1
|
Li T, Zhang T, Liu M, Zhang Z, Zhang J, Niu J, Chen X, Al-Farraj SA, Song W. Findings on three endocommensal scuticociliates (Protista, Ciliophora) from freshwater mollusks, including their morphology and molecular phylogeny with descriptions of two new species. MARINE LIFE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 6:212-235. [PMID: 38827127 PMCID: PMC11136938 DOI: 10.1007/s42995-024-00230-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Species of the ciliate genera Myxophyllum and Conchophthirus are found as endocommensals of terrestrial and freshwater mollusks, respectively. So far, there have been few studies of these genera and morphological data for most members are often incomplete. In the present work, two new species, Myxophyllum weishanense sp. nov. and Conchophthirus paracurtus sp. nov., and a known species, Conchophthirus lamellidens, were isolated from hosts in Lake Weishan Wetland, China. Taxonomic studies indicate that M. weishanense sp. nov. can be recognized mainly by the combination of about 60 somatic kineties on both ventral and dorsal sides and the presence of caudal cilia. Conchophthirus paracurtus sp. nov. differs from congeners in its body shape and size, having a glabrous area on the posterior right side, and having fewer somatic kineties. In addition, differences in their ITS2 (Internally Transcribed Spacer 2) secondary structures support the discrimination of the two new species from their highly similar congeners. An improved diagnosis for the poorly known species, C. lamellidens is also provided. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that members of the genus Myxophyllum belong to a fully supported clade that is sister to a large, poorly supported clade consisting of Hemispeiridae, Ancistridae, and several lineages of the nonmonophyletic Cyclidiidae. The Myxophyllum clade also includes Protophyra ovicola JQ956552, a possible misidentification. Sequences of the two new Conchophthirus species cluster with other congeners in a fully supported clade that is unrelated to either the 'typical' thigmotrichs or to pleuronematids, thus conflicting with the traditional classification, and may represent an orphan scuticociliate lineage. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-024-00230-4.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China and Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education), Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Tengyue Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Application, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002 China
| | - Mingjian Liu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China and Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education), Qingdao, 266003 China
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China and Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education), Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Jiachen Zhang
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China and Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education), Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Junhua Niu
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China and Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education), Qingdao, 266003 China
| | - Xiangrui Chen
- School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315800 China
| | - Saleh A. Al-Farraj
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, 11451 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Weibo Song
- Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China and Key Laboratory of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity (Ministry of Education), Qingdao, 266003 China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao, 266237 China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Woodcock MR, Powers K, Snead K, Pellettieri J. Flatworm Transcriptomes Reveal Widespread Parasitism by Histophagous Ciliates. Genome Biol Evol 2024; 16:evae007. [PMID: 38242711 PMCID: PMC10837001 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae007] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Unicellular ciliates like Tetrahymena are best known as free-living bacteriovores, but many species are facultative or obligate parasites. These "histophages" feed on the tissues of hosts ranging from planarian flatworms to commercially important fish and the larvae of imperiled freshwater mussels. Here, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline incorporating the nonstandard ciliate genetic code and used it to search for Ciliophora sequences in 34 publicly available Platyhelminthes EST libraries. From 2,615,036 screened ESTs, we identified nearly 6,000 high-confidence ciliate transcripts, supporting parasitism of seven additional flatworm species. We also cultured and identified Tetrahymena from nine terrestrial and freshwater planarians, including invasive earthworm predators from the genus Bipalium and the widely studied regeneration models Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. A co-phylogenetic reconstruction provides strong evidence for the coevolution of histophagous Ciliophora with their Platyhelminthes hosts. We further report the antiprotozoal aminoglycoside paromomycin expels Tetrahymena from S. mediterranea, providing new opportunities to investigate the effects of this relationship on planarian biology. Together, our findings raise the possibility that invasive flatworms constitute a novel dispersal mechanism for Tetrahymena parasites and position the Platyhelminthes as an ideal model phylum for studying the ecology and evolution of histophagous ciliates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Science, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaleigh Powers
