1
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Sjodin AR, Willig MR, Rodríguez‐Durán A, Anthony SJ. Rapid taxonomic categorization of short, abundant virus sequences for ecological analyses. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11501. [PMID: 38895563 PMCID: PMC11183940 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Public health concerns about recent viral epidemics have motivated researchers to seek novel ways to understand pathogen infection in native, wildlife hosts. With its deep history of tools and perspectives for understanding the abundance and distribution of organisms, ecology can shed new light on viral infection dynamics. However, datasets allowing deep explorations of viral communities from an ecological perspective are lacking. We sampled 1086 bats from two, adjacent Puerto Rican caves and tested them for infection by herpesviruses, resulting in 3131 short, viral sequences. Using percent identity of nucleotides and a machine learning algorithm (affinity propagation), we categorized herpesviruses into 43 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) to be used in place of species in subsequent ecological analyses. Herpesvirus metacommunities demonstrated long-tailed rank frequency distributions at all analyzed levels of host organization (i.e., individual, population, and community). Although 13 herpesvirus OTUs were detected in more than one host species, OTUs generally exhibited host specificity by infecting a single core host species at a significantly higher prevalence than in all satellite species combined. We describe the natural history of herpesvirus metacommunities in Puerto Rican bats and suggest that viruses follow the general law that communities comprise few common and many rare species. To guide future efforts in the field of viral ecology, hypotheses are presented regarding mechanisms that contribute to these patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Sjodin
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | - Michael R. Willig
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
- Center for Environmental Sciences & Engineering and Institute of the EnvironmentUniversity of ConnecticutStorrsConnecticutUSA
| | | | - Simon J. Anthony
- Center for Infection and ImmunityColumbia UniversityNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and ImmunologyUC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineDavisCaliforniaUSA
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2
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Schumacher GA, Pyle BR, Minchella DJ, Vannatta JT. Order and timing of infection with different parasite life stages impacts host and parasite life histories. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:187. [PMID: 38634931 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08205-1] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Co-exposure to multiple parasites can alter parasite success and host life history when compared to single infections. These infection outcomes can be affected by the order of parasite arrival, the host immune response, and the interspecific interactions among co-infecting parasites. In this study, we examined how the arrival order of two trematode parasites, Schistosoma mansoni and Echinostoma caproni, influenced parasite ecology and the life history of their snail host, Biomphalaria glabrata. Snail hosts were exposed to E. caproni cercariae before, with, and after their exposure to S. mansoni miracidia. We then measured the effects of this timing on infection prevalence, infection intensity of E. caproni metacercariae, and cercarial output of S. mansoni, as well as on snail reproduction and survival. Snails infected only with S. mansoni and snails exposed to E. caproni after S. mansoni both shed more cercariae than simultaneously exposed snails. Additionally, S. mansoni prevalence was lower in snails that were first exposed to E. caproni compared to snails that were exposed to E. caproni after S. mansoni. Moreover, snails exposed to E. caproni before S. mansoni did not differ in their survival compared to control snails, whereas simultaneously exposed snails and snails exposed to E. caproni after S. mansoni had lower survival than control snails. Combined, this prevalence and survival data suggest a potential protective role of early E. caproni exposure. The timing of E. caproni exposure impacts S. mansoni establishment and reproduction, but host survival patterns are likely driven by S. mansoni prevalence alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Schumacher
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Bailey R Pyle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Dennis J Minchella
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - J Trevor Vannatta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
- Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Crown College, Saint Bonifacius, MN, USA
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3
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Vega-Heredia S, Giffard-Mena I, Reverter M. Bacterial and viral co-infections in aquaculture under climate warming: co-evolutionary implications, diagnosis, and treatment. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2024; 158:1-20. [PMID: 38602294 DOI: 10.3354/dao03778] [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: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Climate change and the associated environmental temperature fluctuations are contributing to increases in the frequency and severity of disease outbreaks in both wild and farmed aquatic species. This has a significant impact on biodiversity and also puts global food production systems, such as aquaculture, at risk. Most infections are the result of complex interactions between multiple pathogens, and understanding these interactions and their co-evolutionary mechanisms is crucial for developing effective diagnosis and control strategies. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on bacteria-bacteria, virus-virus, and bacterial and viral co-infections in aquaculture as well as their co-evolution in the context of global warming. We also propose a framework and different novel methods (e.g. advanced molecular tools such as digital PCR and next-generation sequencing) to (1) precisely identify overlooked co-infections, (2) gain an understanding of the co-infection dynamics and mechanisms by knowing species interactions, and (3) facilitate the development multi-pathogen preventive measures such as polyvalent vaccines. As aquaculture disease outbreaks are forecasted to increase both due to the intensification of practices to meet the protein demand of the increasing global population and as a result of global warming, understanding and treating co-infections in aquatic species has important implications for global food security and the economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarahí Vega-Heredia
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Ensenada, México, Egresada del Programa de Ecología Molecular y Biotecnología, carretera transpeninsular Ensenada-Tijuana No. 3917, C.P. 22860, México
| | - Ivone Giffard-Mena
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Ensenada, México
| | - Miriam Reverter
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Plymouth University, Drake Circus, Devon PL4 8AA, UK
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4
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Ostfeld RS, Adish S, Mowry S, Bremer W, Duerr S, Evans AS, Fischhoff IR, Keating F, Pendleton J, Pfister A, Teator M, Keesing F. Effects of residential acaricide treatments on patterns of pathogen coinfection in blacklegged ticks. Parasitology 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38494476 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182024000349] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Medically important ixodid ticks often carry multiple pathogens, with individual ticks frequently coinfected and capable of transmitting multiple infections to hosts, including humans. Acquisition of multiple zoonotic pathogens by immature blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) is facilitated when they feed on small mammals, which are the most competent reservoir hosts for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (which causes anaplasmosis in humans), Babesia microti (babesiosis) and Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease). Here, we used data from a large-scale, long-term experiment to ask whether patterns of single and multiple infections in questing nymphal I. scapularis ticks from residential neighbourhoods differed from those predicted by independent assortment of pathogens, and whether patterns of coinfection were affected by residential application of commercial acaricidal products. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used for pathogen detection in multiplex reactions. In control neighbourhoods and those treated with a fungus-based biopesticide deployed against host-seeking ticks (Met52), ticks having only single infections of either B. microti or B. burgdorferi were significantly less common than expected, whereas coinfections with these 2 pathogens were significantly more common. However, use of tick control system bait boxes, which kill ticks attempting to feed on small mammals, eliminated the bias towards coinfection. Although aimed at reducing the abundance of host-seeking ticks, control methods directed at ticks attached to small mammals may influence human exposure to coinfected ticks and the probability of exposure to multiple tick-borne infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sahar Adish
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | - Stacy Mowry
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | - William Bremer
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | - Shannon Duerr
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | - Andrew S Evans
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health, Dutchess County, NY 12601, USA
| | | | - Fiona Keating
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | | | - Ashley Pfister
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
| | - Marissa Teator
- Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY 12545, USA
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5
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Boukadoum A, Tazerouti F. Digenea community structure of the Salema, Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758) (Teleostei, Sparidae), from the Central coast of Algeria. Helminthologia 2024; 61:59-75. [PMID: 38659470 PMCID: PMC11038246 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2024-0006] [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: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The main goal of the current work was to describe and analyse the Digenean community structure in Sarpa salpa. A total of 114 specimens of S. salpa were collected from the Central Coast of Algeria at six localities. The fish were immediately transported to the laboratory to be examined for digeneans. From 107 of the 114 S. salpa examined, a total of 8,722 specimens of seven species belonging to three families were recovered. Among them, Robphildollfusium fractum and Mesometra orbicularis were the most prevalent and abundant species. Moreover, Lepocreadium album was found for the first time in S. salpa from the coast of Algeria, and Centroderma spinosissima and Wardula capitellata represent new parasites to the Algerian digenean fauna that infect teleost fish. The component community of these Digeneans is characterised by R. fractum as its dominant species representing 62% of the total number of collected Digeneans, as well by a Shannon diversity index (H') and Dominance Simpson index (D) of 1.03 and 2.23, respectively. According to Spearman's correlation test, Mesometra brachycoelia and W. capitellata were negatively correlated to the host biological factors. On the other hand, R. fractum showed a positive correlation between its mean abundance and the total length of the fish. With these findings, we provided the component structure of the Digenean fauna of S. salpa and highlighted their diversity, contributing to the biodiversity of the parasitic Platyhelminthes in Algeria.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Boukadoum
- Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene (U.S.T.H.B), Faculté des Sciences Biologiques, Département Écologie et Environnement, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Environnement, Interactions - Génomes, BP 32, El Alia Bab Ezzouar, Alger, Algérie
| | - F. Tazerouti
- Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene (U.S.T.H.B), Faculté des Sciences Biologiques, Département Écologie et Environnement, Laboratoire de Biodiversité et Environnement, Interactions - Génomes, BP 32, El Alia Bab Ezzouar, Alger, Algérie
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6
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Rodgers ML, Bolnick DI. Opening a can of worms: a test of the co-infection facilitation hypothesis. Oecologia 2024; 204:317-325. [PMID: 37386196 PMCID: PMC10756930 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05409-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic infections are a global occurrence and impact the health of many species. Coinfections, where two or more species of parasite are present in a host, are a common phenomenon across species. Coinfecting parasites can interact directly or indirectly via their manipulation of (and susceptibility to) the immune system of their shared host. Helminths, such as the cestode Schistocephalus solidus, are well known to suppress immunity of their host (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus), potentially facilitating other parasite species. Yet, hosts can evolve a more robust immune response (as seen in some stickleback populations), potentially turning facilitation into inhibition. Using wild-caught stickleback from 20 populations with non-zero S. solidus prevalence, we tested an a priori hypothesis that S. solidus infection facilitates infection by other parasites. Consistent with this hypothesis, individuals with S. solidus infections have 18.6% higher richness of other parasites compared to S. solidus-uninfected individuals from the same lakes. This facilitation-like trend is stronger in lakes where S. solidus is particularly successful but is reversed in lakes with sparse and smaller cestodes (indicative of stronger host immunity). These results suggest that a geographic mosaic of host-parasite co-evolution might lead to a mosaic of between-parasite facilitation/inhibition effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Rodgers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, NC, 28557, USA.
