1
|
Qin T, Ortega-Perez P, Wibbelt G, Lakim MB, Ginting S, Khoprasert Y, Wells K, Hu J, Jäkel T. A cyst-forming coccidian with large geographical range infecting forest and commensal rodents: Sarcocystis muricoelognathis sp. nov. Parasit Vectors 2024; 17:135. [PMID: 38491403 PMCID: PMC10943850 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-024-06230-8] [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: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The geographic distribution and host-parasite interaction networks of Sarcocystis spp. in small mammals in eastern Asia remain incompletely known. METHODS Experimental infections, morphological and molecular characterizations were used for discrimination of a new Sarcocystis species isolated from colubrid snakes and small mammals collected in Thailand, Borneo and China. RESULTS We identified a new species, Sarcocystis muricoelognathis sp. nov., that features a relatively wide geographic distribution and infects both commensal and forest-inhabiting intermediate hosts. Sarcocystis sporocysts collected from rat snakes (Coelognathus radiatus, C. flavolineatus) in Thailand induced development of sarcocysts in experimental SD rats showing a type 10a cyst wall ultrastructure that was identical with those found in Rattus norvegicus from China and the forest rat Maxomys whiteheadi in Borneo. Its cystozoites had equal sizes in all intermediate hosts and locations, while sporocysts and cystozoites were distinct from other Sarcocystis species. Partial 28S rRNA sequences of S. muricoelognathis from M. whiteheadi were largely identical to those from R. norvegicus in China but distinct from newly sequenced Sarcocystis zuoi. The phylogeny of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene placed S. muricoelognathis within the so-called S. zuoi complex, including Sarcocystis attenuati, S. kani, S. scandentiborneensis and S. zuoi, while the latter clustered with the new species. However, the phylogeny of the ITS1-region confirmed the distinction between S. muricoelognathis and S. zuoi. Moreover, all three gene trees suggested that an isolate previously addressed as S. zuoi from Thailand (KU341120) is conspecific with S. muricoelognathis. Partial mitochondrial cox1 sequences of S. muricoelognathis were almost identical with those from other members of the group suggesting a shared, recent ancestry. Additionally, we isolated two partial 28S rRNA Sarcocystis sequences from Low's squirrel Sundasciurus lowii that clustered with those of S. scandentiborneensis from treeshews. CONCLUSIONS Our results provide strong evidence of broad geographic distributions of rodent-associated Sarcocystis and host shifts between commensal and forest small mammal species, even if the known host associations remain likely only snapshots of the true associations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Qin
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences and Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Paula Ortega-Perez
- Department of Pathology, AnaPath Services GmbH, Liestal, Switzerland
- Department Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gudrun Wibbelt
- Department Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Yuvaluk Khoprasert
- Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Research and Development Office, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Konstans Wells
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Junjie Hu
- School of Ecology and Environmental Sciences and Yunnan International Joint Laboratory of Virology & Immunity, Yunnan University, Kunming, China.
| | - Thomas Jäkel
- Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection Research and Development Office, Bangkok, Thailand.
- Institute of Biology, Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Couso-Pérez S, Pardavila X, Carro F, Ares-Mazás E, Gómez-Couso H. First report of Eimeria myoxi in the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus Linnaeus, 1766) from Doñana Natural Area (Andalusia, SW Spain). Parasitol Int 2023; 94:102740. [PMID: 36804597 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2023.102740] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
This work reports for the first time the presence and molecular characterization of Eimeria myoxi in the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) from the Doñana Natural Area (Andalusia, SW Spain). Fresh faecal samples were collected from a total of 28 garden dormice, which were caught following current guidelines for the ethical use of animals in research, and processing by a standard flotation technique with saturated saline solution. Then, wet drops were examined microscopically, and the number of oocysts was semi-quantified. Eimeria oocysts were observed in 16 of the 28 (57.1%) faecal samples, showing most of them a very low number of oocysts (≤1 oocyst per microscopic field × 400). The unsporulated oocysts visualized in 16 faecal samples were subspherical and of length 19.2 ± 1.2 μm and width 17.4 ± 1.1 μm, being morphologically compatible with E. myoxi. This finding was supported by molecular analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU-rRNA) gene, identifying the same species in 22 of the 28 (78.6%) dormice, including 15 samples in which oocyst size was compatible with E. myoxi. Moreover, the subsequent analyses of the apicoplast open reading frame 470 (ORF470) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes confirmed the molecular identification of the isolates as E. myoxi. The phylogeny analyses were consistent with previous phylogenetic studies and support the existence of three lineages of rodent-infecting Eimeria species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seila Couso-Pérez
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain; Nanotechnology and Integrated BioEngineering Centre, School of Engineering, Ulster University, Belfast Campus, 2-24 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AP, United Kingdom
| | - Xosé Pardavila
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n 41001, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Francisco Carro
- Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Avenida Américo Vespucio s/n 41001, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Elvira Ares-Mazás
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Hipólito Gómez-Couso
