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Risoli S, Sarrocco S, Terracciano G, Papetti L, Baroncelli R, Nali C. Isolation and characterization of Fusarium spp. From unhatched eggs of Caretta caretta in Tuscany (Italy). Fungal Biol 2023; 127:1321-1327. [PMID: 37993243 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Sea Turtle Egg Fusariosis (STEF) is a worldwide emergent fungal disease affecting eggs and causing embryos mortality in turtle's nests such as those of Caretta caretta. It is caused by a complex of species belonging to Fusarium genus, particularly those included in the Fusarium Solani Species Complex (FSSC). During the samplings carried out in summer 2020 along the Tuscany coastlines (Italy), C. caretta eggs showed clinical signs resembling those caused by STEF. A total of 32 fungal isolates were obtained from lesioned eggs whose molecular characterization allowing identifying as belonging to FSSC / Neocosmospora spp., Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC) / F. oxysporum and Fusarium nodosum, i.e., fungal genera and speciesincluding also well-known plant pathogens. Isolates inoculated on several plant hosts did not result in any pathogenic activity but F. nodosum causing, on wheat spikes, disease symptoms.This is the first time F. nodosum has been isolated from portions of eggs showing evident signs of fungal infection. This work represents the first report of Fusarium spp. isolated from C. caretta eggs showing lesions resembling those caused by STEF on Tuscan coast thus posing a significant concern to loggerhead sea turtle conservation also in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Risoli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80 Pisa 56124, Italy; University School for Advanced Studies IUSS, Palazzo Del Broletto, Piazza Della Vittoria 15, Pavia, 27100 Italy
| | - Sabrina Sarrocco
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80 Pisa 56124, Italy.
| | - Giuliana Terracciano
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, SS Dell' Abetone e Del Brennero 4, Pisa 56123 Italy
| | - Luana Papetti
- tartAmare, Centro Recupero Tartarughe Marine, via Bramante n. 83 Marina di Grosseto, Italy
| | - Riccardo Baroncelli
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Viale Giuseppe Fanin 42 Bologna 40127, Italy
| | - Cristina Nali
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80 Pisa 56124, Italy
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Nardoni S, Mancianti F. Mycotic Diseases in Chelonians. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050518. [PMID: 37233230 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050518] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Turtles and 'tortoises' populations are declining in number, the factors driving extinction risks being related to habitat loss and degradation, climate change, introduction of invasive plant and animal species, consumption by humans for food and medicinal use, and collection for international pet trade. Fungal infections represent one of the main threats for ecosystem health. The present narrative review deals with conventional and emerging mycoses of Chelonians. Although conventional mycoses in captive and pet reptiles would depend on poor husbandry, being the agents mostly opportunistic pathogens, some fungal species were reported to occur more frequently, such as the entomopathogen Purpureocillium lilacinum. Furthermore, emerging agents such as the Fusarium solani species complex have been recognized as a real threat for the surviving of some aquatic species, acting as primary pathogens. This complex has been recently included within pathogens in One Health issues. Emydomyces testavorans is recognized as an emerging threat, although, due its recent identification, information about its epidemiology is limited. Data about treatments and outcomes of mycoses in Chelonians are also referred.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Nardoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Hoh DZ, Lee HH, Wada N, Liu WA, Lu MR, Lai CK, Ke HM, Sun PF, Tang SL, Chung WH, Chen YL, Chung CL, Tsai IJ. Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses of trans-kingdom pathogen Fusarium solani species complex reveal degrees of compartmentalization. BMC Biol 2022; 20:236. [PMID: 36266645 PMCID: PMC9583462 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01436-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) comprises fungal pathogens responsible for mortality in a diverse range of animals and plants, but their genome diversity and transcriptome responses in animal pathogenicity remain to be elucidated. We sequenced, assembled and annotated six chromosome-level FSSC clade 3 genomes of aquatic animal and plant host origins. We established a pathosystem and investigated the expression data of F. falciforme and F. keratoplasticum in Chinese softshell turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis) host. Results Comparative analyses between the FSSC genomes revealed a spectrum of conservation patterns in chromosomes categorised into three compartments: core, fast-core (FC), and lineage-specific (LS). LS chromosomes contribute to variations in genomes size, with up to 42.2% of variations between F. vanettenii strains. Each chromosome compartment varied in structural architectures, with FC and LS chromosomes contain higher proportions of repetitive elements with genes enriched in functions related to pathogenicity and niche expansion. We identified differences in both selection in the coding sequences and DNA methylation levels between genome features and chromosome compartments which suggest a multi-speed evolution that can be traced back to the last common ancestor of Fusarium. We further demonstrated that F. falciforme and F. keratoplasticum are opportunistic pathogens by inoculating P. sinensis eggs and identified differentially expressed genes also associated with plant pathogenicity. These included the most upregulated genes encoding the CFEM (Common in Fungal Extracellular Membrane) domain. Conclusions The high-quality genome assemblies provided new insights into the evolution of FSSC chromosomes, which also serve as a resource for studies of fungal genome evolution and pathogenesis. This study also establishes an animal model for fungal pathogens of trans-kingdom hosts. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01436-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daphne Z Hoh
