-
Marine Pollution Bulletin Sep 2023Here, in an estuarine canal in southeast Brazil, we evaluated the potential for trace metal accumulation of the acanthocephalan parasite Floridosentis mugilis, which...
Trace metal accumulation is infrapopulation-dependent in acanthocephalans parasites of the white mullet (Mugil curema) from an estuarine environment of southeastern Brazil coast.
Here, in an estuarine canal in southeast Brazil, we evaluated the potential for trace metal accumulation of the acanthocephalan parasite Floridosentis mugilis, which infects the fish host Mugil curema. The quantities of the trace metals were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), which was used to analyze samples of the fish's muscle, intestine, and liver as well as the parasites. The parasites and the host's tissues had significantly different trace metal concentrations, according to our data. Furthermore, some metals have quite high bioconcentration factors, including Al, Cr, Ni, and Cd. We also found that the trace metal concentrations in the parasites were impacted by the sizes of the parasitic infrapopulations, with smaller infrapopulations tending to accumulate more metals. This study shows this acanthocephalan species' effective ability to store metals and is the first to investigate metal accumulation using it as a model.
Topics: Animals; Parasites; Brazil; Environmental Monitoring; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Acanthocephala; Metals; Smegmamorpha; Metals, Heavy
PubMed: 37552925
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115374 -
Parasitology Research Aug 2023Amphipods Eogammarus tiuschovi were experimentally infected by the acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae). Within the first four days...
Amphipods Eogammarus tiuschovi were experimentally infected by the acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus gadi (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae). Within the first four days post-infection, acanthors of the acanthocephalan caused the cellular response of the host, which ended with their complete encapsulation on day 4 post-infection. The acanthors obtained through the experiment were examined ultrastructurally. Two syncytia (frontal and epidermal) and a central nuclear mass are found in the acanthor's body. The frontal syncytium has 3-4 nuclei and contains secretory granules with homogeneous, electron-dense contents. Since the secretory granules occupy only the anterior one-third of this syncytium, it is suggested that the contents of these granules are involved in the acanthor's migration through the gut wall of the amphipod. The central nuclear mass consists of an aggregation of fibrillar bodies and a few electron-light nuclei distributed on the periphery. Some of these nuclei, located near the central nuclear mass, are assumed to be a source of the acanthocephalan's internal organs. The epidermal syncytium surrounds the frontal syncytium and the central nuclear mass. It is represented by a superficial cytoplasmic layer, but the bulk of the cytoplasm is concentrated in the posterior one-third of the acanthor's body. Syncytial nuclei are evenly distributed throughout the cytoplasm. The muscular system of the acanthors consists of 10 longitudinal muscle fibers located below the superficial cytoplasmic layer and two muscle retractors crossing the frontal syncytium.
Topics: Animals; Acanthocephala; Muscles; Amphipoda; Cell Nucleus; Cytoplasm
PubMed: 37338583
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07899-z -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2023Acanthocephalans, intestinal parasites of vertebrates, are characterised by orders of magnitude higher metal accumulation than free-living organisms, but the mechanism...
Acanthocephalans, intestinal parasites of vertebrates, are characterised by orders of magnitude higher metal accumulation than free-living organisms, but the mechanism of such effective metal accumulation is still unknown. The aim of our study was to gain new insights into the high-resolution localization of elements in the bodies of acanthocephalans, thus taking an initial step towards elucidating metal uptake and accumulation in organisms under real environmental conditions. For the first time, nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) was used for high-resolution mapping of 12 elements (C, Ca, Cu, Fe, N, Na, O, P, Pb, S, Se, and Tl) in three selected body parts (trunk spines, inner part of the proboscis receptacle and inner surface of the tegument) of Dentitruncus truttae, a parasite of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Krka River in Croatia. In addition, the same body parts were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and correlated with NanoSIMS images. Metal concentrations determined using HR ICP-MS confirmed higher accumulation in D. truttae than in the fish intestine. The chemical composition of the acanthocephalan body showed the highest density of C, Ca, N, Na, O, S, as important and constitutive elements in living cells in all studied structures, while Fe was predominant among trace elements. In general, higher element density was found in trunk spines and tegument, as body structures responsible for substance absorption in parasites. The results obtained with NanoSIMS and TEM-NanoSIMS correlative imaging represent pilot data for mapping of elements at nanoscale resolution in the ultrastructure of various body parts of acanthocephalans and generally provide a contribution for further application of this technique in all parasite species.
Topics: Animals; Spectrometry, Mass, Secondary Ion; Acanthocephala; Trout; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Intestines; Metals
PubMed: 37169189
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164010 -
Acta Parasitologica Mar 2024The aim of this article is to describe a new and unusual species of Neoechinoprhynchus Stiles & Hassall, 1905 from the Arabian Gulf coast off Iraq.
