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Rohner S, Boyi JO, Artemeva V, Zinke O, Kiendl A, Siebert U, Lehnert K. Back from Exile? First Records of Chewing Lice ( Lutridia exilis; Ischnocera; Mallophaga) in Growing Eurasian Otter ( Lutra lutra) Populations from Northern Germany. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12040587. [PMID: 37111473 PMCID: PMC10143350 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12040587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Arthropod ectoparasites of aquatic wildlife often have complex relationships with their host species that have developed over long evolutionary time scales. Specialist parasite occurrence might depend on these hosts' distributions. Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) populations are recovering in Northern German federal states, such as Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. Chewing lice (Lutridia exilis; Ischnocera; Mallophaga) are considered otter-specific yet rare parasites in their known range. In 2022, they were recorded for the first time on nine otters found dead in Northern Germany. All otters originated from the years 2021-2022 and were dissected during population health monitoring programs in 2022. Females (n = 6) were 0-5.5 years old and showed signs of disease in five cases. Males (n = 3), in contrast, were 0-1.6 years old and showed disease in a single case. Individual lice intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 75 specimens per otter. No direct adverse health effects of chewing lice on the otters were noted. Lutridia exilis morphological characteristics were documented and measurements were taken to study specialized adaptations that allow lice to attach to semi-aquatic otters. In addition, morphology was compared between lice from different geographical regions and specimens from previous reports. A region of the COI mDNA was amplified to molecularly characterize L. exilis for the first time and detect genetic differences between otter lice populations in Germany. It is believed that specialist parasites reduce in numbers even before their host populations decline. Recovering otter populations in Northern Germany could be an example of a reverse effect, where the comeback of a host species results in the return of a specialist parasite, which reflects an ultimate boost in overall species biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Rohner
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Joy Ometere Boyi
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Valentina Artemeva
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Olaf Zinke
- Museum der Westlausitz Kamenz, 01717 Kamenz, Germany
| | - Astrid Kiendl
- Aktion Fischotterschutz e.V., Otterzentrum Hankensbüttel, 29386 Hankensbüttel, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Kristina Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
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Boyi JO, Heße E, Rohner S, Säurich J, Siebert U, Gilles A, Lehnert K. Deciphering Eurasian otter (
Lutra lutra
L.) and seal (
Phoca vitulina
L.;
Halichoerus grypus
F.) diet: metabarcoding tailored for fresh and saltwater fish species. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:5089-5106. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.16635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joy Ometere Boyi
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Büsum Germany
| | - Eileen Heße
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Büsum Germany
| | - Simon Rohner
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Büsum Germany
| | - Josefin Säurich
- Institute for Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Hannover Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Büsum Germany
| | - Anita Gilles
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Büsum Germany
| | - Kristina Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation Büsum Germany
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Dzido J, Rolbiecki L, Izdebska JN, Rokicki J, Kuczkowski T, Pawliczka I. A global checklist of the parasites of the harbor porpoise Phocoena phocoena, a critically-endangered species, including new findings from the Baltic Sea. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021; 15:290-302. [PMID: 34336594 PMCID: PMC8313437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The common harbor porpoise is a widely-distributed marine mammal with three known subspecies, including P. phocoena phocoena, with a clearly distinct and critically endangered (CR) subpopulation from the Baltic Sea (Baltic Proper). As part of an assessment of the condition and health threats of these mammals, it is important to conduct parasitological monitoring. The aim of the study was therefore to compare the data on porpoise parasitofauna from this subpopulation with those on porpoises from other areas. The study included 37 individuals from 1995 to 2019; eight species of parasites were found (prevalence 83.8%, mean intensity 724.2, range 2-3940), with a predominance of lung nematodes - Stenurus minor (94.7%), Torynurus convolutus (69.4%), Pseudalius inflexus (63.8%), Halocercus invaginatus (22.2%); the highest intensity was recorded for S. minor (989, 53-2928). Two species of Anisakidae (Anisakis simplex - 33.3%, Contracaecum sp. - 20.0%) were found in the digestive tracts, which were a new record for this population. The fluke Campula oblonga was found in the livers of 31.3% of porpoises. The tapeworm Diphylobothrium stemmacephalum was also recorded in the intestine of one individual; this is typical for these hosts, but previously undetected in the Baltic subpopulation. Parasites coexisted in numerous hosts, constituting a heavy burden for them. The obtained data were compared with those from the P. phocoena parasitofauna from other regions, based on a compiled checklist (1809-2021) including all species of porpoise parasites (55 taxa). Compared to the worldwide porpoise parasitofauna checklist, the number of parasites found in the nominative subspecies (Baltic Proper subpopulation) is small: including only 10 taxa (eight in the current study). These species are typical of porpoises and usually the most common; however, the level of infection of Baltic porpoises (intensity and total parasite load) is very high, which can undoubtedly have a negative impact on their condition and overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Dzido
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Leszek Rolbiecki
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Joanna N Izdebska
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jerzy Rokicki
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Tytus Kuczkowski
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Iwona Pawliczka
- Institute of Oceanography, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Morska 2, 84-150, Hel, Poland
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