Epidemiology of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) ulcerous gastritis in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Santoro, Mario; Marchiori, Erica; Iaccarino, Doriana; Uberti, Barbara Ďegli; Cassini, Rudi; Nocera, Fabio Di; Cerrone, Anna; Marcer, Federica

doi:10.1007/s00436-019-06283-0

Cited by 20 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…Infections by S. sulcata are described in the Mediterranean population of loggerhead turtles with prevalence ranging around 20% (6,10,13), with significantly higher values among loggerhead turtles feeding in Adriatic compared to Tyrrhenian, up to 30% (10). The particular ecological features of the Adriatic basin together with its variety and abundance of suitable preys, make it one of most populated neritic foraging ground for loggerhead turtles within the Mediterranean Sea.…”

Section: Phylogenetic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sulcascaris sulcata (Rudolphi, 1819) (Nematoda: Anisakidae) is a nematode parasite of sea turtles, with a wide geographical distribution in marine ecosystems (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Adult parasites have been described within the gastric lumen of loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas), in association with variable degrees of ulcerative gastritis (3,9,10). Infection by S. sulcata has been extensively reported within the Mediterranean basin, in particular from neritic grounds, such as the Adriatic Sea (5,(10)(11)(12)(13), the African shelf (1) and coastal waters off Campania region (6).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adult parasites have been described within the gastric lumen of loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Kemp's ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas), in association with variable degrees of ulcerative gastritis (3,9,10). Infection by S. sulcata has been extensively reported within the Mediterranean basin, in particular from neritic grounds, such as the Adriatic Sea (5,(10)(11)(12)(13), the African shelf (1) and coastal waters off Campania region (6). Higher prevalence and abundance of S. sulcata in larger turtles, feeding in inshore waters is expected, due to the higher probability of ingestion of mollusc intermediate hosts (13).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Updates on Ecology and Life Cycle of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in Mediterranean Grounds: Molecular Identification of Larvae Infecting Edible Scallops

et al. 2020

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Sulcascaris sulcata is a nematode parasite of sea turtles, widespread in neritic foraging grounds with variable prevalence, reaching 30% in loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta feeding in northern Adriatic Sea. Ulcerative gastritis associated to high intensity of infection is reported in this host species. The life cycle of S. sulcata has been elucidated in Australian and American waters, demonstrating the ability of the species of infecting a wide range of intermediate hosts, represented by bivalve and gastropod molluscs. During regular sanitary inspections, nematode larvae were found within the adductor muscle of Pecten jacobeus and Aequipecten opercularis collected from the Northern Adriatic Sea. Morphological and molecular analyses were performed for the identification of larvae, and molecular data were obtained from adult S. sulcata as well. Analysis of the sequences of ITS fragment, and mitochondrial genes cox1 and cox2, revealed high genetic similarity among all the samples, and no geographical clustering was observed between adult parasites collected in Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas. A common allele pool was detected also between the two developmental stages, included larvae from Pecten and Aequipecten. The comparison with other members of the family Anisakidae demonstrated that S. sulcata formed a clear monophyletic cluster. This study reports the first identification of intermediate hosts for S. sulcata within the Mediterranean Sea. Infection in edible scallops justifies the exclusion of the product from the market and zoonotic potential of larvae of this anisakid nematode are yet to be completely excluded. Fidelity of sea turtles to selected foraging grounds, such as the Northern Adriatic shelf, warrants the life cycle of S. sulcata to perpetrate in the area; at the same time, long distance migrations of individuals justify the dispersal of infecting elements over the Mediterranean basin, regardless of turtles' origin.

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Section: Phylogenetic Analysesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Updates on Ecology and Life Cycle of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in Mediterranean Grounds: Molecular Identification of Larvae Infecting Edible Scallops

et al. 2020

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“…The diversity of geographical and ecological features of the two studied basins could also account for the difference in the prevalence of infection between loggerhead turtles from Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas. A difference in prevalence of infection was also recently found for the anisakid nematode Sulcascaris sulcata (Rudolphi, 1819) [33]. The northern area of the Adriatic Sea occupies the flooded seaward extension of the Po Plain and reaches an average depth of about 35 m with a sandy or muddy bottom.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…A high degree of biodiversity could reasonably support a greater abundance of one or more intermediate hosts for both H. mistroides and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in the Adriatic benthic communities. The unique features of the northern Adriatic ecosystem reasonably support a higher probability for the loggerhead turtles to become infected with parasites that use invertebrate intermediate hosts to complete their life cycle [33]. Besides, bathymetric and hydrobiological characteristics of such an enclosed basin are also responsible for higher water temperatures throughout the summer months, which could hypothetically in turn influence the ecology of the parasites enhancing the speed of development of larval stages [36].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 89%

Epidemiology of blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in sea turtles from Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas, off Italy

et al. 2020

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Background: The Spirorchiidae is a family of blood flukes parasitizing turtles. Spirorchiids may cause a wide range of inflammatory reactions in the vascular system of their host being frequently implicated with stranding and death of sea turtles worldwide. Recent studies revealed the presence of two spirorchiid species in the Mediterranean basin. Our study presents comparative epidemiological data of spirorchiid infections in loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded during an eight-year period from Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas, and the first report of Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in a green turtle (Chelonia mydas). Methods:We screened a total of 319 carcasses of loggerhead turtles stranded from January 2011 to December 2018 along the Tyrrhenian coast (n = 111) and the north-western Adriatic coast (n = 208) of Italy using traditional (copromicroscopy and histopathology) and molecular assays. Three green turtles from the Tyrrhenian coast were also included in the study. Results:A total of 56 (17.5%) loggerhead turtles and one green turtle (33.3%) were found to be infected with spirorchiid flukes. Amplification, sequencing of the ITS2 region of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of Hapalotrema mistroides and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in 51 (16.0%) and 24 (7.5%) loggerhead turtles, respectively, and Neospirorchis Neogen-11 in an infected green turtle. Differences in prevalence of infection between the two sampling areas were found. Conclusions:The risk of spirorchiid infection in the Tyrrhenian Sea is lower than in the Adriatic Sea and in general the risk of infection in the Mediterranean is lower than in other geographical locations. Differences in the prevalence of infection between the two sampling areas were related to the differences of regional habitats supporting different abundance of spirorchiid intermediate hosts. A systematic monitoring to evaluate the progress of the infection is recommended, as well as studies on the occurrence and distribution of spirorchiid species from other Mediterranean areas.

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A molecular and ecological study of Grillotia (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) larval infection in small to mid‐sized benthonic sharks in the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea

Santoro

Bellisario

Crocetta

et al. 2021

Ecology and Evolution

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Epidemiology of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) ulcerous gastritis in the Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Cited by 20 publications

References 25 publications

Updates on Ecology and Life Cycle of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in Mediterranean Grounds: Molecular Identification of Larvae Infecting Edible Scallops

Updates on Ecology and Life Cycle of Sulcascaris sulcata (Nematoda: Anisakidae) in Mediterranean Grounds: Molecular Identification of Larvae Infecting Edible Scallops

Epidemiology of blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in sea turtles from Tyrrhenian and Adriatic Seas, off Italy

A molecular and ecological study of Grillotia (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) larval infection in small to mid‐sized benthonic sharks in the Gulf of Naples, Mediterranean Sea

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