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Picelli AM, Silva MRL, Correa JKC, Paiva GR, Paula FR, Hernández-Ruz EJ, Oliveira EA, Viana LA. Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 parasites in the Colubridae snakes Clelia clelia (Daudin, 1803) and Drymarchon corais (Boie, 1827) from the Eastern Amazonia. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20220115. [PMID: 37255167 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320220115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the genetic, morphological, and morphometric data of blood gamonts, we identified Hepatozoon parasites in colubrid snakes sampled in the Eastern Amazon region. Hepatozoon trigeminum was detected in the mussurana snake Clelia clelia and exhibited wide and elongated gamonts (mean dimensions: 14.25±0.65 × 4.31±0.43 μm) with an evident parasitophorous vacuole. Hepatozoon odwyerae sp. nov. was described in the indigo snake Drymarchon corais, whose gamonts have elongated and thin bodies (mean dimensions: 13.41±0.79 × 3.72±0.35 μm) with one end more tapered than the other. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the amplification of a 441 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, revealed that the novel sequences of Hepatozoon spp. from our study were closely related to hemogregarine lineages found in lizards and snakes from Brazil, forming a well-supported monophyletic clade with them. The present study provides the first species description of Hepatoozon in D. corais and a new record of a host species for C. clelia using the integrated taxonomic data. We also highlight the importance of further investigations into the diversity of Hepatozoon in snakes, a rich but underestimated group of parasites, especially in the Amazonian biome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Maria Picelli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Experimental, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Avenida Pres. Dutra, 2965, 76801-058 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz Rondônia, Rua da Beira, 7671, 76812-245 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina L Silva
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Jamille Karina C Correa
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Gleicierle R Paiva
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Laboratório de Zoologia, Rua Coronel José Porfírio 2515, 68372-040 Altamira, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabiane R Paula
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Saúde, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz-IOC/Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil, 4365, 21040-360 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Emil José Hernández-Ruz
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Laboratório de Zoologia, Rua Coronel José Porfírio 2515, 68372-040 Altamira, PA, Brazil
| | - Elciomar A Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede BIONORTE, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Avenida General Rodrigo Octavio Jordão Ramos, 1200, 69067-005 Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Lúcio André Viana
- Universidade Federal do Amapá, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Rodovia Josmar Chaves Pinto, Km 02, 68903-419 Macapá, AP, Brazil
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Is endozoochoric seed dispersal by large herbivores an evolutionary adaptation? Revisiting the Janzen's ‘Foliage is the fruit’ hypothesis. ACTA OECOLOGICA 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2022.103888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Environmental DNA as Novel Technology: Lessons in Agenda Setting and Framing in News Media. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102874. [PMID: 34679894 PMCID: PMC8532834 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102874] [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: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Increasing threats to wildlife have made assessing their populations, health, and adaptation to stressors ever more important. The use of environmental DNA to make these assessments is relatively new and offers many advantages, such as non-lethal sampling. How novel technologies such as these are framed in the news media is critically important because the general public gathers much of its information about scientific developments from the media, and public perceptions can impact use of technology, responses to data derived from its use, and ethical concerns. To date, media constructions of eDNA and perceptions among the general public have not been examined. The current paper begins to address this gap by undertaking an examination of media coverage of eDNA in Canada and the United States for the past approximately twenty years—likely a critical period in shaping understandings of and responses to eDNA. The findings indicate that eDNA is framed as a powerful tool, yet the social concerns that receive the most attention are those where there are financial interests at play, and these interests have to date eclipsed attending to relevant ethical considerations. Abstract Environmental DNA (eDNA) is an emerging technology used for understanding ecosystems, environmental change, and stressors. Cellular and extracellular DNA are collected from environmental samples instead of individual wildlife animals, and as such eDNA comes with associated logistical and ethical benefits. It is increasingly being used, yet to date public knowledge and perceptions of eDNA have not been explored. Given that most of the public gathers scientific information from news media sources, this is a logical first place to start. This paper reports on a framing and agenda-setting analysis of news media coverage of eDNA in Canada and the United States from 2000 to 2020. The findings indicate that eDNA is being framed as an emerging and powerful tool, although questions regarding its validity and reliability are raised vis-à-vis identifying the presence of invasive species. Less than half of the news articles analyzed address broader social or ethical issues in relation to eDNA, and the majority focus on the potential financial impacts of eDNA findings on development projects and business interests. The potential ethical advantages of non-lethal sampling methods used via eDNA sampling are not addressed, nor are the potential ethical issues raised by its potential use in bioprospecting, indicating that the current state of agenda setting regarding eDNA in these newspapers is focused on economic impacts, to the exclusion of potential ethical issues. This unfolding news coverage will likely be key to understanding public perceptions of this novel technology.