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
| | - Kirsten Snead
- Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Woodcock MR, Powers K, Snead K, Pellettieri J. FLATWORM TRANSCRIPTOMES REVEAL WIDESPREAD PARASITISM BY HISTOPHAGOUS CILIATES. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.17.558123. [PMID: 37745455 PMCID: PMC10516030 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.17.558123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Unicellular ciliates like Tetrahymena are best known as free-living bacteriovores, but many species are facultative or obligate parasites. These 'histophages' feed on the tissues of hosts ranging from planarian flatworms to commercially important fish and the larvae of imperiled freshwater mussels. Here, we developed a novel bioinformatics pipeline incorporating the nonstandard ciliate genetic code and used it to search for Ciliophora sequences in 34 publicly available Platyhelminthes EST libraries. From 2,615,036 screened ESTs, we identified nearly 6,000 high-confidence ciliate transcripts, supporting parasitism of seven additional flatworm species. We also cultured and identified Tetrahymena from nine terrestrial and freshwater planarians, including invasive earthworm predators from the genus Bipalium and the widely studied regeneration models Dugesia japonica and Schmidtea mediterranea. A cophylogenetic reconstruction provides strong evidence for coevolution of histophagous Ciliophora with their Platyhelminthes hosts. We further report the antiprotozoal aminoglycoside paromomycin expels Tetrahymena from S. mediterranea, providing new opportunities to investigate the effects of this relationship on planarian biology. Together, our findings raise the possibility that invasive flatworms constitute a novel dispersal mechanism for Tetrahymena parasites and position the Platyhelminthes as an ideal model phylum for studying the ecology and evolution of histophagous ciliates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Ryan Woodcock
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
- Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Science, Trocaire College, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Kaleigh Powers
- Department of Biology, Keene State College, Keene, NH, USA
| | - Kirsten Snead
- Department of Science, Mathematics & Technology, Medaille University, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Burcham GN, Fisher B, Boedeker N. Histopathologic survey of free-living populations of 2 species of freshwater mussels in Indiana. Vet Pathol 2023; 60:628-639. [PMID: 37439539 DOI: 10.1177/03009858231185872] [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: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater mussels are one of the most endangered groups of animals in Indiana, with nearly half of the native species either extirpated or listed as "state endangered" or of "special concern." Nationally, numerous freshwater mussel species are considered threatened. Freshwater mussel diseases are not well understood and few published accounts of freshwater mussel diseases with detailed histological descriptions exist. Mass mortality events within mussel populations are increasingly recognized, often with undetermined etiology. Our objective was to determine baseline histopathology in free-living populations of freshwater mussels. One-hundred twenty individual mussels representing 2 species-plain pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium) and fatmucket (Lampsilis siliquoidea)-were collected from 3 different locations within the Wildcat Creek watershed in central Indiana during June and July 2019. A cross-section through the visceral mass was obtained and immersed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin, with routine processing and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Branchial acariasis occurred in 43/60 fatmuckets and 22/60 plain pocketbooks. Infection with a bucephalid trematode was recognized in 18/60 fatmuckets, while infection of the gonadal duct with an unidentified trematode species was identified in 4/60 fatmuckets and 18/59 plain pocketbooks. Additional changes associated with unidentified trematodes, bacteria, fungi or oomycetes, and ciliates were observed. Other miscellaneous changes included mineralization, neuronal lipofuscinosis, and gonadal atrophy/atresia. A range of histological changes were observed. These changes likely represented background lesions: incidental findings, spontaneous infectious or endosymbiotic conditions, or normal physiological changes that routinely occur in free-living wild populations. Awareness of baseline lesions should inform future diagnostic investigations of mussel mortality events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Brant Fisher
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Edinburgh, IN
| | - Nancy Boedeker
- Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN and Dubois, IN
- Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Indianapolis, IN
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu L, Jiang M, Zhou C, Li B, Song Y, Pan X. Further insights into the phylogeny of facultative parasitic ciliates associated with tetrahymenosis (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea) based on multigene data. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10504. [PMID: 37680958 PMCID: PMC10480068 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tetrahymenosis, caused by about 10 Tetrahymena species, is an emerging problem inflicting a significant economic loss on the aquaculture industry worldwide. However, in the order Tetrahymenida, there are many unresolved evolutionary relationships among taxa. Here we report 21 new sequences, including SSU-rRNA, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA and LSU-rRNA, genes of 10 facultative parasitic Tetrahymena associated with tetrahymenosis, and conduct phylogenetic analyses based on each individual gene and a three-gene concatenated dataset. The main findings are: (1) All the parasitic and facultative parasitic species cluster in borealis group. (2) With the addition of new sequences, Tetrahymena is still divided into three groups, namely the "borealis group", the "australis group," and the "paravorax group." (3) the cluster pattern of all the newly sequenced facultative parasitic Tetrahymena species shows that members of the "borealis" group may be more susceptible to parasitism. (4) phylogeny based on concatenated genes show that T. pyriformis, T. setosa, and T. leucophrys have close relationship.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lihui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of Aquatic OrganismsHarbin Normal UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Mingyue Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of Aquatic OrganismsHarbin Normal UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Chunyu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of Aquatic OrganismsHarbin Normal UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Bailin Li
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of Aquatic OrganismsHarbin Normal UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Yumeng Song
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of Aquatic OrganismsHarbin Normal UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Xuming Pan
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity of Aquatic OrganismsHarbin Normal UniversityHarbinChina
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang T, Vďačný P. Re-discovery and novel contributions to morphology and multigene phylogeny of Protospirella mazurica (Raabe, 1968) Aescht, 2001 (Ciliophora: Pleuronematida), an obligate symbiont of the river nerite Theodoxus fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Eur J Protistol 2023; 88:125956. [PMID: 36805973 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2023.125956] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Although the river nerite Theodoxus fluviatilis (Gastropoda: Neritimorpha) has an exceptionally broad geographical and ecological distribution, it carries only four ciliate species: Hypocomella quatuor, Protospirella mazurica, Scyphidia sp., and Trichodina baltica. After more than a half-century gap, we re-discovered P. mazurica in a Danubian population of T. fluviatilis (haplotypes F31 and F34) and characterized it using an integrative morpho-molecular approach. Protospirella mazurica is distinguished by (i) a small, elongate-ellipsoidal to ovoidal body, (ii) a broadly ellipsoidal macronucleus accompanied by a single globular micronucleus, (iii) a subterminal contractile vacuole, (iv) about 24 somatic kineties, (v) thigmotactic ciliature composed of about 10 kineties shortened posteriorly to form a parenthetical system, and (vi) a long inverted J-shaped paroral membrane associated with three unequally long membranelles. According to the present phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial and three nuclear markers, P. mazurica robustly clusters within the order Pleuronematida (Oligohymenophorea: Scuticociliatia) along with other symbiotic members of the families Hemispeiridae and Thigmophryidae as well as free-living representatives of the paraphyletic family Cyclidiidae. In light of the present phylogenetic analyses, we consider the family Ancistridae to be a junior synonym of the family Hemispeiridae, which collates 14 genera in our classification framework.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tengyue Zhang
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Vďačný