| | - Daniel I Bolnick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
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7
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Jaenson TGT, Gray JS, Lindgren PE, Wilhelmsson P. Coinfection of Babesia and Borrelia in the Tick Ixodes ricinus-A Neglected Public Health Issue in Europe? Pathogens 2024; 13:81. [PMID: 38251388 PMCID: PMC10818971 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010081] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Ixodes ricinus nymphs and adults removed from humans, and larvae and nymphs from birds, have been analysed for infection with Babesia species and Borrelia species previously in separately published studies. Here, we use the same data set to explore the coinfection pattern of Babesia and Borrelia species in the ticks. We also provide an overview of the ecology and potential public health importance in Sweden of I. ricinus infected both with zoonotic Babesia and Borrelia species. Among 1952 nymphs and adult ticks removed from humans, 3.1% were PCR-positive for Babesia spp. Of these Babesia-positive ticks, 43% were simultaneously Borrelia-positive. Among 1046 immatures of I. ricinus removed from birds, 2.5% were Babesia-positive, of which 38% were coinfected with Borrelia species. This study shows that in I. ricinus infesting humans or birds in Sweden, potentially zoonotic Babesia protozoa sometimes co-occur with human-pathogenic Borrelia spp. Diagnostic tests for Babesia spp. infection are rarely performed in Europe, and the medical significance of this pathogen in Europe could be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G. T. Jaenson
- Evolutionary Biology Centre, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Jeremy S. Gray
- UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, D04 N2E5 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Per-Eric Lindgren
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
| | - Peter Wilhelmsson
- Division of Inflammation and Infection, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden;
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Region Jönköping County, SE-551 11 Jönköping, Sweden
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8
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O'Keeffe FE, Pendleton RC, Holland CV, Luijckx P. Increased virulence due to multiple infection in Daphnia leads to limited growth in 1 of 2 co-infecting microsporidian parasites. Parasitology 2024; 151:58-67. [PMID: 37981808 PMCID: PMC10941049 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023001130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of various infectious diseases have highlighted the ever-present need to understand the drivers of the outbreak and spread of disease. Although much of the research investigating diseases focuses on single infections, natural systems are dominated by multiple infections. These infections may occur simultaneously, but are often acquired sequentially, which may alter the outcome of infection. Using waterfleas (Daphnia magna) as a model organism, we examined the outcome of sequential and simultaneous multiple infections with 2 microsporidian parasites (Ordospora colligata and Hamiltosporidium tvaerminnensis) in a fully factorial design with 9 treatments and 30 replicates. We found no differences between simultaneous and sequential infections. However, H. tvaerminnensis fitness was impeded by multiple infection due to increased host mortality, which gave H. tvaerminnensis less time to grow. Host fecundity was also reduced across all treatments, but animals infected with O. colligata at a younger age produced the fewest offspring. As H. tvaerminnensis is both horizontally and vertically transmitted, this reduction in offspring may have further reduced H. tvaerminnensis fitness in co-infected treatments. Our findings suggest that in natural populations where both species co-occur, H. tvaerminnensis may evolve to higher levels of virulence following frequent co-infection by O. colligata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floriane E. O'Keeffe
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rebecca C. Pendleton
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Celia V. Holland
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Pepijn Luijckx
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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9
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Chen H, Zhang G, Ding G, Huang J, Zhang H, Vidal MC, Corlett RT, Liu C, An J. Interspecific Host Variation and Biotic Interactions Drive Pathogen Community Assembly in Chinese Bumblebees. INSECTS 2023; 14:887. [PMID: 37999086 PMCID: PMC10672019 DOI: 10.3390/insects14110887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Bumblebees have been considered one of the most important pollinators on the planet. However, recent reports of bumblebee decline have raised concern about a significant threat to ecosystem stability. Infectious diseases caused by multiple pathogen infections have been increasingly recognized as an important mechanism behind this decline worldwide. Understanding the determining factors that influence the assembly and composition of pathogen communities among bumblebees can provide important implications for predicting infectious disease dynamics and making effective conservation policies. Here, we study the relative importance of biotic interactions versus interspecific host resistance in shaping the pathogen community composition of bumblebees in China. We first conducted a comprehensive survey of 13 pathogens from 22 bumblebee species across China. We then applied joint species distribution modeling to assess the determinants of pathogen community composition and examine the presence and strength of pathogen-pathogen associations. We found that host species explained most of the variations in pathogen occurrences and composition, suggesting that host specificity was the most important variable in predicting pathogen occurrences and community composition in bumblebees. Moreover, we detected both positive and negative associations among pathogens, indicating the role of competition and facilitation among pathogens in determining pathogen community assembly. Our research demonstrates the power of a pluralistic framework integrating field survey of bumblebee pathogens with community ecology frameworks to understand the underlying mechanisms of pathogen community assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanhuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (H.C.); (G.Z.); (G.D.); (J.H.); (H.Z.)
- Centre for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing 655011, China
| | - Guangshuo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (H.C.); (G.Z.); (G.D.); (J.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Guiling Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (H.C.); (G.Z.); (G.D.); (J.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Jiaxing Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (H.C.); (G.Z.); (G.D.); (J.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (H.C.); (G.Z.); (G.D.); (J.H.); (H.Z.)
| | - Mayra C. Vidal
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA;
| | - Richard T. Corlett
- Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Mengla 666303, China;
| | - Cong Liu
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 02125, USA;
- Department of Organismic and Evolutional Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jiandong An
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Key Laboratory of Insect-Pollinator Biology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (H.C.); (G.Z.); (G.D.); (J.H.); (H.Z.)
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10
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Zanet S, Occhibove F, Capizzi D, Fratini S, Giannini F, Hoida AD, Sposimo P, Valentini F, Ferroglio E. Zoonotic Microparasites in Invasive Black Rats ( Rattus rattus) from Small Islands in Central Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3279. [PMID: 37894002 PMCID: PMC10603634 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203279] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosystems, and they pose a potential zoonotic and wildlife threat. Black rats (Rattus rattus) are invasive species that disrupt native flora and fauna on islands and serve as potential competent reservoirs for various pathogens and parasites. Microparasites screening was conducted in rat populations from small islands in central Italy (the Pontine Islands and Pianosa) with the aim of assessing the role of rats in maintaining infections, particularly in cases where key reservoir hosts were scarce or absent. We focused on microparasites of zoonotic and veterinary relevance. A total of 53 rats was kill-trapped and target tissues were analysed with molecular techniques. We observed the absence or very low prevalence of Anaplasma spp., while Babesia was found in rats from all locations, marking the first recorded instance of Babesia divergens in wild rats. Data from Pianosa strongly suggest the presence of an autochthonous Leishmania infantum cycle in the Tuscan archipelago islands. Neospora caninum was absent from all islands, even in areas where dogs, the main reservoirs, were present. Toxoplasma gondii was only recorded on the Pontine Islands, where genotyping is needed to shed light on infection dynamics. This study confirms that invasive species, such as rats, may be responsible for maintaining an increased parasitological threat to fauna and human communities in certain ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Zanet
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.D.H.); (F.V.); (E.F.)
| | - Flavia Occhibove
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.D.H.); (F.V.); (E.F.)
| | - Dario Capizzi
- Directorate for Natural Capital, Latium Region, Parks and Protected Areas, Viale del Tintoretto 432, 00142 Rome, Italy;
| | - Sara Fratini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
| | - Francesca Giannini
- Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano, Loc. Enfola, 57037 Portoferraio, Italy;
| | - Avner Dan Hoida
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.D.H.); (F.V.); (E.F.)
| | - Paolo Sposimo
- Nature and Environment Management Operators SRL (NEMO), Piazza Massimo D’Azeglio 11, 50121 Florence, Italy;
| | - Flaminia Valentini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.D.H.); (F.V.); (E.F.)
| | - Ezio Ferroglio
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy; (S.Z.); (A.D.H.); (F.V.); (E.F.)
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11
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de Cock MP, de Vries A, Fonville M, Esser HJ, Mehl C, Ulrich RG, Joeres M, Hoffmann D, Eisenberg T, Schmidt K, Hulst M, van der Poel WHM, Sprong H, Maas M. Increased rat-borne zoonotic disease hazard in greener urban areas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 896:165069. [PMID: 37392874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Urban greening has benefits for both human and environmental health. However, urban greening might also have negative effects as the abundance of wild rats, which can host and spread a great diversity of zoonotic pathogens, increases with urban greenness. Studies on the effect of urban greening on rat-borne zoonotic pathogens are currently unavailable. Therefore, we investigated how urban greenness is associated with rat-borne zoonotic pathogen prevalence and diversity, and translated this to human disease hazard. We screened 412 wild rats (Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus) from three cities in the Netherlands for 18 different zoonotic pathogens: Bartonella spp., Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Spiroplasma spp., Streptobacillus moniliformis, Coxiella burnetii, Salmonella spp., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)/AmpC-producing Escherichia coli, rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV), Seoul orthohantavirus, Cowpox virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Toxoplasma gondii and Babesia spp. We modelled the relationships between pathogen prevalence and diversity and urban greenness. We detected 13 different zoonotic pathogens. Rats from greener urban areas had a significantly higher prevalence of Bartonella spp. and Borrelia spp., and a significantly lower prevalence of ESBL/AmpC-producing E. coli and ratHEV. Rat age was positively correlated with pathogen diversity while greenness was not related to pathogen diversity. Additionally, Bartonella spp. occurrence was positively correlated with that of Leptospira spp., Borrelia spp. and Rickettsia spp., and Borrelia spp. occurrence was also positively correlated with that of Rickettsia spp. Our results show an increased rat-borne zoonotic disease hazard in greener urban areas, which for most pathogens was driven by the increase in rat abundance rather than pathogen prevalence. This highlights the importance of keeping rat densities low and investigating the effects of urban greening on the exposure to zoonotic pathogens in order to make informed decisions and to take appropriate countermeasures preventing zoonotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke P de Cock
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
| | - Ankje de Vries
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Manoj Fonville
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Helen J Esser
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
| | - Calvin Mehl
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Germany; Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Germany; Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Maike Joeres
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Donata Hoffmann
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany.
| | - Tobias Eisenberg
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Hessian State Laboratory, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.
| | - Katja Schmidt
- Microbiological Diagnostics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
| | - Marcel Hulst
- Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, Flevoland, the Netherlands.
| | - Wim H M van der Poel
- Quantitative Veterinary Epidemiology, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Gelderland, the Netherlands; Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University & Research, Lelystad, Flevoland, the Netherlands.
