The role of the invasive snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum in the transmission of trematode parasites in Europe and its implications for ecotoxicological studies

Abstract

Potamopyrgus antipodarum is an invasive freshwater mollusc in Europe introduced from Australasia in the late 19 th century and now commonly distributed throughout the continent. It has frequently been used as a model species for a range of ecological disciplines, and recently has been increasingly utilised for ecotoxicological work, particularly the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals. However, molluscs are commonly infected with trematode parasites, which can disrupt a range of ecological and physiological host functions including the endocrine system, and may be an undetected source of distortion for pollution studies. It is therefore important to know what role P. antipodarum may play in the transmission of trematodes in Europe. This study assessed the extent of trematode parasitism in P. antipodarum European populations, from both indigenous parasite species and those introduced accidentally through the international trade in fish and birds. In addition, the combined effects of parasitism and pollution on molluscan physiology and ecology is summarized and the implications for ecotoxicological studies using P. antipodarum evaluated.

Invaders of an invader – Trematodes in Potamopyrgus antipodarum in Poland

“…They considered that this species was probably a native and used the immigrant snail host to create a new snail-trematode association. Morley (2008) suggests an alternative interpretation for the occurrence of this parasite in European P. antipodarum populations. The author postulates that this cercaria belonging to the Sanguinicolidae family may be of the eel blood fluke Paracardicoloides yamagutii, a common parasite in New Zealand.…”

“…Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843) is nowadays one of the common prosobranch snail species in Europe (Kerney, 1999;Morley, 2008). This mollusc came from New Zealand over 100 years ago (Kerney, 1999).…”

“…Both interpretations are valid and, the answer to this problem needs the continuation of studies in different parts of Europe. On the other hand, there are more reports in Europe concerning P. antipodarum as a second intermediate host of trematodes (Evans et al, 1981;Morley, 2008), but still no detailed information on the prevalence and intensity of invasion in snail populations (Morley, 2008).…”

“…The introduction, which has been considered, occurred via shipping from New Zealand ports. Snails were probably taken into containers with fresh or ballast water, and were liberated in European harbours during washing or filling of tanks (Ponder, 1988;Morley, 2008). In Poland, snails of this species were first noted by Urbań ski (1938) in Trlą g Lake (northern Poland) and have spread in different types of water bodies: lakes, ponds, streams, dams, etc.…”

Alien aquatic macroinvertebrates along the lateral dimension of a large floodplain

“…Even though we could expect that the principal source of colonisation enabling them to reach the Upper-Rhône floodplain is Lake Geneva, observations for some species contradict this hypothesis. Indeed, C. fluminea was first observed in the Upper-Rhône floodplain in the nineties whereas it has only been collected as recently as /2008. Similarly, D. polymorpha was observed after 1852 in the floodplain and only since 1962 in Lake Geneva (Binder 1965).…”