research CenterKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Evgeny Ieshko
- Institute of Biology, Karelian Research CentreRussian Academy of SciencesPetrozavodskRussia
| | | | | | - Sonja Leidenberger
- Department of Biology and Bioinformatics, School of BioscienceUniversity of SkövdeSkövdeSweden
| | - Snorre B. Hagen
- Department of Ecosystem in the Barents RegionNorwegian Institute of Bioeconomy ResearchSvanvikNorway
| | - Tommi Nyman
- Department of Ecosystem in the Barents RegionNorwegian Institute of Bioeconomy ResearchSvanvikNorway
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Grabner D, Rothe LE, Sures B. Parasites and Pollutants: Effects of Multiple Stressors on Aquatic Organisms. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:1946-1959. [PMID: 37283208 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Parasites can affect their hosts in various ways, and this implies that parasites may act as additional biotic stressors in a multiple-stressor scenario, resembling conditions often found in the field if, for example, pollutants and parasites occur simultaneously. Therefore, parasites represent important modulators of host reactions in ecotoxicological studies when measuring the response of organisms to stressors such as pollutants. In the present study, we introduce the most important groups of parasites occurring in organisms commonly used in ecotoxicological studies ranging from laboratory to field investigations. After briefly explaining their life cycles, we focus on parasite stages affecting selected ecotoxicologically relevant target species belonging to crustaceans, molluscs, and fish. We included ecotoxicological studies that consider the combination of effects of parasites and pollutants on the respective model organism with respect to aquatic host-parasite systems. We show that parasites from different taxonomic groups (e.g., Microsporidia, Monogenea, Trematoda, Cestoda, Acanthocephala, and Nematoda) clearly modulate the response to stressors in their hosts. The combined effects of environmental stressors and parasites can range from additive, antagonistic to synergistic. Our study points to potential drawbacks of ecotoxicological tests if parasite infections of test organisms, especially from the field, remain undetected and unaddressed. If these parasites are not detected and quantified, their physiological effects on the host cannot be separated from the ecotoxicological effects. This may render this type of ecotoxicological test erroneous. In laboratory tests, for example to determine effect or lethal concentrations, the presence of a parasite can also have a direct effect on the concentrations to be determined and thus on the subsequently determined security levels, such as predicted no-effect concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1946-1959. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Louisa E Rothe
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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8
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Löwenberg-Neto P, Winkelmann S, Verzotto ÁK. Biogeographic regionalization of human infectious diseases in Brazil based on geographically explicit data. Trop Med Int Health 2023; 28:742-752. [PMID: 37433750 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Biogeographic regionalization represents abstractions of the organisation of life on Earth, and can provide a large-scaled framework for health management and planning. We aimed at determining a biogeographic regionalization for human infectious diseases in Brazil, and at investigating non-mutually exclusive hypotheses predicting the observed regions. METHODS Based on the spatial distributions of 12 infectious diseases with mandatory notification (SINAN database, 2007-2020, n = 15,839), we identified regions through a clustering procedure based on beta-diversity turnover. The analysis was repeated 1000 times by randomly shuffling the rows (0.5° cells) in the original matrix. We evaluated the relative importance of variables using multinomial logistic regression models: contemporary climate (temperature and precipitation), human activity (population density and geographic accessibility), land cover (11 classes), and the full model (all variables). We refined the geographic boundaries of each cluster by polygonising their kernel densities to identify clusters' core zones. RESULTS The two-cluster solution showed the best correspondence between disease ranges and clusters geographic limits. The largest cluster occurred with more density in the central and northeastern regions, while the smaller and complementary cluster occurred in the south and southeastern region. The best model for explaining the regionalization was the full model, supporting the 'complex association hypothesis'. The heatmap showed a NE-S directional display of the cluster's densities, and core zones showed geographic correspondence with tropical + arid (NE) versus temperate (S) climates. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that there is a discernible latitudinal pattern in the turnover of disease in Brazil, and this phenomenon is associated with an intricate interplay between contemporary climate, population activity, and land cover. This generalised biogeographic pattern may offer the earliest insights into the geographic arrangement of diseases in the country. We suggested that the latitudinal pattern could be adopted as a nationwide framework for geographic vaccine allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Löwenberg-Neto
- Biogeography Lab, Institute for Life and Nature Sciences, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
| | - Stephanie Winkelmann
- Biogeography Lab, Institute for Life and Nature Sciences, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
| | - Ágatha K Verzotto
- Biogeography Lab, Institute for Life and Nature Sciences, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
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Poulin R, Presswell B, Bennett J, de Angeli Dutra D, Salloum PM. Biases in parasite biodiversity research: why some helminth species attract more research than others. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:89-98. [PMID: 37182112 PMCID: PMC10172627 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
As the number of known and described parasite species grows every year, one might ask: how much do we actually know about these species beyond the fact they exist? For free-living taxa, research effort is biased toward a small subset of species based on their properties or human-centric factors. Here, using a large data set on over 2500 helminth parasite species described in the past two decades, we test the importance of several predictors on two measures of research effort: the number of times a species description is cited following its publication, and the number of times a species' name is mentioned in the scientific literature. Our analysis highlights some taxonomic biases: for instance, descriptions of acanthocephalans and nematodes tend to receive more citations than those of other helminths, and species of cestodes are less frequently mentioned in the literature than other helminths. We also found that helminths infecting host species of conservation concern receive less research attention, perhaps because of the constraints associated with research on threatened animals, while those infecting host species of human use receive greater research effort. Intriguingly, we found that species originally described by many co-authors subsequently attract more research effort than those described by one or few authors, and that research effort correlates negatively with the human population size of the country where a species was discovered, but not with its economic strength, measured by its gross domestic product. Overall, our findings reveal that we have conducted very little research, or none at all, on the majority of helminth parasite species following their discovery. The biases in study effort we identify have serious implications for future research into parasite biodiversity and conservation.
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Lymbery AJ, Smit NJ. Conservation of parasites: A primer. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:255-263. [PMID: 37483309 PMCID: PMC10359719 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Although parasites make up a substantial proportion of the biotic component of ecosystems, in terms of both biomass and number of species, they are rarely considered in conservation planning, except where they are thought to pose a threat to the conservation of their hosts. In this review, we address a number of unresolved questions concerning parasite conservation. Arguments for conserving parasite species refer to the intrinsic value conferred by their evolutionary heritage and potential, their functional role in the provision of ecosystem services, and their value as indicators of ecosystem quality. We propose that proper consideration of these arguments mean that it is not logically defensible to automatically exclude parasite species from conservation decisions; rather, endangered hosts and parasites should be considered together as a threatened ecological community. The extent to which parasites are threatened with extinction is difficult to estimate with any degree of confidence, because so many parasite species have yet to be identified and, even for those which have been formally described, we have limited information on the factors affecting their distribution and abundance. This lack of ecological information may partially explain the under-representation of parasites on threatened species lists. Effective conservation of parasites requires maintaining access to suitable hosts and the ecological conditions that permit successful transmission between hosts. When implementing recovery plans for threatened host species, this may be best achieved by attempting to restore the ecological conditions that maintain the host and its parasite fauna in dynamic equilibrium. Ecosystem-centred conservation may be a more effective strategy than species-centred (or host-parasite community-centred) approaches for preventing extinction of parasites, but the criteria which are typically used to identify protected areas do not provide information on the ecological conditions required for effective transmission. We propose a simple decision tree to aid the identification of appropriate conservation actions for threatened parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan J. Lymbery
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, 6150, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Nico J. Smit
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom, 2520, South Africa
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11