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain; Research Institute on Chemical and Biological Analysis, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nazarizadeh M, Nováková M, Loot G, Gabagambi NP, Fatemizadeh F, Osano O, Presswell B, Poulin R, Vitál Z, Scholz T, Halajian A, Trucchi E, Kočová P, Štefka J. Historical dispersal and host-switching formed the evolutionary history of a globally distributed multi-host parasite - The Ligula intestinalis species complex. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 180:107677. [PMID: 36572162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107677] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Studies on parasite biogeography and host spectrum provide insights into the processes driving parasite diversification. Global geographical distribution and a multi-host spectrum make the tapeworm Ligula intestinalis a promising model for studying both the vicariant and ecological modes of speciation in parasites. To understand the relative importance of host association and biogeography in the evolutionary history of this tapeworm, we analysed mtDNA and reduced-represented genomic SNP data for a total of 139 specimens collected from 18 fish-host genera across a distribution range representing 21 countries. Our results strongly supported the existence of at least 10 evolutionary lineages and estimated the deepest divergence at approximately 4.99-5.05 Mya, which is much younger than the diversification of the fish host genera and orders. Historical biogeography analyses revealed that the ancestor of the parasite diversified following multiple vicariance events and was widespread throughout the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Nearctic between the late Miocene and early Pliocene. Cyprinoids were inferred as the ancestral hosts for the parasite. Later, from the late Pliocene to Pleistocene, new lineages emerged following a series of biogeographic dispersal and host-switching events. Although only a few of the current Ligula lineages show narrow host-specificity (to a single host genus), almost no host genera, even those that live in sympatry, overlapped between different Ligula lineages. Our analyses uncovered the impact of historical distribution shifts on host switching and the evolution of host specificity without parallel host-parasite co-speciation. Historical biogeography reconstructions also found that the parasite colonized several areas (Afrotropical and Australasian) much earlier than was suggested by only recent faunistic data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Nazarizadeh
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Milena Nováková
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Géraldine Loot
- UMR-5174, EDB (Laboratoire Evolution and Diversité Biologique), CNRS, IRD, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, France
| | | | - Faezeh Fatemizadeh
- Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
| | - Odipo Osano
- School of Environmental Studies, University of Eldoret, Kenya
| | | | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Zoltán Vitál
- Research Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Szarvas, Hungary
| | - Tomáš Scholz
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ali Halajian
- Research Administration and Development, and 2-DSI-NRF SARChI Chair (Ecosystem health), Department of Biodiversity, University of Limpopo, South Africa
| | - Emiliano Trucchi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Jan Štefka
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
In vitro cultivation methods for coccidian parasite research. Int J Parasitol 2022:S0020-7519(22)00153-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
5
|
Couso-Pérez S, Pardavila X, Ares-Mazás E, Gómez-Couso H. Molecular identification of Eimeria species in Spanish bats. Parasitol Int 2022; 91:102621. [PMID: 35809844 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102621] [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: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This is the first study reporting the detection and molecular characterization of Eimeria in bats in Spain, specifically in 12 of 32 chiropteran species described in the Iberian Peninsula. A total of 76 faecal samples were collected from different bat roosting sites across Spanish territory. The DNA was extracted from the samples and sequenced by targeting the Eimeria SSU-rRNA gene. Two Eimeria species were detected in 29 of the 76 faecal samples (38%), and the bat-specific Eimeria rioarribaensis and rodent-specific Eimeria jerfinica were detected in 4 (5%) and 25 (33%) of the samples, respectively. This is the first report of E. rioarribaensis in the bats Rhinolophus euryale, Myotis myotis and Nyctalus lasiopterus, extending the host and geographical ranges for this bat coccidian parasite. The identification of the rodent-specific parasite species E. jerfinica in bats indicates the occurrence of this species in Spain, although its presence has not previously been reported in wild rodents in this country. Considering that most of the Eimeria spp. reported in bats were described only on the basis of morphometric data, molecular studies are required to determined which Eimeria species occur in bats, to complete the identification of these species and to clarify the phylogeny.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Seila Couso-Pérez
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Xosé Pardavila
- Sorex Ecoloxía e Medio Ambiente S.L.U., Rúa das Barreiras 80,15702 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Elvira Ares-Mazás
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
| | - Hipólito Gómez-Couso
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain; Research Institute on Chemical and Biological Analysis, University of Santiago de Compostela, Campus Vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Nazarizadeh M, Martinů J, Nováková M, Stanko M, Štefka J. Phylogeography of the parasitic mite Laelaps agilis in Western Palearctic shows lineages lacking host specificity but possessing different demographic histories. BMC ZOOL 2022; 7:15. [PMID: 37170127 PMCID: PMC10127304 DOI: 10.1186/s40850-022-00115-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Laelaps agilis C.L. Koch, 1836 is one the most abundant and widespread parasitic mite species in the Western Palearctic. It is a permanent ectoparasite associated with the Apodemus genus, which transmits Hepatozoon species via the host’s blood. Phylogenetic relationships, genealogy and host specificity of the mite are uncertain in the Western Palearctic. Here, we investigated the population genetic structure of 132 individual mites across Europe from their Apodemus and Clethrionomys hosts. Phylogenetic relationships and genetic variation of the populations were analyzed using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences.