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 116 Wenshan, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Han Lee
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Naohisa Wada
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-An Liu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Min R Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Kuo Lai
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan.,Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Mien Ke
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Feng Sun
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, 116 Wenshan, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sen-Lin Tang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan.,Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Hsin Chung
- Department of Plant Pathology, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lien Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lin Chung
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Isheng Jason Tsai
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, 115 Nangang, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan. .,Genome and Systems Biology Degree Program, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Li T, Yang Y, Li H, Li C. Mixed-Mode Bacterial Transmission via Eggshells in an Oviparous Reptile Without Parental Care. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:911416. [PMID: 35836422 PMCID: PMC9273969 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.911416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Symbiotic microorganisms play important roles in maintaining health and facilitating the adaptation of the host. We know little about the origin and transgenerational transmission of symbiotic bacteria, especially in egg-laying species without parental care. Here, we investigated the transmission of bacterial symbionts in the Chinese three-keeled pond turtle (Mauremys reevesii), a species with no post-oviposition parental care, by evaluating contributions from potential maternal and environmental sources to eggshell bacterial communities. Using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, we established that the bacterial communities of eggshells were similar to those of the maternal cloaca, maternal skin, and nest soil, but distinct from those of surface soil around nest and pond water. Phylogenetic structure analysis and source-tracking models revealed the deterministic assembly process of eggshell microbiota and high contributions of the maternal cloaca, maternal skin, and nest soil microbiota to eggshell bacterial communities. Moreover, maternal cloaca showed divergent contribution to eggshell microbiota compared with two other main sources in phylogenesis and taxonomic composition. The results demonstrate a mixture of horizontal and vertical transmission of symbiotic bacteria across generations in an oviparous turtle without parental care and provide insight into the significance of the eggshell microbiome in embryo development.
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Charapa Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis), an Opportunity to Improve Community Tourism and Contribute to Their Conservation in Yasuní National Park, Ecuador. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Biodiversity at the species and ecosystem level is an important basis for tourism, especially for tourism economies in landscapes optimal for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, which are addressed under the Convention on Biological Diversity. In the last two decades, the Podocnemis Unifilis turtle has presented problems represented in a decrease of individuals in their populations in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The objective of the study was to describe the characteristics and current situation of the charapa turtle (Podocnemis Unifilis), to analyze the perception of the community of the Indillama River towards this species and finally to establish a proposal for its conservation with a socio-economic contribution from the community tourism segment. The methodology used consisted of a bibliographic review, semi-structured interviews and expert judgment. The main results indicate that the charapa turtle has had population problems in the last 30 years due to various anthropogenic pressures. The inhabitants of the Río Indillama community perceive this species mainly as a source of economic income (sale of individuals and their eggs) and food by consuming their eggs and adult individuals. Finally, we present a proposal for conservation through tourism that provides experiential activities for the collection of P. unifilis eggs, nesting and release (sponsorship) of individuals, providing economic benefits to local communities. This will contribute to its conservation and local socioeconomic development.