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Reichert MS, Bolek MG, McCullagh EA. Parasite effects on receivers in animal communication: Hidden impacts on behavior, ecology, and evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2300186120. [PMID: 37459523 PMCID: PMC10372545 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300186120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites exert a profound effect on biological processes. In animal communication, parasite effects on signalers are well-known drivers of the evolution of communication systems. Receiver behavior is also likely to be altered when they are parasitized or at risk of parasitism, but these effects have received much less attention. Here, we present a broad framework for understanding the consequences of parasitism on receivers for behavioral, ecological, and evolutionary processes. First, we outline the different kinds of effects parasites can have on receivers, including effects on signal processing from the many parasites that inhabit, occlude, or damage the sensory periphery and the central nervous system or that affect physiological processes that support these organs, and effects on receiver response strategies. We then demonstrate how understanding parasite effects on receivers could answer important questions about the mechanistic causes and functional consequences of variation in animal communication systems. Variation in parasitism levels is a likely source of among-individual differences in response to signals, which can affect receiver fitness and, through effects on signaler fitness, impact population levels of signal variability. The prevalence of parasitic effects on specific sensory organs may be an important selective force for the evolution of elaborate and multimodal signals. Finally, host-parasite coevolution across heterogeneous landscapes will generate geographic variation in communication systems, which could ultimately lead to evolutionary divergence. We discuss applications of experimental techniques to manipulate parasitism levels and point the way forward by calling for integrative research collaborations between parasitologists, neurobiologists, and behavioral and evolutionary ecologists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S. Reichert
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK74078
| | - Matthew G. Bolek
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK74078
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Das B, Kumar N, Solanki JB, Jadav MM, Kalyani IH. Morphological and molecular characterization of Haemonchus contortus isolated from the small ruminants of south Gujarat, India. Helminthologia 2023; 60:175-188. [PMID: 37745222 PMCID: PMC10516478 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2023-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful design of strategic control measures against the blood-sucking gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants can be facilitated by revealing its general features from morphology to the molecular level. In the south Gujarat region of India, a total of 2408 H. contortus were collected from 84 slaughtered sheep's abomasum, consisting of 347 males and 2061 females (1:6 ratio) (p<0.05). Furthermore, 726 H. contortus were collected from 61 goats, comprising 145 males and 581 females (1:4 ratio) (p<0.05). The male worms were approximately 12±0.06 mm long, while female worms were about 20±0.09 mm long. The vulvar morphotypes of the female worms were found to be 17.7% linguiform, 76.6 % knobbed/button (p<0.05), and 5.7 % smooth type, demonstrating common features of H. contortus. The nucleotide sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS-1) of 165 bp or ITS-2 plus of 256 bp were aligned, and it was found that the genotypes of male and female specimens of either sheep or goat origin were identical, with a 100 % match. The present isolates shared >95 % and >94 % homology with published sequences of ITS-1 and ITS-2 plus of H. contortus, respectively, with more nucleotide transitions than transversions in the aligned sequences. The reconstructed phylogram of either ITS-1 or ITS-2 plus revealed two major clades, one for H. contortus and another for other nematodes, with Haemonchus placei showing its proximity with the clade of H. contortus. The study established the role of morphological and molecular features in identifying and differentiating H. contortus parasite at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Das
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
| | - N. Kumar
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
| | - J. B. Solanki
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
| | - M. M. Jadav
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
| | - I. H. Kalyani
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu University, Navsari-396 450, Gujarat, India
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Picelli AM, Silva MRL, Correa JKC, Paiva GR, Paula FR, Hernández-Ruz EJ, Oliveira EA, Viana LA. Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 parasites in the Colubridae snakes Clelia clelia (Daudin, 1803) and Drymarchon corais (Boie, 1827) from the Eastern Amazonia. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220115. [PMID: 37255167 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the genetic, morphological, and morphometric data of blood gamonts, we identified Hepatozoon parasites in colubrid snakes sampled in the Eastern Amazon region. Hepatozoon trigeminum was detected in the mussurana snake Clelia clelia and exhibited wide and elongated gamonts (mean dimensions: 14.25±0.65 × 4.31±0.43 μm) with an evident parasitophorous vacuole. Hepatozoon odwyerae sp. nov. was described in the indigo snake Drymarchon corais, whose gamonts have elongated and thin bodies (mean dimensions: 13.41±0.79 × 3.72±0.35 μm) with one end more tapered than the other. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the amplification of a 441 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, revealed that the novel sequences of Hepatozoon spp. from our study were closely related to hemogregarine lineages found in lizards and snakes from Brazil, forming a well-supported monophyletic clade with them. The present study provides the first species description of Hepatoozon in D. corais and a new record of a host species for C. clelia using the integrated taxonomic data. We also highlight the importance of further investigations into the diversity of Hepatozoon in snakes, a rich but underestimated group of parasites, especially in the Amazonian biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Maria Picelli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Avenida Pres. Dutra, 2965, 76801-058 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, Rua da Beira, 7671, 76812-245 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina L Silva
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Jamille Karina C Correa
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Gleicierle R Paiva
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Laboratório de Zoologia, Rua Coronel José Porfírio 2515, 68372-040 Altamira, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabiane R Paula
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-IOC/Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Emil José Hernández-Ruz
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Laboratório de Zoologia, Rua Coronel José Porfírio 2515, 68372-040 Altamira, PA, Brazil
| | - Elciomar A Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede BIONORTE, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida General Rodrigo Octavio Jordão Ramos, 1200, 69067-005 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Lúcio André Viana
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
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Thorn CS, Maness RW, Hulke JM, Delmore KE, Criscione CD. Population genomics of helminth parasites. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e29. [PMID: 36927601 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Next generation sequencing technologies have facilitated a shift from a few targeted loci in population genetic studies to whole genome approaches. Here, we review the types of questions and inferences regarding the population biology and evolution of parasitic helminths being addressed within the field of population genomics. Topics include parabiome, hybridization, population structure, loci under selection and linkage mapping. We highlight various advances, and note the current trends in the field, particularly a focus on human-related parasites despite the inherent biodiversity of helminth species. We conclude by advocating for a broader application of population genomics to reflect the taxonomic and life history breadth displayed by helminth parasites. As such, our basic knowledge about helminth population biology and evolution would be enhanced while the diversity of helminths in itself would facilitate population genomic comparative studies to address broader ecological and evolutionary concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Thorn
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - R W Maness
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - J M Hulke
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - K E Delmore
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - C D Criscione
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 3258 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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15
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Components influencing parasitism by Dadaytrema oxycephala (Digenea: Cladorchiidae) in Neotropical fish. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1221-1228. [PMID: 36930288 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07822-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
The components that mold the structure of parasitic fauna are used as objects of study in an attempt to find patterns in their distribution. It is known that phylogeny (represented by specificity), host ecological traits (for example, feeding habits, position of the water column, reproductive strategies, body size, and age), and the environment affect the distribution and occurrence of parasites. In tropical regions, digeneans show high diversity, and the species Dadaytrema oxycephala is known to parasitize a wide range of host species. In this context, the objective of the present study is to analyze the components that affect the occurrence of D. oxycephala in Neotropical fish. We used data from the literature that contained the abundance of this parasite, as well as the geographic location and host species, and evaluated the influence of ecological traits, specificity, and latitude on parasite abundance, using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). The abundance of D. oxycephala can be explained by trophic level and position in the water column and latitude. However, coevolutionary processes are also extremely important, and the distribution of this parasite was not equal, showing high abundance for the genus Piaractus, which are the preferred hosts, even if the parasite is considered generalist. In short, host ecological traits are the important components in the distribution and occurrence of D. oxycephala, as well as the latitude.
