Genetic diversity of Microsporidia in the circulatory system of endemic amphipods from different locations and depths of ancient Lake Baikal

Abstract

Endemic amphipods (Amphipoda, Crustacea) of the most ancient and large freshwater Lake Baikal (Siberia, Russia) are a highly diverse group comprising >15% of all known species of continental amphipods. The extensive endemic biodiversity of Baikal amphipods provides the unique opportunity to study interactions and possible coevolution of this group and their parasites, such as Microsporidia. In this study, we investigated microsporidian diversity in the circulatory system of 22 endemic species of amphipods inhabiting littoral, sublittoral and deep-water zones in all three basins of Lake Baikal. Using molecular genetic techniques, we found microsporidian DNA in two littoral (Eulimnogammarus verrucosus, Eulimnogammarus cyaneus), two littoral/sublittoral (Pallasea cancellus, Eulimnogammarus marituji) and two sublittoral/deep-water (Acanthogammarus lappaceus longispinus, Acanthogammarus victorii maculosus) endemic species. Twenty sequences of the small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rDNA were obtained from the haemolymph of the six endemic amphipod species sampled from 0–60 m depths at the Southern Lake Baikal’s basin (only the Western shore) and at the Central Baikal. They form clusters with similarity to Enterocytospora, Cucumispora, Dictyocoela, and several unassigned Microsporidia sequences, respectively. Our sequence data show similarity to previously identified microsporidian DNA from inhabitants of both Lake Baikal and other water reservoirs. The results of our study suggest that the genetic diversity of Microsporidia in haemolymph of endemic amphipods from Lake Baikal does not correlate with host species, geographic location or depth factors but is homogeneously diverse.

The mitochondrial genome of UK (non-native) Dikerogammarus haemobaphes (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) informs upon Dikerogammarus evolution, invasions and associated microparasites

“…Disease screening in the Gammaridae is lacking in research effort; however, some studies have provided insight the parasite diversity of some that also have mitochondrial genomes available (Madyarova et al, 2015;Dimova et al, 2018;Bacela-Spychalska et al, 2018;Ironside & Wilkinson, 2018;Bojko & Ovcharenko, 2019). Combining data from any disease screening efforts with the phylogenetics conducted herein indicated that Microsporidia [Cucumispora sp.…”

“…Multiple sources of literature were used to compare known microparasites [Nudiviridae, 'Candidatus Aquirickettsiella', Microsporidia (Cucumispora and Dictyocoela) and gregarines (Apicomplexa)] of each amphipod with a known mitochondrial genome to the phylogenetic information determined by this study (Madyarova et al, 2015;Bacela-Spychalska et al, 2018;Dimova et al, 2018;Ironside & Wilkinson, 2018;Bojko & Ovcharenko, 2019).…”

“…Using available literature (Madyarova et al, 2015;Bacela-Spychalska et al, 2018;Dimova et al, 2018;Ironside & Wilkinson, 2018;Bojko & Ovcharenko, 2019), the known…”

Shared geographic histories and dispersal contribute to congruent phylogenies between amphipods and their microsporidian parasites at regional and global scales

“…Among more than 30 named species and many other unnamed taxa that were found in amphipod hosts, Dictyocoela is the most common genus with about 10 known species (Bojko & Ovcharenko, 2019;Dimova et al, 2018;Grabner, 2017;Grabner et al, 2015;Kuzmenkova, Sherbakov, & Smith, 2008;Quiles et al, 2019;Slothouber Galbreath, Smith, Terry, Becnel, & Dunn, 2004;Williams, Hamilton, Jones, & Bass, 2018; see Table 1 in Appendix S1). However, the known diversity of Dictyocoela seems to be restricted both geographically and in terms of host range.…”

Updates to the sporadic knowledge on microsporidian infections in groundwater amphipods (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Niphargidae)

“…Studies on microsporidian diversity in freshwater amphipods have a long history and are steadily increasing (see Bulnheim 1975 for review, Ironside et al 2003, Haine et al 2004, Terry et al 2004, Krebes et al 2010, Wilkinson et al 2011, Bacela-Spychalska et al 2012, Stentiford et al 2013, Stentiford and Dunn 2014, Grabner et al 2015, Madyarova et al 2015, Weigand et al 2016, Dimova et al 2018, Quiles et al 2019, but knowledge on microsporidians in groundwater amphipods is very scarce. Early last century, Poisson (1924) was the first reporting Niphargus stygius (today regarded as a species-group) to be infected with Microsporidium vandeli (originally referred to as Mrazekia niphargi, later Bacillidium niphargi) and Microsporidium niphargi (former Thelohania vandeli).…”