Giardia duodenalis in Wildlife: Exploring Genotype Diversity in Italy and across Europe

Fragmented data are so far available on genotype diversity of G. duodenalis in wildlife in different countries in Europe, in particular, in Italy. In the present study, G. duodenalis sequences obtained from different Italian wild animals [12 porcupines (Hystrix cristata), 4 wild boars (Sus scrofa), 1 wolf (Canis lupus italicus), 6 Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra)] were compared with those available from wild host species in Europe to add new data on the geographic distribution of Giardia assemblages/sub-assemblages and their transmission patterns among natural hosts. Thirty-eight sequences were obtained by MLG analysis (SSU-rRNA, bg, gdh, and tpi genes) and subsequently compared by phylogenetic and network analyses with those from wild species monitored in the last decades in Europe. The results revealed the presence of potentially zoonotic (A-AI, A-AII from wild boar; B from porcupine) and host-adapted (D from wolf; E, A-AIII from chamois) assemblages and sub-assemblages and represent the first report for Italian wild boar. The analysis did not find any evidence of spatial or host segregation for specific genetic variants, mostly shared between different hosts from different European countries. However, conflicting evidence was found in genotypic assignment, advocating for data improvement and new genomic approaches.

Host, microbiome, and complex space: applying population and landscape genetic approaches to gut microbiome research in wild populations

In recent years, emerging sequencing technologies and computational tools have driven a tidal wave of research on host-associated microbiomes, particularly the gut microbiome. These studies demonstrate numerous connections between the gut microbiome and vital host functions, primarily in humans, model organisms, and domestic animals. As the adaptive importance of the gut microbiome becomes clearer, interest in studying the gut microbiomes of wild populations has increased, in part due to the potential for discovering conservation applications. The study of wildlife gut microbiomes holds many new challenges and opportunities due to the complex genetic, spatial, and environmental structure of wild host populations, and the potential for these factors to interact with the microbiome. The emerging picture of adaptive coevolution in host-microbiome relationships highlights the importance of understanding microbiome variation in the context of host population genetics and landscape heterogeneity across a wide range of host populations. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding wildlife gut microbiomes in relation to landscape variables and host population genetics, including the potential of approaches derived from landscape genetics. We use this framework to review current research, synthesize important trends, highlight implications for conservation, and recommend future directions for research. Specifically, we focus on how spatial structure and environmental variation interact with host population genetics and microbiome variation in natural populations, and what we can learn from how these patterns of covariation differ depending on host ecological and evolutionary traits.

Phytoseiidae mites associated with native and cultivated solanaceous in Central-West Brazil

Predatory mites represent important biological control agents and those belonging to the Phytoseiidae family are the most promising for the control of phytophagous mites and small insects. The control of key pests of tomato and other solanaceous crops, highlighting phytophagous mites, has been a challenge and the biological control constitutes a promising strategy. Prospecting predatory mites in wild host plants, natural environments as well as in agroecosystems is relevant because these non-crop and crop areas can serve as reservoirs for promising species for biological control programs. This study aimed to know the Phytoseiidae fauna associated with wild and cultivated solanaceous plants in a poorly prospected area in Brazil, the Central-West Region. A detailed taxonomic identification of phytoseiid mites was conducted, and the most important morphological traits are presented for each species. In addition, associated phytophagous mites mainly belonging to the Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae and Eriophyoidea were identified. Surveys were carried out in 23 species of solanaceous collected in the Distrito Federal (12 areas) and Goiás State (1 area), from February 2017 to January 2018. Nineteen species of predators belonging to ten genera were recorded: Amblyseius (2 species), Euseius (3), Galendromus (1), Iphiseiodes (1), Neoseiulus (3), Paraphytoseius (1), Phytoseius (3), Proprioseiopsis (2), Typhlodromalus (2, one probably new to science) and Typhlodromips (1). Solanum lycocarpum was the solanaceous that harbored the highest richness (11 species), as well as the one with the highest abundance of phytoseiids (250 specimens). Typhlodromalus aripo was the most common species, being the most abundant (423 specimens; 32%) and registered on the largest number of hosts (14). Many of phytoseiid species found present morphological traits that facilitate their occurrence in leaves with trichomes, as in the case of tomato and other cultivated solanaceous. These traits and the association between predators and phytophagous mites may indicate that these species are promising for biological control programms. Thus, extensive studies to assess the efficiency of the identified predatory mites to control key solanaceous pests are required.