| | - Hein Sprong
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Miriam Maas
- Centre for Infectious diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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12
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Jackson JA, Bajer A, Behnke-Borowczyk J, Gilbert FS, Grzybek M, Alsarraf M, Behnke JM. Remotely sensed localised primary production anomalies predict the burden and community structure of infection in long-term rodent datasets. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5568-5581. [PMID: 37548403 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The increasing frequency and cost of zoonotic disease emergence due to global change have led to calls for the primary surveillance of wildlife. This should be facilitated by the ready availability of remotely sensed environmental data, given the importance of the environment in determining infectious disease dynamics. However, there has been little evaluation of the temporal predictiveness of remotely sensed environmental data for infection reservoirs in vertebrate hosts due to a deficit of corresponding high-quality long-term infection datasets. Here we employ two unique decade-spanning datasets for assemblages of infectious agents, including zoonotic agents, in rodents in stable habitats. Such stable habitats are important, as they provide the baseline sets of pathogens for the interactions within degrading habitats that have been identified as hotspots for zoonotic emergence. We focus on the enhanced vegetation index (EVI), a measure of vegetation greening that equates to primary productivity, reasoning that this would modulate infectious agent populations via trophic cascades determining host population density or immunocompetence. We found that EVI, in analyses with data standardised by site, inversely predicted more than one-third of the variation in an index of infectious agent total abundance. Moreover, in bipartite host occupancy networks, weighted network statistics (connectance and modularity) were linked to total abundance and were also predicted by EVI. Infectious agent abundance and, perhaps, community structure are likely to influence infection risk and, in turn, the probability of transboundary emergence. Thus, the present results, which were consistent in disparate forest and desert systems, provide proof-of-principle that within-site fluctuations in satellite-derived greenness indices can furnish useful forecasting that could focus primary surveillance. In relation to the well-documented global greening trend of recent decades, the present results predict declining infection burden in wild vertebrates in stable habitats; but if greening trends were to be reversed, this might magnify the already upwards trend in zoonotic emergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Jackson
- School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
| | - Anna Bajer
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Behnke-Borowczyk
- Department of Forest Pathology, Faculty of Forestry, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Francis S Gilbert
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Maciej Grzybek
- Department of Tropical Parasitology, Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdynia, Poland
| | - Mohammed Alsarraf
- Department of Eco-Epidemiology of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy M Behnke
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
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13
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DeCesare NJ, Harris RB, Peterson CJ, Ramsey JM. Prevalence and Mortality of Moose (Alces alces) Infected with Elaeophora schneideri in Montana, USA. J Wildl Dis 2023; 59:748-752. [PMID: 37846918 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-22-00075] [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: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Elaeophora schneideri is a filarial nematode of North America that occasionally infects aberrant ruminant hosts such as moose (Alces alces). The role E. schneideri plays in clinical morbidity or mortality of moose remains uncertain. We sampled predominantly hunter-killed adult moose (n=127) to characterize the spatial patterns of prevalence and intensity of worms in carotid arteries of moose in Montana. We compared prevalence and intensity of E. schneideri within these moose to a separate sample of adult moose that died of health-related causes (n=34). We found lower prevalence in northwest Montana (0.06) than in the remainder of the state (0.42). We also found both higher prevalence of E. schneideri and higher intensity to be correlated with increased probability of health-related mortality. Our results suggest presence and intensity of E. schneideri correlate with mortality of moose, although the mechanisms of mortality remain uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J DeCesare
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula, Montana 59804, USA
| | - Richard B Harris
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 1420 East Sixth Avenue, Helena, Montana 59620, USA
| | - Collin J Peterson
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 490 North Meridian Road, Kalispell, Montana 59901, USA
| | - Jennifer M Ramsey
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 1400 South 19th Avenue, Bozeman, Montana 59718, USA
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14
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Herman JM, Fiorini VD, Crudele I, Reboreda JC, Pladas SA, Watson AP, Bush SE, Clayton DH. Co-parasitism in the face of predation: Effects of natural enemies on a neotropical mockingbird. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:1992-2004. [PMID: 37583129 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13991] [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: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Co-parasitism is ubiquitous and has important consequences for the ecology and evolution of wild host populations. Studies of parasite co-infections remain limited in scope, with few experimental tests of the fitness consequences of multiple parasites, especially in natural populations. We measured the separate and combined effects of Philornis seguyi nest flies and shiny cowbirds Molothrus bonariensis on the fitness of a shared host, the chalk-browed mockingbird (Mimus saturninus) in Argentina. Using a two-factor experimental approach, we manipulated the presence of nest flies and cowbirds in mockingbird nests and assessed their effects on mockingbird haemoglobin levels, begging and provisioning rates, body size, and fledging success. We also monitored rates of nest predation in relation to parasitism by flies and cowbirds. Nest flies reduced the haemoglobin concentration, body size, and fledging success of mockingbirds, likely because mockingbirds did not compensate for parasitism by begging more or feeding their nestlings more. Cowbirds also reduced the fledging success of mockingbirds, even though they had no detectable effect on haemoglobin or body size. Nests with cowbirds, which beg more than mockingbirds, attracted more nest predators. There was no significant interaction between the effects of flies and cowbirds on any component of mockingbird fitness. The combined effects of nest flies and cowbirds were strictly additive. In summary, we show that nest flies and cowbirds both reduce host fitness, but do not have interactive effects in co-parasitized nests. Our results further suggest that predators exacerbate the effects of nest flies and cowbirds on their hosts. Our study shows that the fitness consequences of co-parasitism are complex, especially in the context of community-level interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M Herman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Vanina D Fiorini
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, IEGEBA-UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ignacio Crudele
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, IEGEBA-UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan C Reboreda
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, IEGEBA-UBA-CONICET, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shawn A Pladas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, Louisiana, USA
| | - André P Watson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Sarah E Bush
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Dale H Clayton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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15
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Colombo VC, Lareschi M, Monje LD, Antoniazzi LR, Morand S, Beldomenico PM. Ecological factors shaping the ectoparasite community assembly of the Azara's Grass Mouse, Akodon azarae (Rodentia: Cricetidae). Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2011-2021. [PMID: 37341789 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07901-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Parasites are integral members of the global biodiversity. They are useful indicators of environmental stress, food web structure and diversity. Ectoparasites have the potential to transmit vector-borne diseases of public health and veterinary importance and to play an important role in the regulation and evolution of host populations. The interlinkages between hosts, parasites and the environment are complex and challenging to study, leading to controversial results. Most previous studies have been focused on one or two parasite groups, while hosts are often co-infected by different taxa. The present study aims to assess the influence of environmental and host traits on the entire ectoparasite community composition of the rodent Akodon azarae. A total of 278 rodents were examined and mites (Mesostigmata), lice (Phthiraptera), ticks (Ixodida) and fleas (Siphonaptera) were determined. A multi-correspondence analysis was performed in order to analyze interactions within the ectoparasite community and the influence of environmental and host variables on this assembly. We found that environmental variables have a stronger influence on the composition of the ectoparasite community of A. azarae than the host variables analyzed. Minimum temperature was the most influential variable among the studied. In addition, we found evidence of agonistic and antagonistic interactions between ticks and mites, lice and fleas. The present study supports the hypothesis that minimum temperature plays a major role in the dynamics that shape the ectoparasite community of A. azarae, probably through both direct and indirect processes. This finding becomes particularly relevant in a climate change scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Carolina Colombo
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, 3080, Esperanza, Argentina.
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.
- Servicio de Neurovirosis, INEI-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Av. Vélez Sarsfield 563, C1282AFF, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Marcela Lareschi
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (CONICET-UNLP), Bv. 120 S/N E/ 60 y 61, 1900, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Lucas Daniel Monje
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, 3080, Esperanza, Argentina
| | - Leandro Raúl Antoniazzi
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, 3080, Esperanza, Argentina
- Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA (CONICET), 9 de Julio 14, 4405, Rosario de Lerma, Argentina
| | - Serge Morand
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs: Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle (MIVEGEC), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, 34090, Montpellier, France
| | - Pablo Martín Beldomenico
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Enfermedades, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral (ICIVET-Litoral), Universidad Nacional del Litoral (UNL) / Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), R.P. Kreder 2805, 3080, Esperanza, Argentina
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16
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Hirtle SV, Ahn S, Goater CP. A congeneric and non-randomly associated pair of larval trematodes dominates the assemblage of co-infecting parasites in fathead minnows ( Pimephales promelas). Parasitology 2023; 150:1006-1014. [PMID: 37705489 PMCID: PMC10941217 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Individual hosts are often co-infected with multiple parasite species. Evidence from theoretical and empirical studies supports the idea that co-occurring parasites can impact each other and their hosts via synergistic or antagonistic interactions. The fundamental aim of understanding the consequences of co-infection to hosts and parasites requires an understanding of patterns of species co-occurrence within samples of hosts. We censused parasite assemblages in 755 adult, male fathead minnows collected from 7 lakes/ponds in southern Alberta, Canada between 2018 and 2020. Fifteen species of endoparasites infected fathead minnows, 98% of which were co-infected with between 2 and 9 parasite species (mean species richness: 4.4 ± 1.4). Non-random pairwise associations were detected within the overall parasite community. There were particularly strong, positive associations in the occurrences and intensities of the 2 congeneric larval trematodes Ornithodiplostomum sp. and Ornithodiplostomum ptychocheilus that comprised >96% of the 100 000+ parasites counted in the total sample of minnows. Furthermore, the occurrence of Ornithodiplostomum sp. was a strong predictor of the occurrence of O. ptychocheilus, and vice versa. Positive covariation in the intensities of these 2 dominants likely arises from their shared use of physid snails as first intermediate hosts in these waterbodies. These 2 species represent a predictable and non-random component within the complex assemblage of parasites of fathead minnows in this region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah V. Hirtle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, AB, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Sangwook Ahn
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, AB, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Cameron P. Goater
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, AB, Lethbridge, Canada
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17
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Jones BD, Kaufman EJ, Peel AJ. Viral Co-Infection in Bats: A Systematic Review. Viruses 2023; 15:1860. [PMID: 37766267 PMCID: PMC10535902 DOI: 10.3390/v15091860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-infection is an underappreciated phenomenon in contemporary disease ecology despite its ubiquity and importance in nature. Viruses, and other co-infecting agents, can interact in ways that shape host and agent communities, influence infection dynamics, and drive evolutionary selective pressures. Bats are host to many viruses of zoonotic potential and have drawn increasing attention in their role as wildlife reservoirs for human spillover. However, the role of co-infection in driving viral transmission dynamics within bats is unknown. Here, we systematically review peer-reviewed literature reporting viral co-infections in bats. We show that viral co-infection is common in bats but is often only reported as an incidental finding. Biases identified in our study database related to virus and host species were pre-existing in virus studies of bats generally. Studies largely speculated on the role co-infection plays in viral recombination and few investigated potential drivers or impacts of co-infection. Our results demonstrate that current knowledge of co-infection in bats is an ad hoc by-product of viral discovery efforts, and that future targeted co-infection studies will improve our understanding of the role it plays. Adding to the broader context of co-infection studies in other wildlife species, we anticipate our review will inform future co-infection study design and reporting in bats. Consideration of detection strategy, including potential viral targets, and appropriate analysis methodology will provide more robust results and facilitate further investigation of the role of viral co-infection in bat reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent D. Jones
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
| | | | - Alison J. Peel
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, Australia
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18
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Sisson D, Beechler B, Jabbar A, Jolles A, Hufschmid J. Epidemiology of Anaplasma marginale and Anaplasma centrale infections in African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) from Kruger National Park, South Africa. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:47-54. [PMID: 37124669 PMCID: PMC10140747 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Image 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Sisson
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Brianna Beechler
- Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Magruder Hall, 700 SW 30th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
| | - Anna Jolles
- Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Magruder Hall, 700 SW 30th St, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Cordley Hall, 3029, 2701 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Jasmin Hufschmid
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
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19
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Wait LF, Johnson SR, Nelson KM, Chipman RB, Pogmore FE, Dobson AP, Graham AL. Demographic, environmental and physiological predictors of gastrointestinal parasites in urban raccoons. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:116-128. [PMID: 37575663 PMCID: PMC10422125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.04.011] [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: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
Raccoons are host to diverse gastrointestinal parasites, but little is known about the ecology of these parasites in terms of their interactions with each other during coinfections, their interactions with host physiology and environmental factors, and their impact on raccoon health and survival. As a first step, we investigated the patterns of parasite infection and their demographic distribution in an urban-suburban population of raccoons trapped in the summers and autumns of 2018 and 2019. We collected faecal samples, demographic data, morphometric measurements, and blood smears, and used GPS data to classify trapping location by land cover type. Faecal floats were performed to detect and quantify gastrointestinal nematode eggs and coccidia oocysts, and white blood cell differentials were performed on blood smears to characterise white blood cell distributions. Data were analysed cross-sectionally and, where possible, longitudinally, using generalised linear models. Overall, 62.6% of sampled raccoons were infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, and 82.2% were infected with gastrointestinal coccidia. We analysed predictors of infection status and faecal egg count for three different morphotypes of nematode-Baylisascaris, strongyle, and capillariid nematodes-and found that infection status and egg count varied with Year, Month, Age class, Land cover, and coinfection status, though the significance of these predictors varied between nematode types. Gastrointestinal coccidia prevalence varied with Year, Month, Age class, strongyle infection status, and capillariid infection status. Coccidia oocyst counts were lower in adults and in October, but higher in females and in raccoons trapped in areas with natural land cover; furthermore, coccidia oocysts were positively associated with capillariid faecal egg counts. We found no evidence that gastrointestinal parasites influenced raccoon body condition or overwinter mortality, and so conclude that raccoons, though harbouring diverse and abundant gastrointestinal parasites, may be relatively tolerant of these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liana F. Wait
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Shylo R. Johnson
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Nelson
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, Concord, NH, 03301, USA
| | - Richard B. Chipman
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, National Rabies Management Program, Concord, NH, 03301, USA
| | - Frederick E. Pogmore
- US Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, Wildlife Services, Berlin, VT, 05602, USA
| | - Andrew P. Dobson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Andrea L. Graham
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
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20
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Douchet P, Gourbal B, Loker ES, Rey O. Schistosoma transmission: scaling-up competence from hosts to ecosystems. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:563-574. [PMID: 37120369 PMCID: PMC10880732 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
In a One-Health context, it is urgent to establish the links between environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the circulation of pathogens. Here we review and literally draw a general vision of aquatic environmental factors that interface with Schistosoma species, agents of schistosomiasis, and ultimately modulate their transmission at the ecosystem scale. From this synthesis, we introduce the concept of ecosystem competence defined as 'the propensity of an ecosystem to amplify or mitigate an incoming quantity of a given pathogen that can be ultimately transmitted to their definitive hosts'. Ecosystem competence integrates all mechanisms at the ecosystem scale underlying the transmission risk of a given pathogen and offers a promising measure for operationalizing the One-Health concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Douchet
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Benjamin Gourbal
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France
| | - Eric S Loker
- Center for Evolutionary and Theoretical Immunology (CETI), Parasite Division - Museum of Southwestern Biology, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Olivier Rey
- IHPE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IFREMER, Univ Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, France.