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16
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Najera‐Cortazar LA, Keen A, Kitching T, Stokes D, Goodman SJ. Phylogenetic analyses reveal bat communities in Northwestern Mexico harbor a high diversity of novel cryptic ectoparasite species. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9645. [PMID: 36744076 PMCID: PMC9889969 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites are integral parts of ecosystem function and important drivers of evolutionary processes. Characterizing ectoparasite diversity is fundamental to studies of host-parasite interactions, evolution, and conservation, and also for understanding emerging disease threats for some vector borne pathogens. With more than 1400 species, bats represent the second most speciose mammalian clade, but their ectoparasite fauna are poorly known for most species. We sequenced mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase C subunit I and nuclear 18S ribosomal gene fragments, and used Bayesian phylogenetic analyses to characterize ectoparasite taxon identity and diversity for 17 species of parasitized bats sampled along the Baja California peninsula and in Northwestern Mexico. The sequence data revealed multiple novel lineages of bat bugs (Cimicidae), flies (Nycteribiidae and Streblidae), and ticks (Argasidae). Within families, the new linages showed more than 10% sequence divergence, which is consistent with separation at least at the species level. Both families of bat flies showed host specificity, particularly on Myotis species. We also identified new records for the Baja peninsula of one tick (Carios kelleyi), and of five Streblid bat fly species. One Nycteribiid bat fly haplotype from Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) hosts was found throughout the peninsula, suggesting potential long distance co-dispersal with hosts. Different bat bug and tick communities were found in the north and south of the peninsula. This study is the first systematic survey of bat ectoparasites in the Baja California peninsula, revealing novel lineages that are highly genetically differentiated from other parts of North America. For some ectoparasite species, haplotype distributions may reflect patterns of bat migration. This work is a first step in characterizing ectoparasite diversity over the Baja California peninsula, and understanding how ecological and evolutionary interactions shape bat ectoparasite communities among host species in different parts of their ranges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex Keen
- School of BiologyUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
| | - Thomas Kitching
- School of BiologyUniversity of LeedsLeedsUK
- Present address:
Vincent Wildlife Trust, Ledbury, HerefordshireUK
| | - Drew Stokes
- San Diego Natural History MuseumSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
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17
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Gastrointestinal helminths in brown trout (Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758) captured in Galician rivers (NW Spain). Parasitol Int 2023; 92:102676. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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18
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Survey on helminths of bats in the Yucatan Peninsula: infection levels, molecular information and host-parasite networks. Parasitology 2023; 150:172-183. [PMID: 36444644 PMCID: PMC10090612 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Helminth species of Neotropical bats are poorly known. In Mexico, few studies have been conducted on helminths of bats, especially in regions such as the Yucatan Peninsula where Chiroptera is the mammalian order with the greatest number of species. In this study, we characterized morphologically and molecularly the helminth species of bats and explored their infection levels and parasite–host interactions in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. One hundred and sixty-three bats (representing 21 species) were captured between 2017 and 2022 in 15 sites throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Conventional morphological techniques and molecular tools were used with the 28S gene to identify the collected helminths. Host–parasite network analyses were carried out to explore interactions by focusing on the level of host species. Helminths were found in 44 (26.9%) bats of 12 species. Twenty helminth taxa were recorded (7 trematodes, 3 cestodes and 10 nematodes), including 4 new host records for the Americas. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection values ranged from 7.1 to 100% and from 1 to 56, respectively. Molecular analyses confirmed the identity of some helminths at species and genus levels; however, some sequences did not correspond to any of the species available on GenBank. The parasite–host network suggests that most of the helminths recorded in bats were host-specific. The highest helminth richness was found in insectivorous bats. This study increases our knowledge of helminths parasitizing Neotropical bats, adding new records and nucleotide sequences.
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19
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Pereira Bisaggio F, de Souza Malta L, Paiva F, Elisei C, Tavares LER. First assessment of the metazoan parasite community of Gymnogeophagus balzanii (Cichliformes: Cichlidae) from Pantanal wetlands, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazill. J NAT HIST 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2022.2161965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Pereira Bisaggio
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Lennon de Souza Malta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Fernando Paiva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Carina Elisei
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo Roland Tavares
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Laboratório de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
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20
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Chenery ES, Harms NJ, Fenton H, Mandrak NE, Molnár PK. Revealing large‐scale parasite ranges: An integrated spatiotemporal database and multisource analysis of the winter tick. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emily S. Chenery
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Scarborough Ontario Canada
| | - N. Jane Harms
- Animal Health Unit Department of Environment Whitehorse Yukon Canada
| | - Heather Fenton
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources Government of Northwest Territories Yellowknife Northwest Territories Canada
| | - Nicholas E. Mandrak
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Scarborough Ontario Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Scarborough Ontario Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
| | - Péter K. Molnár
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Scarborough Ontario Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Toronto Scarborough Scarborough Ontario Canada
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto Toronto Ontario Canada
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21
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Sex-specific effects of a parasite on stress-induced freezing behavior in a natural beetle-nematode system. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281149. [PMID: 36917578 PMCID: PMC10013888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Some animals react to predation threats or other stressors by adopting a freezing posture in an attempt to avoid detection, and the duration of this behavior usually corresponds with individual personality, such that timid individuals freeze longer. Despite decades of research on this or related behaviors (thanatosis), never has the impact of parasitism been considered. Parasites could prolong the duration, if hosts are less motivated to move (i.e. lethargic), or they could reduce it, if hosts are motivated to forage more to compensate for energy drain. We examined this behavior within a natural beetle-nematode system, where hosts (horned passalus beetles, Odontotaenius disjunctus) are parasitized by a nematode, Chondronema passali. We exposed beetles (n = 238) to four stressors in our lab, including noise, vibration, light and inversion, and recorded how long they adopt a frozen stance. Afterward, we determined nematode burdens, which can range from dozens to hundreds of worms. Beetles tended to freeze for 20 seconds on average, with some variation between stressors. We detected no effect of beetle mass on the duration of freezing, and this behavior did not differ in beetles collected during the breeding or non-breeding season. There was a surprising sex-based difference in the impact of nematodes; unparasitized females remained frozen twice as long as unparasitized males, but for beetles with heavy nematode burdens, the opposite was true. From this we infer that heavily parasitized females are more bold, while males with heavy burdens would be more timid. The explanation for this finding remains elusive, though we can rule out many possibilities based on prior work on this host-parasite system.
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Host-Parasite Relationships of Quill Mites (Syringophilidae) and Parrots (Psittaciformes). DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d15010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata) includes obligatory ectoparasites, which occupy feather quills from various parts of avian plumage, where they feed and reproduce. Our study was concerned with the global fauna of syringophilid mites associated with Psittaciformes, as well as host-parasite specificity and evolution. We assumed that the system composed of quill mites and parrots represents a model group that can be used in a broader study of the relationships between parasites and hosts. In total, we examined 1524 host individuals of parrots belonging to 195 species, 73 genera, and 4 families (which constitute ca. 50% of global parrot fauna) from all zoogeographical regions where Psittaciformes occur. Among them, 89 individuals representing 81 species have been infested by quill mites belonging to 45 species and 8 genera. The prevalence of host infestations by syringophilid mites varied from 2.8% to 100% (95% confidence interval (CI Sterne method) = 0.1–100). We applied a bipartite analysis to determine the parasite-host interaction, network indices, and host specificity at the species and whole network levels. The Syringophilidae-Psittaciformes network was composed of 24 mite species and 47 host species. The bipartite network was characterized by a high network level specialization H2′ = 0.98, connectance C = 0.89, and high modularity Q = 0.90, with 23 modules, but low nestedness N = 0.0333. Moreover, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the quill mites on the generic level, and this analysis shows two distinct clades: Psittaciphilus (Peristerophila + Terratosyringophilus) (among Syringophilinae subfamily) and Lawrencipicobia (Pipicobia + Rafapicobia) (among Picobiinae). Finally, the distributions and host-parasite relationships in the system composed of syringophilid mites and parrots are discussed.
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Pereira FB, González-Solís D. Review of the parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from off the American continent. Parasitology 2022; 149:1928-1941. [PMID: 36076284 PMCID: PMC11010509 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The ichthyofauna of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts off the American continent is very rich. Consequently, a high biodiversity of nematodes parasitizing these vertebrates is also expected. Currently, data on nematode parasites of marine fish off the Americas are fragmented. A review of all adult nematode species reported parasitizing marine fish from off the American continent is herein presented, as well as comments on their patterns of diversity, life cycles and advances in the taxonomic and phylogenetic knowledge. A total of 209 valid species, 19 species inquirendae and 6 dubious records have been recorded, the majority from the fish taxa Eupercaria and Perciformes. The families Sciaenidae, Serranidae and Lutjanidae, as well as the tropical and temperate Atlantic waters, exhibited the highest records of parasitic nematodes. The Cucullanidae, Philometridae and Cystidicolidae were the most speciose families of nematodes, which may be related to technological advances and relatively recent efforts of taxonomists, resulting in description of new taxa and the resolution of taxonomic problems. Numerous taxonomic questions still need resolution and, even though genetic data have been important for this process, the database is very scarce. This is the first review on all currently known nematode species parasitizing marine fish off the Americas and may serve as an important basis of reference for future approaches on these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe B. Pereira
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - David González-Solís
- El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Unidad Chetumal, Av. Centenario km 5.5, C.P. 77014, Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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24
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Decay of parasite community similarity with host phylogenetic and geographic distances among deep-sea fish (grenadiers). Parasitology 2022; 149:1737-1748. [PMID: 36004806 PMCID: PMC10090766 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182022001251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although parasite community studies are growing in numbers, our understanding of which macro-ecological and evolutionary processes have shaped parasite communities is still based on a narrow range of host–parasite systems. The present study assessed the diversity and endoparasite species composition in New Zealand deep-sea fish (grenadiers, family Macrouridae), and tested the effects of host phylogeny and geography on the structure of endoparasite communities using a distance decay framework. We found that grenadiers from the Chatham Rise harboured a surprisingly high diversity of digeneans, cestodes and nematodes, with different species of grenadiers having different parasite assemblages. Our results demonstrate that community similarity based on the presence/absence of parasites was only affected by the phylogenetic relatedness among grenadier species. In contrast, both phylogenetic distance among grenadiers (measured as the number of base-pair differences of DNA sequences) and geographic distance between sample locations influenced the similarity of parasite communities based on the parasites' prevalence and mean abundance. Our key findings highlight the significant effect of deep-sea host phylogeny in shaping their parasite assemblages, a factor previously neglected in studies of parasite communities in deep-sea systems.