Results
We recovered three main mtDNA lineages within L. agilis in the Western Palearctic, which differentiated between 1.02 and 1.79 million years ago during the Pleistocene period: (i) Lineage A, including structured populations from Western Europe and the Czech Republic, (ii) Lineage B, which included only a few individuals from Greece and the Czech Republic; and (iii) Lineage C, which comprised admixed populations from Western and Eastern Europe. Contrary to their population genetic differentiation, the lineages did not show signs of specificity to different hosts. Finally, we confirmed that the sympatric congener L. clethrionomydis is represented by a separated monophyletic lineage.
Conclusion
Differences in the depth of population structure between L. agilis Lineages A and C, corroborated by the neutrality tests and demographic history analyses, suggested a stable population size in the structured Lineage A and a rapid range expansion for the geographically admixed Lineage C. We hypothesized that the two lineages were associated with hosts experiencing different glaciation histories. The lack of host specificity in L. agilis lineages was in contrast to the co-occurring highly host-specific lineages of Polyplax serrata lice, sharing Apodemus hosts. The incongruence was attributed to the differences in mobility between the parasites, allowing mites to switch hosts more often.
Collapse
|
7
|
Mathieu-Bégné E, Blanchet S, Mitta G, Le Potier C, Loot G, Rey O. Transcriptomic Adjustments in a Freshwater Ectoparasite Reveal the Role of Molecular Plasticity for Parasite Host Shift. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030525. [PMID: 35328078 PMCID: PMC8952325 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
A parasite’s lifestyle is characterized by a critical dependency on its host for feeding, shelter and/or reproduction. The ability of parasites to exploit new host species can reduce the risk associated with host dependency. The number of host species that can be infected by parasites strongly affects their ecological and evolutionary dynamics along with their pathogenic effects on host communities. However, little is known about the processes and the pathways permitting parasites to successfully infect alternative host species, a process known as host shift. Here, we tested whether molecular plasticity changes in gene expression and in molecular pathways could favor host shift in parasites. Focusing on an invasive parasite, Tracheliastes polycolpus, infecting freshwater fish, we conducted a transcriptomic study to compare gene expression in parasites infecting their main host species and two alternative host species. We found 120 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between parasites infecting the different host species. A total of 90% of the DEGs were identified between parasites using the main host species and those using the two alternative host species. Only a few significant DEGs (seven) were identified when comparing parasites from the two alternative host species. Molecular pathways enriched in DEGs and associated with the use of alternative host species were related to cellular machinery, energetic metabolism, muscle activity and oxidative stress. This study strongly suggests that molecular plasticity is an important mechanism sustaining the parasite’s ability to infect alternative hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eglantine Mathieu-Bégné
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR5174), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France; (S.B.); (C.L.P.)
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (UPR 2001), Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, 2 Route du CNRS, F-09200 Moulis, France
- Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnement (UMR5244 IHPE), CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Ifremer, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, F-66000 Perpignan, France;
- Correspondence: (E.M.-B.); (G.L.)
| | - Simon Blanchet
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR5174), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France; (S.B.); (C.L.P.)
- Station d’Ecologie Théorique et Expérimentale (UPR 2001), Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, 2 Route du CNRS, F-09200 Moulis, France
| | - Guillaume Mitta
- UMR EIO, ILM, IRD, Ifremer, University Polynesie Francaise, Taravao F-98719, Tahiti, French Polynesia;
| | - Clément Le Potier
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR5174), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France; (S.B.); (C.L.P.)
| | - Géraldine Loot
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (UMR5174), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paul Sabatier, 118 Route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, France; (S.B.); (C.L.P.)
