Noble fan-shell, Pinna nobilis, in Lake Faro (Sicily, Italy): Ineluctable decline or extreme opportunity?

Donato, Giulia; Vázquez‐Luis, Maite; Nebot‐Colomer, Elisabet; Lunetta, Alessia; Giacobbe, Salvatore

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2021.107536

Cited by 21 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…For this reason, we recommend intensive and periodic sampling in order to ensure that the coastal lagoons are truly free of the parasite. Cases of H. pinnae detection within some lagoons (sometimes referred to as sanctuaries) are also being observed and have been described as a consequence of parasite spread from open waters, resulting in enhanced mortalities in the outer region closer to the mouth of the lagoons or in the seaward vicinity of connecting channels [ 61 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. In support of this, in 2018, the population in Alfacs Bay (South Ebro Delta) was infected only in its more external part located next to the open sea and subjected to higher salinities [ 68 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haplosporidium pinnae Parasite Detection in Seawater Samples

et al. 2023

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In this study, we investigated the presence of the parasite Haplosporidium pinnae, which is a pathogen for the bivalve Pinna nobilis, in water samples from different environments. Fifteen mantle samples of P. nobilis infected by H. pinnae were used to characterize the ribosomal unit of this parasite. The obtained sequences were employed to develop a method for eDNA detection of H. pinnae. We collected 56 water samples (from aquaria, open sea and sanctuaries) for testing the methodology. In this work, we developed three different PCRs generating amplicons of different lengths to determine the level of degradation of the DNA, since the status of H. pinnae in water and, therefore, its infectious capacity are unknown. The results showed the ability of the method to detect H. pinnae in sea waters from different areas persistent in the environment but with different degrees of DNA fragmentation. This developed method offers a new tool for preventive analysis for monitoring areas and to better understand the life cycle and the spread of this parasite.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Haplosporidium pinnae Parasite Detection in Seawater Samples

et al. 2023

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“…These areas are some of the most used and valuable ecosystems on Earth, providing a wide range of ecosystem goods and services (Newton et al, 2018). In addition, coastal lagoons across the Mediterranean Sea are key conservation areas for P. nobilis; in the present context, some of them act as putative sanctuaries that are apparently "pathogen-free" areas (Nebot-Colomer et al, 2021;Donato et al, 2021;Prado et al, 2021;Moro-Martínez et al, 2023). Accordingly, the Bizerte Lagoon ecosystem has great importance related to its contribution to safeguarding the environment and biodiversity (Khammassi et al, 2019;Khammassi et al, 2021) and revenues from fishing and aquaculture (Béjaoui, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

First detection of the invasive protozoan Haplosporidium pinnae in the critically endangered bivalve Pinna nobilis in the Southern Mediterranean Sea (Bizerte Lagoon, Tunis) and update of its current status

LABIDI,

VÁZQUEZ-LUIS,

CATANESE

et al. 2023

Medit. Mar. Sci.

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Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) populations have been severely damaged in the last few decades, and since early autumn 2016, a mass mortality event (MME) has drastically impacted populations in the Mediterranean Sea. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to improve the knowledge on the status of P. nobilis populations in the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia) between 2016 and 2022. Before the MME, P. nobilis was found in the lagoon at depths from 1.5 to 6 m, with a density ranging from 2 to 30 ind/100 m². After the MME, mortality reached 100% in the monitored area, except in the eastern part of the Bizerte Lagoon near the Menzel Jemil site, where some living specimens were detected. Moreover, in 2022, successful recruitment was observed in the lagoon. Additionally, our results revealed the presence of Haplosporidium pinnae and Mycobacterium sp. in some living specimens sampled in the Bizerte Lagoon after the MME. This finding constitutes the first detection of both pathogens in Tunisia and in the entire Southern Mediterranean Sea.

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“…The reduction of the populations of P. nobilis has led nowadays to the existence of only a few areas with relic populations, located in coastal lagoons and deltas [ 6 , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] ]. Among the many measures that national authorities and researchers are trying to implement for the safeguarding of individuals and the recovery of populations [ 12 , 16 ], is an international network of larvae collectors deployed in summer months, which has been growing since the onset of the MME [17] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%