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Glidden CK, Karakoç C, Duan C, Jiang Y, Beechler B, Jabbar A, Jolles AE. Distinct life history strategies underpin clear patterns of succession in microparasite communities infecting a wild mammalian host. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:3733-3746. [PMID: 37009964 PMCID: PMC10389068 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Individual animals in natural populations tend to host diverse parasite species concurrently over their lifetimes. In free-living ecological communities, organismal life histories shape interactions with their environment, which ultimately forms the basis of ecological succession. However, the structure and dynamics of mammalian parasite communities have not been contextualized in terms of primary ecological succession, in part because few datasets track occupancy and abundance of multiple parasites in wild hosts starting at birth. Here, we studied community dynamics of 12 subtypes of protozoan microparasites (Theileria spp.) in a herd of African buffalo. We show that Theileria communities followed predictable patterns of succession underpinned by four different parasite life history strategies. However, in contrast to many free-living communities, network complexity decreased with host age. Examining parasite communities through the lens of succession may better inform the effect of complex within host eco-evolutionary dynamics on infection outcomes, including parasite co-existence through the lifetime of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline K. Glidden
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Canan Karakoç
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Chenyang Duan
- Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Yuan Jiang
- Department of Statistics, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Brianna Beechler
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Abdul Jabbar
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anna E. Jolles
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Rodgers ML, Bolnick DI. Opening a can of worms: a test of the coinfection facilitation hypothesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.18.541347. [PMID: 37292793 PMCID: PMC10245757 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.18.541347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic infections are a global occurrence and impact the health of many species. Coinfections, where two or more species of parasite are present in a host, are a common phenomenon across species. Coinfecting parasites can interact directly, or indirectly via their manipulation of (and susceptibility to) the immune system of their shared host. Helminths, such as the cestode Schistocephalus solidus , are well known to suppress immunity of their host (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus ), potentially facilitating other parasite species. Yet, hosts can evolve a more robust immune response (as seen in some stickleback populations), potentially turning facilitation into inhibition. Using wild-caught stickleback from 21 populations with non-zero S. solidus prevalence, we tested an a priori hypothesis that S. solidus infection facilitates infection by other parasites. Consistent with this hypothesis, individuals with S. solidus infections have 18.6% higher richness of other parasites, compared to S. solidus -uninfected individuals from the same lakes. This facilitation-like trend is stronger in lakes where S. solidus is particularly successful but is reversed in lakes with sparse and smaller cestodes (indicative of stronger host immunity). These results suggest that a geographic mosaic of host-parasite coevolution might lead to a mosaic of between-parasite facilitation/inhibition effects.
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23
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Szentivanyi T, McKee C, Jones G, Foster JT. Trends in Bacterial Pathogens of Bats: Global Distribution and Knowledge Gaps. Transbound Emerg Dis 2023. [DOI: 10.1155/2023/9285855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Bats have received considerable recent attention for infectious disease research because of their potential to host and transmit viruses, including Ebola, Hendra, Nipah, and multiple coronaviruses. These pathogens are occasionally transmitted from bats to wildlife, livestock, and to humans, directly or through other bridging (intermediate) hosts. Due to their public health relevance, zoonotic viruses are a primary focus of research attention. In contrast, other emerging pathogens of bats, such as bacteria, are vastly understudied despite their ubiquity and diversity. Here, we describe the currently known host ranges and geographic distributional patterns of potentially zoonotic bacterial genera in bats, using published presence-absence data of pathogen occurrence. We identify apparent gaps in our understanding of the distribution of these pathogens on a global scale. The most frequently detected bacterial genera in bats are Bartonella, Leptospira, and Mycoplasma. However, a wide variety of other potentially zoonotic bacterial genera are also occasionally found in bats, such as Anaplasma, Brucella, Borrelia, Coxiella, Ehrlichia, Francisella, Neorickettsia, and Rickettsia. The bat families Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Pteropodidae are most frequently reported as hosts of bacterial pathogens; however, the presence of at least one bacterial genus was confirmed in all 15 bat families tested. On a spatial scale, molecular diagnostics of samples from 58 countries and four overseas departments and island states (French Guiana, Mayotte, New Caledonia, and Réunion Island) reported testing for at least one bacterial pathogen in bats. We also identified geographical areas that have been mostly neglected during bacterial pathogen research in bats, such as the Afrotropical region and Southern Asia. Current knowledge on the distribution of potentially zoonotic bacterial genera in bats is strongly biased by research effort towards certain taxonomic groups and geographic regions. Identifying these biases can guide future surveillance efforts, contributing to a better understanding of the ecoepidemiology of zoonotic pathogens in bats.
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AbdRabou MA, Alrashdi BM, Alruwaili HK, Elmazoudy RH, Alwaili MA, Othman SI, Alghamdi FA, Fahmy GH. Exploration of Maternal and Fetal Toxicity Risks for Metronidazole-Related Teratogenicity and Hepatotoxicity through an Assessment in Albino Rats. TOXICS 2023; 11:303. [PMID: 37112529 PMCID: PMC10141390 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11040303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Metronidazole is the primary antimicrobial drug for treating acute and chronic vaginal pathogens during pregnancy; however, there has been insufficient research on placental disorders, early pregnancy loss, and preterm birth. Here, the potential activity of metronidazole on pregnancy outcomes was investigated. 130 mg/kg body weight of metronidazole was orally given individually to pregnant rats on gestation days 0-7, 7-14, and 0-20. Pregnancy outcome evaluations were carried out on gestation day 20. It was demonstrated that metronidazole could induce maternal and fetal hepatotoxicity. There is a significant increase in the activities of maternal hepatic enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP), total cholesterol, and triglycerides compared with the control. These biochemical findings were evidenced by maternal and fetal liver histopathological alterations. Furthermore, metronidazole caused a significant decrease in the number of implantation sites and fetal viability, whereas it caused an increase in fetal lethality and the number of fetal resorptions. In addition, a significant decrease in fetal weight, placental weight, and placental diameter was estimated. Macroscopical examination revealed placental discoloration and hypotrophy in the labyrinth zone and the degeneration of the basal zone. The fetal defects are related to exencephaly, visceral hernias, and tail defects. These findings suggest that the administration of metroniazole during gestation interferes with embryonic implantation and fetal organogenesis and enhances placental pathology. We can also conclude that metronidazole has potential maternal and fetal risks and is unsafe during pregnancy. Additionally, it should be strictly advised and prescribed, and further consideration should be given to the associated health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mervat A. AbdRabou
- Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Barakat M. Alrashdi
- Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hadeel K. Alruwaili
- Biology Department, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box 2014, Sakaka 72388, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reda H. Elmazoudy
- Biology Department, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha A. Alwaili
- Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah I. Othman
- Biology Department, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fawzyah A. Alghamdi
- Biology Department, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 23218, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gehan H. Fahmy
- Biology Department, College of Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah 30001, Saudi Arabia
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25
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Schotte U, Binder A, Goller KV, Faulde M, Ruhl S, Sauer S, Schlegel M, Teifke JP, Ulrich RG, Wylezich C. Field survey and molecular characterization of apicomplexan parasites in small mammals from military camps in Afghanistan. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:1199-1211. [PMID: 36944808 PMCID: PMC10097762 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07820-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Small mammals are an important reservoir for causative agents of numerous infectious diseases, including zoonotic and vector-borne diseases. The occurrence of these pathogens represents a regional but permanent threat for humans and animals in general and might especially weaken military personnel and companion animals in abroad missions. In our study, small mammals collected in military camps in Afghanistan (Feyzabad, Mazar-e Sharif, and Kunduz) were investigated for the presence of apicomplexans using histopathology and molecular methods. For this purpose, well-established and newly developed real-time PCR assays were applied. A high prevalence was detected not only in house mice (Mus musculus), but also in shrews (Crocidura cf. suaveolens) and grey dwarf hamsters (Cricetulus migratorius). The molecular characterization based on the 18S rRNA gene revealed a close relationship to a cluster of Hepatozoon sp. detected in voles of the genus Microtus. Hepatozoon canis DNA was detected in one house mouse as well as in two Rhipicephalus ticks from a dog puppy. In addition, around 5% of the house mice were found to be infected with far related adeleorinids showing the highest sequence identity of 91.5% to Klossiella equi, the only published Klossiella sequence at present. For their better phylogenetic characterization, we conducted metagenomics by sequencing of two selected samples. The resulting 18S rRNA gene sequences have a length of about 2400 base pairs including an insertion of about 500 base pairs and are 100% identical to each other. Histopathology together with organ tropism and detection rates verified this sequence as of Klossiella muris. In conclusion, we documented naturally occurring protozoan stages and the additional taxonomic characterization of a well-known commensal in mice by applying a combination of different approaches. The study is of medical, social, and biological importance for ensuring human and animal health in military camps and also stresses the required awareness for the potential risk of zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Schotte
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119, Kronshagen, Germany.
| | - Alfred Binder
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119, Kronshagen, Germany
| | - Katja V Goller
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
- Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine and Central Unit for Infection Prevention and Control, University Medicine Greifswald, Fleischmannstraße 8, 17475, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Michael Faulde
- Department of Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Koblenz, Andernacher Str. 100, 56070, Koblenz, Germany
- Bundeswehr Research Institute (WIWeB), Institutsweg 1, 85435, Erding, Germany
| | - Silke Ruhl
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service Kiel, Kopperpahler Allee 120, 24119, Kronshagen, Germany
- Bundeswehr Medical Academy, Deployment Health Surveillance Center, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Sauer
- Division E, Bundeswehr Medical Academy, Military Medical Research and Development, Neuherbergstr. 11, 80937, Munich, Germany
| | - Mathias Schlegel
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
- Seramun Diagnostica GmbH, Spreenhagener Str. 1, 15754, Heidesee, Germany
| | - Jens P Teifke
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management (ATB), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Rainer G Ulrich
- Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany.
