1
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Welsh JE, Markovic M, van der Meer J, Thieltges DW. Non-linear effects of non-host diversity on the removal of free-living infective stages of parasites. Oecologia 2024; 204:339-349. [PMID: 38300256 PMCID: PMC10907414 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05462-2] [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: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Among the ecological functions and services of biodiversity is the potential buffering of diseases through dilution effects where increased biodiversity results in a reduction in disease risk for humans and wildlife hosts. Whether such effects are a universal phenomenon is still under intense debate and diversity effects are little studied in cases when non-host organisms remove free-living parasite stages during their transmission from one host to the next by consumption or physical obstruction. Here, we investigated non-host diversity effects on the removal of cercarial stages of trematodes, ubiquitous parasites in aquatic ecosystems. In laboratory experiments using response surface designs, varying both diversity and density at same time, we compared three combinations of two non-hosts at four density levels: predatory crabs that actively remove cercariae from the water column via their mouth parts and gills, filter feeding oysters that passively filter cercariae from the water column while not becoming infected themselves, and seaweed which physically obstructs cercariae. The addition of a second non-host did not generally result in increased parasite removal but neutralised, amplified or reduced the parasite removal exerted by the first non-host, depending on the density and non-host combination. These non-linear non-host diversity effects were probably driven by intra- and interspecific interactions and suggest the need to integrate non-host diversity effects in understanding the links between community diversity and infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Welsh
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Mirjana Markovic
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap van der Meer
- Wageningen Marine Research, Korringaweg 7, 4401 NT, Yerseke, The Netherlands
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - David W Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, PO Box 59, 1790 AB, Den Burg, The Netherlands.
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life-Sciences, GELIFES, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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2
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Paterson RA, Poulin R, Selbach C. Global analysis of seasonal changes in trematode infection levels reveals weak and variable link to temperature. Oecologia 2024; 204:377-387. [PMID: 37358648 PMCID: PMC10907458 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05408-8] [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: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal changes in environmental conditions drive phenology, i.e., the annual timing of biological events ranging from the individual to the ecosystem. Phenological patterns and successional abundance cycles have been particularly well studied in temperate freshwater systems, showing strong and predictable synchrony with seasonal changes. However, seasonal successional changes in the abundance of parasites or their infection levels in aquatic hosts have not yet been shown to follow universal patterns. Here, using a compilation of several hundred estimates of spring-to-summer changes in infection by trematodes in their intermediate and definitive hosts, spanning multiple species and habitats, we test for general patterns of seasonal (temperature) driven changes in infection levels. The data include almost as many decreases in infection levels from spring to summer as there are increases, across different host types. Our results reveal that the magnitude of the spring-to-summer change in temperature had a weak positive effect on the concurrent change in prevalence of infection in first intermediate hosts, but no effect on the change in prevalence or abundance of infection in second intermediate or definitive hosts. This was true across habitat types and host taxa, indicating no universal effect of seasonal temperature increase on trematode infections. This surprising variation across systems suggests a predominance of idiosyncratic and species-specific responses in trematode infection levels, at odds with any clear phenological or successional pattern. We discuss possible reasons for the minimal and variable effect of seasonal temperature regimes, and emphasise the challenges this poses for predicting ecosystem responses to future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Paterson
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Torgarden, PO Box 5685, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Christian Selbach
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Langnes, PO Box 6050, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
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3
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Sures B, Nachev M, Schwelm J, Grabner D, Selbach C. Environmental parasitology: stressor effects on aquatic parasites. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:461-474. [PMID: 37061443 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.03.005] [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: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic stressors are causing fundamental changes in aquatic habitats and to the organisms inhabiting these ecosystems. Yet, we are still far from understanding the diverse responses of parasites and their hosts to these environmental stressors and predicting how these stressors will affect host-parasite communities. Here, we provide an overview of the impacts of major stressors affecting aquatic ecosystems in the Anthropocene (habitat alteration, global warming, and pollution) and highlight their consequences for aquatic parasites at multiple levels of organisation, from the individual to the community level. We provide directions and ideas for future research to better understand responses to stressors in aquatic host-parasite systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Sures
