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Parasitology International Jun 2024Knowledge of parasite-host interactions is essential for understanding factors associated with the ecology and evolution of both groups. Some aspects, such as host size...
Knowledge of parasite-host interactions is essential for understanding factors associated with the ecology and evolution of both groups. Some aspects, such as host size and phylogeny, as well as parasite specificity, are significant predictors that help unveil the parasite-host relationship. Thus, the goals of this study were: (1) to describe parasite diversity in regions of the Atlantic Forest; (2) to analyze which host characteristics can influence parasite richness of anuran's parasite component community; and (3) to investigate if the prevalence of parasite infection is related to specificity metrics (ecological and phylogenetic), number of infected hosts and parasite's abundance. We identified 49 parasite taxa, classified into three phyla: Nematoda, Acanthocephala, and Platyhelminthes. Supporting the existing literature, our findings corroborate the positive relationship between host size and parasite richness, further emphasizing the significance of this predictor. Parasite prevalence in the host community is related to the number of infected host species and parasite abundance, but not to phylogenetic and ecological specificity indices. This shows that parasite prevalence is strongly associated with infection opportunity, host sampling effort, and high parasite abundance.
PubMed: 38908472
DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102914 -
Parasitology Research Jun 2024Acanthocephalans, in their adult stage, are obligatory parasites of many types of vertebrates, including anuran amphibians. Their complex life cycle always involves an...
Acanthocephalans, in their adult stage, are obligatory parasites of many types of vertebrates, including anuran amphibians. Their complex life cycle always involves an arthropod intermediate host but may include non-obligatory strategies that could improve transmission success, such as paratenic infections. In paratenic hosts, these parasites are normally found loose in the body cavity or encysted in internal organs. Here, we present the first report of acanthocephalans found encysted under the skin of an amphibian (i.e., external to its body cavity). The specimen, a clay robber frog [Haddadus binotatus (Spix, 1824)], had been collected in an Atlantic Forest area in southeastern Brazil. Upon examination of the frog, we recovered two specimens of acanthocephalan (Order Echinorhynchida) encysted under the skin of its venter. Considering the host's relatively small size and its thin ventral musculature, we believe that the acanthocephalans may have accidentally trespassed the muscular tissue while attempting to encyst in the frog's internal body wall.
Topics: Animals; Acanthocephala; Brazil; Anura; Helminthiasis, Animal; Skin
PubMed: 38884663
DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08270-6 -
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 -
Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia... 2024The aim of this study was to record Centrorhynchus sp. associated with the exotic species Aquarana catesbeiana (bullfrog) in southern Brazil and to present a checklist...
The aim of this study was to record Centrorhynchus sp. associated with the exotic species Aquarana catesbeiana (bullfrog) in southern Brazil and to present a checklist of vertebrate hosts in South America. Twenty-nine adults and juveniles of A. catesbeiana were collected in Capão do Leão, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, between October 2019 and December 2020. We found 275 specimens of Centrorhynchus sp. cystacanths in the stomach musculature and coelomic cavity of 55.1% of hosts (16). There was no significant differences in the prevalence and mean intensity of infection with cystacanths when compared males and females of A. catesbeiana. The prevalence was significantly higher in adults than in juveniles. The checklist presents 106 species of vertebrate hosts and 14 taxa of Centrorhynchus recorded in nine South American countries. Avian were the main definitive hosts of Centrorhynchus spp. and snakes Dipsadidae, anurans Hylidae and Leptodactylidae the main paratenic hosts in South America. This is the first record of Centrorhynchus cystacanths in A. catesbeiana in the South America. The study provides tools to help understand the parasitic relationships between species of Centrorhynchus and A. catesbeiana and other hosts in areas where bullfrog have been introduced.
Topics: Animals; Anura; Female; Male; Checklist; Brazil; Acanthocephala; South America; Prevalence; Helminthiasis, Animal; Vertebrates; Birds; Snakes
PubMed: 38836808
DOI: 10.1590/S1984-29612024024 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... May 2024Native and invasive species often occupy similar ecological niches and environments where they face comparable risks from chemical exposure. Sometimes, invasive species...
