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Soldánová M, Kundid P, Scholz T, Kristoffersen R, Knudsen R. Somatic Dimorphism in Cercariae of a Bird Schistosome. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030290. [PMID: 35335614 PMCID: PMC8953619 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic polymorphism is a commonly observed phenomenon in nature, but extremely rare in free-living stages of parasites. We describe a unique case of somatic polymorphism in conspecific cercariae of the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia sp. “peregra”, in which two morphs, conspicuously different in their size, were released from a single Radix balthica snail. A detailed morphometric analysis that included multiple morphological parameters taken from 105 live and formalin-fixed cercariae isolated from several naturally infected snails provided reliable evidence for a division of all cercariae into two size groups that contained either large or small individuals. Large morph (total body length of 1368 and 1339 μm for live and formalin-fixed samples, respectively) differed significantly nearly in all morphological characteristics compared to small cercariae (total body length of 976 and 898 μm for live and formalin samples, respectively), regardless of the fixation method. Furthermore, we observed that small individuals represent the normal/commonly occurring phenotype in snail populations. The probable causes and consequences of generating an alternative, much larger phenotype in the parasite infrapopulation are discussed in the context of transmission ecology as possible benefits and disadvantages facilitating or preventing the successful completion of the life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslava Soldánová
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (P.K.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Petra Kundid
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (P.K.); (T.S.)
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Scholz
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (P.K.); (T.S.)
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roar Kristoffersen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037 Tromsø, Norway; (R.K.); (R.K.)
| | - Rune Knudsen
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, N9037 Tromsø, Norway; (R.K.); (R.K.)
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2
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Repkin EA, Maltseva AL, Varfolomeeva MA, Aianka RV, Mikhailova NA, Granovitch AI. Genetic and morphological variation of metacercariae of Microphallus piriformes (Trematoda, Microphallidae): Effects of paraxenia and geographic location. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020; 11:235-245. [PMID: 32195109 PMCID: PMC7078125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.02.004] [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: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Host organism offers an environment for a parasite, and this environment is heterogenous within the host, variable among individual as well as between the hosts, and changing during the host's lifetime. This heterogeneity may act as a prerequisite for parasite species divergence. Intraspecific variability related to a certain type of heterogeneity may indicate an initial stage of speciation, and thus poses an evolutionary importance. Here we analyzed genetic and morphologic variation of trematode metacercariae of Microphallus piriformes (Trematoda, Microphallidae). Genetic variability of trematodes was assessed from sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) and internal transcribed spacer region (ITS-1). Morphological variation of metacercarial body shape was for the first time analyzed using geometric morphometrics. Parasites from the White Sea and the Barents Sea coasts demonstrated partial genetic divergence (according to COI sequence analysis) and had significantly different body shape. Neither genetic nor morphological variation of metacercariae was related to intermediate host species. We discuss possible causes of the observed genetic divergence of parasite populations in different geographic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egor A. Repkin
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Universitetskaya 7/9A, 199034, Russia
| | - Arina L. Maltseva
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Universitetskaya 7/9A, 199034, Russia
| | - Marina A. Varfolomeeva
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Universitetskaya 7/9A, 199034, Russia
| | - Roman V. Aianka
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Universitetskaya 7/9A, 199034, Russia
| | - Natalia A. Mikhailova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Universitetskaya 7/9A, 199034, Russia
- Centre of Cell Technologies, Institute of Cytology Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrei I. Granovitch
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Universitetskaya 7/9A, 199034, Russia
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Galaktionov NK, Podgornaya OI, Strelkov PP, Galaktionov KV. Genomic diversity of cercarial clones of Himasthla elongata (Trematoda, Echinostomatidae) determined with AFLP technique. Parasitol Res 2016; 115:4587-4593. [PMID: 27679450 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-016-5249-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/05/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to reveal genomic diversity formed during parthenogenetic reproduction of rediae of the trematode Himasthla elongata in its molluskan host Littorina littorea. We applied amplification fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) to determine the genomic diversity of individual cercariae within the clone, that is, the infrapopulation of parthenogenetic progeny in a single molluskan host. The level of genomic diversity of particular cercariae isolates from a single clone, detected with EcoR1/Mse1 AFLP reaction, was significantly lower than the variability of cercariae from different clones. The presence of intraclonal genomic diversity indicates a nonsexual shuffle of alleles during parthenogenesis in the rediae of H. elongata. The obtained polymorphic AFLP fragments were long enough to detect the sequences that may be responsible for clonal genomic variability. Based on this, AFLP can be recommended as a tool for the study of genetic mechanisms of this variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- N K Galaktionov
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034. .,Institute of Cytology RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia, 194064.