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25
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Jain A, Mittal S, Tripathi LP, Nussinov R, Ahmad S. Host-pathogen protein-nucleic acid interactions: A comprehensive review. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:4415-4436. [PMID: 36051878 PMCID: PMC9420432 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Recognition of pathogen-derived nucleic acids by host cells is an effective host strategy to detect pathogenic invasion and trigger immune responses. In the context of pathogen-specific pharmacology, there is a growing interest in mapping the interactions between pathogen-derived nucleic acids and host proteins. Insight into the principles of the structural and immunological mechanisms underlying such interactions and their roles in host defense is necessary to guide therapeutic intervention. Here, we discuss the newest advances in studies of molecular interactions involving pathogen nucleic acids and host factors, including their drug design, molecular structure and specific patterns. We observed that two groups of nucleic acid recognizing molecules, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the cytoplasmic retinoic acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I-like receptors (RLRs) form the backbone of host responses to pathogen nucleic acids, with additional support provided by absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and DNA-dependent activator of Interferons (IFNs)-regulatory factors (DAI) like cytosolic activity. We review the structural, immunological, and other biological aspects of these representative groups of molecules, especially in terms of their target specificity and affinity and challenges in leveraging host-pathogen protein-nucleic acid interactions (HP-PNI) in drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuja Jain
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Shikha Mittal
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173234, India
| | - Lokesh P. Tripathi
- National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan
- Riken Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Computational Structural Biology Section, Basic Science Program, Frederick National, Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Shandar Ahmad
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
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Costa NA, Cardoso TDS, Costa-Neto SFD, Alvarez MR, Maldonado Junior A, Gentile R. Helminths of sigmodontine rodents in an agroforestry mosaic in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Patterns and processes of the metacommunity structure. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:82-91. [PMID: 35519506 PMCID: PMC9062209 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Truong VT, Ngo HTT, Bui TQ, Palm HW, Bray RA. Marine fish parasites of Vietnam: a comprehensive review and updated list of species, hosts, and zoogeographical distribution. PARASITE (PARIS, FRANCE) 2022; 29:36. [PMID: 35833786 PMCID: PMC9281499 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2022033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
With a long coastline stretching from tropical to subtropical climate zones, and an immense exclusive economic zone with over 4000 islands, the Vietnamese marine waters support a rich and biodiverse parasite fauna. Although the first parasitological record was in 1898, systematic studies of the parasite fauna have increased during the last 50 years. This comprehensive review covers the current state of knowledge of marine fish parasites in Vietnam and lists 498 species found in 225 fish species, and their geographical distribution. In addition, 251 marine parasite species have newly been added to the already known fauna of 247 species since 2006 (more than two-fold increase). The most speciose group was the Digenea, which accounted for 43% of the total parasite species biodiversity, followed by Monogenea (23.5%), Crustacea (11.6%), Nematoda, and Acanthocephala (8.0% each). The shallow and muddy Gulf of Tonkin showed a rich parasite fauna, accounting for 66.3% of the whole marine parasite fauna of Vietnam, with Digenea accounting for 51% of the regional total parasite richness, followed by Monogenea (27%), Acanthocephala (8.8%), and Nematoda (5.8%). Only a few species belonged to Hirudinea, Myxozoa, and Cestoda, suggesting that these taxa may be understudied. Despite significant progress in studies of marine fish parasites in Vietnam since 2006, only about 12% and 13% of the total fish species have been examined for parasites in the whole country and the Gulf of Tonkin, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van Thuong Truong
- Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany - Fisheries and Technical Economic College, Dinh Bang, 16315 Tu Son, Bac Ninh, Vietnam
| | - Huong Thi Thuy Ngo
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Phenikaa University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam; Bioresource Center, Phenikaa University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
| | - Te Quang Bui
- Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1, Dinh Bang, 16315 Tu Son, Bac Ninh, Vietnam
| | - Harry W Palm
- Aquaculture and Sea-Ranching, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of Rostock, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 6, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Rodney A Bray
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
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Doherty JF, Matthews BJ. Host Manipulation, Gene Editing, and Non-Traditional Model Organisms: A New Frontier for Behavioral Research? FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:938644. [PMID: 38468779 PMCID: PMC10926399 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.938644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Insects and parasites dominate the biosphere, in terms of known biodiversity and mode of life, respectively. Consequently, insects play a part in many host-parasite systems, either as parasite, host, or both. Moreover, a lot of these systems involve adaptive parasite-induced changes of host phenotype (typically behavior or morphology), which is commonly known as host manipulation. While many host manipulation systems have been described within the last few decades, the proximate mechanisms that underpin host phenotypic change are still largely unknown. Given the intimate co-evolutionary history of host-parasite systems, teasing apart the intricate network of biochemical reactions involved in host manipulation requires the integration of various complementary technologies. In this perspective, we stress the importance of multidisciplinary research on host manipulation, such as high-throughput sequencing methods (genomics and transcriptomics) to search for candidate mechanisms that are activated during a manipulation event. Then, we argue that gene editing technologies, specifically the CRISPR-Cas9 system, are a powerful way to test for the functional roles of candidate mechanisms, in both the parasite and the host. Finally, given the sheer diversity of unique host-parasite systems discovered to date, there is indeed a tremendous potential to create novel non-traditional model systems that could greatly expand our capacity to test the fundamental aspects of behavior and behavioral regulation.