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| | - Milen Nachev
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jessica Schwelm
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Research Center One Health Ruhr, Research Alliance Ruhr, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Daniel Grabner
- Aquatic Ecology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Selbach
- Centre for Water and Environmental Research, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Freshwater Ecology Group, Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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4
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Płoneczka-Janeczko K, Szalińska W, Otop I, Piekarska J, Rypuła K. Weather parameters as a predictive tool potentially allowing for better monitoring of dairy cattle against gastrointestinal parasites hazard. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5944. [PMID: 37045884 PMCID: PMC10097711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32890-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In animal production, yield is critically related to animal health status. To ensure high productivity, innovative control strategies for herd and parasites monitoring are required. Gastrointestinal parasites have a strong influence on changing feed intake or nutrient use, limiting animal productivity. Serological control has been proposed, given that parasite development is largely dependent on environmental temperature and humidity. However, breeders and field veterinarians lack readily accessible climate characteristics that provide information to determine whether and when herds require laboratory examination. To help reduce the testing costs incurred by farmers, we investigated whether selected meteorological data could serve as conclusive predictors to increase the precision of herd selection for serological monitoring. Our results indicate that the selection of herds by farmers for testing can be guided by regular checking of meteorological data, especially various temperature and humidity indicators. In general, ranges of 24-28 °C, as well as - 0.5 to 7.5 °C for the monthly maximum and minimum temperature, respectively, and relative humidity (68-79%) and vapour pressure (10-15 hPa) correspond to a high antiparasitic response of the herd, expressed as the optical density ratio. It is recommended to introduce coproscopic and/or serological tests if the observed weather pattern (covering the prepatent period of parasite development) ranges within the estimated values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Płoneczka-Janeczko
- Department of Epizootiology with Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Square 45, 50-366, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Wiwiana Szalińska
- Research and Development Centre, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute, Podleśna 61, 01-673, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Irena Otop
- Research and Development Centre, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management - National Research Institute, Podleśna 61, 01-673, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Piekarska
- Division of Parasitology, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinic of Diseases of Horses, Dogs and Cats, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Square 47, 50-366, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Rypuła
- Department of Epizootiology with Clinic for Birds and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Square 45, 50-366, Wrocław, Poland
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5
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Koprivnikar J, Thieltges DW, Johnson PTJ. Consumption of trematode parasite infectious stages: from conceptual synthesis to future research agenda. J Helminthol 2023; 97:e33. [PMID: 36971341 DOI: 10.1017/s0022149x23000111] [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] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Given their sheer cumulative biomass and ubiquitous presence, parasites are increasingly recognized as essential components of most food webs. Beyond their influence as consumers of host tissue, many parasites also have free-living infectious stages that may be ingested by non-host organisms, with implications for energy and nutrient transfer, as well as for pathogen transmission and infectious disease dynamics. This has been particularly well-documented for the cercaria free-living stage of digenean trematode parasites within the Phylum Platyhelminthes. Here, we aim to synthesize the current state of knowledge regarding cercariae consumption by examining: (a) approaches for studying cercariae consumption; (b) the range of consumers and trematode prey documented thus far; (c) factors influencing the likelihood of cercariae consumption; (d) consequences of cercariae consumption for individual predators (e.g. their viability as a food source); and (e) implications of cercariae consumption for entire communities and ecosystems (e.g. transmission, nutrient cycling and influences on other prey). We detected 121 unique consumer-by-cercaria combinations that spanned 60 species of consumer and 35 trematode species. Meaningful reductions in transmission were seen for 31 of 36 combinations that considered this; however, separate studies with the same cercaria and consumer sometimes showed different results. Along with addressing knowledge gaps and suggesting future research directions, we highlight how the conceptual and empirical approaches discussed here for consumption of cercariae are relevant for the infectious stages of other parasites and pathogens, illustrating the use of cercariae as a model system to help advance our knowledge regarding the general importance of parasite consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Koprivnikar