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management (ATB), Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany.
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26
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Stock M, Milutinović B, Hoenigsberger M, Grasse AV, Wiesenhofer F, Kampleitner N, Narasimhan M, Schmitt T, Cremer S. Pathogen evasion of social immunity. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:450-460. [PMID: 36732670 PMCID: PMC9998270 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-01981-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Treating sick group members is a hallmark of collective disease defence in vertebrates and invertebrates alike. Despite substantial effects on pathogen fitness and epidemiology, it is still largely unknown how pathogens react to the selection pressure imposed by care intervention. Using social insects and pathogenic fungi, we here performed a serial passage experiment in the presence or absence of colony members, which provide social immunity by grooming off infectious spores from exposed individuals. We found specific effects on pathogen diversity, virulence and transmission. Under selection of social immunity, pathogens invested into higher spore production, but spores were less virulent. Notably, they also elicited a lower grooming response in colony members, compared with spores from the individual host selection lines. Chemical spore analysis suggested that the spores from social selection lines escaped the caregivers' detection by containing lower levels of ergosterol, a key fungal membrane component. Experimental application of chemically pure ergosterol indeed induced sanitary grooming, supporting its role as a microbe-associated cue triggering host social immunity against fungal pathogens. By reducing this detection cue, pathogens were able to evade the otherwise very effective collective disease defences of their social hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Stock
- ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Barbara Milutinović
- ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria. .,Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | | | - Anna V Grasse
- ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | | | - Niklas Kampleitner
- ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | | | - Thomas Schmitt
- Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sylvia Cremer
- ISTA (Institute of Science and Technology Austria), Klosterneuburg, Austria.
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27
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Flechas SV, Urbina J, Crawford AJ, Gutiérrez K, Corrales K, Castellanos LA, González MA, Cuervo AM, Catenazzi A. First evidence of ranavirus in native and invasive amphibians in Colombia. DISEASES OF AQUATIC ORGANISMS 2023; 153:51-58. [PMID: 36794841 DOI: 10.3354/dao03717] [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: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ranaviruses can cause mass mortality events in amphibians, thereby becoming a threat to populations that are already facing dramatic declines. Ranaviruses affect all life stages and persist in multiple amphibian hosts. The detrimental effects of ranavirus infections to amphibian populations have already been observed in the UK and in North America. In Central and South America, the virus has been reported in several countries, but the presence of the genus Ranavirus (Rv) in Colombia is unknown. To help fill this knowledge gap, we surveyed for Rv in 60 species of frogs (including one invasive species) in Colombia. We also tested for co-infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) in a subset of individuals. For Rv, we sampled 274 vouchered liver tissue samples collected between 2014 and 2019 from 41 localities covering lowlands to mountaintop páramo habitat across the country. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and end-point PCR, we detected Rv in 14 individuals from 8 localities, representing 6 species, including 5 native frogs of the genera Osornophryne, Pristimantis and Leptodactylus, and the invasive American bullfrog Rana catesbeiana. Bd was detected in 7 of 140 individuals, with 1 co-infection of Rv and Bd in an R. catesbeiana specimen collected in 2018. This constitutes the first report of ranavirus in Colombia and should set off alarms about this new emerging threat to amphibian populations in the country. Our findings provide some preliminary clues about how and when Rv may have spread and contribute to understanding how the pathogen is distributed globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra V Flechas
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, 110321, Colombia
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28
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van Nouhuys S, Harris DC, Hajek AE. Population level interactions between an invasive woodwasp, an invasive nematode and a community of native parasitoids. NEOBIOTA 2023. [DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.82.96599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic nematodes and hymenopteran parasitoids have been introduced and used extensively to control invasive Eurasian Sirex noctilio woodwasps in pine plantations in the Southern Hemisphere where no members of this community are native. Sirex noctilio has more recently invaded North America where Sirex-associated communities are native. Sirex noctilio and its parasitic nematode, Deladenus siricidicola, plus six native hymenopteran woodwasp parasitoids in New York and Pennsylvania, were sampled from 204 pines in 2011–2019. Sirex noctilio had become the most common woodwasp in this region and the native parasitoids associated with the native woodwasps had expanded their host ranges to use this invader. We investigated the distributions of these species among occupied trees and the interactions between S. noctilio and natural enemies as well as among the natural enemies. Sirex noctilio were strongly aggregated, with a few of the occupied trees hosting hundreds of woodwasps. Nematode parasitism was positively associated with S. noctilio density, and negatively associated with the density of rhyssine parasitoids. Parasitism by the parasitoid Ibalia leucospoides was positively associated with host (S. noctilio) density, while parasitism by the rhyssine parasitoids was negatively associated with density of S. noctilio. Thus, most S. noctilio come from a few attacked trees in a forest, and S. noctilio from those high-density trees experienced high parasitism by both the invasive nematode and the most abundant native parasitoid, I. l. ensiger. There is little evidence for direct competition between the nematodes and parasitoids. The negative association occurring between rhyssine parasitoids and I. l. ensiger suggests rhyssines may suffer from competition with I. l. ensiger which parasitize the host at an earlier life stage. In addition to direct competition with the native woodwasp Sirex nigricornis for suitable larval habitat within weakened trees, the large S. noctilio population increases the parasitoid and nematode populations, which may increase parasitism of S. nigricornis.
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29
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Barroso P, Acevedo P, Risalde MA, García-Bocanegra I, Montoro V, Martínez-Padilla AB, Torres MJ, Soriguer RC, Vicente J. Co-exposure to pathogens in wild ungulates from Doñana National Park, South Spain. Res Vet Sci 2023; 155:14-28. [PMID: 36608374 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.12.009] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Multiple infections or co-exposure to pathogens should be considered systematically in wildlife to better understand the ecology and evolution of host-pathogen relationships, so as to better determine the potential use of multiple pathogens as indicators to guide health management. We describe the pattern of co-exposure to several pathogens (i.e. simultaneous positive diagnosis to pathogens in an individual considering Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex lesions, and the presence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii, bluetongue virus, and hepatitis E virus) and assessed their main drivers in the wild ungulate community from Doñana National Park (red deer, fallow deer, and wild boar) for a 13-years longitudinal study. The lower-than-expected frequency of co-exposure registered in all species was consistent with non-mutually exclusive hypotheses (e.g. antagonism or disease-related mortality), which requires further investigation. The habitat generalist species (red deer and wild boar) were exposed to a greater diversity of pathogens (frequency of co-exposure around 50%) and/or risk factors than fallow deer (25.0% ± CI95% 4.9). Positive relationships between pathogens were evidenced, which may be explained by common risk factors favouring exposure. The specific combination of pathogens in individuals was mainly driven by different groups of factors (individual, environmental, stochastic, and populational), as well as its interaction, defining a complex eco-epidemiological landscape. To deepen into the main determinants and consequences of co-infections in a complex assemblage of wild hosts, and at the interface with humans and livestock, there also is needed to expand the range of pathogens and compare diverse assemblages of hosts under different environmental and management circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Barroso
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
| | - Pelayo Acevedo
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - María A Risalde
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ). Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Grupo de Virología Clínica y Zoonosis, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ignacio García-Bocanegra
- Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ). Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Vidal Montoro
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | | | - María J Torres
- Departamento de Microbiología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Ramón C Soriguer
- Estación Biológica Doñana, CSIC, 41092 Seville, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red: Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP). Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joaquín Vicente
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC) CSIC-UCLM-JCCM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain; Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos, UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
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30
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Wanelik KM, Begon M, Bradley JE, Friberg IM, Jackson JA, Taylor CH, Paterson S. Effects of an IgE receptor polymorphism acting on immunity, susceptibility to infection, and reproduction in a wild rodent. eLife 2023; 12:77666. [PMID: 36645701 PMCID: PMC9842384 DOI: 10.7554/elife.77666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The genotype of an individual is an important predictor of their immune function, and subsequently, their ability to control or avoid infection and ultimately contribute offspring to the next generation. However, the same genotype, subjected to different intrinsic and/or extrinsic environments, can also result in different phenotypic outcomes, which can be missed in controlled laboratory studies. Natural wildlife populations, which capture both genotypic and environmental variability, provide an opportunity to more fully understand the phenotypic expression of genetic variation. We identified a synonymous polymorphism in the high-affinity Immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (GC and non-GC haplotypes) that has sex-dependent effects on immune gene expression, susceptibility to infection, and reproductive success of individuals in a natural population of field voles (Microtus agrestis). We found that the effect of the GC haplotype on the expression of immune genes differed between sexes. Regardless of sex, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes were more highly relatively expressed in individuals with the GC haplotype than individuals without the haplotype. However, males with the GC haplotype showed a stronger signal for pro-inflammatory genes, while females showed a stronger signal for anti-inflammatory genes. Furthermore, we found an effect of the GC haplotype on the probability of infection with a common microparasite, Babesia microti, in females - with females carrying the GC haplotype being more likely to be infected. Finally, we found an effect of the GC haplotype on reproductive success in males - with males carrying the GC haplotype having a lower reproductive success. This is a rare example of a polymorphism whose consequences we are able to follow across immunity, infection, and reproduction for both males and females in a natural population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klara M Wanelik
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
| | - Mike Begon
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
| | - Janette E Bradley
- School of Life Sciences, University of NottinghamNottinghamUnited Kingdom
| | - Ida M Friberg
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of SalfordSalfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Joseph A Jackson
- School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of SalfordSalfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Steve Paterson
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of LiverpoolLiverpoolUnited Kingdom
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Cuadros DF, Moreno CM, Tomita A, Singh U, Olivier S, Castle A, Moosa Y, Edwards JA, Kim HY, Siedner MJ, Wong EB, Tanser F. Geospatial assessment of the convergence of communicable and non-communicable diseases in South Africa. JOURNAL OF MULTIMORBIDITY AND COMORBIDITY 2023; 13:26335565231204119. [PMID: 37781137 PMCID: PMC10540575 DOI: 10.1177/26335565231204119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Several low-and middle-income countries are undergoing rapid epidemiological transition with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). South Africa (SA) is a country with one of the largest HIV epidemics worldwide and a growing burden of NCDs where the collision of these epidemics poses a major public health challenge. Methods Using data from a large nationally representative survey, the South Africa Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS 2016), we conducted a geospatial analysis of several diseases including HIV, tuberculosis (TB), cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases to identify areas with a high burden of co-morbidity within the country. We explored the spatial structure of each disease and associations between diseases using different spatial and visual data methodologies. We also assessed the individual level co-occurrence of HIV and the other diseases included in the analysis. Results The spatial distribution for HIV prevalence showed that this epidemic is most intense in the eastern region of the country, mostly within the Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and Kwazulu-Natal provinces. In contrast, chronic diseases had their highest prevalence rates the southern region of the country, particularly in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. Individual-level analyses were consistent with the spatial correlations and found no statistically significant associations between HIV infection and the presence of any NCDs. Conclusions We found no evidence of geospatial overlap between the HIV epidemic and NCDs in SA. These results evidence the complex epidemiological landscape of the country, characterized by geographically distinct areas exhibiting different health burdens. The detailed description of the heterogenous prevalence of HIV and NCDs in SA reported in this study could be a useful tool to inform and direct policies to enhance targeted health service delivery according to the local health needs of each community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F Cuadros
