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Lianguzova A, Arbuzova N, Laskova E, Gafarova E, Repkin E, Matach D, Enshina I, Miroliubov A. Tricks of the puppet masters: morphological adaptations to the interaction with nervous system underlying host manipulation by rhizocephalan barnacle Polyascus polygeneus. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16348. [PMID: 38025701 PMCID: PMC10655712 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Rhizocephalan interaction with their decapod hosts is a superb example of host manipulation. These parasites are able to alter the host's physiology and behavior. Host-parasite interaction is performed, presumably, via special modified rootlets invading the ventral ganglions. Methods In this study, we focus on the morphology and ultrastructure of these special rootlets in Polyascus polygeneus (Lützen & Takahashi, 1997), family Polyascidae, invading the neuropil of the host's nervous tissue. The ventral ganglionic mass of the infected crabs were fixed, and the observed sites of the host-parasite interplay were studied using transmission electron microscopy, immunolabeling and confocal microscopy. Results The goblet-shaped organs present in the basal families of parasitic barnacles were presumably lost in a common ancestor of Polyascidae and crown "Akentrogonida", but the observed invasive rootlets appear to perform similar functions, including the synthesis of various substances which are transferred to the host's nervous tissue. Invasive rootlets significantly differ from trophic ones in cell layer composition and cuticle thickness. Numerous multilamellar bodies are present in the rootlets indicating the intrinsic cell rearrangement. The invasive rootlets of P. polygeneus are enlaced by the thin projections of glial cells. Thus, glial cells can be both the first hosts' respondents to the nervous tissue damage and the mediator of the rhizocephalan interaction with the nervous cells. One of the potential molecules engaged in the relationships of P. polygeneus and its host is serotonin, a neurotransmitter which is found exclusively in the invasive rootlets but not in trophic ones. Serotonin participates in different biological pathways in metazoans including the regulation of aggression in crustaceans, which is reduced in infected crabs. We conclude that rootlets associated with the host's nervous tissue are crucial for the regulation of host-parasite interplay and for evolution of the Rhizocephala.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Lianguzova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms and Protists, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Natalia Arbuzova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms and Protists, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Ekaterina Laskova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Elizaveta Gafarova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Egor Repkin
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
- Research Park, Center for Molecular and Cell Technologies, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Dzmitry Matach
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Irina Enshina
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St. Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Aleksei Miroliubov
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms and Protists, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Science, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
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Skalon EK, Starunov VV, Bondarenko NI, Slyusarev GS. Plasmodium structure of Intoshia linei (Orthonectida). J Morphol 2023; 284:e21602. [PMID: 37313769 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Orthonectids are enigmatic parasitic bilaterians whose exact position on the phylogenetic tree is still uncertain. Despite ongoing debate about their phylogenetic position, the parasitic stage of orthonectids known as "plasmodium" remains underexplored. There is still no consensus on the origin of the plasmodium: whether it is an altered host cell or a parasitic organism that develops in the host extracellular environment. To determine the origin of the orthonectid parasitic stage, we studied in detail the fine structure of the Intoshia linei orthonectid plasmodium using a variety of morphological methods. The orthonectid plasmodium is a shapeless multinucleated organism separated from host tissues by a double membrane envelope. Besides numerous nuclei, its cytoplasm contains organelles typical for other bilaterians, reproductive cells, and maturing sexual specimens. Reproductive cells, as well as developing orthonectid males and females, are covered by an additional membrane. The plasmodium forms protrusions directed to the surface of the host body and used by mature individuals for egress from the host. The obtained results indicate that the orthonectid plasmodium is an extracellular parasite. A possible mechanism for its formation might involve spreading parasitic larva cells across the host tissues with subsequent generation of a cell-within-cell complex. The cytoplasm of the plasmodium originates from the outer cell, which undergoes multiple nuclear divisions without cytokinesis, while the inner cell divides, giving rise to reproductive cells and embryos. The term "plasmodium" should be avoided and the term "orthonectid plasmodium" could be temporarily used instead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta K Skalon
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Viktor V Starunov
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalya I Bondarenko
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - George S Slyusarev
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology, St. Petersburg University, St. Petersburg, Russia
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3