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Pagenkopp Lohan KM, Darling JA, Ruiz GM. International shipping as a potent vector for spreading marine parasites. DIVERS DISTRIB 2022; 28:1922-1933. [PMID: 38269301 PMCID: PMC10807284 DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim The global shipping fleet, the primary means of transporting goods among countries, also serves as a major dispersal mechanism for marine invasive species. To date, researchers have primarily focussed on the role of ships in transferring marine macrofauna, often overlooking transfers of associated parasites, which can have larger impacts on naïve host individuals and populations. Here, we re-examine three previously published metabarcode datasets targeting zooplankton and protists in ships' ballast water to assess the diversity of parasites across life stages arriving to three major US ports. Location Port of Hampton Roads in the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia; Ports of Texas City, Houston and Bayport in Galveston Bay, Texas; and Port of Valdez in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Methods We selected all known parasitic taxa, using sequences generated from the small subunit gene (SSU) from ribosomal RNA (rRNA) amplified from (1) zooplankton collected from plankton tows (35 and 80 μm datasets) and (2) eukaryotes collected from samples of ships' ballast water (3 μm dataset). Results In all three datasets, we found a broad range of parasitic taxa, including many protistan and metazoan parasites, that infect a wide range of hosts, from teleost fish to dinoflagellates. Parasite richness was highest in the 3 μm dataset and relatively uniform across arrival regions. Several parasite taxa were found in high relative abundance (based on number of sequences recovered) either in ships entering a single or across multiple regions. Main Conclusions The ubiquity, diversity and relative abundance of parasites detected demonstrate ships are a potent vector for spreading marine parasites across the world's oceans, potentially contributing to reported increases in outbreaks of marine diseases. Future research is urgently needed to evaluate the fate of parasites upon arrival and the efficacy of ballast water treatment systems to reduce future transfers and colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John A. Darling
- Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gregory M. Ruiz
- Marine Invasions Research Laboratory, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland, USA
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de Fátima Cracco A, Lehun AL, Takemoto RM. Composition and structure of the parasitic fauna of Hypostomus spp. (Loricariidae: Hypostominae) from a Neotropical river in Brazil. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:2253-2262. [PMID: 35624383 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07551-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hypostomus are abundant in Brazilian rivers and streams. In the Ivaí River, the loricariids represent 20.3% of the total species of the basin. Of these 13 species belong to Hypostomus. However, to date, there are no studies on these fish parasitic fauna. Thus, this research aimed to analyze the distribution of the parasitic infracommunity of six species of Hypostomus from the Ivaí River and investigate how the infracommunity is structured in these hosts. One hundred and twenty-eight fish were analyzed, belonging to six sympatric species of Hypostomus (Hypostomus hermanni, H. cochliodon, H. albopunctatus, H. regani, Hypostomus sp.1, and Hypostomus sp.2); of these, 92.9% were parasitized with at least one taxon, totaling 1478 specimens of parasites. The parasitic fauna was composed of the ectoparasites Trinigyrus anthus, T. carvalhoi, Unilatus unilatus (monogeneans), and Placobdella spp. (hirudinea), and the endoparasites Austrodiplostomum compactum (digenean) and Procamallanus annipetterae (nematode). The parasites exhibited similar patterns of infection in all hosts, including a low number of species, low diversity, and numerical dominance of a group of parasites. However, permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) showed different parasite species compositions among the hosts. Hypostomus cochliodon and H. regani had the highest parasite richness, while Hypostomus sp.1 and Hypostomus sp.2 showed low abundance and intensity of parasitic infections. However, Hypostomus sp.1 showed the highest values of evenness, although the parasite composition in both species did not differ. The results presented herein contribute to increasing the knowledge about the parasitic fauna of Hypostomus spp. from the Ivaí River by presenting new hosts and locality records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aparecida de Fátima Cracco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Comparada, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
| | - Atsler Luana Lehun
- Programa Em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Massato Takemoto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Biologia Comparada, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.,Programa Em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.,Núcleo de Pesquisas Em Limnologia, Ictiologia E Aquicultura, NUPELIA, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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31
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Koltz AM, Civitello DJ, Becker DJ, Deem SL, Classen AT, Barton B, Brenn-White M, Johnson ZE, Kutz S, Malishev M, Preston DL, Vannatta JT, Penczykowski RM, Ezenwa VO. Sublethal effects of parasitism on ruminants can have cascading consequences for ecosystems. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117381119. [PMID: 35533278 PMCID: PMC9171767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117381119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections are common, but how they shape ecosystem-level processes is understudied. Using a mathematical model and meta-analysis, we explored the potential for helminth parasites to trigger trophic cascades through lethal and sublethal effects imposed on herbivorous ruminant hosts after infection. First, using the model, we linked negative effects of parasitic infection on host survival, fecundity, and feeding rate to host and producer biomass. Our model, parameterized with data from a well-documented producer–caribou–helminth system, reveals that even moderate impacts of parasites on host survival, fecundity, or feeding rate can have cascading effects on ruminant host and producer biomass. Second, using meta-analysis, we investigated the links between helminth infections and traits of free-living ruminant hosts in nature. We found that helminth infections tend to exert negative but sublethal effects on ruminant hosts. Specifically, infection significantly reduces host feeding rates, body mass, and body condition but has weak and highly variable effects on survival and fecundity. Together, these findings suggest that while helminth parasites can trigger trophic cascades through multiple mechanisms, overlooked sublethal effects on nonreproductive traits likely dominate their impacts on ecosystems. In particular, by reducing ruminant herbivory, pervasive helminth infections may contribute to a greener world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Koltz
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | | | | | - Sharon L. Deem
- Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Aimée T. Classen
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Brandon Barton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Maris Brenn-White
- Saint Louis Zoo Institute for Conservation Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110
| | - Zoë E. Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762
| | - Susan Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | | | - Daniel L. Preston
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
| | - J. Trevor Vannatta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907
| | | | - Vanessa O. Ezenwa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511
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32
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Liu W, Chen H. Idea paper: Trophic transmission as a potential mechanism underlying the distribution of parasite diversity in food webs. Ecol Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1703.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wei‐Chung Liu
- Institute of Statistical Science Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Hsuan‐Wien Chen
- Department of Biological Resources National Chiayi University Chiayi City Taiwan
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33
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Titcomb GC, Pansu J, Hutchinson MC, Tombak KJ, Hansen CB, Baker CCM, Kartzinel TR, Young HS, Pringle RM. Large-herbivore nemabiomes: patterns of parasite diversity and sharing. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212702. [PMID: 35538775 PMCID: PMC9091847 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amidst global shifts in the distribution and abundance of wildlife and livestock, we have only a rudimentary understanding of ungulate parasite communities and parasite-sharing patterns. We used qPCR and DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples to characterize gastrointestinal nematode (Strongylida) community composition and sharing among 17 sympatric species of wild and domestic large mammalian herbivore in central Kenya. We tested a suite of hypothesis-driven predictions about the role of host traits and phylogenetic relatedness in describing parasite infections. Host species identity explained 27-53% of individual variation in parasite prevalence, richness, community composition and phylogenetic diversity. Host and parasite phylogenies were congruent, host gut morphology predicted parasite community composition and prevalence, and hosts with low evolutionary distinctiveness were centrally positioned in the parasite-sharing network. We found no evidence that host body size, social-group size or feeding height were correlated with parasite composition. Our results highlight the interwoven evolutionary and ecological histories of large herbivores and their gastrointestinal nematodes and suggest that host identity, phylogeny and gut architecture-a phylogenetically conserved trait related to parasite habitat-are the overriding influences on parasite communities. These findings have implications for wildlife management and conservation as wild herbivores are increasingly replaced by livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia C. Titcomb
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA,Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Johan Pansu
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA,ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Matthew C. Hutchinson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Kaia J. Tombak
- Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA,Department of Anthropology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christina B. Hansen
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Christopher C. M. Baker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA,US Army ERDC Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Tyler R. Kartzinel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Hillary S. Young
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA,Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Robert M. Pringle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
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34
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Cruz-Laufer AJ, Pariselle A, Jorissen MWP, Muterezi Bukinga F, Al Assadi A, Van Steenberge M, Koblmüller S, Sturmbauer C, Smeets K, Huyse T, Artois T, Vanhove MPM. Somewhere I belong: phylogeny and morphological evolution in a species-rich lineage of ectoparasitic flatworms infecting cichlid fishes. Cladistics 2022; 38:465-512. [PMID: 35488795 DOI: 10.1111/cla.12506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A substantial portion of biodiversity has evolved through adaptive radiation. However, the effects of explosive speciation on species interactions remain poorly understood. Metazoan parasites infecting radiating host lineages could improve our knowledge because of their intimate host relationships. Yet limited molecular, phenotypic and ecological data discourage multivariate analyses of evolutionary patterns and encourage the use of discrete characters. Here, we assemble new molecular, morphological and host range data widely inferred from a species-rich lineage of parasites (Cichlidogyrus, Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) infecting cichlid fishes to address data scarcity. We infer a multimarker (28S/18S rDNA, ITS1, COI mtDNA) phylogeny of 58 of 137 species and characterize major lineages through synapomorphies inferred from mapping morphological characters. We predict the phylogenetic position of species without DNA data through shared character states, a morphological phylogenetic analysis, and a classification analysis with support vector machines. Based on these predictions and a cluster analysis, we assess the systematic informativeness of continuous characters, search for continuous equivalents for discrete characters, and suggest new characters for morphological traits not analysed to date. We also model the attachment/reproductive organ and host range evolution using the data for 136 of 137 described species and multivariate phylogenetic comparative methods (PCMs). We show that discrete characters not only can mask phylogenetic signals, but also are key for characterizing species groups. Regarding the attachment organ morphology, a divergent evolutionary regime for at least one lineage was detected and a limited morphological variation indicates host and environmental parameters affecting its evolution. However, moderate success in predicting phylogenetic positions, and a low systematic informativeness and high multicollinearity of morphological characters call for a revaluation of characters included in species characterizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando J Cruz-Laufer
