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Shamsi S, Nelson L, Gordon A, Markham K, Francis N, Suthar J, Zhu X. Multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis of Contracaecum magnipapillatum infections in Australian black noddies, Anous minutus (Charadriiformes: Laridae). Parasitol Res 2024; 123:90. [PMID: 38195805 PMCID: PMC10776730 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08050-8] [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: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
We provide the incidental necropsy findings associated with anisakid nematode infections of black noddy terns, Anous minutus Boie, 1844 (Charadriiformes: Laridae), from offshore islands in the southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Specimens collected from the proventriculi were identified morphologically as Contracaecum magnipapillatum Chapin, 1925 (Rhabditida: Anisakidae), using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The entire nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced to provide reference sequences for morphologically well-identified voucher specimens. Interestingly, after an alignment with closely related taxa using BLAST, sequences of the ITS1 and ITS2 were 100% identical to the sequences assigned to Contracaecum septentrionale Kreis, 1955, from a razorbill, Alca torda Linnaeus, 1758 (Charadriiformes: Alcidae), from Spain. These results either raise questions about the ITS as a genetic marker for some members of Contracaecum, or the identity of the specimens assigned to C. septentrionale, given that no supporting morphological data was associated with them. We highlight the need for a combined morphological and molecular approach to parasite diagnostics and the use of multiple genetic loci to resolve the molecular taxonomy of cryptic species. Morphological identifications should be taxonomically robust, transparent and precede the deposition of molecular barcodes in public repositories. The gross and histopathological findings of our investigation concur with previous reports of widespread Contracaecum infections in black noddies and support the contention that Contracaecum spp. are an unlikely primary cause of mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shokoofeh Shamsi
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia.
| | - Leanne Nelson
- Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Archerfield BC QLD, PO Box 156, Brisbane, 4108, Australia.
| | - Anita Gordon
- Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Archerfield BC QLD, PO Box 156, Brisbane, 4108, Australia
| | - Kathryn Markham
- Biosecurity Sciences Laboratory, Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Archerfield BC QLD, PO Box 156, Brisbane, 4108, Australia
| | - Nidhish Francis
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
| | - Jaydipbhai Suthar
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
| | - Xiaocheng Zhu
- School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Gulbali Institute, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2678, Australia
- NSW Department of Primary Industries, Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
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Caffara M, Tedesco P, Davidovich N, Rubini S, Luci V, Cantori A, Glogowski PA, Fioravanti ML, Gustinelli A. Molecular and morphological studies on Contracaecum rudolphii A and C. rudolphii B in great cormorants ( Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) from Italy and Israel. Parasitology 2023; 150:1040-1051. [PMID: 37859396 PMCID: PMC10941213 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000902] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The distribution of parasites is shaped by a variety of factors, among which are the migratory movements of their hosts. Israel has a unique position to migratory routes of several bird species leaving Europe to winter in Africa, however, detailed studies on the parasite fauna of birds from this area are scarce. Our study investigates occurrence and distribution of sibling species among Contracaecum rudolphii complex in Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Italy and Israel, to acquire further information on the geographical range of these species to gain deeper knowledge on the ecology of these parasites and their bird host. A total of 2383 Contracaecum were collected from the gastric mucosa of 28 great cormorants (18 from Israel and 10 from Italy). A subsample was processed for morphological analyses in light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and for molecular analyses through amplification and sequencing of the ITS rDNA and the cox2 mtDNA, and through PCR-RFLP. All the 683 Contracaecum subjected to molecular identification belonged to C. rudolphii s.l., (300 C. rudolphii A and 383 C. rudolphii B). SEM micrographs provided, for the first time, details of taxonomic structures in male specimens from both sibling species, and the first SEM characterization of C. rudolphii B. This work presents the first data on the occurrence of sibling species of C. rudolphii in Israel and provides additional information on the distribution of C. rudolphii A and B in Italy, confirming the high prevalence and intensity of infection observed in Ph. carbo sinensis from other Italian areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Caffara
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Perla Tedesco
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Silva Rubini
- Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna, Brescia, Italy
| | - Valentina Luci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessia Cantori
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrycja Anna Glogowski
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Letizia Fioravanti
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Gustinelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMEVET), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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