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Nesterenko M, Miroliubov A. From head to rootlet: comparative transcriptomic analysis of a rhizocephalan barnacle Peltogaster reticulata (Crustacea: Rhizocephala). F1000Res 2023; 11:583. [PMID: 36447930 PMCID: PMC9664023 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.110492.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Rhizocephalan barnacles stand out in the diverse world of metazoan parasites. The body of a rhizocephalan female is modified beyond revealing any recognizable morphological features, consisting of the interna, a system of rootlets, and the externa, a sac-like reproductive body. Moreover, rhizocephalans have an outstanding ability to control their hosts, literally turning them into "zombies". Despite all these amazing traits, there are no genomic or transcriptomic data about any Rhizocephala. Methods: We collected transcriptomes from four body parts of an adult female rhizocephalan Peltogaster reticulata: the externa, and the main, growing, and thoracic parts of the interna. We used all prepared data for the de novo assembly of the reference transcriptome. Next, a set of encoded proteins was determined, the expression levels of protein-coding genes in different parts of the parasite's body were calculated and lists of enriched bioprocesses were identified. We also in silico identified and analyzed sets of potential excretory / secretory proteins. Finally, we applied phylostratigraphy and evolutionary transcriptomics approaches to our data. Results: The assembled reference transcriptome included transcripts of 12,620 protein-coding genes and was the first for any rhizocephalan. Based on the results obtained, the spatial heterogeneity of protein-coding gene expression in different regions of the adult female body of P. reticulata was established. The results of both transcriptomic analysis and histological studies indicated the presence of germ-like cells in the lumen of the interna. The potential molecular basis of the interaction between the nervous system of the host and the parasite's interna was also determined. Given the prolonged expression of development-associated genes, we suggest that rhizocephalans "got stuck in their metamorphosis", even at the reproductive stage. Conclusions: The results of the first comparative transcriptomic analysis for Rhizocephala not only clarified but also expanded the existing ideas about the biology of these extraordinary parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim Nesterenko
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation,Laboratory of parasitic worms and protists, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation,
| | - Aleksei Miroliubov
- Laboratory of parasitic worms and protists, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
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4
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Miroliubov A, Lianguzova A, Waiho K, Fazhan H, Gusti-Afiz GRN. Histological description of specialized rootlets of the akentrogonid rhizocephalan Diplothylacus sinensis (Keppen, 1877) (Thompsoniidae) invading nervous ganglia of the blue swimming crab Portunus pelagicus. ZOOL ANZ 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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5
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Martin S, Lesny P, Glenner H, Hecht J, Vilcinskas A, Bartolomaeus T, Podsiadlowski L. Genomic Adaptations to an Endoparasitic Lifestyle in the Morphologically Atypical Crustacean Sacculina carcini (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala). Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:6758533. [PMID: 36221914 PMCID: PMC9582164 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac149] [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: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The endoparasitic crustacean Sacculina carcini (Cirripedia: Rhizocephala) has a much simpler morphology than conventional filter-feeding barnacles, reflecting its parasitic lifestyle. To investigate the molecular basis of its refined developmental program, we produced a draft genome sequence for comparison with the genomes of nonparasitic barnacles and characterized the transcriptomes of internal and external tissues. The comparison of clusters of orthologous genes revealed the depletion of multiple gene families but also several unanticipated expansions compared to non-parasitic crustaceans. Transcriptomic analyses comparing interna and externa tissues revealed an unexpected variation of gene expression between rootlets sampled around host midgut and thoracic ganglia. Genes associated with lipid uptake were strongly expressed by the internal tissues. We identified candidate genes probably involved in host manipulation (suppression of ecdysis and gonad development) including those encoding crustacean neurohormones and the juvenile hormone binding protein. The evolution of Rhizocephala therefore appears to have involved a rapid turnover of genes (losses and expansions) as well as the fine tuning of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Martin
- Centre for Molecular Biodiversity Research (zmb), Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig (ZFMK), LIB, Bonn, Germany,Department of Comparative Ultrastructure and Evolution of Invertebrates, Institute for Evolutionary Biology & Animal Ecology, University Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Peter Lesny
- Department of Comparative Ultrastructure and Evolution of Invertebrates, Institute for Evolutionary Biology & Animal Ecology, University Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Henrik Glenner
- Department of Biol. Sciences, University Bergen, Bergen, Norway,Centre for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jochen Hecht