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Research Group Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, UHasselt - Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium
| | - Antoine Pariselle
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France.,Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory "Biodiversity, Ecology and Genome", Research Centre "Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Environment", Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Michiel W P Jorissen
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Research Group Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, UHasselt - Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium.,Department of Biology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - Fidel Muterezi Bukinga
- Section de Parasitologie, Département de Biologie, Centre de Recherche en Hydrobiologie, Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo
| | - Anwar Al Assadi
- Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, Nobelstraße 12, Stuttgart, 70569, Germany
| | - Maarten Van Steenberge
- Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium.,Operational Directorate Taxonomy and Phylogeny, Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, Brussels, B-1000, Belgium
| | - Stephan Koblmüller
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Christian Sturmbauer
- Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, Graz, 8010, Austria
| | - Karen Smeets
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Research Group Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, UHasselt - Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium
| | - Tine Huyse
- Section de Parasitologie, Département de Biologie, Centre de Recherche en Hydrobiologie, Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo.,Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
| | - Tom Artois
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Research Group Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, UHasselt - Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium
| | - Maarten P M Vanhove
- Faculty of Sciences, Centre for Environmental Sciences, Research Group Zoology: Biodiversity and Toxicology, UHasselt - Hasselt University, Agoralaan Gebouw D, Diepenbeek, 3590, Belgium.,Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, KU Leuven, Charles Deberiotstraat 32, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
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35
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Spitzer CA, Anderson TW, Sikkel PC. Habitat associations and impacts on a juvenile fish host by a temperate gnathiid isopod. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 17:65-73. [PMID: 34984169 PMCID: PMC8693287 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The distribution and abundance of organisms is typically shaped by multiple biotic and abiotic processes. Micropredators are parasite-like organisms that are smaller than their hosts and/or prey and feed on multiple hosts during a given life stage. Unlike typical parasites, however, they spend much or most of their time free-living, associating only temporarily with hosts. In the ocean, micropredators can impact multiple fish species, and in particular can have significant lethal and sub-lethal effects on newly settled fish. Although gnathiid isopods are abundant and primary micropredators in coral reef ecosystems, their impacts are relatively unexplored within sub-tidal temperate rocky reefs. We investigated the distribution of juvenile gnathiid isopods along sub-tidal temperate rocky reefs and tested trap methodology. We also quantified both the sub-lethal and lethal impacts of feeding-stage juvenile gnathiid isopods on juvenile, post-settlement reef fish, Heterostichus rostratus (giant kelpfish). We were most interested in determining the relationship between gnathiid infestation level and fish swimming performance, in particular swimming metrics relevant to predator avoidance maneuvers. We found that Gnathia tridens was present in rocky reefs rather than embayments along the Southern California coastline and that within rocky reefs, gnathiids occurred in the highest densities in lighted traps. Surprisingly, we observed almost no influence of fish size or gnathiid sub-lethal infestation level on ambient or burst swimming performance metrics. However, burst duration was reduced by gnathiid infestation, which is important in predator avoidance. There were significant differences in survivorship among small fish compared to large fish as a result of gnathiid infestation. Larger fish survived higher numbers of gnathiids than smaller fish, indicating that parasite-induced mortality is greater for smaller fish. Investigations of the effects of micropredators on subsequent predator-mediated mortality, including the susceptibility of fishes and their individual responses to micropredators, can further contribute to our understanding of processes affecting recruitment in resident reef fish populations. Further research, especially within temperate sub-tidal ecosystems, is needed to understand and highlight the overlooked importance of micropredation in shaping fish populations within a reefscape. Gnathiid isopods are more abundant in sub-tidal rocky reef than in bay habitats off southern California. Among the trap designs tested, lighted traps were most effective. Wave height and lunar period also impacted capture rates. For H. rostratus, gnathiids alter fish swimming performance at varying levels of infestation. Mortality rates from gnathiid infestation were inversely related to the size of fish host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire A. Spitzer
- Department of Biology and Coastal and Marine Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
- Corresponding author.
| | - Todd W. Anderson
- Department of Biology and Coastal and Marine Institute, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Paul C. Sikkel
- Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, USA
- Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
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The macroparasite fauna of cichlid fish from Nicaraguan lakes, a model system for understanding host-parasite diversification and speciation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3944. [PMID: 35273219 PMCID: PMC8913791 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The Nicaraguan lakes represent an ideal continent-island-like setting to study the colonization patterns of both fish and their parasites. The dominant fish fauna are cichlids, particularly the Midas cichlid species complex Amphilophus spp., a well-studied model for recent sympatric speciation. Here, we characterized the Midas cichlid macroparasite diversity in Nicaraguan lakes. We evaluated patterns of parasite diversity across host populations. Morphological and molecular analyses were conducted, revealing a macroparasite fauna composed by 37 taxa, including platyhelminths, nematodes, copepods, branchiurans, hirudineans and oribatids. Three invasive species are reported for the first time. The Midas cichlid was infected by 22 parasite taxa, 18 shared with other cichlids. Eight taxa conformed the core parasite fauna of the Midas cichlid. The large lakes had higher parasite diversity than the smaller and isolated crater lakes, although parasite infracommunity diversity was lower. Environmental factors along with the differential distribution of intermediate hosts, the potential resistance gained by their hosts after colonization of new lakes, competitive exclusion among parasites, or the introduction of exotic fish, may determine the observed pattern of parasite heterogeneous distribution. Our study provides a ground to explore the evolutionary history of both, hosts and parasites within the context of speciation and diversification processes.
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Poulin R, Presswell B. Is parasite taxonomy really in trouble? A quantitative analysis. Int J Parasitol 2022; 52:469-474. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Soldánová M, Kundid P, Scholz T, Kristoffersen R, Knudsen R. Somatic Dimorphism in Cercariae of a Bird Schistosome. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030290. [PMID: 35335614 PMCID: PMC8953619 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic polymorphism is a commonly observed phenomenon in nature, but extremely rare in free-living stages of parasites. We describe a unique case of somatic polymorphism in conspecific cercariae of the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia sp. “peregra”, in which two morphs, conspicuously different in their size, were released from a single Radix balthica snail. A detailed morphometric analysis that included multiple morphological parameters taken from 105 live and formalin-fixed cercariae isolated from several naturally infected snails provided reliable evidence for a division of all cercariae into two size groups that contained either large or small individuals. Large morph (total body length of 1368 and 1339 μm for live and formalin-fixed samples, respectively) differed significantly nearly in all morphological characteristics compared to small cercariae (total body length of 976 and 898 μm for live and formalin samples, respectively), regardless of the fixation method. Furthermore, we observed that small individuals represent the normal/commonly occurring phenotype in snail populations. The probable causes and consequences of generating an alternative, much larger phenotype in the parasite infrapopulation are discussed in the context of transmission ecology as possible benefits and disadvantages facilitating or preventing the successful completion of the life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Soldánová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (P.K.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Petra Kundid
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (P.K.); (T.S.)
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Scholz
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (P.K.); (T.S.)
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roar Kristoffersen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037 Tromsø, Norway; (R.K.); (R.K.)
| | - Rune Knudsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037 Tromsø, Norway; (R.K.); (R.K.)
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Gleasonian structure in the helminth metacommunity of the opossum Didelphis albiventris in two extremes of the Atlantic Forest. J Helminthol 2022; 96:e7. [PMID: 35086598 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x21000791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Didelphis albiventris is the opossum with the largest geographic distribution in Brazil and has a wide spectrum of helminth parasites. This study aimed to describe the species composition and analyse the structure of helminth communities of D. albiventris in two extremes of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The influence of host sex, body mass, age, helminth species richness and locality on the abundance and prevalence of the most prevalent helminth species was investigated. Ninety-five per cent of the animals were infected with at least one species. Nine helminth species were found: the nematodes Aspidodera raillieti, Cruzia tentaculata, Trichuris didelphis and Trichuris minuta in the large intestine; Turgida turgida in the stomach; Travassostrongylus orloffi and Viannaia hamata; and the trematodes Brachylaima advena and Rhopalias coronatus in the small intestine. Three helminth morphospecies were also recovered: the nematodes Hoineffia sp. and Viannaia sp. and a cestode in the small intestine. Cruzia tentaculata and V. hamata were the species with the highest mean abundances and intensities, while the most prevalent species were A. raillieti, C. tentaculata, T. turgida and V. hamata, forming the central nucleus of the helminth component community. The analysis of the helminth metacommunity structure indicated a Gleasonian pattern for the total set of infracommunities, corroborating the beta diversity indices, which indicated more species replacement than loss between localities and infracommunities, although at a low level. The results indicated a stronger influence of host attributes than geographical distance on the community structure.