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3
| | - D W Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems, NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, Den Burg, The Netherlands
| | - P T J Johnson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
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6
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Marcus E, Dagan T, Asli W, Ben-Ami F. Out of the 'host' box: extreme off-host conditions alter the infectivity and virulence of a parasitic bacterium. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220015. [PMID: 36744562 PMCID: PMC9900709 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Disease agents play an important role in the ecology and life history of wild and cultivated populations and communities. While most studies focus on the adaptation of parasites to their hosts, the adaptation of free-living parasite stages to their external (off-host) environment may tell us a lot about the factors that shape the distribution of parasites. Pasteuria ramosa is an endoparasitic bacterium of the water flea Daphnia with a wide geographical distribution. Its transmission stages rest outside of the host and thus experience varying environmental regimes. We examined the life history of P. ramosa populations from four environmental conditions (i.e. groups of habitats): the factorial combinations of summer-dry water bodies or not, and winter-freeze water bodies or not. Our goal was to examine how the combination of winter temperature and summer dryness affects the parasite's ability to attach to its host and to infect it. We subjected samples of the four groups of habitats to temperatures of 20, 33, 46 and 60°C in dry and wet conditions, and exposed a susceptible clone of Daphnia magna to the treated spores. We found that spores which had undergone desiccation endured higher temperatures better than spores kept wet, both regarding attachment and subsequent infection. Furthermore, spores treated with heightened temperatures were much less infective and virulent. Even under high temperatures (60°C), exposed spores from all populations were able to attach to the host cuticle, albeit they were unable to establish infection. Our work highlights the sensitivity of a host-free resting stage of a bacterial parasite to the external environment. Long heatwaves and harsh summers, which are becoming more frequent owing to recent climate changes, may therefore pose a problem for parasite survival. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enav Marcus
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tal Dagan
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Weaam Asli
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Frida Ben-Ami
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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7
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Stanicka A, Migdalski Ł, Szopieray K, Cichy A, Jermacz Ł, Lombardo P, Żbikowska E. Invaders as Diluents of the Cercarial Dermatitis Etiological Agent. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10060740. [PMID: 34208370 PMCID: PMC8231267 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on alien and invasive species focuses on the direct effects of invasion on native ecosystems, and the possible positive effects of their presence are most often overlooked. Our aim was to check the suitability of selected alien species (the snail Physa acuta, the bivalve Dreissena polymorpha, and the gammarid Dikerogammarus villosus) as diluents for infectious bird schistosome cercariae—the etiological factor of swimmer’s itch. It has been hypothesized that alien species with different feeding habits (scrapers, filterers and predators) that cohabit the aquatic environment with intermediate hosts of the schistosomatid trematodes are capable of feeding on their free-swimming stages—cercariae. In the laboratory conditions used, all experimental animals diluted the cercariae of bird schistosome. The most effective diluents were P. acuta and D. villosus. However, a wide discrepancy in the dilution of the cercariae between replicates was found for gammarids. The obtained results confirm the hypothesis that increased biodiversity, even when alien species are involved, creates the dilution effect of the free-living stages of parasites. Determining the best diluent for bird schistosome cercariae could greatly assist in the development of current bathing areas protection measures against swimmer’s itch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Stanicka
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (Ł.M.); (K.S.); (A.C.); (E.Ż.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Łukasz Migdalski
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (Ł.M.); (K.S.); (A.C.); (E.Ż.)
| | - Katarzyna Szopieray
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (Ł.M.); (K.S.); (A.C.); (E.Ż.)
| | - Anna Cichy
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (Ł.M.); (K.S.); (A.C.); (E.Ż.)
| | - Łukasz Jermacz
- Department of Ecology and Biogeography, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
| | | | - Elżbieta Żbikowska
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland; (Ł.M.); (K.S.); (A.C.); (E.Ż.)