- Genomics Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department of Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany,Department of Bioressources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Bartolomaeus
- Department of Comparative Ultrastructure and Evolution of Invertebrates, Institute for Evolutionary Biology & Animal Ecology, University Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Miroliubov AA, Lianguzova AD, Ilyutkin SA, Arbuzova NA, Lapshin NE, Laskova EP. The interna of the rhizocephalan Peltogaster reticulata: Comparative morphology and ultrastructure. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2022; 70:101190. [PMID: 35785583 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2022.101190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Specialized morphology of diverse parasitic crustaceans reflects their adaptations to an endoparasitic lifestyle. Rhizocephalan barnacles are one of the most highly modified obligatory parasites of other crustaceans. Comprehension of the functional morphology of rhizocephalans could elucidate the main evolutionary trends not only inside parasitic barnacles, but in parasitism as a whole. Despite that, the available morphological information on the rhizocephalans is very fragmented. In this study, we examined the organization and ultrastructural features in different parts of the interna of Peltogaster reticulata (fam. Peltogastridae). The main trunk cuticle is much thicker than that of the side branches due to the different functions of these body parts. The central lumen in the main trunk is lined by an extracellular matrix, while the side branches are not. Muscular fibers are only present in the body wall of the main trunk, where they are organized as a "wicker basket". Furthermore, functional differentiation can be found at the ultrastructural level in the cells of the rootlets: there are distinct cell types both in hypodermal and axial cell layers. The rootlets of P. reticulata are covered by a network of the host's neurons and capillaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksei A Miroliubov
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, St Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Anastasia D Lianguzova
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, St Petersburg, Russia; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, St Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Stanislav A Ilyutkin
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, St Petersburg, Russia; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, St Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Natalia A Arbuzova
- Laboratory of Parasitic Worms, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Science, Universitetskaya Embankment 1, St Petersburg, Russia; Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, St Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Nikita E Lapshin
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, St Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Ekaterina P Laskova
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St-Petersburg State University, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, St Petersburg, Russia.
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Yang C, Shan B, Liu Y, Wang L, Liu M, Yao T, Sun D. Transcriptomic analysis of male three-spot swimming crab (Portunus sanguinolentus) infected with the parasitic barnacle Diplothylacus sinensis. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 128:260-268. [PMID: 35934240 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2022.07.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Diplothylacus sinensis is reported as an intriguing parasitic barnacle that can negatively affect the growth, molting, reproduction in several commercially important portunid crabs. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of host-parasite interactions, we characterized the gene expression profiles from the healthy and D. sinensis infected Portunus sanguinolentus by high-through sequence method. Totally, the transcriptomic analysis generated 52, 266, 600 and 51, 629, 604 high quality reads from the infected and control groups, respectively. The clean reads were assembled to 90,740 and 69,314 unigenes, with the average length of 760 bp and 709 bp, respectively. The expression analysis showed that 18,959 genes were significantly changed by the parasitism of D. sinensis, including 4769 activated genes and 14,190 suppressed genes. The differentially expressed genes were categorized into 258 KEGG pathways and 647 GO terms. The GO analysis mapped 13 DEGs related to immune system process and 32 DEGs related to immune response, respectively, suggesting a potential alteration of transcriptional expression patterns in complement cascades of P. sanguinolentus. Additionally, 4 representative molting-related genes were down-regulated in parasitized group, indicating D. sinensis infection appeared to suppress the producing of ecdysteroid hormones. In conclusion, the present study improves our understanding on parasite-host interaction mechanisms, which focuses the function of Ecdysone receptor, Toll-like receptor and cytokine receptor of crustacean crabs infestation with rhizocephalan parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changping Yang
- Tropical Aquaculture Research and Development Center of South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fisheries Sciences, Sanya, 572018, China; Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, China
| | - Binbin Shan
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Liangming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Manting Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Tuo Yao
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China
| | - Dianrong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Marine Ranching, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, China.