The Description of Neoechinorhynchus miniovalis n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from the Mudskipper Boleophthalmus dussumieri Valenciennes (Gobiiformes: Oxudercidae) in Shatt Al-Basrah Canal Southern Iraq.
PURPOSE
The aim of this article is to describe a new and unusual species of Neoechinoprhynchus Stiles & Hassall, 1905 from the Arabian Gulf coast off Iraq.
METHODS
Routine methods for examination of fish hosts and recovery of acanthocephalean parasites were followed. Parasites were cleaned, relaxed overnight in refrigerated water then fixed in cold 70% ethanol. Standard procedure for staining, dehydration, clearing in xylene and mounting in Canada balsam was followed.
RESULTS
Neoechinorhynchus miniovalis n. sp. is described from five whole-mounted specimens collected from the mudskipper Boleophthalmus dussumieri Valenciennes (Oxudericidae) captured in Shatt Al-Basrah Canal, Iraq in 2008. It is distinguished from other species of Neoechinorhynchus Stiles and Hassall, 1905 by a combination of the following diagnostic characters: very small ellipsoid trunk with tapering posterior end and correspondingly small size organs; body wall with similar thickness dorso-ventrally; proboscis wider than long with long anterior hooks having prominent roots; hooks in second and third circles much smaller and rootless; receptacle 5-6 times as long as proboscis with a triangular cephalic ganglion at its base; no para-receptacle structure; lemnisci relatively long and equal, not reaching anterior testis; all male reproductive structures contiguous in posterior two-thirds of trunk; testes equatorial and much wider than long; anterior testis smaller than posterior testis; large syncytial cement gland with six giant nuclei; cement reservoir adjacent to anterior end of sperm vesicle adjacent to Saefftigen's pouch. No sexual dimorphism except that the trunk is more rounded in females than in males. The female reproductive system is about one-third as long as the trunk with the selective apparatus in two positions and uterine bell angulating ventrad. Female lemnisci are longer than in males. Comparisons with worldwide and North American-related species that have partially similar features are made.
CONCLUSIONS
The finding of Neoechinorhynchus miniovalis n. sp. with unusual small body and wide ellipsoid shape acanthocephalan is considered the first acanthocephalan species belonging to Neoechinorhynchus reported from Palearctic region compared to similar seven species reported only from Neotropical (three species), Nearctic regions (two species), far east (one species) and oriental (one species).
Topics: Animals; Fish Diseases; Helminthiasis, Animal; Acanthocephala; Male; Iraq; Female; Perciformes
PubMed: 38159165
DOI: 10.1007/s11686-023-00761-3 -
Current Research in Parasitology &... 2024Black gobies () from the Finnish Archipelago, Baltic Sea, were screened for helminth infections in summer 2020. Helminths were identified morphologically and/or...
Black gobies () from the Finnish Archipelago, Baltic Sea, were screened for helminth infections in summer 2020. Helminths were identified morphologically and/or molecularly. Altogether 26 novel sequences were generated and analysed using maximum likelihood estimation. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses based on mitochondrial genes revealed the presence of 8 species belonging to the Digenea ( Lineage 3), Cestoda (), Nematoda ( A, sp. and ), and Acanthocephala (a putative new species of , and sp.). Phylogenetic and comparative sequence analyses revealed that the putative new acanthocephalan species is closely related to described from the Caspian seal, , in the Caspian Sea. The black goby represents a new host record for four parasite species ( Lineage 3, A, and sp.). The Finnish Archipelago is a novel locality record for three species ( sp., Lineage 3 and ).
PubMed: 38283061
DOI: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2023.100169 -
Journal of Helminthology Jan 2024The Australasian harrier , a native of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, is an opportunistic hunter of small prey, although a large part of its diet consists...
The Australasian harrier , a native of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, is an opportunistic hunter of small prey, although a large part of its diet consists of carrion, mainly from roadkill. Besides a record of a single, unnamed species of capillariid nematode there have been no investigations into the parasites of Australasian harriers in New Zealand. In this study, a helminthological survey of sixty-five deceased harriers from southern New Zealand uncovered a gastrointestinal helminth fauna consisting of six parasite species. (Nematoda) was previously described only from fragmented females, and a redescription is presented here. n. sp. (Nematoda) is described, and distinguished from its congeners by its slender body shape and shorter spicules. (Trematoda) is reported for the first time in New Zealand. (Cestoda) and (Acanthocephala) were previously described as new species elsewhere. An unnamed species of capillariid appears to be mainly confined to North Island and is rare in South Island. Prevalence and intensity metrics are given, and DNA sequences provided to accompany new re/descriptions. Potential intermediate hosts are discussed, and the origins of the helminths and their potential for pathogenicity are considered.