- Institut Universitaire de France, Université Paul Sabatier, CEDEX 05, F-75231 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (E.M.-B.); (G.L.)
| | - Olivier Rey
- Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnement (UMR5244 IHPE), CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Ifremer, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, F-66000 Perpignan, France;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Lu C, Yan Y, Jian F, Ning C. Coccidia-Microbiota Interactions and Their Effects on the Host. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:751481. [PMID: 34660347 PMCID: PMC8517481 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.751481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
As a common parasitic disease in animals, coccidiosis substantially affects the health of the host, even in the absence of clinical symptoms and intestinal tract colonization. Gut microbiota is an important part of organisms and is closely related to the parasite and host. Parasitic infections often have adverse effects on the host, and their pathogenic effects are related to the parasite species, parasitic site and host-parasite interactions. Coccidia-microbiota-host interactions represent a complex network in which changes in one link may affect the other two factors. Furthermore, coccidia-microbiota interactions are not well understood and require further research. Here, we discuss the mechanisms by which coccidia interact directly or indirectly with the gut microbiota and the effects on the host. Understanding the mechanisms underlying coccidia-microbiota-host interactions is important to identify new probiotic strategies for the prevention and control of coccidiosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaqun Yan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fuchun Jian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Changshen Ning
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Switch, disperse, repeat: host specificity is highly flexible in rodent-associated Eimeria. Int J Parasitol 2021; 51:977-984. [PMID: 34089715 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2021.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Interplay between conserved host specificity and occasional host switches is an important process determining the evolution of host-parasite systems. Here, we address the dynamics of host switches at the population level in rodent-associated Eimeria. Focusing mainly on two ecologically similar host groups, Murinae and Arvicolinae, we show that the Eimeria infecting those hosts form a complex system of many genetic lineages with different host specificities. The broad geographic distribution of lineages indicates that they are well-established genetic forms which retained their host specificities while spreading across large geographic areas. We also demonstrate that genetic structure is only partially reflected by morphological traits.
Collapse
|
10
|
Attia El Hili R, Achouri MS, Verneau O. Cytochrome c oxydase I phylogenetic analysis of Haemogregarina parasites (Apicomplexa, Coccidia, Eucoccidiorida, Haemogregarinidae) confirms the presence of three distinct species within the freshwater turtles of Tunisia. Parasitol Int 2021; 82:102306. [PMID: 33610828 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102306] [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] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Species of Haemogregarina are apicomplexan blood parasites that use vertebrates as intermediate hosts. Due to limited interspecific morphological characters within the genus during the last decade, 18S rRNA gene sequences were widely used for species identification. As coinfection patterns were recently reported from nuclear molecular data for two sympatric freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis from Tunisia, our objectives were to design COI specific primers to confirm the presence of three distinct species in both host species. Blood samples were collected from 22 turtles, from which DNAs were extracted and used as templates for amplification. Following different rounds of PCR and nested PCR, we designed specific Haemogregarina COI primers that allowed the sequencing of nine distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic Bayesian analysis revealed the occurrence of three well-differentiated sublineages that clustered together into a single clade. Based on pairwise genetic distances (p-distance), we confirmed the occurrence of three distinct but phylogenetically closely related species coinfecting M. leprosa and E. orbicularis in the same aquatic environments. Our results demonstrate that the use of fast evolving genes within Haemogregarina will help to investigate the parasite diversity within both intermediate vertebrate and definitive invertebrate hosts, and to assess the evolution, historical biogeography and specificity of haemogregarines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rahma Attia El Hili
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06 Tunis, Tunisia; Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France
| | - Mohamed Sghaier Achouri
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Olivier Verneau
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Alors D, Boussiba S, Zarka A. Paraphysoderma sedebokerense Infection in Three Economically Valuable Microalgae: Host Preference Correlates with Parasite Fitness. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020100. [PMID: 33535515 PMCID: PMC7912770 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The blastocladialean fungus Paraphysoderma sedebokerense parasitizes three microalgae species of economic interest: Haematococcus pluvialis, Chromochloris zofingiensis and Scenedesmus dimorphus. For the first time, we characterized the developmental stages of isolated fungal propagules in H. pluvialis co-culture, finding a generation time of 16 h. We established a patho-system to compare the infection in the three different host species for 48 h, with two different setups to quantify parameters of the infection and parameters of the parasite fitness. The prevalence of the parasite in H. pluvialis and C. zofingiensis cultures was 100%, but only 20% in S. dimorphus culture. The infection of S. dimorphus not only reached lower prevalence but was also qualitatively different; the infection developed preferentially on senescent cells and more resting cysts were produced, being consistent with a reservoir host. In addition, we carried out cross infection experiments and the inoculation of a mixed algal culture containing the three microalgae, to determine the susceptibility of the host species and to investigate the preference of P. sedebokerense for these microalgae. The three tested microalgae showed different susceptibility to P. sedebokerense, which correlates with blastoclad’s preference to the host in the following order: H. pluvialis > C. zofingiensis > S. dimorphus.