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang T, Vďačný P. A discovery of two new Tetrahymena species parasitizing slugs and mussels: morphology and multi-gene phylogeny of T. foissneri sp. n. and T. unionis sp. n. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2595-2616. [PMID: 33851248 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07152-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The presence of parasitic ciliates of the hymenostome genus Tetrahymena was examined in 150 mollusks belonging to six bivalve and 13 gastropod species in Slovakia, Central Europe. Tetrahymenids were detected only in two species, viz., in the invasive Lusitanian slug (Arion vulgaris) and in the native swollen river mussel (Unio tumidus). Although only 10.52% of the examined mollusk taxa were positive, their Tetrahymena infections were very intensive accounting for several hundreds of ciliates per host. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes as well as of the barcoding region of the gene encoding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit I revealed that both isolates represent new taxa, T. foissneri sp. n. and T. unionis sp. n. The former species belongs to the 'borealis' clade and its nearest relative is T. limacis, a well-known parasite of slugs and snails. Besides molecular data, T. foissneri can be distinguished from T. limacis also morphologically by the body shape of the parasitic-phase form, dimensions of micronuclei, and the silverline system. On the other hand, T. unionis was classified within the 'paravorax' clade along with T. pennsylvaniensis, T. glochidiophila, and T. nigricans. Although these four species are genetically distinct, T. unionis could be morphologically separated only from T. nigricans by body shape and size. The present study suggests that both aquatic and terrestrial mollusks represent interesting hosts for the discovery of novel Tetrahymena lineages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tengyue Zhang
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Vďačný
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, 842 15, Bratislava, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Relvas RS, Balian SDC, Soares HS, Martins ML, Cardoso PHM. Parasitological diagnosis in food fish produced in a fish farm, in the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2020; 29:e019520. [PMID: 33237195 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612020100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
This study identified the parasitic species in juvenile freshwater finfishes during the fattening stage, from a fish farm located in the Zona da Mata (MG), southeastern Brazil, and revealed both macro and microscopical lesions in fish gills. A total of 172 juvenile fishes of different species (Oreochromis niloticus, Ictalurus punctatus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio, Astyanax bimaculatus and Brycon amazonicus) were transported to a laboratory in São Paulo city. The fish were sedated and then euthanized for parasitological analysis. All fish were infected by at least one parasite species. Ten different species of parasites were identified: Apiosoma sp., Epistylis sp., Ichthyobodo sp., trichodinids, Piscinoodinium pillulare, Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, Tetrahymena sp., monogeneans, Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae, and Dermocystidium sp. The best management practices and lack of sanitary control were also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Sordi Relvas
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Simone de Carvalho Balian
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Herbert Sousa Soares
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.,Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária e Bem Estar Animal e Saúde Única, Universidade Santo Amaro - UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Maurício Laterça Martins
- Laboratório de Sanidade de Organismos Aquáticos - AQUOS, Departamento de Aquicultura, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil
| | - Pedro Henrique Magalhães Cardoso
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang T, Vďačný P. Re-discovery and novel contributions to morphology and multigene phylogeny of Myxophyllum steenstrupi (Ciliophora: Pleuronematida), an obligate symbiont of terrestrial pulmonates. Zool J Linn Soc 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Myxophyllum steenstrupi is a symbiotic ciliate living in the body slime and mantle cavity of terrestrial pulmonates (Gastropoda: Pulmonata). In the present study, M. steenstrupi was re-discovered after almost 30 years and characterized using an integrative morpho-molecular approach for the first time. Myxophyllum is distinguished by a broadly ovate, about 140 × 115 μm-sized body, a nuclear apparatus typically composed of seven macronuclear nodules and a single micronucleus, a central contractile vacuole, a shallow oral cavity situated in the posterior body region and dense somatic ciliature with extensive thigmotactic field. According to the present phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial and five nuclear markers, M. steenstrupi is classified in the predominantly free-living order Pleuronematida (Oligohymenophorea: Scuticociliatia). This order also encompasses other taxa isolated from molluscs and traditionally classified along with Myxophyllum in the order Thigmotrichida. The proper classifications of Myxophyllum was hampered by the dramatic remodelling of its oral apparatus (reduction of the paroral membrane and adoral organelles, formation of vestibular kineties), a transformation that was likely induced by its firm association with terrestrial gastropods. The present study also documents that various ciliate lineages independently became commensals or parasites of various aquatic and terrestrial molluscs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tengyue Zhang
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Peter Vďačný
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|