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8
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Nesterenko M, Miroliubov A. From head to rootlet: comparative transcriptomic analysis of a rhizocephalan barnacle Peltogaster reticulata (Crustacea: Rhizocephala). F1000Res 2022; 11:583. [PMID: 36447930 PMCID: PMC9664023 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.110492.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Rhizocephalan barnacles stand out in the diverse world of metazoan parasites. The body of a rhizocephalan female is modified beyond revealing any recognizable morphological features, consisting of the interna, a system of rootlets, and the externa, a sac-like reproductive body. Moreover, rhizocephalans have an outstanding ability to control their hosts, literally turning them into "zombies". Despite all these amazing traits, there are no genomic or transcriptomic data about any Rhizocephala. Methods: We collected transcriptomes from four body parts of an adult female rhizocephalan Peltogaster reticulata: the externa, and the main, growing, and thoracic parts of the interna. We used all prepared data for the de novo assembly of the reference transcriptome. Next, a set of encoded proteins was determined, the expression levels of protein-coding genes in different parts of the parasite's body were calculated and lists of enriched bioprocesses were identified. We also in silico identified and analyzed sets of potential excretory / secretory proteins. Finally, we applied phylostratigraphy and evolutionary transcriptomics approaches to our data. Results: The assembled reference transcriptome included transcripts of 12,620 protein-coding genes and was the first for any rhizocephalan. Based on the results obtained, the spatial heterogeneity of protein-coding gene expression in different regions of the adult female body of P. reticulata was established. The results of both transcriptomic analysis and histological studies indicated the presence of germ-like cells in the lumen of the interna. The potential molecular basis of the interaction between the nervous system of the host and the parasite's interna was also determined. Given the prolonged expression of development-associated genes, we suggest that rhizocephalans "got stuck in their metamorphosis", even at the reproductive stage. Conclusions: The results of the first comparative transcriptomic analysis for Rhizocephala not only clarified but also expanded the existing ideas about the biology of these extraordinary parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim Nesterenko
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg State University, St Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
- Laboratory of parasitic worms and protists, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
| | - Aleksei Miroliubov
- Laboratory of parasitic worms and protists, Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, 199034, Russian Federation
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Barón PJ, Leal GA, Carsen AE, Kroeck MA, Morsan EM. Rhizocephalan infection in the Patagonian stone crab Danielethus patagonicus. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2021; 147:33-46. [PMID: 34789586 DOI: 10.3354/dao03632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The system formed by a still-unidentified rhizocephalan infecting the Patagonian stone crab Danielethus (Platyxanthus) patagonicus (A. Milne-Edwards, 1879) was analyzed in northern Patagonia. Out of 3222 crabs sampled, mean prevalence of externae was 2.1%, while corrected mean prevalence based on observations of externae, scars or other indicators of infection was slightly higher (3.01%; N = 2100). Prevalence was higher in males (4.47%) than in females (1.44%). Parasitized males were morphologically feminized, while females showed no hyper-feminization. Although most parasitized crabs showed only 1 externa, 2 externae were observed in some individuals. The parasite externae were only present in intermediate-sized crabs (26.6-99.7 cm carapace width). While scanning electron microscopy images allowed detection of the 'smooth-surface-balloon' type of retinacula on the inner surface of the externae, typical of the Sacculinidae and Peltogastridae, the position of the mantle opening relative to the stalk, the receptacle location and the shape of the externae suggest that the parasite belongs to either the genus Sacculina or to the recently erected Parasacculina (Polyascidae).
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J Barón
- Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos (CESIMAR-CONICET), U9120DHA Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
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Lianguzova AD, Ilyutkin SA, Korn OM, Miroliubov AA. Specialised rootlets of Sacculina pilosella (Rhizocephala: Sacculinidae) used for interactions with its host's nervous system. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2021; 60:101009. [PMID: 33307518 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2020.101009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic rhizocephalan barnacles induce morphological, physiological, and behavioural changes in their hosts. The mechanisms of these intimate host-parasite interactions remain unknown. We have shown previously that rootlets of the internae of Peltogasterella gracilis and Peltogaster paguri penetrate the ganglion's envelope of their hermit crab hosts and form specialised structures in the ganglion periphery, the so-called goblet-shaped organs. Here, we examine the gross morphology and ultrastructure of these goblet-shaped organs in the interna of Sacculina pilosella. They consist of three layers of cells; in the intermediate layer of the organs, unusual lamellar bodies and muscle cells were found. Extensive degeneration of the host nervous tissue was observed in the funnel of the goblet-shaped organs. We conclude that the ability to penetrate into the host's nervous tissue could be a common trait in rhizocephalans. The goblet-shaped organs may play a key role in the host-parasite relationships by enabling the parasite to influence the host via hormones and neurotransmitters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia D Lianguzova
- Saint Petersburg State University, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
| | - Stanislav A Ilyutkin
- Saint Petersburg State University, Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Universitetskaya Emb, 7/9, Saint Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
| | - Olga M Korn
- National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, FEB RAS, Palchavskogo str., 17, Vladivostok, 690041, Russia.
| | - Aleksei A Miroliubov
- Zoological Institute RAS, Laboratory of Parasitic Worms and Protists, Universitetskaya emb., 1, Saint-Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
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