| | - O I Podgornaya
- Institute of Cytology RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia, 194064.,Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia, 690922
| | - P P Strelkov
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034
| | - K V Galaktionov
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034.,Zoological Institute RAS, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034
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Haase D, Rieger JK, Witten A, Stoll M, Bornberg-Bauer E, Kalbe M, Reusch TBH. Immunity comes first: the effect of parasite genotypes on adaptive immunity and immunization in three-spined sticklebacks. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 54:137-144. [PMID: 26400836 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2015.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive immunity in vertebrates can confer increased resistance against invading pathogens upon re-infection. But how specific parasite genotypes affect the temporal transition from innate to adaptive immunity under continual exposure to parasites is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effects of homologous and heterologous exposures of genetically distinct parasite lineages of the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum on gene expression patterns of adaptive immunity in sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Observable differences in gene expression were largely attributable to final exposures while there was no transcription pattern characteristic for a general response to repeated infections with D. pseudospathaceum. None of the final exposure treatments was able to erase the distinct expression patterns resulting from a heterologous pre-exposed fish. Interestingly, heterologous final exposures showed similarities between different treatment groups subjected to homologous pre-exposure. The observed pattern was supported by parasite infection rates and suggests that host immunization was optimized towards an adaptive immune response that favored effectiveness against parasite diversity over specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Haase
- Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
| | - Jennifer K Rieger
- Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | - Anika Witten
- Institute of Human Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Monika Stoll
- Institute of Human Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, University of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Huefferstr. 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Kalbe
- Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Thorsten B H Reusch
- Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz-Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 24105 Kiel, Germany
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Sherrard-Smith E, Perkins SE, Chadwick EA, Cable J. Spatial and seasonal factors are key determinants in the aggregation of helminths in their definitive hosts: Pseudamphistomum truncatum in otters (Lutra lutra). Int J Parasitol 2014; 45:75-83. [PMID: 25444862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Parasites are typically aggregated within their host populations. The most heavily infected hosts are frequently cited as targets for optimal disease control. Yet a heavily infected individual is not necessarily highly infective and does not automatically contribute a higher proportion of infective parasitic stages than a host with fewer parasites. Here, Pseudamphistomum truncatum (Opisthorchiida) parasitic infection within the definitive otter host (Lutra lutra) is used as a model system. The hypothesis tested is that variation in parasite abundance, aggregation and egg production (fecundity, as a proxy of host infectivity) can be explained by abiotic (season and region) or biotic (host age, sex and body condition) factors. Parasite abundance was affected most strongly by the biotic factors of age and body condition, such that adults and otters with a higher condition index had heavier infections than sub-adults or those with a lower condition index, whilst there were no significant differences in parasite abundance among the seasons, regions (ecological regions defined by river catchment boundaries) or host sexes. Conversely, parasite aggregation was affected most strongly by the abiotic factors of season and region, which were supported by four different measures of parasite aggregation (the corrected moment estimate k, Taylor's Power Law, the Index of Discrepancy D, and Boulinier's J). Pseudamphistomum truncatum was highly aggregated within otters, with aggregation stronger in the Midlands (England) and Wales than in the southwestern region of the United Kingdom. Overall, more parasites were found in fewer hosts during the summer, which coincides with the summer peak in parasite fecundity. Combined, these data suggest that (i) few otters carry the majority of P. truncatum parasites and that there are more infective stages (eggs) produced during summer; and (ii) abiotic factors are most influential when describing parasite aggregation whilst biotic factors have a greater role in defining parasite abundance. Together, parasite abundance, aggregation and fecundity can help predict which hosts make the largest contribution to the spread of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sherrard-Smith
- Sir Martin Evans Building, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK.