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Ruenchit P. State-of-the-Art Techniques for Diagnosis of Medical Parasites and Arthropods. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11091545. [PMID: 34573887 PMCID: PMC8470585 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11091545] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional methods such as microscopy have been used to diagnose parasitic diseases and medical conditions related to arthropods for many years. Some techniques are considered gold standard methods. However, their limited sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, and the need for costly reagents and high-skilled technicians are critical problems. New tools are therefore continually being developed to reduce pitfalls. Recently, three state-of-the-art techniques have emerged: DNA barcoding, geometric morphometrics, and artificial intelligence. Here, data related to the three approaches are reviewed. DNA barcoding involves an analysis of a barcode sequence. It was used to diagnose medical parasites and arthropods with 95.0% accuracy. However, this technique still requires costly reagents and equipment. Geometric morphometric analysis is the statistical analysis of the patterns of shape change of an anatomical structure. Its accuracy is approximately 94.0-100.0%, and unlike DNA barcoding, costly reagents and equipment are not required. Artificial intelligence technology involves the analysis of pictures using well-trained algorithms. It showed 98.8-99.0% precision. All three approaches use computer programs instead of human interpretation. They also have the potential to be high-throughput technologies since many samples can be analyzed at once. However, the limitation of using these techniques in real settings is species coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pichet Ruenchit
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
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Kaur P, Sanil NK. Morphological and molecular characterization of Neoechinorhynchus (N.) cephali n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) Stiles and Hassall 1905 infecting the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) from the southwest coast of India. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:3123-3136. [PMID: 34410496 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07252-2] [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: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The present paper describes Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) cephali n. sp., an acanthocephalan parasite infecting the intestine of the flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus from the southwest coast of India. The parasite exhibited a prevalence of 7.40%, mean intensity of 18.5 and abundance of 18-19 worms/infected host. Morphologically, N. (N.) cephali n. sp. is sexually dimorphic, small, cylindrical, slightly curved and creamy white in colour. Females are larger than males, measured 8.87 × 0.88 mm and 5.65 × 0.66 mm, respectively. Proboscis is armed with three circles of six hooks each, which progressively decreases in size posteriorly. Hooks are backwardly curved and robust and tapering with a sharp, pointed tip, striations on the surface and a manubrium at its base. The body is aspinose, trunk surface with micropores and pits and proboscis surface with papilliform structures. The body wall is with five dorsal and two ventral hypodermal nuclei, along with lacunar canals connected by circular anastomoses. Lemnisci are subequal, small lemnisci are uninucleated, and large ones are binucleated. The cement gland is oval, with four giant nuclei; bursa is with many sensory cells. Eggs are elliptical, with concentric shells, and polar prolongation is absent. In the molecular and phylogenetic analyses based on the 18S ribosomal DNA region, the present species stands out with a high bootstrap value and is positioned as a sister branch of N. (N.) dimorphospinus. Based on the differences in morphology, morphometry and molecular and phylogenetic analyses, the present species of acanthocephalan infecting M. cephalus is considered as new, and the name Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) cephali n. sp. is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinky Kaur
- , Fish Health Section, Marine Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, PB No. 1603, Ernakulam North P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682018, India.
