First Ukrainian record of the invasive leech Helobdella europaea (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) from an aquarium in Kharkiv: morphological variability and phylogenetic relationships

Morhun, Halyna; Sidorovsky, S. A.; Khomenko, Andrii; Mazepa, Glib; Utevsky, Serge

doi:10.2478/s11756-020-00542-7

Cited by 3 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Several studies have suggested that H. europaea is part of a species complex, which includes H. triserialis and H. socimulcensis (Siddall and Borda 2003;Siddall and Budinoff 2005;Morhun et al 2021). Reconstructions generated during the current study show support for this H. triserialis complex, given the paraphyly of all H. europaea sequences included with H. triserialis and H. socimulcensis sequences for comparison.…”

Section: Molecular Barcodingsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…The close affinity of H. europaea with H. socimulcensis (0.0297 ± 0.0079) and H. triserialis (0.0304 ± 0.0086) provides support that these three taxa may comprise a species complex (Table 2, values in bold), which is further discussed by Morhun et al (2021). Similarly, pairwise divergence estimates were low between H. robusta with H. papillata (0.0277 ± 0.0054), and H. stagnalis and H. octatestisaca (0.0084 ± 0.0035), respectively.…”

Section: Evolutionary Divergence Estimatesmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…europaea was first described as Helobdella striata from Germany (Kutschera 1985), but the latter name was preoccupied and this species was renamed (Kutschera 1987). Since then it has been reported in other European countries including the Netherlands (van Haaren et al 2004), Spain (Jueg 2008;Reyes-Prieto et al 2014), Hungary (Málnás et al 2016) and more recently Ukraine (Morhun et al 2021). Besides Europe, it is also present in California (Kutschera et al 2013), Taiwan (Lai et al 2009), North Africa (Mabrouki et al 2019), South Africa, Hawai'i, New Zealand (Siddall and Budinoff 2005), and Australia (Govedich and Davies 1998referred to as H. papillornata;Pfeiffer et al 2004;Siddall and Budinoff 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…Results reported here underscore the utility of molecular barcoding tools for identifying invasive or potentially invasive taxa. The cox1 locus has successfully been used to identify H. europaea in various other parts of the world where concerns have been raised on its presence, including Ukraine (Morhun et al 2021), Spain (Reyes-Prieto et al 2014) and New Zealand (Siddall and Budinoff 2005).…”

Section: Molecular Barcodingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is hermaphroditic, feeds on the haemolymph of host aquatic invertebrates (oligochaetes, insects and gastropods), and conducts brood care of its young. While its ecological niche varies from still waters to slow flowing hydrosystems, it is often epiphytic to algae and macrophytes, and has the capability of colonising artificial drainages and canals, slow streams, irrigation and drainage ditches and polluted open sewers (Lai et al 2009;Málnás et al 2016;Morhun et al 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leech breach: a first record of the invasive freshwater leech Helobdella europaea (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Fiji

Rashni

Brown

McLenachan

et al. 2023

Pacific Conserv. Biol.

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Context The freshwater flat leech Helobdella europaea Kutschera, 1987 is a small annelid indigenous to South America. This invasive species feeds on the haemolymph of host aquatic invertebrates, with occurrences reported from Europe, USA, Taiwan, North Africa, Hawai‘i, Australia and New Zealand. A large number of individuals were discovered in the Ba River catchment, Fiji, during a 2015–2020 freshwater biodiversity survey, raising concerns of potential impacts on endemic Fijian aquatic invertebrate fauna and ecosystem integrity. Aims To facilitate assessments of its spread and ethology, this study employed morphological and phylogenetic analyses for verification of taxonomic identity. Methods Phylogenetic trees were constructed using a 658 bp fragment of the mitochondrial DNA cox1 (COI) gene. The first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of H. europaea was also determined using selective multiple displacement amplification and Oxford Nanopore Technology to provide a reference for future comparative analyses and source tracking of spread to other regions. Key results Morphological and COI analyses identified all Fijian leech specimens collected (n = 16) as H. europaea, reporting the first occurrence of this species on a south-west Pacific Island. The complete mitochondrial genome was sequenced. Conclusions Confirmation of its presence in Fiji is a national biosecurity concern and will guide the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji and national agencies in further ecosystem assessment and response strategies. Implications With the complete mitochondrial genome of H. europaea now available, transmission pathway traceability is possible in other regions where this species may be detected.

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Section: Molecular Barcodingsupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Evolutionary Divergence Estimatesmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Molecular Barcodingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Leech breach: a first record of the invasive freshwater leech Helobdella europaea (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Fiji

Rashni

Brown

McLenachan

et al. 2023

Pacific Conserv. Biol.

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Biology, morphology and taxonomy of a snail-feeding leech from North Carolina, USA, provisionally identified as Helobdella lineata (Verrill, 1874) (Glossiphoniidae): First evidence for extra-oral digestion in the Hirudinea

SAWYER

2024

Zootaxa

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This is a twelve-year longitudinal study of a common snail-feeding leech indigenous to the Albemarle region of northeastern North Carolina, USA. Based on contents of this paper the species is provisionally identified as Helobdella lineata (Verrill, 1874). For all practical purposes this is the first comprehensive description of this species. Particular attention is focused on variability of its dorsal papillae and variable pigment patterns within the Albemarle population. A total of 404 specimens were collected from 25 collecting stations in disparate parts of the region. Specialised leech traps set in these swamps were monitored regularly yielding unprecedented information on its morphology, ecology and general biology. This study recognises four principal pigment variants within the Albemarle region which, based on dissections, appear to represent a single biological species. Moreover, limited observations suggest that pigment variability is attributable primarily to adaptive camouflage to local surroundings. Methodologically it is emphasized in this paper that variable traits cannot serve as key taxonomic anchors. A proposed alternative diagnosis for identifying H. lineata is based entirely on more rigorous, non-variable characters. A significant finding is that H. lineata is most meaningfully understood in terms of specialist adaptation to feeding on snails. Furthermore, it is proposed that such adaptation required a major evolutionary shift within the foregut of this species. Evidence is presented that H. lineata uses uniquely large salivary cells to dissolves solid snail tissue into a semi-fluid state before ingestion via a specialised proboscis. This is the first example of extra-oral digestion in the Hirudinea.

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First record of the introduced freshwater leech Helobdella europaea Kutschera 1987 in Portugal

et al. 2022

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Recent spread of alien leech species has been reported throughout Europe, but a severe knowledge gap concerning their impact, distribution and ecology remains. Here, we document the occurrence of Helobdella europaea in a freshwater habitat in the north of Portugal, the first published record of this species in the country. Four specimens were found during water sampling at Ferreira River and promptly collected for study. Morphological identification was performed and tissue samples were also obtained for DNA barcode sequencing. Genetic analysis yielded a single haplotype shared by the four specimens, with very low divergence relative to other sequences deposited in public databases, confirming its identity.

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First Ukrainian record of the invasive leech Helobdella europaea (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) from an aquarium in Kharkiv: morphological variability and phylogenetic relationships

Cited by 3 publications

References 34 publications

Leech breach: a first record of the invasive freshwater leech Helobdella europaea (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Fiji

Leech breach: a first record of the invasive freshwater leech Helobdella europaea (Hirudinea: Glossiphoniidae) in Fiji

Biology, morphology and taxonomy of a snail-feeding leech from North Carolina, USA, provisionally identified as Helobdella lineata (Verrill, 1874) (Glossiphoniidae): First evidence for extra-oral digestion in the Hirudinea

First record of the introduced freshwater leech Helobdella europaea Kutschera 1987 in Portugal

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