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8
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Xu S, Zhang S, Hu X, Zhang B, Yang S, Hu X, Liu S, Hu D, Bai J. Temporal and spatial dynamics of gastrointestinal parasite infection in Père David's deer. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11335. [PMID: 33996283 PMCID: PMC8106392 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) population was established from only a small number of individuals. Their genetic diversity is therefore relatively low and transmissible (parasitic) diseases affecting them merit further attention. Parasitic infections can affect the health, survival, and population development of the host. However, few reports have been published on the gastrointestinal parasites of Père David's deer. The aims of this study were: (1) to identify the intestinal parasites groups in Père David's deer; (2) to determine their prevalence and burden and clarify the effects of different seasons and regions on various indicators of Père David's deer intestinal parasites; (3) to evaluate the effects of the Père David's deer reproductive period on these parasites; (4) to reveal the regularity of the parasites in space and time. Methods In total, 1,345 Père David's deer faecal samples from four regions during four seasons were tested using the flotation (saturated sodium nitrate solution) to identify parasites of different genus or group, and the McMaster technique to count the number of eggs or oocysts. Results Four groups of gastrointestinal parasites were found, of which strongyles were dominant; their prevalence and burden were significantly higher than other groups. Significant temporal and spatial effects on gastrointestinal parasitic infection were found. Parasite diversity, prevalence, parasite burden, and aggregation were the highest in summer. Among the four regions, parasite diversity, prevalence, and burden were the highest in the Dongting Lake area. In addition, parasite diversity and burden during the reproductive period of Père David's deer was significantly higher than during the post-reproductive period. Conclusions The summer season and the reproductive period of Père David's deer had great potential for parasite transmission, and there is a high risk of parasite outbreaks in the Dongting Lake area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanghua Xu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Shumiao Zhang
- Department of Research, Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolong Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Baofeng Zhang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Yang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Captive Wildlife Technologies, Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China
| | - Shuqiang Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Defu Hu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiade Bai
- Department of Research, Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing, China
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9
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Abstract
Due to the increased prevalence of human infections with bird schistosome larvae (cercarial dermatitis) associated with bathing in Danish lakes, a nationwide survey of infected intermediate host snails was conducted in 2018-2020. Pulmonate snails (10,225 specimens) were collected from 39 freshwater lakes (in the four major geographic regions in Denmark) and subjected to shedding. Released schistosome cercariae were isolated and identified by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing whereby Trichobilharzia regenti, Trichobilharzia franki, Trichobilharzia szidati and Trichobilharzia anseri were recorded. Infections were primarily determined by biotic factors such as the presence of final host birds and intermediate host snails and water temperature was noted as an important abiotic parameter associated with the infection. No clear connection with other abiotic factors (conductivity, alkalinity, pH, nitrogen, phosphorous) was seen. The widespread occurrence of infected snails, when compared to previous investigations, suggests that climate changes at northern latitudes could be responsible for the increased risk of contracting cercarial dermatitis.
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10
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The contributions of a trematode parasite infectious stage to carbon cycling in a model freshwater system. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:1743-1754. [PMID: 33792814 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07142-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Parasites remainunderstudied members of most ecosystems, especially free-living infectious stages, such as the aquatic cercariae of trematodes (flatworms). Recent studies are shedding more light on their roles, particularly as prey for a diverse array of aquatic predators, but the possible fates of cercariae remain unclear. While this is critical to elucidate because cercariae represent a large potential source of energy and nutrients, determining the fate of cercariae-derived organic matter involves many logistical challenges. Previous studies utilized elemental and stable isotope analysis when examining host-parasite interactions, but none has used such approaches to track the movement of cercariae biomass within food webs. Here we report that Plagiorchis sp. cercariae were effectively labelled with 13C by introducing this compound in the food of their snail host. We then added 13C-labelled cercariae as a potential food source to experimental mesocosms containing a simplified model freshwater food web represented by diving beetles (Dytiscidae sp.), dragonfly larvae (Leucorrhinia intacta), oligochaete worms (Lumbriculus variegatus), and a zooplankton community dominated by Daphnia pulex. The oligochaetes had the highest ratio of 13C to 12C, suggesting benthic detritivores are substantial, but previously unrecognized, consumers of cercariae biomass. In an experiment where L. variegatus were fed mass equivalents of dead D. pulex or cercariae, growth was greater with the latter diet, supporting the importance of cercariae as food source for benthic organisms. Given the substantial cercariae biomass possible in natural settings, understanding their contributions to energy flow and nutrient cycling is important, along with developing methods to do so.