Native and invasive species often occupy similar ecological niches and environments where they face comparable risks from chemical exposure. Sometimes, invasive species are phylogenetically related to native species, e.g. they may come from the same family and have potentially similar sensitivities to environmental stressors due to phylogenetic conservatism and ecological similarity. However, empirical studies that aim to understand the nuanced impacts of chemicals on the full range of closely related species are rare, yet they would help to comprehend patterns of current biodiversity loss and species turnover. Behavioral sublethal endpoints are of increasing ecotoxicological interest. Therefore, we investigated behavioral responses (i.e., change in movement behavior) of the four dominant amphipod species in the Rhine-Main area (central Germany) when exposed to the neonicotinoid thiacloprid. Moreover, beyond species-specific behavioral responses, ecological interactions (e.g. parasitation with Acanthocephala) play a crucial role in shaping behavior, and we have considered these infections in our analysis. Our findings revealed distinct baseline behaviors and species-specific responses to thiacloprid exposure. Notably, Gammarus fossarum exhibited biphasic behavioral changes with hyperactivity at low concentrations that decreased at higher concentrations. Whereas Gammarus pulex, Gammarus roeselii and the invasive species Dikerogammarus villosus, showed no or weaker behavioral responses. This may partly explain why G. fossarum disappears in chemically polluted regions while the other species persist there to a certain degree. But it also shows that potential pre-exposure in the habitat may influence behavioral responses of the other amphipod species, because habituation occurs, and potential hyperactivity would be harmful to individuals in the habitat. The observed responses were further influenced by acanthocephalan parasites, which altered baseline behavior in G. roeselii and enhanced the behavioral response to thiacloprid exposure. Our results underscore the intricate and diverse nature of responses among closely related amphipod species, highlighting their unique vulnerabilities in anthropogenically impacted freshwater ecosystems.
PubMed: 38801881
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124235 -
Systematic Parasitology May 2024Although most Latin binomial names of species are valid, many are eventually unaccepted when they are found to be synonyms of previously described species, or superseded...
Although most Latin binomial names of species are valid, many are eventually unaccepted when they are found to be synonyms of previously described species, or superseded by a new combination when the species they denote are moved to a different genus. What proportion of parasite species names become unaccepted over time, and how long does it take for incorrect names to become unaccepted? Here, we address these questions using a dataset comprising thousands of species names of parasitic helminths from four higher taxa (Acanthocephala, Nematoda, Cestoda, and Trematoda). Overall, among species names proposed in the past two-and-a-half centuries, nearly one-third have since been unaccepted, the most common reason being that they have been superseded by a new combination. A greater proportion of older names (proposed pre-1950) have since been unaccepted compared to names proposed more recently, however most taxonomic acts leading to species names being unaccepted (through either synonymy or reclassification) occurred in the past few decades. Overall, the average longevity of helminth species names that are currently unaccepted was 29 years; although many remained in use for over 100 years, about 50% of the total were invalidated within 20 years of first being proposed. The patterns observed were roughly the same for all four higher helminth taxa considered here. Our results provide a quantitative illustration of the self-correcting nature of parasite taxonomy, and can also help to calibrate future estimates of total parasite biodiversity.
Topics: Animals; Terminology as Topic; Helminths; Species Specificity; Classification
PubMed: 38700784
DOI: 10.1007/s11230-024-10161-4 -
Journal of Helminthology Apr 2024Acanthocephalans are a group of obligate endoparasites that alternate between vertebrates and invertebrates to complete their life cycles. Occasionally, the same...
The white grunt, (Lacepède, 1801) as paratenic and definitive host of two acanthocephalan species, with the description of a new species of (Palaeacanthocephala: Leptohynchoididae) from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
Acanthocephalans are a group of obligate endoparasites that alternate between vertebrates and invertebrates to complete their life cycles. Occasionally, the same individual host acts as a definitive or paratenic host for different acanthocephalan species. In this study, acanthocephalans were sampled in marine fish in three localities of the Yucatán Peninsula; adults and cystacanths were recovered from the intestine and body cavity, respectively, of from off the coast of Sisal, Yucatán. Ribosomal DNA sequences (small and large subunits) were used to test the phylogenetic position of the species of the genus , whereas the mtDNA gene was used for assessing species delimitation. The analysis revealed an independent genetic lineage, which is recognized herein as a new species, n. sp. The new species is morphologically distinguished from the other six congeners by having a cylindrical proboscis armed with 22-25 longitudinal rows bearing 12 hooks each. The cystacanths were morphologically identified as by having a cylindrical trunk covered with tiny irregular spines on the anterior region, and a cylindrical proboscis armed with 17-18 longitudinal rows of 21 hooks each; small and large subunit phylogenetic analyses yielded within the family Isthomosacanthidae, suggesting that should be transferred to this family from Rhadinorhynchidae where it is currently allocated.