| | - S E Perkins
- Sir Martin Evans Building, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - E A Chadwick
- Sir Martin Evans Building, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - J Cable
- Sir Martin Evans Building, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
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Haase D, Rieger JK, Witten A, Stoll M, Bornberg-Bauer E, Kalbe M, Reusch TBH. Specific gene expression responses to parasite genotypes reveal redundancy of innate immunity in vertebrates. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108001. [PMID: 25254967 PMCID: PMC4177871 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate innate immunity is the first line of defense against an invading pathogen and has long been assumed to be largely unspecific with respect to parasite/pathogen species. However, recent phenotypic evidence suggests that immunogenetic variation, i.e. allelic variability in genes associated with the immune system, results in host-parasite genotype-by-genotype interactions and thus specific innate immune responses. Immunogenetic variation is common in all vertebrate taxa and this reflects an effective immunological function in complex environments. However, the underlying variability in host gene expression patterns as response of innate immunity to within-species genetic diversity of macroparasites in vertebrates is unknown. We hypothesized that intra-specific variation among parasite genotypes must be reflected in host gene expression patterns. Here we used high-throughput RNA-sequencing to examine the effect of parasite genotypes on gene expression patterns of a vertebrate host, the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). By infecting naïve fish with distinct trematode genotypes of the species Diplostomum pseudospathaceum we show that gene activity of innate immunity in three-spined sticklebacks depended on the identity of an infecting macroparasite genotype. In addition to a suite of genes indicative for a general response against the trematode we also find parasite-strain specific gene expression, in particular in the complement system genes, despite similar infection rates of single clone treatments. The observed discrepancy between infection rates and gene expression indicates the presence of alternative pathways which execute similar functions. This suggests that the innate immune system can induce redundant responses specific to parasite genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Haase
- Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Jennifer K. Rieger
- Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Anika Witten
- Genetic Epidemiology of Vascular Disorders, Leibniz Institute for Arteriosclerosis Research at the University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Monika Stoll
- Genetic Epidemiology of Vascular Disorders, Leibniz Institute for Arteriosclerosis Research at the University Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Erich Bornberg-Bauer
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Kalbe
- Department Evolutionary Ecology, Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Evolutionary Ecology of Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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Berkhout BW, Lloyd MM, Poulin R, Studer A. Variation among genotypes in responses to increasing temperature in a marine parasite: evolutionary potential in the face of global warming? Int J Parasitol 2014; 44:1019-27. [PMID: 25066543 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 07/06/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Climates are changing worldwide, and populations are under selection to adapt to these changes. Changing temperature, in particular, can directly impact ectotherms and their parasites, with potential consequences for whole ecosystems. The potential of parasite populations to adapt to climate change largely depends on the amount of genetic variation they possess in their responses to environmental fluctuations. This study is, to our knowledge, the first to look at differences among parasite genotypes in response to temperature, with the goal of quantifying the extent of variation among conspecifics in their responses to increasing temperature. Snails infected with single genotypes of the trematode Maritrema novaezealandensis were sequentially acclimatised to two different temperatures, 'current' (15°C) and 'elevated' (20°C), over long periods. These temperatures are based on current average field conditions in the natural habitat and those predicted to occur during the next few decades. The output and activity of cercariae (free-swimming infective stages emerging from snails) were assessed for each genotype at each temperature. The results indicate that, on average, both cercarial output and activity are higher at the elevated acclimation temperature. More importantly, the output and activity of cercariae are strongly influenced by a genotype-by-temperature interaction, such that different genotypes show different responses to increasing temperature. Both the magnitude and direction (increase or decrease) of responses to temperature varied widely among genotypes. Therefore, there is much potential for natural selection to act on this variation, and predicting how the trematode M. novaezealandensis will respond to the climate changes predicted for the next century will prove challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris W Berkhout
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Melanie M Lloyd
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Anja Studer
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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