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11
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Abstract
Climate change affects ecological processes and interactions, including parasitism. Because parasites are natural components of ecological systems, as well as agents of outbreak and disease-induced mortality, it is important to summarize current knowledge of the sensitivity of parasites to climate and identify how to better predict their responses to it. This need is particularly great in marine systems, where the responses of parasites to climate variables are less well studied than those in other biomes. As examples of climate's influence on parasitism increase, they enable generalizations of expected responses as well as insight into useful study approaches, such as thermal performance curves that compare the vital rates of hosts and parasites when exposed to several temperatures across a gradient. For parasites not killed by rising temperatures, some simple physiological rules, including the tendency of temperature to increase the metabolism of ectotherms and increase oxygen stress on hosts, suggest that parasites' intensity and pathologies might increase. In addition to temperature, climate-induced changes in dissolved oxygen, ocean acidity, salinity, and host and parasite distributions also affect parasitism and disease, but these factors are much less studied. Finally, because parasites are constituents of ecological communities, we must consider indirect and secondary effects stemming from climate-induced changes in host-parasite interactions, which may not be evident if these interactions are studied in isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Byers
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA;
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12
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Selbach C, Poulin R. Some like it hotter: trematode transmission under changing temperature conditions. Oecologia 2020; 194:745-755. [PMID: 33170408 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04800-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Climate change-related increases in temperature will influence the interactions between organisms, including the infection dynamics of parasites in ecosystems. The distribution and transmission of parasites are expected to increase with warmer temperature, but to what extent this will affect closely related parasite taxa living in sympatry is currently impossible to predict, due to our extremely limited understanding of the interspecific variation in transmission potential among parasite species in changing ecosystems. Here, we analyse the transmission patterns of four trematode species from the New Zealand mudsnail Potamopyrgus antipodarum with different life cycles and transmission strategies under two temperature scenarios, simulating current and future warmer temperatures. In a comparative experimental study, we investigated the effects of temperature on the productivity, movement and survival of the parasites' transmission stages (cercariae) to quantify the net effect of temperature on their overall transmission potential. Our results show that increases in temperature positively affect cercarial transmission dynamics, yet these impacts varied considerably between the cercariae of different trematode species, depending on their host-searching behaviour. These different species-specific transmission abilities as well as the varying individual patterns of productivity, activity and longevity are likely to have far-reaching implications for disease dynamics in changing ecosystems, since increases in temperature can shift parasite community structure. Due to the parasites' capacity to regulate the functioning of whole ecological communities and their potential impact as disease agents, understanding these species-specific parasite transmission traits remains a fundamental requirement to predict parasite dynamics under changing environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Selbach
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. .,Department of Biology, Aquatic Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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13
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Lockley EC, Fouda L, Correia SM, Taxonera A, Nash LN, Fairweather K, Reischig T, Durão J, Dinis H, Roque SM, Lomba JP, Dos Passos L, Cameron SJK, Stiebens VA, Eizaguirre C. Long-term survey of sea turtles (Caretta caretta) reveals correlations between parasite infection, feeding ecology, reproductive success and population dynamics. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18569. [PMID: 33122760 PMCID: PMC7596700 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75498-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-term monitoring of host-parasite interactions is important for understanding the consequences of infection on host fitness and population dynamics. In an eight-year survey of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) population nesting in Cabo Verde, we determined the spatiotemporal variation of Ozobranchus margoi, a sanguivorous leech best known as a vector for sea turtle fibropapilloma virus. We quantified O. margoi association with turtles’ δ15N and δ13C stable isotopes to identify where infection occurs. We then measured the influence of infection on reproduction and offspring fitness. We found that parasite prevalence has increased from 10% of the population in 2010, to 33% in 2017. Stable isotope analysis of host skin samples suggests transmission occurs within the host’s feeding grounds. Interestingly, we found a significant interaction between individual size and infection on the reproductive success of turtles. Specifically, small, infected females produced fewer offspring of poorer condition, while in contrast, large, infected turtles produced greater clutch sizes and larger offspring. We interpret this interaction as evidence, upon infection, for a size-dependent shift in reproductive strategy from bet hedging to terminal investment, altering population dynamics. This link between infection and reproduction underscores the importance of using long-term monitoring to quantify the impact of disease dynamics over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Lockley
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK.