Topics: Animals; Mexico; Phylogeny; Helminthiasis, Animal; Acanthocephala; Fishes; Perciformes
PubMed: 38584424
DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X24000105 -
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution Jun 2024We inventoried all nine species of the 'Acanthephyra purpurea' complex, one of the most abundant and cosmopolitan group of mesopelagic shrimps. We used 119 specimens at...
We inventoried all nine species of the 'Acanthephyra purpurea' complex, one of the most abundant and cosmopolitan group of mesopelagic shrimps. We used 119 specimens at hand and genetic data for 124 specimens from GenBank and BOLD. Phylogenetic analysis of four genes (COI, 16S, NaK, and enolase) showed that the 'Acanthephyra purpurea' complex is polyphyletic and encompasses two species groups, 'A. purpurea' (mostly Atlantic) and 'A. smithi' (Indo-West Pacific). The 'A. purpurea' species group consists of two major molecular clades A. pelagica and A. kingsleyi - A. purpurea - A. quadrispinosa. Molecular data suggest that hitherto accepted species A. acanthitelsonis, A. pelagica, and A. sica should be considered as synonyms. The Atlantic is inhabited by at least two cryptic genetic lineages of A. pelagica and A. quadrispinosa. Morphological analyses of qualitative and quantitative (900 measurements) characters resulted in a tabular key to species and in a finding of four evolutionary traits. Atlantic species showed various scenarios of diversification visible on mitochondrial gene level, nuclear gene level, and morphological level. We recorded and discussed similar phylogeographic trends in diversification and in distribution of genetic lineages within two different clades: A. pelagica and A. kingsleyi - A. purpurea - A. quadrispinosa.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; DNA, Mitochondrial; Decapoda; Phylogeography; Biological Evolution; Acanthocephala
PubMed: 38574781
DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108070 -
Parasitology Apr 2024A new species of , n. sp. is described using integrated morphological methods (light and scanning electron microscopy) and molecular techniques (sequencing and...
A new species of , n. sp. is described using integrated morphological methods (light and scanning electron microscopy) and molecular techniques (sequencing and analysing the nuclear 18S, ITS, 28S regions and mitochondrial 1 and 2 genes), based on specimens collected from the intestine of the northern tree shrew Anderson (Scandentia: Tupaiidae) in China. Phylogenetic analyses show that n. sp. is a sister to in the genus , and also challenge the systematic status of . n. sp. represents the third species reported from China.
Topics: Animals; Phylogeny; Tupaia; China; Acanthocephala; Helminthiasis, Animal; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; DNA, Helminth; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Female; Male; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; Intestines
PubMed: 38525532
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182024000271 -
Turkiye Parazitolojii Dergisi Mar 2024Acanthocephaliasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection of vertebrates. The phylum Acanthocephala contains nearly 1500 acanthocephalan species. The Archiacanthocephala...
Acanthocephaliasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection of vertebrates. The phylum Acanthocephala contains nearly 1500 acanthocephalan species. The Archiacanthocephala class is observed in terrestrial habitats and usually has a large, spineless trunk. Acanthocephalans are parasitic worms that use insects as intermediate hosts in their two-host life cycles. Insects, millipedes, and crustaceans in terrestrial areas serve as intermediate hosts and birds and mammals as definitive hosts. Acanthocephalans collected from the red fox () found dead on the road to Sarıkamış-Kars in 1995 and stored in formaldehyde were kept in Ondokuz Mays University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Parasitology Laboratory Museum until 2023 after our parasitological study found an infected red fox with sp. This study provides the anatomy of the acanthocephalans and the laboratory practice necessary for a good and reliable diagnosis. This study reports a new species, sp., of acanthocephalan (thorny-headed worm) found in red foxes for Türkiye. On the basis of relevant articles, we have created a key to Acanthocephala species occurring in mammals.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Foxes; Acanthocephala; Turkey; Zoonoses; Arthropods
PubMed: 38449371
DOI: 10.4274/tpd.galenos.2023.92063