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Díaz-Morales DM, Bommarito C, Vajedsamiei J, Grabner DS, Rilov G, Wahl M, Sures B. Heat sensitivity of first host and cercariae may restrict parasite transmission in a warming sea. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1174. [PMID: 35064187 PMCID: PMC8782892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05139-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
To predict global warming impacts on parasitism, we should describe the thermal tolerance of all players in host-parasite systems. Complex life-cycle parasites such as trematodes are of particular interest since they can drive complex ecological changes. This study evaluates the net response to temperature of the infective larval stage of Himasthla elongata, a parasite inhabiting the southwestern Baltic Sea. The thermal sensitivity of (i) the infected and uninfected first intermediate host (Littorina littorea) and (ii) the cercarial emergence, survival, self-propelling, encystment, and infection capacity to the second intermediate host (Mytilus edulis sensu lato) were examined. We found that infection by the trematode rendered the gastropod more susceptible to elevated temperatures representing warm summer events in the region. At 22 °C, cercarial emergence and infectivity were at their optimum while cercarial survival was shortened, narrowing the time window for successful mussel infection. Faster out-of-host encystment occurred at increasing temperatures. After correcting the cercarial emergence and infectivity for the temperature-specific gastropod survival, we found that warming induces net adverse effects on the trematode transmission to the bivalve host. The findings suggest that gastropod and cercariae mortality, as a tradeoff for the emergence and infectivity, will hamper the possibility for trematodes to flourish in a warming ocean.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakeishla M Díaz-Morales
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Claudia Bommarito
- Benthic and Experimental Ecology Department, GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jahangir Vajedsamiei
- Benthic and Experimental Ecology Department, GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniel S Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Gil Rilov
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 8030, 31080, Haifa, Israel
- Marine Biology Department, The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, 31905, Haifa, Israel
| | - Martin Wahl
- Benthic and Experimental Ecology Department, GEOMAR, Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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41
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FALKENBERG JULIAM, LIMA VITÓRIAMDE, VIEIRA GUSTAVOH, LACERDA ANACAROLINAF. Metazoan parasites of white mullet Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae) and new records of occurrence in the western Atlantic, Brazil. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2022; 94:e20200496. [DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202220200496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- JULIA M. FALKENBERG
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil; Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil
| | | | - GUSTAVO H.C. VIEIRA
- Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil; Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil
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42
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Fiddaman SR, Vinkler M, Spiro SG, Levy H, Emerling CA, Boyd AC, Dimopoulos EA, Vianna JA, Cole TL, Pan H, Fang M, Zhang G, Hart T, Frantz LAF, Smith AL. Adaptation and cryptic pseudogenization in penguin Toll-like Receptors. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 39:6460345. [PMID: 34897511 PMCID: PMC8788240 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Penguins (Sphenisciformes) are an iconic order of flightless, diving seabirds distributed across a large latitudinal range in the Southern Hemisphere. The extensive area over which penguins are endemic is likely to have fostered variation in pathogen pressure, which in turn will have imposed differential selective pressures on the penguin immune system. At the front line of pathogen detection and response, the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) provide insight into host evolution in the face of microbial challenge. TLRs respond to conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns and are frequently found to be under positive selection, despite retaining specificity for defined agonist classes. We undertook a comparative immunogenetics analysis of TLRs for all penguin species and found evidence of adaptive evolution that was largely restricted to the cell surface-expressed TLRs, with evidence of positive selection at, or near, key agonist-binding sites in TLR1B, TLR4, and TLR5. Intriguingly, TLR15, which is activated by fungal products, appeared to have been pseudogenized multiple times in the Eudyptes spp., but a full-length form was present as a rare haplotype at the population level. However, in vitro analysis revealed that even the full-length form of Eudyptes TLR15 was nonfunctional, indicating an ancestral cryptic pseudogenization prior to its eventual disruption multiple times in the Eudyptes lineage. This unusual pseudogenization event could provide an insight into immune adaptation to fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus, which is responsible for significant mortality in wild and captive bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Fiddaman
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Michal Vinkler
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Simon G Spiro
- Wildlife Health Services, Zoological Society of London Regent's Park, London, UK
| | - Hila Levy
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | | | - Amy C Boyd
- Jenner Institute, University of Oxford Roosevelt Drive, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Evangelos A Dimopoulos
- The Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and History of Art, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
| | - Juliana A Vianna
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago, Chile
| | - Theresa L Cole
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen DK2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hailin Pan
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Miaoquan Fang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Guojie Zhang
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen DK2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District Shenzhen 518083, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Kunming, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650223, China
| | - Tom Hart
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
| | - Laurent A F Frantz
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Fogg Building, Queen Mary University of London Mile End Rd, Bethnal Green, London E1 4DQ, UK.,Institute of Palaeoanatomy, Domestication Research and the History of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
| | - Adrian L Smith
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK
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Fitte B, Cavia R, Robles MDR, Dellarupe A, Unzaga JM, Navone GT. Predictors of parasite and pathogen infections in urban rodents of central Argentina. J Helminthol 2021; 95:e71. [PMID: 34879897 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x21000523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Urban rodents are associated with parasites and pathogens, which present health risks for humans, but information on factors related to parasite and pathogen infection in rodents in cities of Latin America is scarce. This study analyzes the hosts, host community structure and environmental characteristics of parasite and pathogen fauna present in the three species of urban rodents in an urban area of South America. Rodents were captured seasonally in seven different neighborhoods. Digestive tracts were dissected under stereoscopic microscopy and feces were processed using a sedimentation technique. Protozoa and bacteria were detected through polymerase chain reaction and indirect immunofluorescence techniques. In Rattus norvegicus, Rattus rattus and Mus musculus, ten helminths, three protozoa and two bacteria were found. Six were zoonotic: Toxoplasma gondii; Hymenolepis diminuta; Rodentolepis nana; Strobilocercus fasciolaris; Leptospira borgpetersenii; and Leptospira interrogans. The parasite and pathogen infections were influenced by the host species, the host community structure, the season, and the presence of streams in the neighborhood. Urban rodents may be the infection source of many zoonotic diseases and it is important to generate public policies for this problem. This study is one example of the situation of many cities of Latin America, where peripheral neighborhoods are growing dramatically.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Fitte
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CEPAVE (CCT La Plata CONICET UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - R Cavia
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), UBA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Del Rosario Robles
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CEPAVE (CCT La Plata CONICET UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - A Dellarupe
- Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - J M Unzaga
- Laboratorio de Inmunoparasitología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - G T Navone
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores, CEPAVE (CCT La Plata CONICET UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
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Global Studies of the Host-Parasite Relationships between Ectoparasitic Mites of the Family Syringophilidae and Birds of the Order Columbiformes. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123392. [PMID: 34944169 PMCID: PMC8697884 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The quill mites belonging to the family Syringophilidae (Acari: Prostigmata: Cheyletoidea) are obligate ectoparasites of birds. They inhabit different types of the quills, where they spend their whole life cycle. In this paper, we conducted a global study of syringophilid mites associated with columbiform birds. We examined 772 pigeon and dove individuals belonging to 112 species (35% world fauna) from all zoogeographical regions (except Madagascan) where Columbiformes occur. We measured the prevalence (IP) and the confidence interval (CI) for all infested host species. IP ranges between 4.2 and 66.7 (CI 0.2-100). We applied a bipartite analysis to determine host-parasite interaction, network indices, and host specificity on species and whole network levels. The Syringophilidae-Columbiformes network was composed of 25 mite species and 65 host species. The bipartite network was characterized by a high network level specialization H2' = 0.93, high nestedness N = 0.908, connectance C = 0.90, and high modularity Q = 0.83, with 20 modules. Moreover, we reconstructed the phylogeny of the quill mites associated with columbiform birds on the generic level. Analysis shows two distinct clades: Meitingsunes + Psittaciphilus, and Peristerophila + Terratosyringophilus.