Detection of mucormycosis caused by Apophysomyces elegans in a Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) in Central Mexico

We describe a case of mucormycosis in a Lesser Long-nosed Bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) caused by Apophysomyces elegans in Puebla, Central Mexico. The diagnosis was supported by laboratory analysis and necropsy. We present the first report of the fungus in a wild host; therefore, we indicate that further studies are necessary to understand its infection cycle since this pathogen may indicate a risk of zoonotic, and anthropozoonotic diseases.

Genotype-specific benefits and risks of a mutualist association during natural epidemics

While both plant-associated pathogenic and mutualistic microbes are ubiquitous across ecosystems, how they interact to determine disease risk in natural, genetically diverse populations is not known. To test whether mycorrhizal fungi provide protection against infection, and whether this functions in a genotype-specific manner, we conducted a field experiment in three naturally-occurring epidemics of a fungal pathogen, Podosphaera plantaginis, infecting a host plant, Plantago lanceolata, in the Åland Islands, Finland. In each population, we collected field epidemiological data on mycorrhizal-inoculated and non-mycorrhizal experimental plants originating from six allopatric populations. Mycorrhizal association caused host genotype-specific changes in growth and infection rates in the host populations, but reduced infection severity in hosts from every genetic origin. Protection occurred via changes in the relationship between growth and infection in the host individuals: mycorrhizal individuals grew larger without increasing their infection risk or load. More susceptible host genotypes received stronger protective effects from mycorrhizae. Our results show that mycorrhizal fungi produce host genotype-specific growth and defensive benefits and alter infection risks in wild host populations. Understanding how mutualism-derived protection alters host susceptibility to disease will be important for predicting infection outcomes in ecological communities and in agriculture.

Blood meal analysis of tsetse flies (Glossina pallidipes: Glossinidae) reveals higher host fidelity on wild compared with domestic hosts

Background: Changes in climate and land use can alter risk of transmission of parasites between domestic hosts and wildlife, particularly when mediated by vectors that can travel between populations. Here we focused on tsetse flies (genus Glossina), the cyclical vectors for both Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT). The aims of this study were to investigate three issues related to G. palldipes from Kenya: 1) the diversity of vertebrate hosts that flies fed on; 2) whether host feeding patterns varied in relation to type of hosts, tsetse feeding behaviour, site or tsetse age and sex; and 3) if there was a relationship between trypanosome detection and host feeding behaviours or host types. Methods: Sources of blood meals of Glossina pallidipes were identified by sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and analyzed in relationship with previously determined trypanosome detection in the same flies. Results: In an area dominated by wildlife but with seasonal presence of livestock (Nguruman), 98% of tsetse fed on single wild host species, whereas in an area including a mixture of resident domesticated animals, humans and wildlife (Shimba Hills), 52% of flies fed on more than one host species. Multiple Correspondence Analysis revealed strong correlations between feeding pattern, host type and site but these were resolved along a different dimension than trypanosome status, sex and age of the flies. Conclusions: Our results suggest that individual G. pallidipes in interface areas may show higher feeding success on wild hosts when available but often feed on both wild and domesticated hosts. This illustrates the importance of G. pallidipes as a vector connecting the sylvatic and domestic cycles of African trypanosomes.