- Digital Epidemiology Laboratory, Digital Futures, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Claudia M Moreno
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew Tomita
- Centre for Rural Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Urisha Singh
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Stephen Olivier
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Alison Castle
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Global Health and Population, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yumna Moosa
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Johnathan A Edwards
- International Institute for Rural Health, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hae-Young Kim
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mark J Siedner
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Global Health and Population, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Clinical Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Emily B Wong
- Clinical Research Department, Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Frank Tanser
- Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), School of Data Science and Computational Thinking, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
- School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Šujanová A, Čužiová Z, Václav R. The Infection Rate of Bird-Feeding Ixodes ricinus Ticks with Borrelia garinii and B. valaisiana Varies with Host Haemosporidian Infection Status. Microorganisms 2022; 11:microorganisms11010060. [PMID: 36677352 PMCID: PMC9861293 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11010060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birds are known to maintain and spread human pathogenic borreliae, but they are common hosts of diverse parasite communities, notably haemosporidians. Only a few studies examined whether tick infestation and/or Borrelia prevalences vary with hosts' haemosporidian infection status. METHODS Here, we study whether Ixodes ricinus infestation rates and Borrelia infection rates in bird-feeding ticks vary according to haemosporidian infection status in a community of free-living avian tick hosts. RESULTS Birds of six avian species harbored the majority of ticks. Both the tick infestation prevalence and the intensity peaked during spring and summer, but while bird-feeding nymphs prevailed in spring, bird-feeding larvae dominated in summer. Almost half of the bird-feeding ticks were found to be positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. Although the majority of infections involved bird-associated B. garinii and B. valaisiana, B. garinii appears to be the dominant Borrelia strain circulating in locally breeding avian species. We detected a negative link between the hosts' haemosporidian infection status and the Borrelia infection rate of bird-feeding ticks, but the association was dependent on the host's age. CONCLUSIONS Our results on tick infestation intensity support the idea that more immunologically vulnerable hosts harbor more ticks but suggest that different mechanisms may be responsible for tick infestation rates among immunologically naïve and experienced avian hosts. The results on Borrelia infection rates in bird-feeding ticks are consistent with studies revealing that intracellular parasites, such as haemosporidians, can benefit from the host immune system prioritizing immune responses against extracellular parasites at the expense of immune responses against intracellular parasites. The findings of our study urge for a more robust design of parasitological studies to understand the ecology of interactions among hosts and their parasites.
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Transmission Cycle of Tick-Borne Infections and Co-Infections, Animal Models and Diseases. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111309. [PMID: 36365060 PMCID: PMC9696261 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne pathogens such as species of Borrelia, Babesia, Anaplasma, Rickettsia, and Ehrlichia are widespread in the United States and Europe among wildlife, in passerines as well as in domestic and farm animals. Transmission of these pathogens occurs by infected ticks during their blood meal, carnivorism, and through animal bites in wildlife, whereas humans can become infected either by an infected tick bite, through blood transfusion and in some cases, congenitally. The reservoir hosts play an important role in maintaining pathogens in nature and facilitate transmission of individual pathogens or of multiple pathogens simultaneously to humans through ticks. Tick-borne co-infections were first reported in the 1980s in white-footed mice, the most prominent reservoir host for causative organisms in the United States, and they are becoming a major concern for public health now. Various animal infection models have been used extensively to better understand pathogenesis of tick-borne pathogens and to reveal the interaction among pathogens co-existing in the same host. In this review, we focus on the prevalence of these pathogens in different reservoir hosts, animal models used to investigate their pathogenesis and host responses they trigger to understand diseases in humans. We also documented the prevalence of these pathogens as correlating with the infected ticks’ surveillance studies. The association of tick-borne co-infections with other topics such as pathogens virulence factors, host immune responses as they relate to diseases severity, identification of vaccine candidates, and disease economic impact are also briefly addressed here.
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Sargison N, Chambers A, Chaudhry U, Costa Júnior L, Doyle SR, Ehimiyein A, Evans M, Jennings A, Kelly R, Sargison F, Sinclair M, Zahid O. Faecal egg counts and nemabiome metabarcoding highlight the genomic complexity of equine cyathostomin communities and provide insight into their dynamics in a Scottish native pony herd. Int J Parasitol 2022; 52:763-774. [PMID: 36208676 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the composition of gastrointestinal nematode communities may help to mitigate or exploit parasite adaptations within their host. We have used nemabiome deep amplicon sequencing of internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) ribosomal DNA to describe the temporal and host species composition of gastrointestinal nematode communities following sampling of six Scottish ponies across 57 months. In the absence of parasite control, each horse showed seasonal trends of increases and decreases in faecal egg counts, consistent with the epidemiology of equine strongylid parasites, however, the composition of parasites within individuals changed over time. Sixteen presumptive strongylid species were identified in each of the horses, 13 of which were distributed in a complex clade together with small numbers of amplicon sequences which could not be classified beyond the Cyathostominae subfamily level. Egg shedding of seven trichostrongylid species, which had previously been identified in co-grazed Soay sheep, was identified during the early spring. Faecal egg counts and the percentage of amplicon sequences assigned to each gastrointestinal nematode species were combined to describe their relative abundance across both host and time. Significant differences in species diversity between horses and between months were observed, being greatest from March to May and least from October to December. The magnitude of the individual horse effect varied between months and, conversely, the magnitude of the seasonal effect varied between individual horses. The most abundant gastrointestinal nematode in each of the horses was Cylicostephanus longibursatus (46.6% overall), while the abundance of the other strongylid species varied between horses and relative to each other. Patent C. longibursatus infections over the winter months might represent a genetic adaptation towards longer adult worm survival, or a lower rate of developmental arrest in the autumn. This study provides insight into highly complex phylogenetic relationships between closely related cyathostomin species; and describes the dynamics of egg shedding and pasture contamination of co-infecting equine gastrointestinal nematode communities. The results could be applied to determine how climatic and management factors affect the equilibrium between hosts and their parasites, and to inform the development of sustainable gastrointestinal nematode control strategies for different host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Sargison
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
| | - Alex Chambers
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Umer Chaudhry
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Livio Costa Júnior
- Federal University of Maranhão, Pathology Department, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Stephen R Doyle
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ajoke Ehimiyein
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Mike Evans
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Amy Jennings
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Rob Kelly
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Fiona Sargison
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | | | - Osama Zahid
- University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
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Sandmeier FC, Leonard KL, Weitzman CL, Tracy CR. Potential Facilitation Between a Commensal and a Pathogenic Microbe in a Wildlife Disease. ECOHEALTH 2022; 19:427-438. [PMID: 35752710 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-022-01603-w] [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: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the potential for microbial interactions influencing a well-documented host-pathogen system. Mycoplasma agassizii is the known etiological agent of upper respiratory tract disease in Mojave desert tortoises (Gopherus agassizii), but disease in wild animals is extremely heterogeneous. For example, a much larger proportion of animals harbor M. agassizii than those that develop disease. With the availability of a new quantitative PCR assay for a microbe that had previously been implicated in disease, Pasteurella testudinis, we tested 389 previously collected samples of nasal microbes from tortoise populations across the Mojave desert. We showed that P. testudinis is a common commensal microbe. However, we did find that its presence was associated with higher levels of M. agassizii among the tortoises positive for this pathogen. The best predictor of P. testudinis prevalence in tortoise populations was average size of tortoises, suggesting that older populations have higher levels of P. testudinis. The prevalence of co-infection in populations was associated with the prevalence of URTD, providing additional evidence for an indirect interaction between the two microbes and inflammatory disease. We showed that URTD, like many chronic, polymicrobial diseases involving mucosal surfaces, shows patterns of a polymicrobial etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska C Sandmeier
- Biology Department, LS 210, Colorado State University - Pueblo, 2100 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, CO, 81001, USA.
| | - Kendra L Leonard
- Biology Department, LS 210, Colorado State University - Pueblo, 2100 Bonforte Blvd, Pueblo, CO, 81001, USA
| | - Chava L Weitzman
- Biology Department, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA
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Schmid DW, Fackelmann G, Wasimuddin, Rakotondranary J, Ratovonamana YR, Montero BK, Ganzhorn JU, Sommer S. A framework for testing the impact of co-infections on host gut microbiomes. Anim Microbiome 2022; 4:48. [PMID: 35945629 PMCID: PMC9361228 DOI: 10.1186/s42523-022-00198-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasitic infections disturb gut microbial communities beyond their natural range of variation, possibly leading to dysbiosis. Yet it remains underappreciated that most infections are accompanied by one or more co-infections and their collective impact is largely unexplored. Here we developed a framework illustrating changes to the host gut microbiome following single infections, and build on it by describing the neutral, synergistic or antagonistic impacts on microbial α- and ß-diversity expected from co-infections. We tested the framework on microbiome data from a non-human primate population co-infected with helminths and Adenovirus, and matched patterns reported in published studies to the introduced framework. In this case study, α-diversity of co-infected Malagasy mouse lemurs (Microcebus griseorufus) did not differ in comparison with that of singly infected or uninfected individuals, even though community composition captured with ß-diversity metrices changed significantly. Explicitly, we record stochastic changes in dispersion, a sign of dysbiosis, following the Anna-Karenina principle rather than deterministic shifts in the microbial gut community. From the literature review and our case study, neutral and synergistic impacts emerged as common outcomes from co-infections, wherein both shifts and dispersion of microbial communities following co-infections were often more severe than after a single infection alone, but microbial α-diversity was not universally altered. Important functions of the microbiome may also suffer from such heavily altered, though no less species-rich microbial community. Lastly, we pose the hypothesis that the reshuffling of host-associated microbial communities due to the impact of various, often coinciding parasitic infections may become a source of novel or zoonotic diseases.