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Schwelm J, Selbach C, Kremers J, Sures B. Rare inventory of trematode diversity in a protected natural reserve. Sci Rep 2021; 11:22066. [PMID: 34764355 PMCID: PMC8586355 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01457-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In the face of ongoing habitat degradation and the biodiversity crisis, natural reserves are important refuges for wildlife. Since most free-living organisms serve as hosts to parasites, the diverse communities in protected areas can be expected to provide suitable habitats for a species-rich parasite fauna. However, to date, assessments of parasite diversity in protected nature reserves are rare. To expand our knowledge of parasite communities in natural habitats, we examined 1994 molluscs belonging to 15 species for trematode infections in a central European natural reserve. The parasitological examination revealed an overall prevalence of 17.3% and a total species richness of 40 trematode species. However, the parasite diversity and prevalence did not differ markedly from trematode communities in non-protected environments, which might be partly explained by a dilution effect caused by a high number of non-host organisms in our study system. The proportion of complex and long life cycles of parasites in the present study is high, indicating complex biotic interactions. We conclude that life cycle complexity, in addition to parasite diversity and trematode species richness, can provide valuable information on ecosystem health and should therefore be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Schwelm
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany.
| | - Christian Selbach
- Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology, Aarhus University, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jenia Kremers
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany
| | - Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology and Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 5, 45141, Essen, Germany.,Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
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46
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Huang S, Farrell M, Stephens PR. Infectious disease macroecology: parasite diversity and dynamics across the globe. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200350. [PMID: 34538145 PMCID: PMC8450632 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shan Huang
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Maxwell Farrell
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick R. Stephens
- Odum School of Ecology and Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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47
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Ruehle BP, Presswell B, Bennett J. DISTRIBUTION AND DIVERSITY OF DIPLOSTOMIDS IN NEW ZEALAND. J Parasitol 2021; 107:933-942. [PMID: 34910201 DOI: 10.1645/21-75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitism is one of the most common consumer strategies and contributes a large portion to biological diversity. Trematodes in the family Diplostomidae are common in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, often residing in the eyes or brain of fish and then infecting fish-eating birds as adults. As a result, some species have broad geographic distributions due to the bird host's motility. In contrast to the cosmopolitan nature of diplostomids, only a single species, Tylodelphys darbyi, has been identified in New Zealand to date, and only from the South Island. Tylodelphys darbyi has a 3-host life cycle consisting of an unidentified snail, a freshwater fish (Gobiomorphus cotidianus), and the Australasian crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus australis). To date, T. darbyi has been found in 2 locations, Lake Hayes, in the eyes of G. cotidianus, and Lake Wanaka, adults recovered from grebes. Considering the near ubiquity of the fish host in New Zealand, it is likely the bird, listed as nationally vulnerable, is the limiting factor in the range of T. darbyi. Up to 10 G. cotidianus were sampled from 10 mountain lakes known to have populations of grebe in the Otago and Canterbury regions of New Zealand's South Island. The eyes of all fish were examined and any metacercariae present were set aside for genetic analysis. In addition to expanding the known range of T. darbyi to at least 4 water bodies across the South Island, 2 new taxa of diplostomid were identified. A lens-infecting metacercariae clustered with Diplostomum spathaceum, while the metacercariae from the humor clustered with Diplostomum baeri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon P Ruehle
- University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.,Northland Regional Council, 36 Water Street, Whangarei 0110, New Zealand
| | - Bronwen Presswell
- University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jerusha Bennett
- University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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Edwards DD, Gordon NM. HELMINTH DIVERSITY OF GREEN TREEFROGS (HYLA CINEREA) IN THEIR EXPANDED GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE. J Parasitol 2021; 107:923-932. [PMID: 34902862 DOI: 10.1645/20-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
There has been a growing interest in characterizing the parasite faunas of species populations as they expand their geographical ranges as a result of climate change. Expanded-range populations often exhibit lower parasite diversity than historical-range populations, and reduced parasitism may, in part, be attributable to expanded-range populations escaping their native range parasites. The present study compares the helminth faunas of green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) from 4 historical and 4 expanded-range populations to determine whether these latter populations have undergone parasite escape. Results of this study found relatively high degrees of similarity in species composition among helminth assemblages within historical or within range-expansion locations, with marked differences in the composition of helminth faunas between historical and expanded-range populations of these frogs. Because green treefrogs from expanded-range locations exhibited significant decreases in helminth species diversity compared with those from historical sites, they appear to be escaping levels of parasitism typically experienced by these frogs in their native range. Most notably, there was a decrease in the abundance of helminths with direct life cycles and the absence of trematode assemblages with indirect life cycles among expanded-range populations of H. cinerea. The low prevalence of trematode assemblages among historical populations of green treefrogs could limit these parasites' ability to be introduced and propagated in expanded-range locations. However, the lack of trematode assemblages among populations of H. cinerea in its expanded range may also be due to the absence or limited availability of other aquatic hosts that are required to complete the life cycles of these parasites. The reduction in helminth diversity among expanded-range populations of green treefrogs lends some credence to the notion that individuals at the front of a range expansion often invest less energy in reproduction and in doing so allocate more energy to dispersal and other life-history traits, including resistance to parasites. There may, however, be other explanations for differences in parasite species diversity between historical and expanded-range populations of H. cinerea. Because many of the helminths reported from this study are host generalists of amphibians whose recruitment and transmission among intermediate and paratenic hosts are known to be constrained by water and/or soil moisture conditions, we cannot ignore the role of both local amphibian diversity and local abiotic factors in influencing helminth diversity between the 2 population types of green treefrogs. These latter factors would decrease the role of parasite escape or energy trade-offs in driving helminth diversity among populations of H. cinerea and instead would suggest that local conditions play a more prominent role in structuring their helminth communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale D Edwards
- Department of Biology, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47722
| | - Noah M Gordon
- Department of Biology, University of Evansville, 1800 Lincoln Avenue, Evansville, Indiana 47722
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Johnson PT, Haas SE. Why do parasites exhibit reverse latitudinal diversity gradients? Testing the roles of host diversity, habitat and climate. GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY : A JOURNAL OF MACROECOLOGY 2021; 30:1810-1821. [PMID: 34539245 PMCID: PMC8447859 DOI: 10.1111/geb.13347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
AIM The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) - in which species richness decreases from the equator toward the poles - is among the most fundamental distributional patterns in ecology. Despite the expectation that the diversity of parasites tracks that of their hosts, available evidence suggests that many parasites exhibit reverse latitudinal gradients or no pattern, yet the rarity of large-scale datasets on host-parasite interactions calls into question the robustness of such trends. Here, we collected parasitological data from a host group of conservation importance - lentic-breeding amphibians - to characterize the form and direction of relationships among latitude, parasite richness, and parasite load. LOCATION The contiguous USA. TIME PERIOD 2000 to 2014. MAJOR TAXA STUDIED Lentic-breeding frogs and toads and their helminth parasites. METHODS We collected information on parasite richness and infection load for 846 amphibian populations representing 31 species. We combined these data with environmental and biological data to test for LDGs and potential mechanisms. RESULTS Both parasite richness and abundance increased across 20 degrees of latitude - a reverse LDG. For parasite richness, this pattern was partially explained by latitudinal increases in wetland area, landcover diversity, and the richness of waterbirds - which function as definitive hosts for many amphibian parasites. Host body size also correlated positively with latitude and helminth richness, potentially reflecting increased habitat availability, greater host longevity, or a persistent phylogenetic signal. Parasite abundance associated positively with wetland area and landcover diversity, but negatively with amphibian taxonomic richness. Longitude exhibited non-linear relationships with parasite abundance and richness, which we suggest stem from large-scale variation in host availability (e.g., migratory bird flyways). MAIN CONCLUSIONS With growing interest in the distribution of parasites and pathogens, these results highlight the importance of inverse latitudinal gradients while emphasizing the explanatory influence of host body size, habitat availability, and host diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah E. Haas
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
- Current address: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Inland Fisheries Division, Austin, TX, USA
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Contrasting Host-Parasite Population Structure: Morphology and Mitogenomics of a Parasitic Flatworm on Pelagic Deepwater Cichlid Fishes from Lake Tanganyika. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10080797. [PMID: 34440029 PMCID: PMC8389663 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Little phylogeographic structure is presumed for highly mobile species in pelagic zones. Lake Tanganyika is a unique ecosystem with a speciose and largely endemic fauna famous for its remarkable evolutionary history. In bathybatine cichlid fishes, the pattern of lake-wide population differentiation differs among species. We assessed the congruence between the phylogeographic structure of bathybatine cichlids and their parasitic flatworm Cichlidogyrus casuarinus to test the magnifying glass hypothesis. Additionally, we evaluated the use of a PoolSeq approach to study intraspecific variation in dactylogyrid monogeneans. The lake-wide population structure of C. casuarinus ex Hemibates stenosoma was assessed based on a portion of the cox1 gene combined with morphological characterisation. Additionally, intraspecific mitogenomic variation among 80 parasite samples from one spatially constrained metapopulation was assessed using shotgun NGS. While no clear geographic genetic structure was detected in parasites, both geographic and host-related phenotypic variation was apparent. The incongruence with the genetic north-south gradient observed in H. stenosoma may be explained by the broad host range of this flatworm including eupelagic bathybatine host species that form panmictic populations across the lake. In addition, we present the first parasite mitogenome from Lake Tanganyika and propose a methodological framework for studying the intraspecific mitogenomic variation of dactylogyrid monogeneans.
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