Collapse
|
12
|
Martorelli Di Genova B, Knoll LJ. Comparisons of the Sexual Cycles for the Coccidian Parasites Eimeria and Toxoplasma. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:604897. [PMID: 33381466 PMCID: PMC7768002 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.604897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria spp. are widely prevalent Coccidian parasites that undergo sexual reproduction during their life cycle. T. gondii can infect any warm-blooded animal in its asexual cycle; however, its sexual cycle is restricted to felines. Eimeria spp. are usually restricted to one host species, and their whole life cycle is completed within this same host. The literature reviewed in this article comprises the recent findings regarding the unique biology of the sexual development of T. gondii and Eimeria spp. The molecular basis of sex in these pathogens has been significantly unraveled by new findings in parasite differentiation along with transcriptional analysis of T. gondii and Eimeria spp. pre-sexual and sexual stages. Focusing on the metabolic networks, analysis of these transcriptome datasets shows enrichment for several different metabolic pathways. Transcripts for glycolysis enzymes are consistently more abundant in T. gondii cat infection stages than the asexual tachyzoite stage and Eimeria spp. merozoite and gamete stages compared to sporozoites. Recent breakthroughs in host-pathogen interaction and host restriction have significantly expanded the understating of the unique biology of these pathogens. This review aims to critically explore advances in the sexual cycle of Coccidia parasites with the ultimate goal of comparing and analyzing the sexual cycle of Eimeria spp. and T. gondii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura J. Knoll
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Bell KC, Allen JM, Johnson KP, Demboski JR, Cook JA. Disentangling lousy relationships: Comparative phylogenomics of two sucking louse lineages parasitizing chipmunks. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2020; 155:106998. [PMID: 33130299 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of obligate parasites is often interpreted in light of their hosts' evolutionary history. An expanded approach is to examine the histories of multiple lineages of parasites that inhabit similar environments on a particular host lineage. Western North American chipmunks (genus Tamias) have a broad distribution, a history of divergence with gene flow, and host two species of sucking lice (Anoplura), Hoplopleura arboricola and Neohaematopinus pacificus. From total genomic sequencing, we obtained sequences of over 1100 loci sampled across the genomes of these lice to compare their evolutionary histories and examine the roles of host association in structuring louse relationships. Within each louse species, clades are largely associated with closely related chipmunk host species. Exceptions to this pattern appear to have a biogeographic component, but differ between the two louse species. Phylogenetic relationships among these major louse clades, in both species, are not congruent with chipmunk relationships. In the context of host associations, each louse lineage has a different evolutionary history, supporting the hypothesis that host-parasite assemblages vary both across the landscape and with the taxa under investigation. In addition, the louse Hoplopleura erratica (parasitizing the eastern Tamias striatus) is embedded within H. arboricola, rendering it paraphyletic. This phylogenetic result, together with comparable divergences within H. arboricola, indicate a need for taxonomic revision. Both host divergence and biogeographic components shape parasite diversification as demonstrated by the distinctive diversification patterns of these two independently evolving lineages that parasitize the same hosts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayce C Bell
- Mammalogy Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biology, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA; Zoology Department, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO, USA.
| | - Julie M Allen
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Kevin P Johnson
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - John R Demboski
- Zoology Department, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Joseph A Cook
- Department of Biology, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Nantes WAG, Santos FM, de Macedo GC, Barreto WTG, Gonçalves LR, Rodrigues MS, Chulli JVM, Rucco AC, Assis WDO, Porfírio GEDO, de Oliveira CE, Xavier SCDC, Herrera HM, Jansen AM. Trypanosomatid species in Didelphis albiventris from urban forest fragments. Parasitol Res 2020; 120:223-231. [PMID: 33079269 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06921-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Urbanization results in loss of natural habitats and, consequently, reduction of richness and abundance of specialist to the detriment of generalist species. We hypothesized that a greater richness of trypanosomatid in Didelphis albiventris would be found in fragments of urban forests in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, that presented a larger richness of small mammals. We used parasitological, molecular, and serological methods to detect Trypanosoma spp. infection in D. albiventris (n = 43) from forest fragments. PCR was performed with primers specific for 18S rDNA, 24Sα rDNA, mini-chromosome satellites, and mini-exon genes. IFAT was used to detect anti-Trypanosoma cruzi IgG. All hemoculture was negative. We detected trypanosomatid DNA in blood of 35% of opossum. Two opossums were seropositive for T. cruzi. The trypanosomatid species number infecting D. albiventris was higher in the areas with greater abundance, rather than richness of small mammals. We found D. albiventris parasitized by T. cruzi in single and co-infections with Leishmania spp., recently described molecular operational taxonomic unit (MOTU) named DID, and Trypanosoma lainsoni. We concluded that (i) trypanosome richness may be determined by small mammal abundance, (ii) D. albiventris confirmed to be bio-accumulators of trypanosomatids, and (iii) T. lainsoni demonstrated a higher host range than described up to the present.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wesley Arruda Gimenes Nantes
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil
| | - Filipe Martins Santos