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van Wyk CL, Mtshali K, Taioe MO, Terera S, Bakkes D, Ramatla T, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. Detection of Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens of Urban Stray Dogs in South Africa. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080862. [PMID: 36014983 PMCID: PMC9416273 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify ticks infesting dogs admitted to the Potchefstroom Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and to detect tick-borne pathogens they are harbouring. A total of 592 ticks were collected from 61 stray dogs admitted to PAWS originating from several suburbs in and near Potchefstroom, South Africa. The dog ticks were identified as Haemaphysalis elliptica (39%) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (61%) by both morphological and DNA analyses. Of these ticks, H. elliptica consisted of 67.5% (156/231) and 32.5% (75/231) female and male ticks, respectively, whilst R. sanguineus consisted of 48.5% (175/361) and 51.5% (186/361) female and male ticks, respectively. Microscopic examination of blood smears from engorged female ticks indicated overall occurrences of 0.5% (1/204) for Babesia spp. from R. sanguineus, 1% (2/204) of Anaplasma spp. from H. elliptica, and 22% (45/204) of Rickettsia spp. from both H. elliptica and R. sanguineus. Using pooled samples molecular detection of tick-borne pathogens indicated overall occurrences of 1% (1/104) for A. phagocytophilum in H. elliptica, 9.6% (10/104) of Rickettsia spp. in H. elliptica and R. sanguineus, 5.8% (6/104) of Ehrlichia canis in H. elliptica and R. sanguineus, and 13.5% (14/104) of Coxiella spp. in both H. elliptica and R. sanguineus. Additionally, PCR detected 6.5% (2/31) of Coxiella spp. DNA from H. elliptica eggs. Our data indicate that urban stray dogs admitted at PAWS are infested by H. elliptica and R. sanguineus ticks which are harbouring several pathogenic organisms known to cause tick-borne diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara-Lee van Wyk
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.-L.v.W.); (M.O.T.); (T.R.); (O.T.)
| | - Khethiwe Mtshali
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Tshwane University of Technology, Arcadia Campus, Pretoria 0001, South Africa;
| | - Moeti O. Taioe
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.-L.v.W.); (M.O.T.); (T.R.); (O.T.)
- Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Stallone Terera
- Potchefstroom Animal Welfare Society, Potchefstroom 2531, South Africa;
| | - Deon Bakkes
- Gertrud Theiler Tick Museum, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa;
| | - Tsepo Ramatla
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.-L.v.W.); (M.O.T.); (T.R.); (O.T.)
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Oriel Thekisoe
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa; (C.-L.v.W.); (M.O.T.); (T.R.); (O.T.)
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Perez G. Role of bank vole (Myodes glareolus) personality on tick burden (Ixodes spp.). Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2022; 69. [DOI: 10.14411/fp.2022.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Silva ARD, Andrade GB, Carvalho JKMR, Barreto WTG, Santos FM, Sousa KCMD, André MR, Ferreira LC, Menezes RC, Herrera HM. The outcomes of polyparasitism in stray cats from Brazilian Midwest assessed by epidemiological, hematological and pathological data. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA = BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY PARASITOLOGY : ORGAO OFICIAL DO COLEGIO BRASILEIRO DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2022; 31:e004222. [PMID: 35792756 DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612022033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated the epidemiological, hematological, and pathological data of Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Platynosomum illiciens, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infections and the coinfections in stray cats of an endemic area for leishmaniasis. The diagnosis was performed by serological tests and necropsy. We described gross lesions and histopathological findings. We used immunohistochemistry and chromogenic in situ hybridization for L. infantum detection. We found infection in 27 out of 50 sampled cats, among them, 14 presented coinfections. A strong correlation between splenomegaly and lymphadenomegaly with FeLV, and an association between hepatic lesions and cachexia with parasitism due to P. illiciens were observed. Moreover, we found a significant increase in the monocyte count in the FeLV-infected and a decrease in the red blood cell count in the FIV-infected animals. Amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. and tissue changes were detected in lymphoid organs of an animal coinfected with P. illiciens, T. gondii, and FIV. Polyparasitism recorded in stray cats of the Brazilian Midwest should be considered in effective control strategies for public health diseases. Moreover, stray cats of Campo Grande may be a source of infection of FIV, FeLV and P. illiciens for populations of domiciled cats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gisele Braziliano Andrade
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | | | - Wanessa Teixeira Gomes Barreto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul - UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | - Filipe Martins Santos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | | | - Marcos Rogério André
- Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil
| | - Luiz Claudio Ferreira
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatozoonoses em Animais Domésticos, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas - INI, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo Caldas Menezes
- Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica em Dermatozoonoses em Animais Domésticos, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas - INI, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil
| | - Heitor Miraglia Herrera
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais e Sustentabilidade Agropecuária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul - UFMS, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
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Attia MM, Soliman SM, Mahmoud MA, Salem MA. Oxidative stress markers, immune-regulating cytokines, and the pathological evaluation of sheep co-infected with Oestrus ovis and Coenuruscerebralis. Microb Pathog 2022; 169:105613. [PMID: 35705111 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the immune response using the immune-regulating cytokines as (IL-1β; MHC-I and MHC-II) associated with co-infected sheep Oestrusovis and Coenurus cerebralisas well as oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde "MDA" and nitric oxide "NO"). So; sheep samples from different regions in Egypt showed different neurological signs, were examined for detection of the cause of the nervous manifestations. Moreover, the O. ovis and C. cerebralis cysts were collected and identified using scanning electron microscopy. The brain tissues were evaluated for different immunological genes such as MHC-I, MHC-II, and Interleukin-1β activity using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) techniques, where the infected sheep showed higher MHC-I gene expression (10-fold), higher MHC-II gene expression (peaked at 25-fold), and higher IL-1β gene expression (14-fold) than the control group. The MDA level was significantly increased. Also, stress marker (nitric oxide) levels were significantly higher in infectedsheep than in negative control one. During gross pathology, migrating larvae of O. ovis andC. cerebralis were noticed In such areas, hemorrhages and patches of clotted blood were noticed. cysts with prominent protoscolices were also observed and were attached to the caudal region near the cerebellum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M Attia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211, Giza, Egypt.
| | - Soliman M Soliman
- Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211, Giza, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud A Mahmoud
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, PO.12211, Egypt
| | - Mai A Salem
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211, Giza, Egypt
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Sallinen S, Susi H, Halliday F, Laine AL. Altered within- and between-host transmission under coinfection underpin parasite co-occurrence patterns in the wild. Evol Ecol 2022; 37:131-151. [PMID: 36785621 PMCID: PMC9911512 DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10182-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Interactions among parasite species coinfecting the same host individual can have far reaching consequences for parasite ecology and evolution. How these within-host interactions affect epidemics may depend on two non-exclusive mechanisms: parasite growth and reproduction within hosts, and parasite transmission between hosts. Yet, how these two mechanisms operate under coinfection, and how sensitive they are to the composition of the coinfecting parasite community, remains poorly understood. Here, we test the hypothesis that the relationship between within- and between-host transmission of the fungal pathogen, Phomopsis subordinaria, is affected by co-occurring parasites infecting the host plant, Plantago lanceolata. We conducted a field experiment manipulating the parasite community of transmission source plants, then tracked P. subordinaria within-host transmission, as well as between-host transmission to naïve recipient plants. We find that coinfection with the powdery mildew pathogen, Podosphaera plantaginis, causes increased between-host transmission of P. subordinaria by affecting the number of infected flower stalks in the source plants, resulting from altered auto-infection. In contrast, coinfection with viruses did not have an effect on either within- or between-host transmission. We then analyzed data on the occurrence of P. subordinaria in 2018 and the powdery mildew in a multi-year survey data set from natural host populations to test whether the positive association predicted by our experimental results is evident in field epidemiological data. Consistent with our experimental findings, we observed a positive association in the occurrence of P. subordinaria and historical powdery mildew persistence. Jointly, our experimental and epidemiological results suggest that within- and between-host transmission of P. subordinaria depends on the identity of coinfecting parasites, with potentially far-reaching effects on disease dynamics and parasite co-occurrence patterns in wild populations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10682-022-10182-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvi Sallinen
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1 (PO box 65), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Susi
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1 (PO box 65), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fletcher Halliday
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna-Liisa Laine
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Viikinkaari 1 (PO box 65), 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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42
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R. Sweeny
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology University of Edinburgh Edinburgh Scotland
| | - Gregory F. Albery
- Department of Biology Georgetown University Washington DC USA
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Berlin Germany
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43
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O’Keeffe KR, Wheeler BT, Mitchell CE. A Microbial Mutualist Within Host Individuals Increases Parasite Transmission Between Host Individuals: Evidence From a Field Mesocosm Experiment. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:824211. [PMID: 35531289 PMCID: PMC9069011 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.824211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The interactions among host-associated microbes and parasites can have clear consequences for disease susceptibility and progression within host individuals. Yet, empirical evidence for how these interactions impact parasite transmission between host individuals remains scarce. We address this scarcity by using a field mesocosm experiment to investigate the interaction between a systemic fungal endophyte, Epichloë coenophiala, and a fungal parasite, Rhizoctonia solani, in leaves of a grass host, tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum). Specifically, we investigated how this interaction impacted transmission of the parasite under field conditions in replicated experimental host populations. Epichloë-inoculated populations tended to have greater disease prevalence over time, though this difference had weak statistical support. More clearly, Epichloë-inoculated populations experienced higher peak parasite prevalences than Epichloë-free populations. Epichloë conferred a benefit in growth; Epichloë-inoculated populations had greater aboveground biomass than Epichloë-free populations. Using biomass as a proxy, host density was correlated with peak parasite prevalence, but Epichloë still increased peak parasite prevalence after controlling for the effect of biomass. Together, these results suggest that within-host microbial interactions can impact disease at the population level. Further, while Epichloë is clearly a mutualist of tall fescue, it may not be a defensive mutualist in relation to Rhizoctonia solani.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayleigh R. O’Keeffe
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- *Correspondence: Kayleigh R. O’Keeffe,
| | - Brandon T. Wheeler
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Biology, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC, United States
| | - Charles E. Mitchell
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Environment, Ecology and Energy Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Moustafa MAM, Mohamed WMA, Lau AC, Chatanga E, Qiu Y, Hayashi N, Naguib D, Sato K, Takano A, Mastuno K, Nonaka N, Taylor D, Kawabata H, Nakao R. Novel symbionts and potential human pathogens excavated from argasid tick microbiomes that are shaped by dual or single symbiosis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1979-1992. [PMID: 35521555 PMCID: PMC9062450 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.04.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on vector-associated microbiomes has been expanding due to increasing emergence of vector-borne pathogens and awareness of the importance of symbionts in the vector physiology. However, little is known about microbiomes of argasid (or soft-bodied) ticks due to limited access to specimens. We collected four argasid species (Argas japonicus, Carios vespertilionis, Ornithodoros capensis, and Ornithodoros sawaii) from the nests or burrows of their vertebrate hosts. One laboratory-reared argasid species (Ornithodoros moubata) was also included. Attempts were then made to isolate and characterize potential symbionts/pathogens using arthropod cell lines. Microbial community structure was distinct for each tick species. Coxiella was detected as the predominant symbiont in four tick species where dual symbiosis between Coxiella and Rickettsia or Coxiella and Francisella was observed in C. vespertilionis and O. moubata, respectively. Of note, A. japonicus lacked Coxiella and instead had Occidentia massiliensis and Thiotrichales as alternative symbionts. Our study found strong correlation between tick species and life stage. We successfully isolated Oc. massiliensis and characterized potential pathogens of genera Ehrlichia and Borrelia. The results suggest that there is no consistent trend of microbiomes in relation to tick life stage that fit all tick species and that the final interpretation should be related to the balance between environmental bacterial exposure and endosymbiont ecology. Nevertheless, our findings provide insights on the ecology of tick microbiomes and basis for future investigations on the capacity of argasid ticks to carry novel pathogens with public health importance.
