scholarly journals The Ponto-Caspian parasite Plagioporus cf. skrjabini reaches the River Rhine system in Central Europe: higher infestation in the native than in the introduced Danubian form of the gastropod Theodoxus fluviatilis

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Marie Rothmeier ◽  
René Sahm ◽  
Burkard Watermann ◽  
Karsten Grabow ◽  
Meike Koester ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
River Rhine ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Theodoxus Fluviatilis ◽  
Native Populations ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
European Form

AbstractThe introduction of non-indigenous organisms in new areas in the context of host-parasite interactions is still poorly understood. This study aimed at a parasitological and histopathological comparison of two phylogenetically distinct forms of the freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis in the River Rhine system: the native Northern-European form, which showed a decline for unknown reasons and is nowadays extinct in the River Rhine, and the non-indigenous Danubian form, which was introduced via the Main–Danube canal. We histopathologically examined populations of Northern-European T. fluviatilis from three smaller rivers of the Rhine system and of Danubian T. fluviatilis from the River Rhine, after confirming the phylogenetic background of the respective population genetically. Results showed differences in the prevalence of trematodes and histopathologic organic alterations between the two snail forms. Both were infected with an opecoelid trematode Plagioporus cf. skrjabini, whereby its prevalence was significantly higher in the Northern-European than in the Danubian form. The parasitic trematode is, to our knowledge, a new trematode species in the River Rhine system, presumably co-introduced through the invasion of its second intermediate and final hosts, i.e. Ponto-Caspian amphipods and gobies. Its impact on native populations of Northern-European T. fluviatilis needs to be subject of future studies.

scholarly journals The Danubian cryptic invader Theodoxus fluviatilis (Gastropoda: Neritidae) in the River Rhine: a potential indicator for metal pollution?

Ecotoxicology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Marie Rothmeier ◽  
Andreas Martens ◽  
Burkard Watermann ◽  
Karsten Grabow ◽  
Jennifer Bartz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Chromium Concentration ◽  
Metal Exposure ◽  
Ammonium Concentration ◽  
River Rhine ◽  
Northern European ◽  
Theodoxus Fluviatilis

AbstractMetal pollution poses a major threat to aquatic systems especially in anthropogenic influenced areas, in as much as metals are persistent in the environment. The freshwater snail Theodoxus fluviatilis has often been used as an indicator species for the ecological status in river monitoring. In the River Rhine, the native Northern-European form of T. fluviatilis is nowadays extinct, whilst the Danubian form is spreading along the river. The aim of our study was to investigate if the cryptic invader is affected by metal exposure present in the River Rhine and to discuss its potential as an indicator for metal pollution. Several environmental abiotic (14 water environmental variables plus five common metal concentrations in water and biofilm) and biotic parameters (biofilm mass) were measured across 23 sites along the River Rhine. Five population and six histopathological parameters were evaluated on snails collected at all 23 sites. Aqueous chromium concentration was positively correlated to the damage of male reproductive organs of T. fluviatilis, and higher ammonium concentration was correlated to a decrease in snail size and an increase in the proportion of juveniles. None of the analysed snail parameters was negatively correlated to concentrations of other metals measured, like copper and zinc. Therefore, based on the parameters evaluated, our results indicate that the Danubian form of T. fluviatilis is only restrictedly suitable as an indicator for metal pollution in the River Rhine system. Further field and laboratory investigations including other stressors are necessary to evaluate the indicator potential of the cryptic invader holistically.

scholarly journals Genomic evidence for population-specific responses to coevolving parasites in a New Zealand freshwater snail

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Bankers ◽  
Peter Fields ◽  
Kyle E. McElroy ◽  
Jeffrey L. Boore ◽  
John M. Logsdon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Sequence Evolution ◽  
Specific Host ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
Host Parasite ◽  
Genomic Basis

AbstractReciprocal coevolving interactions between hosts and parasites are a primary source of strong selection that can promote rapid and often population- or genotype-specific evolutionary change. These host-parasite interactions are also a major source of disease. Despite their importance, very little is known about the genomic basis of coevolving host-parasite interactions in natural populations, especially in animals. Here, we use gene expression and sequence evolution approaches to take critical steps towards characterizing the genomic basis of interactions between the freshwater snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum and its coevolving sterilizing trematode parasite, Microphallus sp., a textbook example of natural coevolution. We found that Microphallus-infected P. antipodarum exhibit systematic downregulation of genes relative to uninfected P. antipodarum. The specific genes involved in parasite response differ markedly across lakes, consistent with a scenario where population-level coevolution is leading to population-specific host-parasite interactions and evolutionary trajectories. We also used an FST-based approach to identify a set of loci that represent promising candidates for targets of parasite-mediated selection across lakes as well as within each lake population. These results constitute the first genomic evidence for population-specific responses to coevolving infection in the P. antipodarum-Microphallus interaction and provide new insights into the genomic basis of coevolutionary interactions in nature.

scholarly journals Ankyrin-1 gene exhibits allelic heterogeneity in conferring protection against malaria

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Ming Huang ◽  
Denis C. Bauer ◽  
Patrick M. Lelliott ◽  
Matthew W. A. Dixon ◽  
Leann Tilley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Allelic Heterogeneity ◽  
Plasmodium Chabaudi ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Mutagenesis Screen ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
Malaria Susceptibility ◽  
Erythrocyte Clearance ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractAllelic heterogeneity is a common phenomenon where a gene exhibit different phenotype depending on the nature of its genetic mutations. In the context of genes affecting malaria susceptibility, it allowed us to explore and understand the intricate host-parasite interactions during malaria infections. In this study, we described a gene encoding erythrocytic ankyrin-1 (Ank-1) which exhibits allelic-dependent heterogeneous phenotypes during malaria infections. We conducted an ENU mutagenesis screen on mice and identified twoAnk-1mutations, one resulted in an amino acid substitution (MRI95845), and the other a truncatedAnk-1protein (MRI96570). Both mutations caused hereditary spherocytosis-like phenotypes and confer differing protection againstPlasmodium chabaudiinfections. Upon further examination, theAnk-1(MRI96570)mutation was found to inhibit intra-erythrocytic parasite maturation, whereasAnk-1(MW95845)caused increased bystander erythrocyte clearance during infection. This is the first description of allelic heterogeneity in ankyrin-1 from the direct comparison between twoAnk-1mutations. Despite the lack of direct evidence from population studies, this data further supported the protective roles of ankyrin-1 mutations in conferring malaria protection. This study also emphasized the importance of such phenomenon to achieve a better understanding of host-parasite interactions, which could be the basis of future studies.

scholarly journals The unlimited potential of the great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

eLife ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
István Fodor ◽  
Ahmed AA Hussein ◽  
Paul R Benjamin ◽  
Joris M Koene ◽  
Zsolt Pirger
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
Lymnaea Stagnalis ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Pond Snail ◽  
Host Parasite Interactions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Host Parasite

Only a limited number of animal species lend themselves to becoming model organisms in multiple biological disciplines: one of these is the great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Extensively used since the 1970s to study fundamental mechanisms in neurobiology, the value of this freshwater snail has been also recognised in fields as diverse as host–parasite interactions, ecotoxicology, evolution, genome editing and 'omics', and human disease modelling. While there is knowledge about the natural history of this species, what is currently lacking is an integration of findings from the laboratory and the field. With this in mind, this article aims to summarise the applicability of L. stagnalis and points out that this multipurpose model organism is an excellent, contemporary choice for addressing a large range of different biological questions, problems and phenomena.

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