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel Carvalho de Macedo
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil
| | - Wanessa Texeira Gomes Barreto
- Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves
- Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marina Silva Rodrigues
- Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Andreza Castro Rucco
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil
| | - William de Oliveira Assis
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil
| | | | - Carina Elisei de Oliveira
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil.,Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil.,Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.,Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria Jansen
- Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Av. Tamandaré, 6000 - Jardim Seminário, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, 79117-900, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia de Tripanosomatídeos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Berrilli F, Montalbano Di Filippo M, De Liberato C, Marani I, Lanfranchi P, Ferrari N, Trogu T, Formenti N, Ferretti F, Rossi L, D'Amelio S, Giangaspero A. Diversity of Eimeria Species in Wild Chamois Rupicapra spp.: A Statistical Approach in Morphological Taxonomy. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:577196. [PMID: 33173795 PMCID: PMC7591455 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.577196] [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: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife is frequently infected by intestinal protozoa, which may threaten their fitness and health. A diverse community of Eimeria species is known to occur in the digestive tract of mountain-dwelling ungulates, including chamois (genus Rupicapra). However, available data on Eimeria diversity in these taxa is at times inconsistent and mostly dated. In the present study, we aimed to revisit the occurrence of Eimeria spp. in the Alpine subspecies of the Northern chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) and the Apennine subspecies of the Southern chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata) in Italy, using an integrated approach based on a hierarchical cluster analysis (HCPC) applied to oocyst morphology and morphometry. A total of 352 fecal samples were collected from R. r. rupicapra (n = 262) and R. p. ornata (n = 90). Overall, 85.3% (300/352) of the animals tested microscopically positive to Eimeria spp. Based on morphological analysis, we identified all the eimerian species described in chamois. Through the HCPC method, five clusters were generated, corresponding to E. suppereri, E. yakimoffmatschoulskyi, E. riedmuelleri (two different clusters), and E. rupicaprae morphotypes. The well-defined clusters within E. riedmuelleri support the existence of two distinct morphological groups, possibly referable to different taxonomic units. This study suggests that combining a morphometrical approach with a powerful statistical method may be helpful to disentangle uncertainties in the morphology of Eimeria oocysts and to address taxonomic studies of eimeriid protozoa at a specific host taxon level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Berrilli
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio De Liberato
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "M. Aleandri", Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Marani
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Tor Vergata University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Lanfranchi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Trogu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", Brescia, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Formenti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna "Bruno Ubertini", Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Stefano D'Amelio
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Annunziata Giangaspero
- Department of Science of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kvicerova J, Hofmannova L, Scognamiglio F, Santoro M. Eimeria sciurorum (Apicomplexa, Coccidia) From the Calabrian Black Squirrel ( Sciurus meridionalis): An Example of Lower Host Specificity of Eimerians. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:369. [PMID: 32850991 PMCID: PMC7399200 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Host specificity plays one of the key roles in parasitism. It affects the evolution and diversification of both host and parasite, as well as it influences their geographical distribution, and epidemiological significance. For most of parasites, however, host specificity is unknown or misrepresented because it is difficult to be determined accurately. Here we provide the information about the lower host specificity of Eimeria sciurorum infecting squirrels, and its new host record for the Calabrian black squirrel Sciurus meridionalis, a southern Italian endemic species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Kvicerova
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czechia
| | - Lada Hofmannova
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Francesca Scognamiglio
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Mezzogiorno, Portici, Italy
| | - Mario Santoro
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Špitalská E, Kraljik J, Miklisová D, Boldišová E, Sparagano OAE, Stanko M. Circulation of Rickettsia species and rickettsial endosymbionts among small mammals and their ectoparasites in Eastern Slovakia. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2047-2057. [PMID: 32382991 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06701-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria belonging to the genus Rickettsia are known as causative agents of vector-borne zoonotic diseases, such as spotted fevers, epidemic typhus and endemic typhus. Different species of ticks, mites and fleas could act as reservoirs and arthropod vectors of different pathogenic Rickettsia species. The aim of this work was to establish active surveillance of Rickettsia spp. in mites, ticks and fleas collected from small mammals (rodents and shrews) in Eastern Slovakia. A total of 964 animal ear biopsies, 871 mites, 667 ticks and 743 fleas were collected from small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia. All specimens were identified using specialized taxonomic keys, and were conserved in ethanol until DNA extraction was performed. After DNA extraction, identification of Rickettsia species was performed by PCR-based methods. The total prevalence of rickettsiae from ear biopsies was 4.6% (95% CI, 3.2-5.9), in tested mites 9.3% (95% CI, 7.4-11.2), 17.2% (95% CI, 14.3-20.1) in I. ricinus ticks and 3.5% (95% CI, 2.2-4.8) in fleas. Sequence analysis of the partial gltA gene and Rickettsia helvetica-, Rickettsia slovaca-, Rickettsia raoultii- species specific real-time PCR tests revealed the presence of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts. These pathogenic and symbiotic species were confirmed in the following ectoparasite species-Laelaps jettmari, Haemogamasus nidi, Laelaps agilis and Eulaelaps stabularis mites, Ixodes ricinus ticks, Ctenophthalmus solutus, C. assimilis and Megabothris turbidus fleas infesting host-Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis, Microtus arvalis and Myodes glareolus small mammals. These results confirm the circulation of R. helvetica, R. slovaca, unidentified Rickettsia and rickettsial endosymbionts in mites, ticks and fleas collected on small mammals in the Košice region, Eastern Slovakia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Špitalská
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Jasna Kraljik
- Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Dana Miklisová
- Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovak Republic
| | - Eva Boldišová
- Institute of Virology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Olivier A E Sparagano
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Michal Stanko
- Institute of Zoology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 06, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
- Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01, Košice, Slovak Republic
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Jarquín‐Díaz VH, Balard A, Mácová A, Jost J, Roth von Szepesbéla T, Berktold K, Tank S, Kvičerová J, Heitlinger E. Generalist Eimeria species in rodents: Multilocus analyses indicate inadequate resolution of established markers. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:1378-1389. [PMID: 32076521 PMCID: PMC7029063 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular parasites of the genus Eimeria are described as tissue/host-specific. Phylogenetic classification of rodent Eimeria suggested that some species have a broader host range than previously assumed. We explore whether Eimeria spp. infecting house mice are misclassified by the most widely used molecular markers due to a lack of resolution, or whether, instead, these parasite species are indeed infecting multiple host species.With the commonly used markers (18S/COI), we recovered monophyletic clades of E. falciformis and E. vermiformis from Mus that included E. apionodes identified in other rodent host species (Apodemus spp., Myodes glareolus, and Microtus arvalis). A lack of internal resolution in these clades could suggest the existence of a species complex with a wide host range infecting murid and cricetid rodents. We question, however, the power of COI and 18S markers to provide adequate resolution for assessing host specificity. In addition to the rarely used marker ORF470 from the apicoplast genome, we present multilocus genotyping as an alternative approach. Phylogenetic analysis of 35 nuclear markers differentiated E. falciformis from house mice from isolates from Apodemus hosts. Isolates of E. vermiformis from Mus are still found in clusters interspersed with non-Mus isolates, even with this high-resolution data.In conclusion, we show that species-level resolution should not be assumed for COI and 18S markers in coccidia. Host-parasite cospeciation at shallow phylogenetic nodes, as well as contemporary coccidian host ranges more generally, is still open questions that need to be addressed using novel genetic markers with higher resolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Hugo Jarquín‐Díaz
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
- Leibniz‐Institut für Zoo‐ und Wildtierforschung (IZW) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.VBerlinGermany
| | - Alice Balard
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
- Leibniz‐Institut für Zoo‐ und Wildtierforschung (IZW) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.VBerlinGermany
| | - Anna Mácová
- Department of ParasitologyFaculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Jenny Jost
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
| | - Tabea Roth von Szepesbéla
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
| | - Karin Berktold
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
| | - Steffen Tank
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
| | - Jana Kvičerová
- Department of ParasitologyFaculty of ScienceUniversity of South BohemiaČeské BudějoviceCzech Republic
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Department of Molecular ParasitologyInstitute for BiologyHumboldt University Berlin (HU)BerlinGermany
- Leibniz‐Institut für Zoo‐ und Wildtierforschung (IZW) im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.VBerlinGermany
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gao K, Muijderman D, Nichols S, Heckel DG, Wang P, Zalucki MP, Groot AT. Parasite-host specificity: A cross-infection study of the parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 170:107328. [PMID: 31952966 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many parasites are constrained to only one or a few hosts, showing host specificity. It remains unclear why some parasites are specialists and other parasites are generalists. The parasite Ophryocystis elektroscirrha (OE) is a neogregarine protozoan thought to be restricted to monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus (Nymphaliae) and D. gilippus. Recently, we found OE-like spores in other Lepidoptera, specifically in three noctuid moths: Helicoverpa armigera, H. assulta and H. punctigera, as well as another nymphalid, Parthenos sylvia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of OE-like parasite infections in species other than the genus Danaus. In sequencing 558 bp of 18S rRNA, we found the genetic similarity between OE from D. plexippus and OE-like parasite from the moths H. armigera and H. punctigera to be 95.2%. When we conducted cross-species infection experiments, we could not infect the moths with OE from D. plexippus, but OE-like parasite from H. armigera did infect D. plexippus and a closely related moth species Heliothis virescens. Interestingly, we did not find the OE-like parasite in the H. armigera population from Spain. Inter-population infection experiments with H. armigera demonstrated a higher sensitivity to OE-like infection in the population from Spain compared to the populations from Australia and China. These results suggest geographic variation in OE-like susceptibility and coevolution between parasite and host. Our findings give important new insights into the prevalence and host specificity of OE and OE-like parasites, and provide opportunities to study parasite transmission over spatial and temporal scales.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ke Gao