| | - N K Sanil
- , Fish Health Section, Marine Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, PB No. 1603, Ernakulam North P.O., Kochi, Kerala, 682018, India
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Gliga DS, Pisanu B, Walzer C, Desvars-Larrive A. Helminths of urban rats in developed countries: a systematic review to identify research gaps. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2383-2397. [PMID: 32607706 PMCID: PMC7366588 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06776-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although black (Rattus rattus) and brown (Rattus norvegicus) rats are among the most widespread synanthropic wild rodents, there is a surprising scarcity of knowledge about their ecology in the urban ecosystem. In particular, relatively few studies have investigated their helminth species diversity in such habitat. We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guideline to synthesize the existing published literature regarding the helminth fauna of urban rats in developed countries (North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan). We aimed at describing the species diversity and richness of urban rat helminths, the species prevalence and associations, the methods of investigation, the pathological changes observed in the hosts, the risk factors of infection and the public health significance of rat-borne helminthiases. Twenty-three scientific papers published between 1946 and 2019 were reviewed, half of them were conducted in Europe. Twenty-five helminth species and eight genera were described from the liver, digestive tract, lungs and muscles of urban rats. The most commonly reported parasite was Calodium hepaticum. Prevalence and risk factors of helminth infection in urban rats varied greatly between studies. Observed pathological findings in the rat host were generally minor, except for C. hepaticum. Several rat helminths can parasitize humans and are therefore of public health significance. The lack of references to identification keys and the rare use of molecular tools for species confirmation represent the main limitation of these studies. Knowledge gap on this topic and the needs for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S Gliga
- Conservation Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Benoît Pisanu
- Unité Mixte de Services (UMS) 2006 Patrimoine Naturel, Office Français pour la Biodiversité (OFB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Paris, France
| | - Chris Walzer
- Conservation Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
- Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Amélie Desvars-Larrive
- Conservation Medicine, Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Unit of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Institute of Food Safety, Food Technology and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
- Complexity Science Hub, Vienna, Austria.
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Picelli AM, Ramires AC, Masseli GS, Pessoa FAC, Viana LA, Kaefer IL. Under the light: high prevalence of haemoparasites in lizards (Reptilia: Squamata) from Central Amazonia revealed by microscopy. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2020; 92:e20200428. [PMID: 32696845 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202020200428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood samples from 330 lizards of 19 species were collected to investigate the occurrence of haemoparasites. Samplings were performed in areas of upland (terra-firme) forest adjacent to Manaus municipality, Amazonas, Brazil. Blood parasites were detected in 220 (66%) lizards of 12 species and comprised four major groups: Apicomplexa (including haemogregarines, piroplasms, and haemosporidians), trypanosomatids, microfilarid nematodes and viral or bacterial organisms. Order Haemosporida had the highest prevalence, with 118 (35%) animals from 11 species. For lizard species, Uranoscodon superciliosus was the most parasitised host, with 103 (87%; n = 118) positive individuals. This species also presented the highest parasite diversity, with the occurrence of six taxa. Despite the difficulties attributed by many authors regarding the use of morphological characters for taxonomic resolution of haemoparasites, our low-cost approach using light microscopy recorded a high prevalence and diversity of blood parasite taxa in a relatively small number of host species. This report is the first survey of haemoparasites in lizards in the study region. It revealed a high diversity of lizard haemoparasites and highlights the need to understand their impacts on hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Picelli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Adriane C Ramires
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Gabriel S Masseli
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Felipe A C Pessoa
- Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Laboratório de Ecologia de Doenças Transmissíveis na Amazônia (EDTA), Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Lucio A Viana
- Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá, Macapá, AP, Brazil
| | - Igor L Kaefer
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
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