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Koprivnikar J, Thieltges DW, Johnson PTJ. Consumption of trematode parasite infectious stages: from conceptual synthesis to future research agenda. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e33. [PMID: 36971341 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Given their sheer cumulative biomass and ubiquitous presence, parasites are increasingly recognized as essential components of most food webs. Beyond their influence as consumers of host tissue, many parasites also have free-living infectious stages that may be ingested by non-host organisms, with implications for energy and nutrient transfer, as well as for pathogen transmission and infectious disease dynamics. This has been particularly well-documented for the cercaria free-living stage of digenean trematode parasites within the Phylum Platyhelminthes. Here, we aim to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding cercariae consumption by examining: (a) approaches for studying cercariae consumption; (b) the range of consumers and trematode prey documented thus far; (c) factors influencing the likelihood of cercariae consumption; (d) consequences of cercariae consumption for individual predators (e.g. their viability as a food source); and (e) implications of cercariae consumption for entire communities and ecosystems (e.g. transmission, nutrient cycling and influences on other prey). We detected 121 unique consumer-by-cercaria combinations that spanned 60 species of consumer and 35 trematode species. Meaningful reductions in transmission were seen for 31 of 36 combinations that considered this; however, separate studies with the same cercaria and consumer sometimes showed different results. Along with addressing knowledge gaps and suggesting future research directions, we highlight how the conceptual and empirical approaches discussed here for consumption of cercariae are relevant for the infectious stages of other parasites and pathogens, illustrating the use of cercariae as a model system to help advance our knowledge regarding the general importance of parasite consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Koprivnikar
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3
| | - D W Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - P T J Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
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Becker JM, Ganatra AA, Kandie F, Mühlbauer L, Ahlheim J, Brack W, Torto B, Agola EL, McOdimba F, Hollert H, Fillinger U, Liess M. Pesticide pollution in freshwater paves the way for schistosomiasis transmission. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3650. [PMID: 32107456 PMCID: PMC7046736 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60654-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a severe neglected tropical disease caused by trematodes and transmitted by freshwater snails. Snails are known to be highly tolerant to agricultural pesticides. However, little attention has been paid to the ecological consequences of pesticide pollution in areas endemic for schistosomiasis, where people live in close contact with non-sanitized freshwaters. In complementary laboratory and field studies on Kenyan inland areas along Lake Victoria, we show that pesticide pollution is a major driver in increasing the occurrence of host snails and thus the risk of schistosomiasis transmission. In the laboratory, snails showed higher insecticide tolerance to commonly found pesticides than associated invertebrates, in particular to the neonicotinoid Imidacloprid and the organophosphate Diazinon. In the field, we demonstrated at 48 sites that snails were present exclusively in habitats characterized by pesticide pollution and eutrophication. Our analysis revealed that insensitive snails dominated over their less tolerant competitors. The study shows for the first time that in the field, pesticide concentrations considered “safe” in environmental risk assessment have indirect effects on human health. Thus we conclude there is a need for rethinking the environmental risk of low pesticide concentrations and of integrating agricultural mitigation measures in the control of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremias M Becker
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.,RWTH Aachen University, Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Akbar A Ganatra
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Human Health department, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya. .,Egerton University, Biological sciences, P.O Box 536-20115, Njoro, Kenya.
| | - Faith Kandie
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Human Health department, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lina Mühlbauer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.,Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, Faculty of Biosciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jörg Ahlheim
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Werner Brack
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.,RWTH Aachen University, Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Baldwyn Torto
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Human Health department, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Eric L Agola
- Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 54840-00200, Nairobi, Kenya.,The Technical University of Kenya, P.O. Box 52428-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Francis McOdimba
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Human Health department, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.,Egerton University, Biological sciences, P.O Box 536-20115, Njoro, Kenya
| | - Henner Hollert
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Department Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, Faculty Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 60438, Germany
| | - Ulrike Fillinger
- International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Human Health department, P.O. Box 30772-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Matthias Liess
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department System-Ecotoxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany. .,RWTH Aachen University, Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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Anto F, Bimi L. Potential of Lanistes varicus in limiting the population of Bulinus truncatus. BMC Res Notes 2017; 10:509. [PMID: 29070058 PMCID: PMC5657124 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-2837-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine the ability of the Ampullariid, Lanistes varicus to prey on egg masses and juveniles of Bulinus truncatus snails, an intermediate host of urogenital schistosomiasis in West Africa. Results Lanistes varicus was found to feed voraciously on egg masses and juveniles of Bulinus truncatus, consuming all egg masses (20 –25) exposed to it within 24 h. Also, 95–100% of 1–2 days old B. truncatus snails exposed to a single L. varicus snail was consumed within 4 days. The presence of L. varicus snails greatly increased mortality in B. truncatus with mortality increasing with increase in the number of L. varicus snails in the mixture of the two snail species. The current study has demonstrated under laboratory conditions that the Ghanaian strain of L. varicus has the potential of limiting the population of B. truncatus snails, and contribute to the control of urogenital schistosomiasis in West Africa. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-017-2837-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Mossallam SF, Amer EI, Abou-El-Naga IF. New scope on the relationship between rotifers and Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2013; 3:595-603; discussion 602. [PMID: 23905015 DOI: 10.1016/s2221-1691(13)60122-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of rotifer internalization into snail tissue on the development of schistosomes. METHODS Susceptible laboratory-bred Biomphalaria alexandrina (B. alexandrina) snails were exposed to lab-maintained rotifers; Philodina spp., two weeks before and after being infected with Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) miracidia. The consequent histopathological impact on snail tissues and cercarial biology were investigated before and after emergence from snails. RESULTS Contamination of B. alexandrina snails with philodina, two weeks before miracidial exposure, was found to hinder the preliminary development of S. mansoni cercariae inside the snail tissues. Furthermore, when snails were contaminated with rotifers two weeks post miracidial exposure; growth of already established cercariae was found to be retarded. The consequent influence of internalized rotifers within the snail tissue was clearly reflected on cercarial emergence, activity and infectivity along the four weeks duration of shedding. In the present study, comparison of snail histopathological findings and altered cercarial biology observed between the experimental and control groups indicated that the rotifers may have affected the levels of snail's energy reservoirs, which eventually was found to have had an adverse impact on reproduction, growth and survival of the parasite within the snail host, coupled with its performance outside the snail. CONCLUSIONS In future biological control strategies of schistosomiasis, ritifers should be considered as a parasitic scourge of humanity.
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