Topics: Female; Animals; New Zealand; Nematoda; Helminths; Birds; Acanthocephala; Trematoda; Cestoda; Spirurida
PubMed: 38213187
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X23000883 -
Systematic Parasitology Feb 2024Neorhadinorhynchus nudus (Harada, 1938) Yamaguti, 1939 (Cavisomidae) was morphologically described from the frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Lacépède) (Scombridae) in Nha...
Neorhadinorhynchus nudus (Harada, 1938) Yamaguti, 1939 (Cavisomidae) was morphologically described from the frigate tuna Auxis thazard (Lacépède) (Scombridae) in Nha Trang, Pacific south Vietnam. Females of N. nudus were fully described for the first time in the Pacific. Its original inadequate description as Rhadinorhynchus nudus (Harada, 1938) was corrected in material from Fiji Island, the Red Sea and Pacific Vietnam and errors in the text and line drawings of Harada were repeated in subsequent major publications where it underwent considerable nomenclature changes. New descriptive and biogeographical notes are included. We also provided here the molecular characterization of the nuclear gene (18S) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) sequence data of N. nudus. Furthermore, to elucidate the phylogenetic relationship of N. nudus within the family Cavisomidae and with other isolates were performed incorporating nuclear (18S) and mitochondrial (cox1) sequence data using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI). The phylogenetic results showed that N. nudus has a relationship with other isolates of the same species and the median-joining network showed the pattern of haplotypes that reflected the structure of the populations.
Topics: Animals; Female; Acanthocephala; Bayes Theorem; Phylogeny; Vietnam; Species Specificity; Fishes
PubMed: 38407667
DOI: 10.1007/s11230-023-10139-8 -
Journal of Helminthology Jul 2023In the present study, we sought to determine whether i) a waterfowl signal induces avoidance behaviour of the amphipod , ii) infection by the acanthocephalan affects...
In the present study, we sought to determine whether i) a waterfowl signal induces avoidance behaviour of the amphipod , ii) infection by the acanthocephalan affects the behaviour of the amphipod, and iii) the parasite interferes with the amphipod response to waterfowl. We evaluated amphipod behaviour experimentally by measuring activity levels, phototaxis, geotaxis, and clinging behaviour. The main findings of this study indicate that uninfected amphipods show avoidance behaviour by reducing their activity in the presence of a predator signal. Secondly, infected amphipods show altered behaviour, such as swimming in bright areas near the water surface, which makes them more visible to predators in nature. Lastly, the presence of predatory cues causes infected amphipods to drop to the bottom, which increases their visibility to predators. The present research allows us to perceive the intricate interplay among predators, parasites, and their intermediate hosts and advance our understanding of these complex ecological dynamics.
PubMed: 37522653
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X23000445 -
Journal of Helminthology Oct 2023
The elevation of a unique population of Corynosoma strumosum (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) from the Caspian seal, Pusa caspica, in the Caspian Sea to Corynosoma neostrumosum n. sp. - CORRIGENDUM.
PubMed: 37807853
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X23000627 -
Parasitology Research Jun 2024We describe the composition of endoparasites associated with leaf litter anurans from an Atlantic Forest area, in southeastern Brazil. We tested if body size, sex, and...
We describe the composition of endoparasites associated with leaf litter anurans from an Atlantic Forest area, in southeastern Brazil. We tested if body size, sex, and reproductive modes of anuran hosts influence endoparasite abundance and richness. We sampled 583 individuals from 11 anuran species and recorded 1,600 helminths from 14 taxa. The helminths that infected the greatest number of anuran host species were the nematodes Cosmocerca parva (8 spp.), Physaloptera sp. (8 spp.), and Cosmocerca brasiliense (7 spp.), and the most abundant helminth species were Physaloptera sp. (14.6%), Cosmocerca brasiliense (13.7%) and Cosmocerca parva (12.6%). Both helminth abundance and richness were positively affected by anuran body size and dependence on water for reproduction. Larger hosts can contain a higher abundance of parasites because they may provide more physical space than smaller ones, or it can simply be a function of age. Besides, parasite species richness can be highly correlated with the amount of time a host spends in association with aquatic habitats, a conservative aspect of both parasite and host natural history. Within host species, there was a positive and significant influence of body size on helminth abundance. Haddadus binotatus females had greater helminth abundance than males, probably due to sex-related differences in behavior and/or in physiology. Our data suggest that reproductive modes could also influence helminth infection parameters in other anuran communities and should be considered in detail in future analyses.
Topics: Animals; Anura; Brazil; Body Size; Female; Male; Helminths; Reproduction; Biodiversity; Host-Parasite Interactions
PubMed: 38878081
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08266-2