| | - Leila Fouda
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
| | - Sandra M Correia
- Instituto Do Mar I.P. (IMar), Cova de Inglesa, C.P 132, Mindelo, Ilha do São Vicente, Cabo Verde
| | - Albert Taxonera
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK.,Associação Projeto Biodiversidade, Mercado Municipal 22, Santa Maria 4111, Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde
| | - Liam N Nash
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
| | - Kirsten Fairweather
- Associação Projeto Biodiversidade, Mercado Municipal 22, Santa Maria 4111, Ilha do Sal, Cabo Verde
| | | | - Jandira Durão
- Biosfera I, Rua de Moçambique 28, Mindelo, Ilha do São Vicente, Cabo Verde
| | - Herculano Dinis
- Associação Projecto Vitó, Xaguate, São Felipe, Ilha do Fogo, Cabo Verde
| | | | - João Pina Lomba
- Associação Ambiental Caretta Caretta, Achada Igreja, Pedra Badejo, Santa Cruz, Ilha do Santiago, Cabo Verde
| | - Leno Dos Passos
- Fundação Maio Biodiversidade, Cidade de Porto Inglês, Ilha do Maio, Cabo Verde
| | - Sahmorie J K Cameron
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
| | - Victor A Stiebens
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
| | - Christophe Eizaguirre
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E14NS, UK
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14
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Bouwmeester MM, Goedknegt MA, Poulin R, Thieltges DW. Collateral diseases: Aquaculture impacts on wildlife infections. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark M. Bouwmeester
- Department of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg The Netherlands
| | - M. Anouk Goedknegt
- UMR 5805 EPOC Station Marine d'Arcachon CNRSUniversité de Bordeaux Arcachon France
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of Zoology University of Otago Dunedin New Zealand
| | - David W. Thieltges
- Department of Coastal Systems NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Den Burg The Netherlands
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15
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Temperature does not influence functional response of amphipods consuming different trematode prey. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:4271-4276. [PMID: 32845358 PMCID: PMC7447966 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Direct consumption on free-living cercariae stages of trematodes by non-host organisms interferes with trematode transmission and leads to reduced infections in the next suitable hosts. Consumer functional responses provide a useful tool to examine relationships between consumption rates and ecologically relevant prey densities, whilst also accounting for abiotic factors that likely influence consumption rates. We investigated how temperature influences the consumer functional response of the amphipod Gammarus lacustris towards the cercariae of three freshwater trematodes (Diplostomum, Apatemon and Trichobilharzia). Amphipods displayed different functional responses towards the parasites, with Type II responses for Diplostomum and Type I responses for Apatemon prey. Temperature did not alter the consumption rate of the amphipod predator. Trichobilharzia was likely consumed at similar proportions as Diplostomum; however, this could not be fully evaluated due to low replication. Whilst Type II responses of invertebrate predators are common to various invertebrate prey types, this is the first time a non-filter feeding predator has been shown to exhibit Type I response towards cercarial prey. The prey-specific consumption patterns of amphipods were related to cercarial distribution in the water column rather than to the size of cercariae or temperature influence. The substantial energy flow into food webs by non-host consumer organisms highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms that modulate functional responses and direct predation in the context of parasitic organisms.
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16
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Introduced marine ecosystem engineer indirectly affects parasitism in native mussel hosts. Biol Invasions 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02318-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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17
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Shvydka S, Cadarso-Suárez C, Ballová D, Sarabeev V. Patterns of monogenean abundance in native and invasive populations of Planiliza haematocheila (Teleostei: Mugilidae): interactions between climate and host defence mechanisms explain parasite release. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:1023-1031. [PMID: 32798531 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
One of the most intriguing questions in invasive biology is how an introduced species changes its population parameters in a new environment. Translocation of free-living species commonly results in co-introduction of their parasites. The current study focuses on the abundance pattern of the monogenean parasite Ligophorus llewellyni of the pacific so-iuy mullet, Planiliza haematocheila, across the native and introduced distribution ranges. We evaluated parasite release by the so-iuy mullet by comparing abundance patterns of L. llewellyni under effects of the host length, water temperature and month of the year in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Azov. Generalised additive models applied to analysis of parasite abundance data showed that relationships between the mean number of L. llewellyni and the three tested independent variables were not linear. Our results suggest that the introduced host lost a large amount of parasite abundance due to the effect of warm climate in a new region, which is mediated by host defence mechanisms. The abundance of L. llewellyni rapidly rose in autumn, as fish activity and immune response decrease, reached the maximum in winter and began to fall in spring as a warm temperature facilitates the fish immune defence. The abundance of L. llewellyni showed an initial increase in response to fish growth and reached an asymptote. The response curves built for native and introduced regions reached an asymptote at different fish body lengths, reflecting the fish growth rate, which is higher in the introduced range of P. haematocheila. We found that the carried parasite species holds the same trend in relationships compared with its native area, between the mean number of monogeneans per host and independent variables increasing abundance with fish length, low temperature and cold months. Our results open new perspectives for future research on statistical modelling of parasite abundance across native and introduced distribution ranges in order to provide deeper insight into host-parasite interactions of invasive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svitlana Shvydka
