Schistosomes with wings: how host phylogeny and ecology shape the global distribution of Trichobilharzia querquedulae (Schistosomatidae)

Ebbs, Erika T.; Loker, Eric S.; Davis, Norm E.; Flores, Verónica; Veleizán, Aylén Anabella; Brant, Sara V.

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2016.04.009

Cited by 29 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 71 publications

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“…However, it must be emphasized that P. antipodarum already occurs in European waters, and the possible introduction into recreational waters would only slightly increase its range ( Städler et al, 2005 ). From New Zealand, where this mud snail plays the role of intermediate host for many avian parasite species, there are no reports of infection of P. antipodarum with Trichobilharzia species ( Hechinger, 2012 ), even if Trichobilharzia quequedulae was noted in birds of the Southern Hemisphere ( Ebbs et al, 2016 ). The facts above indicate potentially safe use of P. antipodarum against swimmer’s itch.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potamopyrgus antipodarumas a potential defender against swimmer’s itch in European recreational water bodies—experimental study

Marszewska

Cichy

Bulantová

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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Swimmer’s itch is a re-emerging human disease caused by bird schistosome cercariae, which can infect bathing or working people in water bodies. Even if cercariae fail after penetrating the human skin, they can cause dangerous symptoms in atypical mammal hosts. One of the natural methods to reduce the presence of cercariae in the environment could lie in the introduction of non–host snail species to the ecosystem, which is known as the “dilution” or “decoy” effect. The caenogastropod Potamopyrgus antipodarum—an alien in Europe—could be a good candidate against swimmer’s itch because of its apparent resistance to invasion by European bird schistosome species and its high population density. As a pilot study on this topic, we have carried out a laboratory experiment on how P. antipodarum influences the infestation of the intermediate host Radix balthica (a native lymnaeid) by the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti. We found that the co–exposure of 200 P. antipodarum individuals per one R. balthica to the T. regenti miracidia under experimental conditions makes the infestation ineffective. Our results show that a non–host snail population has the potential to interfere with the transmission of a trematode via suitable snail hosts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potamopyrgus antipodarumas a potential defender against swimmer’s itch in European recreational water bodies—experimental study

Marszewska

Cichy

Bulantová

et al. 2018

PeerJ

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“…Trichobilarzia spp. definitive hosts are waterfowl, infections have been reported worldwide as migratory waterfowl (such as Anatidae) facilitate the spread of avian schistosomiasis [58][59][60]. Consequently Anatidae osseous remains were identified in the deposits.…”

Section: Schistosomatidaementioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-Columbian zoonotic enteric parasites: An insight into Puerto Rican indigenous culture diets and life styles

et al. 2020

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The pre-Columbian Huecoid and Saladoid cultures were agricultural ethnic groups that supplemented their diets by fishing, hunting and scavenging. Archaeological deposits associated to these cultures contained a variety of faunal osseous remains that hinted at the cultures' diets. The present study identified zoonotic parasites that may have infected these two cultures as a result of their diets. We used metagenomic sequencing and microscopy data from 540-1,400 year old coprolites as well as the zooarchaeological data to recreate the possible interactions between zoonotic parasites and their hosts. Microscopy revealed Diphyllobothrium spp. and Dipylidium caninum eggs along with unidentified cestode and trematode eggs. DNA sequencing together with functional prediction and phylogenetic inference identified reads of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia intestinalis and Schistosoma spp. The complimentary nature of the molecular, microscopy and zooarchaeology data provided additional insight into the detected zoonotic parasites' potential host range. Network modeling revealed that rodents and canids living in close proximity to these cultures were most likely the main source of these zoonotic parasite infections.

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“…A great deal of previous work has been done on the systematics of the Schistosomatidae [ 26 – 29 ], providing many partial cox1 sequences in GenBank available for comparison. To avoid problems of substitution saturation within phylogenies, more distantly related genera were analyzed in separate alignments.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future

2018

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BackgroundCercarial dermatitis, colloquially “swimmer’s itch”, is a rash contracted in natural bodies of water, when people are exposed to skin-penetrating, larval flatworm parasites of the family Schistosomatidae, that emerge from aquatic snails. Swimmer’s itch is a globally-distributed, allergic condition, of which we know very little regarding local dynamics of transmission. This study aims to gather relevant information on swimmer’s itch in Canada, from multiple perspectives, including the human experience, parasite and host presence and distributions, and insight from historical perspectives.MethodsHerein we utilize a mixed-methods approach towards examining the environmental health issue of swimmer’s itch in Canadian lakes from a nation-wide viewpoint, with an example from Alberta. We examine the human perspective of having contracted swimmer’s itch through a self-reporting surveillance system implemented over a 5-year period. We also conducted a 3-year species survey of parasites and intermediate snail hosts within lakes in central Alberta and compiled this data with snail and vertebrate (definitive) host survey data from across Alberta to examine potential for future spread. We compare the results from our surveys to a historical review of the literature to examine the extent of swimmer’s itch across Canada and identify where future efforts should be focused.ResultsOver 3800 cases of swimmer’s itch were captured across Canada by the self-reporting surveillance system. Swimmer’s itch cases were reported from every province except Prince Edward Island. Species surveys in Alberta revealed 7 new parasite and host records, with potential for swimmer’s itch to occur throughout most of the province based on host distributions. A review and comparison to the literature has highlighted several knowledge gaps surrounding schistosome species, host species and their distributions and contributions towards swimmer’s itch.ConclusionsSwimmer’s itch is a greater environmental health hazard across Canada than previous literature would have alluded. This study provides proof-of-concept for the utility of a self-reporting surveillance system for swimmer’s itch in Canada. Recommendations are made towards implementing a systems-thinking approach that incorporates citizen-scientists for future research, management, and policy surrounding swimmer’s itch.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12940-018-0417-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Schistosomes with wings: how host phylogeny and ecology shape the global distribution of Trichobilharzia querquedulae (Schistosomatidae)

Cited by 29 publications

References 71 publications

Potamopyrgus antipodarumas a potential defender against swimmer’s itch in European recreational water bodies—experimental study

Potamopyrgus antipodarumas a potential defender against swimmer’s itch in European recreational water bodies—experimental study

Pre-Columbian zoonotic enteric parasites: An insight into Puerto Rican indigenous culture diets and life styles

Swimmer’s itch in Canada: a look at the past and a survey of the present to plan for the future

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