Atelerix algirus, the North African Hedgehog: Suitable Wild Host for Infected Ticks and Fleas and Reservoir of Vector-Borne Pathogens in Tunisia

Small wild mammals are an important element in the emergence and transmission of vector-borne pathogens (VBPs). Among these species, hedgehogs have been found to be a reservoir of VBPs and host of arthropod vectors. Surveillance of VBPs in wildlife and their arthropods are crucial in a one health context. We conducted an exploratory study to screen Atelerix algirus hedgehogs and their infesting ticks and fleas for VBPs using a high throughput microfluidic real-time PCR system. Tested biopsies from hedgehogs were found to be naturally infected by Theileria youngi, Hepatozoon sp., Ehrlichia ewingii, Coxiella burnetii, and Candidatus Ehrlichia shimanensis. Similarly, Haemaphysalis erinacei and Rhipicephalus sanguineus tick species were infected by Ehrlichia ewingii, Rickettsia spp., Rickettsia massiliae, Borrelia sp., Coxiella burnetii, Rickettsia lusitaniae and Anaplasma sp. Archaeopsylla erinacei fleas were infected by Rickettsia asembonensis, Coxiella burnetii, and Rickettsia massiliae. Co-infections by two and three pathogens were detected in hedgehogs and infesting ticks and fleas. The microfluidic real-time PCR system enabled us not only to detect new and unexpected pathogens, but also to identify co-infections in hedgehogs, ticks, and fleas. We suggest that hedgehogs may play a reservoir role for VBPs in Tunisia and contribute to maintaining enzootic pathogen cycles via arthropod vectors.

Toxoplasma gondii infections are associated with costly boldness toward felids in a wild host

Toxoplasma gondii is hypothesized to manipulate the behavior of warm-blooded hosts to promote trophic transmission into the parasite’s definitive feline hosts. A key prediction of this hypothesis is that T. gondii infections of non-feline hosts are associated with costly behavior toward T. gondii’s definitive hosts; however, this effect has not been documented in any of the parasite’s diverse wild hosts during naturally occurring interactions with felines. Here, three decades of field observations reveal that T. gondii-infected hyena cubs approach lions more closely than uninfected peers and have higher rates of lion mortality. We discuss these results in light of 1) the possibility that hyena boldness represents an extended phenotype of the parasite, and 2) alternative scenarios in which T. gondii has not undergone selection to manipulate behavior in host hyenas. Both cases remain plausible and have important ramifications for T. gondii’s impacts on host behavior and fitness in the wild.

Fauna and ecology of mining flies of the genus Phytomyza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Nagorno-Karabakh

The aim of the work was to study the species composition, as well as some behavior, ecology, biology issues, species distribution of the genus Phytomyza and research of cultivated and wild host-plants in Nagorno-Karabakh. Infected plant leaves, larvae and pupae of the mining flies collected from different geographical zones of Nagorno-Karabakh were served as scientific material. Species composition was determined under laboratory conditions after imagoes hatching from mines with larvae and pupae. Three species were identified, they belong to the genus Phytomyza : Phytomyza horticola (Goureau, 1851), Ph. plantaginis (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1851) and Ph. lappae (Goureau, 1851). The polyphagous Ph. horticola species infect mainly the plant species of the families Brassicaceae, Asteraceae and Cucurbitaceae. The monophagous Ph. plantaginis and Ph. lappae species accordingly infect Plantago mayor and Arctium lappa plant species. The paper presents features of the genus, morphology and biology of imago, ecological characteristics of their larvae and pupae, mines, intensity and extensiveness of plant infection. The studies have shown that despite the similarity of some species of the genus in terms of external morphological characteristics, they differ in environments of pupal development, and more accurate identity of the species is determined by studying the reproductive organs. Among the studied species, the mines formed on the lower surface are always longer than the mines on the upper surface of the leaf blade. Methods of variance analysis showed that sexual dimorphism is most expressed among Ph. horticola . Taking into account the significant damage caused by the larvae of the Ph. horticola species to a group of vegetable crops, especially to the onion plant ( Allium cepa ), it can be included in the list of onion pests. The high damage to the leaves of weed plants by Ph. horticola larvae indicates the prospects of using this miner in the fight against weeds.