- Department of Mathematics, Zaporizhzhia National University, Zhukovskogo 66, 69063 Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
| | - Carmen Cadarso-Suárez
- Department of Statistical, Mathematical Analysis and Optimization, University of Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa, s/n. Campus vida, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Dominika Ballová
- Department of Mathematics and Descriptive Geometry, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Radlinského 11, 81005 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Volodimir Sarabeev
- Department of Biology, Zaporizhzhia National University, Zhukovskogo 66, 69063 Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
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18
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Gopko M, Mironova E, Pasternak A, Mikheev V, Taskinen J. Parasite transmission in aquatic ecosystems under temperature change: effects of host activity and elimination of parasite larvae by filter‐feeders. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.07414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail Gopko
- Severtsov Inst. of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Laboratory for Behaviour of Lower Vertebrates Moscow Russia
| | - Ekaterina Mironova
- Severtsov Inst. of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Center of Parasitology Moscow Russia
| | - Anna Pasternak
- Shirshov Inst. of Oceanology RAS, Plankton ecology laboratory Moscow Russia
| | - Victor Mikheev
- Severtsov Inst. of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Laboratory for Behaviour of Lower Vertebrates Moscow Russia
| | - Jouni Taskinen
- Jyväskylän Yliopisto, Dept of Biological and Environmental Science Jyväskylä Finland
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19
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Poulin R. Meta-analysis of seasonal dynamics of parasite infections in aquatic ecosystems. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:501-510. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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20
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Claar DC, Wood CL. Pulse Heat Stress and Parasitism in a Warming World. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:704-715. [PMID: 32439076 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Infectious disease outbreaks emerged across the globe during the recent 2015-2016 El Niño event, re-igniting research interest in how climate events influence disease dynamics. While the relationship between long-term warming and the transmission of disease-causing parasites has received substantial attention, we do not yet know how pulse heat events - common phenomena in a warming world - will alter parasite transmission. The effects of pulse warming on ecological and evolutionary processes are complex and context dependent, motivating research to understand how climate oscillations drive host health and disease. Here, we develop a framework for evaluating and predicting the effects of pulse warming on parasitic infection. Specifically, we synthesize how pulse heat stress affects hosts, parasites, and the ecological interactions between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle C Claar
- University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Scholar, Boulder, CO 80301, USA.
| | - Chelsea L Wood
- University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
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21
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Mestre A, Poulin R, Hortal J. A niche perspective on the range expansion of symbionts. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 95:491-516. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Mestre
- Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of Valencia Av. Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot Spain
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Concordia Richard J. Renaud Science Complex, 7141 Sherbrooke W., H4B 1R6 Montreal Canada
| | - Robert Poulin
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of Otago 340 Great King Street, 9054 Dunedin New Zealand
| | - Joaquín Hortal
- Department of Biogeography and Global ChangeMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN‐CSIC) C/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid Spain
- Departamento de EcologiaICB, Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Rodovia Goiânia‐Nerópolis Km 5, Campus II, Setor Itatiaia, Goiânia GO 74001‐970 Brazil
- cE3c–Centre for EcologyEvolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Edifício C2 Piso 5, 1749‐016 Lisboa Portugal
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22
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Goedknegt MA, Nauta R, Markovic M, Buschbaum C, Folmer EO, Luttikhuizen PC, van der Meer J, Waser AM, Wegner KM, Thieltges DW. How invasive oysters can affect parasite infection patterns in native mussels on a large spatial scale. Oecologia 2019; 190:99-113. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04408-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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23
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Javanmard E, Niyyati M, Ghasemi E, Mirjalali H, Asadzadeh Aghdaei H, Zali MR. Impacts of human development index and climate conditions on prevalence of Blastocystis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Trop 2018; 185:193-203. [PMID: 29802845 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Blastocystis is a prevalent eukaryotic microorganism that has been frequently reported from the stool samples of human and animals, all over the world. The prevalence of this parasite has close correlation with the climate and hygiene situation of studied populations. For the current study, English and Persian databases were searched for the following terms: "Blastocystis hominis", "Blastocystis sp.", "Intestinal Parasites", "Prevalence" and "Iran". In order to data analysis and assess the possibility of publication bias, STATA v11 and Begg's Funnel plot were employed respectively. From 605 searched cases, 86 publications met our criteria for the analysis. The pooled prevalence of Blastocystis was 9.1% (95%CI: 8.2%, 10.1%). The results represented that the prevalence of the parasite using molecular techniques or cultivation followed by molecular techniques (20.89%) was higher than only microscopical examination (8.96%). The prevalence rate of Blastocystis according to human development index was 7.6%, 7.2%, 11.9%, 13.4%, and 3.3% for ranks 1 to 5, respectively. This is the first study signifying the prevalence of Blastocystis regarding the human development index and climate conditions. The findings represented that although human development index, low levels of socioeconomic situations together with appropriate climate such as sufficient humidity and high temperature increase the chance of transmission of Blastocystis in a society.