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Susi H, Sallinen S, Laine AL. Coinfection with a virus constrains within-host infection load but increases transmission potential of a highly virulent fungal plant pathogen. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8673. [PMID: 35342557 PMCID: PMC8928890 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8673] [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: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The trade‐off between within‐host infection rate and transmission to new hosts is predicted to constrain pathogen evolution, and to maintain polymorphism in pathogen populations. Pathogen life‐history stages and their correlations that underpin infection development may change under coinfection with other parasites as they compete for the same limited host resources. Cross‐kingdom interactions are common among pathogens in both natural and cultivated systems, yet their impacts on disease ecology and evolution are rarely studied. The host plant Plantago lanceolata is naturally infected by both Phomopsis subordinaria, a seed killing fungus, as well as Plantago lanceolata latent virus (PlLV) in the Åland Islands, SW Finland. We performed an inoculation assay to test whether coinfection with PlLV affects performance of two P. subordinaria strains, and the correlation between within‐host infection rate and transmission potential. The strains differed in the measured life‐history traits and their correlations. Moreover, we found that under virus coinfection, within‐host infection rate of P. subordinaria was smaller but transmission potential was higher compared to strains under single infection. The negative correlation between within‐host infection rate and transmission potential detected under single infection became positive under coinfection with PlLV. To understand whether within‐host and between‐host dynamics are correlated in wild populations, we surveyed 260 natural populations of P. lanceolata for P. subordinaria infection occurrence. When infections were found, we estimated between‐hosts dynamics by determining pathogen population size as the proportion of infected individuals, and within‐host dynamics by counting the proportion of infected flower stalks in 10 infected plants. In wild populations, the proportion of infected flower stalks was positively associated with pathogen population size. Jointly, our results suggest that the trade‐off between within‐host infection load and transmission may be strain specific, and that the pathogen life‐history that underpin epidemics may change depending on the diversity of infection, generating variation in disease dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Susi
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Suvi Sallinen
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland
| | - Anna-Liisa Laine
- Research Centre for Ecological Change, Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme University of Helsinki Helsinki Finland.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
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Thomas RC, Dunn JC, Dawson DA, Hipperson H, Horsburgh GJ, Morris AJ, Orsman C, Mallord J, Grice PV, Hamer KC, Eraud C, Hervé L, Goodman SJ. Assessing rates of parasite coinfection and spatiotemporal strain variation via metabarcoding: insights for the conservation of European Turtle Doves
Streptopelia turtur. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2730-2751. [PMID: 35253301 PMCID: PMC9325524 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the frequency, spatiotemporal dynamics and impacts of parasite coinfections is fundamental to developing control measures and predicting disease impacts. The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is one of Europe's most threatened bird species. High prevalence of infection by the protozoan parasite Trichomonas gallinae has previously been identified, but the role of this and other coinfecting parasites in turtle dove declines remains unclear. Using a high‐throughput sequencing approach, we identified seven strains of T. gallinae, including two novel strains, from ITS1/5.8S/ITS2 ribosomal sequences in turtle doves on breeding and wintering grounds, with further intrastrain variation and four novel subtypes revealed by the iron‐hydrogenase gene. High spatiotemporal turnover was observed in T. gallinae strain composition, and infection was prevalent in all populations (89%–100%). Coinfection by multiple Trichomonas strains was rarer than expected (1% observed compared to 38.6% expected), suggesting either within‐host competition, or high mortality of coinfected individuals. In contrast, coinfection by multiple haemosporidians was common (43%), as was coinfection by haemosporidians and T. gallinae (90%), with positive associations between strains of T. gallinae and Leucocytozoon suggesting a mechanism such as parasite‐induced immune modulation. We found no evidence for negative associations between coinfections and host body condition. We suggest that longitudinal studies involving the recapture and investigation of infection status of individuals over their lifespan are crucial to understand the epidemiology of coinfections in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C. Thomas
- School of Biology Irene Manton Building University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT UK
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Western Bank Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Jenny C. Dunn
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Lodge Potton Road, Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
- School of Life Sciences University of Lincoln Joseph Banks Laboratories Lincoln LN6 7TS UK
| | - Deborah A. Dawson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Western Bank Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Helen Hipperson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Western Bank Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Gavin J. Horsburgh
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Western Bank Sheffield S10 2TN UK
| | - Antony J. Morris
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Lodge Potton Road, Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
| | - Chris Orsman
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Lodge Potton Road, Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
| | - John Mallord
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science Royal Society for the Protection of Birds The Lodge Potton Road, Sandy Bedfordshire SG19 2DL UK
| | - Philip V. Grice
- Natural England, Suite D Unex House Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough PE1 1NG UK
| | - Keith C. Hamer
- School of Biology Irene Manton Building University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT UK
| | - Cyril Eraud
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage. Unité Avifaune migratrice Réserve de Chizé 405 Carrefour de la Canauderie 79360 Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Lormée Hervé
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage. Unité Avifaune migratrice Réserve de Chizé 405 Carrefour de la Canauderie 79360 Villiers‐en‐Bois France
| | - Simon J. Goodman
- School of Biology Irene Manton Building University of Leeds Leeds LS2 9JT UK
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47
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Aželytė J, Platonova E, Bensch S, Hellgren O, Palinauskas V. A comparative analysis of the dynamics of Plasmodium relictum (GRW4) development in the blood during single and co-infections. Acta Trop 2022; 226:106247. [PMID: 34801479 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although co-infections and interactions of parasites are a very common phenomenon in the wild, information received from studies on avian Plasmodium spp. is scarce and fragmented due to its complex nature. Different interactions of parasites and domination of one parasite may have a detrimental effect on transmission success of another pathogen. Untangling these interactions and competitive behavior of malarial parasites may help understanding why some haemosporidian parasites are dominant in certain host species, while others are observed only occasionally. We investigated the development of Plasmodium relictum (genetic lineage GRW4) during single and co-infection with a closely related lineage SGS1, with the aim to determine whether co-infections affect parasite development and condition of experimentally infected Eurasian siskins (Spinus spinus). For the experimental study of these two closely related lineages, a new qPCR protocol was designed to accurately quantify the parasitemia, i.e. the amount of infected red blood cells, during the blood stages of each of the lineages. Our results show that during co-infection, GRW4 parasitemia was transient and disappeared from peripheral blood during acute increases of SGS1. Health parameters of infected birds did not differ between the GRW4 single infected group and the co-infection group. GRW4 induced infection was outcompeted and suppressed by the presence of the lineage SGS1, which is broadly transmitted in Northern Europe. This suggests that double infections and dominating lineages in the area may influence the transmission success of some avian Plasmodium parasites.
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48
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Venter F, Matthews KR, Silvester E. Parasite co-infection: an ecological, molecular and experimental perspective. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212155. [PMID: 35042410 PMCID: PMC8767208 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Laboratory studies of pathogens aim to limit complexity in order to disentangle the important parameters contributing to an infection. However, pathogens rarely exist in isolation, and hosts may sustain co-infections with multiple disease agents. These interact with each other and with the host immune system dynamically, with disease outcomes affected by the composition of the community of infecting pathogens, their order of colonization, competition for niches and nutrients, and immune modulation. While pathogen-immune interactions have been detailed elsewhere, here we examine the use of ecological and experimental studies of trypanosome and malaria infections to discuss the interactions between pathogens in mammal hosts and arthropod vectors, including recently developed laboratory models for co-infection. The implications of pathogen co-infection for disease therapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Venter
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Keith R Matthews
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Eleanor Silvester
- Institute for Immunology and Infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FL, UK.,Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, The Keith Peters Building, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
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49
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Wetsch O, Strasburg M, McQuigg J, Boone MD. Is overwintering mortality driving enigmatic declines? Evaluating the impacts of trematodes and the amphibian chytrid fungus on an anuran from hatching through overwintering. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262561. [PMID: 35030210 PMCID: PMC8759641 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases are increasing globally and are an additional challenge to species dealing with native parasites and pathogens. Therefore, understanding the combined effects of infectious agents on hosts is important for species’ conservation and population management. Amphibians are hosts to many parasites and pathogens, including endemic trematode flatworms (e.g., Echinostoma spp.) and the novel pathogenic amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis [Bd]). Our study examined how exposure to trematodes during larval development influenced the consequences of Bd pathogen exposure through critical life events. We found that prior exposure to trematode parasites negatively impacted metamorphosis but did not influence the effect of Bd infection on terrestrial growth and survival. Bd infection alone, however, resulted in significant mortality during overwintering—an annual occurrence for most temperate amphibians. The results of our study indicated overwintering mortality from Bd could provide an explanation for enigmatic declines and highlights the importance of examining the long-term consequences of novel parasite exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Wetsch
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Miranda Strasburg
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Jessica McQuigg
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Michelle D. Boone
- Department of Biology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, United States of America
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50
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Tartally A, Szabó N, Somogyi AÁ, Báthori F, Haelewaters D, Mucsi A, Fürjes-Mikó Á, Nash DR. Ectoparasitic fungi of Myrmica ants alter the success of parasitic butterflies. Sci Rep 2021; 11:24031. [PMID: 34911991 PMCID: PMC8674344 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02800-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploitation of organisms by multiple parasite species is common in nature, but interactions among parasites have rarely been studied. Myrmica ants are rich in parasites. Among others, the ectoparasitic Rickia wasmannii fungus and the parasitic caterpillars of myrmecophilous Phengaris butterflies often infect the same Myrmica colonies. In this study, we examined the effects of R. wasmannii on the adoption, long-term development, and survival of P. alcon. In laboratory conditions, caterpillars introduced into nests of Myrmica scabrinodis uninfected with R. wasmannii survived significantly longer compared to caterpillars introduced into infected nests. In the field, joint infection was less common than expected if both parasites exploited M. scabrinodis colonies independently. Pre-pupal caterpillars of P. alcon were somewhat larger in nests infected with R. wasmannii than those found in uninfected nests. Based on these results it seems that R. wasmannii infection of M. scabrinodis affects the survival and development of P. alcon caterpillars, suggesting competition between these two ant parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Tartally
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
| | - Norbert Szabó
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Anna Ágnes Somogyi
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross str. 13, 1088, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ferenc Báthori
- Department of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
- Juhász-Nagy Pál Doctoral School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
- Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Institute of Ecology and Botany, Centre for Ecological Research, Alkotmány út 2-4, Vácrátót, Hungary, 2163
| | - Danny Haelewaters
- Research Group Mycology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | | | - Ágnes Fürjes-Mikó
- Department of Forest Protection, University of Sopron-Forest Research Institute, Hegyalja str. 18, 3232, Mátrafüred, Hungary
| | - David R Nash
- Centre for Social Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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