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Daphne Muijderman
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sarah Nichols
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - David G Heckel
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, Jena, Germany
| | - Peng Wang
- School of Biological Science, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Myron P Zalucki
- School of Biological Science, The University of Queensland, 4072 Brisbane, Australia
| | - Astrid T Groot
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Department of Entomology, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hofmannová L, Jirků M, Mazánek S, Gremlicová D, Kvičerová J. Eimeria melogale n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) in the Javan ferret-badger (Melogale orientalis). Eur J Protistol 2020; 73:125668. [PMID: 31927140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejop.2019.125668] [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: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The Javan ferret-badger Melogale orientalis (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Helictidinae) is a small carnivore endemic to Indonesia. In the family Mustelidae, 10 Eimeria, 12 Cystoisopora, one Isospora, and one Hammondia species are known, but no eimeriid coccidia has been yet described in the subfamily Helictinidae (ferret badgers). Coproscopic examination of Javan ferret-badgers imported into the Czech Republic revealed the presence of coccidian oocysts. Sporulated oocysts differ from other Eimeria known in the family Mustelidae by their small size (12.4-16.1 × 10.4-13.4 μm) and ovoidal shape. Morphological data and phylogenetic analyses of 18S rRNA and COI genes indicated a new species of Eimeria found in faecal samples of Javan ferret badgers. The species is described as E. melogale n. sp.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lada Hofmannová
- Department of Pathology and Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Palackého tř. 1946/1, 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Miloslav Jirků
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Mazánek
- Brno Zoo and Environmental Education Centre, U Zoologické zahrady 46, 635 00 Brno-Bystrc, Czech Republic
| | - Dorota Gremlicová
- Brno Zoo and Environmental Education Centre, U Zoologické zahrady 46, 635 00 Brno-Bystrc, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Kvičerová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jarquín-Díaz VH, Balard A, Jost J, Kraft J, Dikmen MN, Kvičerová J, Heitlinger E. Detection and quantification of house mouse Eimeria at the species level - Challenges and solutions for the assessment of coccidia in wildlife. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:29-40. [PMID: 31360634 PMCID: PMC6637263 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Detection and quantification of coccidia in studies of wildlife can be challenging. Therefore, prevalence of coccidia is often not assessed at the parasite species level in non-livestock animals. Parasite species – specific prevalences are especially important when studying evolutionary questions in wild populations. We tested whether increased host population density increases prevalence of individual Eimeria species at the farm level, as predicted by epidemiological theory. We studied free-living commensal populations of the house mouse (Mus musculus) in Germany, and established a strategy to detect and quantify Eimeria infections. We show that a novel diagnostic primer targeting the apicoplast genome (Ap5) and coprological assessment after flotation provide complementary detection results increasing sensitivity. Genotyping PCRs confirm detection in a subset of samples and cross-validation of different PCR markers does not indicate bias towards a particular parasite species in genotyping. We were able to detect double infections and to determine the preferred niche of each parasite species along the distal-proximal axis of the intestine. Parasite genotyping from tissue samples provides additional indication for the absence of species bias in genotyping amplifications. Three Eimeria species were found infecting house mice at different prevalences: Eimeria ferrisi (16.7%; 95% CI 13.2–20.7), E. falciformis (4.2%; 95% CI 2.6–6.8) and E. vermiformis (1.9%; 95% CI 0.9–3.8). We also find that mice in dense populations are more likely to be infected with E. falciformis and E. ferrisi. We provide methods for the assessment of prevalences of coccidia at the species level in rodent systems. We show and discuss how such data can help to test hypotheses in ecology, evolution and epidemiology on a species level. Flotation and PCR provide complementary results for Eimeria detection in house mice. Genotyping PCRs confirm detections. E. ferrisi, E. falciformis, and E. vermiformis infect natural populations of M. musculus. Double infections and preferentially infected tissues could be identified using qPCR. Potential virulence prevalence trade-off for Eimeria of house mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alice Balard
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Jost
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Kraft
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mert Naci Dikmen
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Kvičerová
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Emanuel Heitlinger
- Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute for Biology, Humboldt University Berlin (HU), Philippstr. 13, Haus 14, 10115, Berlin, Germany.,Research Group Ecology and Evolution of Molecular Parasite-Host Interactions, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Im Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|