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24
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Freshwater mussels (Anodonta anatina) reduce transmission of a common fish trematode (eye fluke, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum). Parasitology 2017; 144:1971-1979. [PMID: 28766473 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017001421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Recent results suggest that bivalves can play an important role in restraining the spread of various aquatic infections. However, the ability of mussels to remove free-living stages of macroparasites and reduce their transmission is still understudied, especially for freshwater ecosystems. We investigated the influence of the common freshwater mussel (Anodonta anatina) on the transmission of a trematode (eye fluke, Diplostomum pseudospathaceum), which frequently infects fish in farms and natural habitats. In our experiments, mussels caused a significant decrease (P < 0·001) in the abundance of trematode free-living stages, from 6520 to 1770 cercariae L-1 on average (about 4-fold in 2 h). Individual clearance rates of mussels were 0·6‒3·7 L per hour (mean 1·9). These tests were followed by experimental infections of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) with different doses of D. pseudospathaceum cercariae in the presence or absence of mussels. Exposure of fish to cercariae in the presence of mussels significantly (P < 0·05) reduced the infection intensities in fish (by 30-40%) at all exposure doses. Our results indicate that freshwater bivalves can markedly reduce local cercariae densities and could be useful in mitigation of trematodoses harmful to fish farming.
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25
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Galaktionov KV. Transmission of parasites in the coastal waters of the Arctic seas and possible effect of climate change. BIOL BULL+ 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359016110054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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26
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Médoc V, Firmat C, Sheath D, Pegg J, Andreou D, Britton J. Parasites and Biological Invasions. ADV ECOL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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27
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Burge CA, Closek CJ, Friedman CS, Groner ML, Jenkins CM, Shore-Maggio A, Welsh JE. The Use of Filter-feeders to Manage Disease in a Changing World. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:573-87. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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28
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Barber I, Berkhout BW, Ismail Z. Thermal Change and the Dynamics of Multi-Host Parasite Life Cycles in Aquatic Ecosystems. Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:561-72. [PMID: 27252219 PMCID: PMC5035383 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Altered thermal regimes associated with climate change are impacting significantly on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the Earth's natural ecosystems, with important implications for the biology of aquatic organisms. As well as impacting the biology of individual species, changing thermal regimes have the capacity to mediate ecological interactions between species, and the potential for climate change to impact host-parasite interactions in aquatic ecosystems is now well recognized. Predicting what will happen to the prevalence and intensity of infection of parasites with multiple hosts in their life cycles is especially challenging because the addition of each additional host dramatically increases the potential permutations of response. In this short review, we provide an overview of the diverse routes by which altered thermal regimes can impact the dynamics of multi-host parasite life cycles in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, we examine how experimentally amenable host-parasite systems are being used to determine the consequences of changing environmental temperatures for these different types of mechanism. Our overarching aim is to examine the potential of changing thermal regimes to alter not only the biology of hosts and parasites, but also the biology of interactions between hosts and parasites. We also hope to illustrate the complexity that is likely to be involved in making predictions about the dynamics of infection by multi-host parasites in thermally challenged aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain Barber
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Boris W Berkhout
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Zalina Ismail
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology & Behaviour, College of Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
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