Yajiao Duan1, Azmi Al-Jubury2, Per Walter Kania2, Kurt Buchmann2. 1. Laboratory of Aquatic Pathobiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Via Stigbøjlen 7, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark. duanyajiao@sund.ku.dk. 2. Laboratory of Aquatic Pathobiology, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Via Stigbøjlen 7, 1870, Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Digenean trematodes are parasitic platyhelminths that use several hosts in their life cycles and are thereby embedded in various ecosystems affected by local environmental conditions. Their presence in a habitat will reflect the presence of different host species and, as such, they can serve as ecological indicators. Only limited information on the occurrence of trematodes and their link to other trophic levels in the Danish freshwater ecosystems is currently available.Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to increase our knowledge in this field. METHODS: Snails were sampled from 21 freshwater lakes in Denmark, following which shedding procedures were performed, cercariae were recoved and the released parasites were identified using molecular tools (PCR and sequencing). RESULTS: A total of 5657 snail hosts belonging to ten species were identified, revealing a highly diverse parasite fauna comprising 22 trematode species. The overall trematode prevalence was 12.6%, but large variations occurred between host species. The snail host Lymnaea stagnalis showed the highest prevalence and also exhibited the highest diversity, accounting for 47.6% of the species richness. CONCLUSIONS: This survey contributes updated information on parasite-host relations and compatibility and may assist in describing the ecological structure of the investigated Danish freshwater ecosystems.
BACKGROUND:Digenean trematodes are parasitic platyhelminths that use several hosts in their life cycles and are thereby embedded in various ecosystems affected by local environmental conditions. Their presence in a habitat will reflect the presence of different host species and, as such, they can serve as ecological indicators. Only limited information on the occurrence of trematodes and their link to other trophic levels in the Danish freshwater ecosystems is currently available.Therefore, the main aim of the present study was to increase our knowledge in this field. METHODS: Snails were sampled from 21 freshwater lakes in Denmark, following which shedding procedures were performed, cercariae were recoved and the released parasites were identified using molecular tools (PCR and sequencing). RESULTS: A total of 5657 snail hosts belonging to ten species were identified, revealing a highly diverse parasite fauna comprising 22 trematode species. The overall trematode prevalence was 12.6%, but large variations occurred between host species. The snail host Lymnaea stagnalis showed the highest prevalence and also exhibited the highest diversity, accounting for 47.6% of the species richness. CONCLUSIONS: This survey contributes updated information on parasite-host relations and compatibility and may assist in describing the ecological structure of the investigated Danish freshwater ecosystems.
Authors: Diane P Barton; Xiaocheng Zhu; Alara Nuhoglu; Luke Pearce; Matthew McLellan; Shokoofeh Shamsi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-06-13 Impact factor: 4.614
Authors: Ewa Pyrka; Gerard Kanarek; Julia Gabrysiak; Witold Jeżewski; Anna Cichy; Anna Stanicka; Elżbieta Żbikowska; Grzegorz Zaleśny; Joanna Hildebrand Journal: Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl Date: 2022-06-11 Impact factor: 2.773
Authors: Yajiao Duan; Louise von Gersdorff Jørgensen; Per Walter Kania; Asma M Karami; Azmi Al-Jubury; Kurt Buchmann Journal: J Fish Dis Date: 2021-07-21 Impact factor: 2.580