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Carranco AS, Romo D, de Lourdes Torres M, Wilhelm K, Sommer S, Gillingham MAF. Egg microbiota is the starting point of hatchling gut microbiota in the endangered yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:3917-3933. [PMID: 35621392 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Establishment and development of gut microbiota during vertebrates' early life are likely to be important predictors of health and fitness. Host-parental and host-environment interactions are essential to these processes. In oviparous reptiles whose nests represent a source of the parent's microbial inocula, the relative role of host-selection and stochastic environmental factors during gut microbial assemblage remains unknown. We sampled eggs incubated in artificial nests as well as hatchlings and juveniles (up to 30 days old) of the yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) developing in tubs filled with river water. We examined the relative role of the internal egg microbiota and the abiotic environment on hatchling and juvenile turtle's cloacal microbiota assemblages during the first 30 days of development. A mean of 71% of ASVs in hatched eggs could be traced to the nest environmental microbiota and in turn a mean of 77% of hatchlings' cloacal ASVs were traced to hatched eggs. Between day 5 and 20 of juvenile turtle's development, the river water environment plays a key role in the establishment of the gut microbiota (accounting for a mean of 13%-34.6% of cloacal ASVs) and strongly influences shifts in microbial diversity and abundance. After day 20, shifts in gut microbiota composition were mainly driven by host-selection processes. Therefore, colonization by environmental microbiota is key in the initial stages of establishing the host's gut microbiota which is subsequently shaped by host-selection processes. Our study provides a novel quantitative understanding of the host-environment interactions during gut microbial assemblage of oviparous reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Carranco
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - David Romo
- Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbaya-, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Maria de Lourdes Torres
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Cumbaya-, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Kerstin Wilhelm
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mark A F Gillingham
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC, Oviedo University, Principality of Asturias), Campus of Mieres, University of Oviedo, 33600, Mieres, Spain
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Carranco AS, Gillingham MAF, Wilhelm K, Torres MDL, Sommer S, Romo D. Transcending sea turtles: first report of hatching failure in eggs of an Amazonian freshwater turtle with symptoms of the fungal emerging disease fusariosis. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022; 69:e3282-e3288. [PMID: 35561152 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
During the last few decades, fungal pathogens have caused devastating population declines across a broad range of taxa. A newly emerging fungal disease, sea turtle egg fusariosis, caused by members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), has been reported to be responsible for hatching failure in sea turtles worldwide. However, this has not been detected in fresh water turtle species. Here, using relocated clutches and artificial incubation, we report high hatching failure in eggs symptomatic of fusariosis in the yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) inhabiting a pristine environment in the Ecuadorian Amazon. In 2020, we screened 680 eggs of the yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle, relocated from wild nesting areas to artificial nests, for visual symptoms of fusariosis and to estimate hatchability despite infection. We selected 68 eggs sampled in 2019 to confirm Fusarium infection by PCR amplification of the TEF-1α gene and sequenced seven of those amplicons on an Illumina Miseq to assess FSSC membership. We observed fusariosis symptoms in 42% of the 680 eggs. The proportion of symptomatic eggs within nests was negatively linked to the proportion of eggs that hatched. Hatchability was 8% for symptomatic eggs compared with 72% of asymptomatic eggs. Through PCR testing, 58% of symptomatic and 8% of asymptomatic eggs sampled in 2019 tested positive for Fusarium spp., and sequencing revealed that nine sequence variants from three asymptomatic and four symptomatic eggs corresponded to F. keratoplasticum, F. solani, and F. falciforme, the three major FSSC pathogens reported in sea turtle egg fusariosis. Our study suggests that hatching failure in eggs linked to symptoms of fusariosis appears to be partially caused by Fusarium pathogens within FSSC in a freshwater turtle. Thus, fusariosis is more widespread among the Testudines than previously reported and is not limited to sea environments, findings of particular conservation concern. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Carranco
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mark A F Gillingham
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069, Ulm, Germany.,Biodiversity Research Institute (CSIC, Oviedo University, Principality of Asturias), Campus of Mieres, University of Oviedo, Mieres, 33600, Spain
| | - Kerstin Wilhelm
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069, Ulm, Germany
| | - Maria de Lourdes Torres
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Vegetal, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales COCIBA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069, Ulm, Germany
| | - David Romo
- Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Quito, Ecuador
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