Huffmanela cf. huffmani (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae) infecting swim bladder, peritoneum, and gonad of variable platyfish, Xiphophorus variatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) and eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Poeciliidae) in Florida; taxonomy, phylogenetic analysis, and pathological changes

Bullard, Stephen A.; Moravec, František; Ksepka, Steven P.; Warren, Micah B.; Dutton, Haley R.; Huffman, David G.; Yanong, Roy P.

doi:10.1007/s00436-022-07570-z

Cited by 3 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Standard nucleotide BLAST (blastn) was used to compare the target sequences (18S, 28S and ITS) with sequence data previously registered in GenBank repository. All available sequences of different species of genera belonging to the family Trichosomoididae Hall, 1916, and sequence data representing species of important genera within the other known families of the superfamily Trichinelloidea Ward, 1907 (Capillariidae Railliet, 1915; Trichinellidae Ward, 1907; Trichuridae Ransom, 1911; and Cystoopsidae Skryabin, 1923), were retrieved from GenBank and included in phylogenetic analysis (Table 2 ) [ 5 , 32 , 33 ]. Likewise, only sequences with approximately similar length of those newly generated in this study were selected.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nonetheless, infections observed in external organs and musculature (flesh) could negatively impact the marketability of affected fish and result in their rejection by final consumers [ 16 ]. In addition, infection diagnosed in the swim bladder was found to reduce the physiological efficiency of this specific organ [ 5 ]. Eggs associated with Huffmanela species have also been detected in stool samples collected from humans; however, there is no report on the zoonotic potential of Huffmanela species from a public health perspective [ 17 – 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Description, molecular identification and pathological lesions of Huffmanela persica sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) from the daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus

et al. 2023

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Background The genus Huffmanela Moravec, 1987 (Nematoda, Trichosomoididae, Huffmanelinae), represents a group of nematodes that infect both marine and freshwater fish, and the main gross feature of infection with different species of the genus is the presence of noticeable dark spots or tracks within the parasitized tissues. The purpose of this study was to describe morphologically and morphometrically the eggs of a new marine species of Huffmanela (Huffmanela persica sp. nov.), which was found in the form of black spots in the ovary and the tunica serosa of the stomach of the daggertooth pike conger (Muraenesox cinereus). The new species differs from Huffmanela hamo, another species reported from musculature of this host in Japan, in egg metrics, eggshell features and targeted organ. Molecular identification and pathological examination of the lesions caused by the new species are also reported. Methods Nematode eggs with varying degrees of development were separated from the infected tissues (ovary and tunica serosa of stomach) and investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Different species-specific markers (small subunit ribosomal DNA, 18S; large subunit ribosomal DNA, 28S; internal transcribed spacer, ITS) were used for molecular identification and phylogenetic study of the new species. Infected tissues were fixed in buffered formalin for pathological investigations. Results The fully developed eggs of H. persica sp. nov. are distinguished from those previously described from this host on the basis of their measurements (size, 54–68 × 31–43 µm; polar plugs, 6.4–9.7 × 8.4–12 µm; shell thickness, 3.5–6.1 µm) and a delicate but ornate uterine layer (UL) covering the entire eggshell including the polar plugs. Histopathological examination revealed a fibro-granulomatous inflammation in the ovary and the serosal layer of the stomach of infected fish. Maximum-likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis recovered a sister relationship between the new species of marine origin and Huffmanela species previously collected from freshwater hosts. Conclusions The present study is the first to report the molecular characterization and phylogenetic position of a teleost-associated marine species of the genus Huffmanela. A comprehensive list of nominal and innominate populations of Huffmanela is also provided. Graphical abstract

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Description, molecular identification and pathological lesions of Huffmanela persica sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) from the daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus

et al. 2023

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“…2 of Grigonis and Solomon (1976) [43]). Even though the eggshells of Huffmanela clades from sharks are thus categorically different from those from teleost hosts, recent 18S sequence analysis of a few Huffmanela clades [23] suggests that the freshwater clades of Huffmanela from teleost hosts are much different from at least some of those from selachian hosts. More sequences are required from marine teleosts for a decision, and this work is underway.…”

Section: Rigid Eggshell Wallmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We were drawn into this adventure during an ultrastructural study of the eggshell of Huffmanela huffmani [74], an obscure histozoic nematode of fish that is endemic to three springs in central Texas and a fish farm near Tampa, Florida, USA [23]. Our transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images had revealed structures in the H. huffmani eggshell that we were unable to identify using the classical "trilaminar" anatomical/ terminological eggshell framework that had been used for decades to describe the nematode eggshell.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nematode eggshells: A new anatomical and terminological framework, with a critical review of relevant literature and suggested guidelines for the interpretation and reporting of eggshell imagery

Bond

Huffman

2023

Parasite

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A literature review for a recent ultrastructural study of a trichinelloid eggshell revealed consistently occurring errors in the literature on nematode eggshell anatomy. Examples included nematodes of medical, veterinary, and agricultural importance in several orders. Previous researchers had warned of some of these errors decades ago, but a comprehensive solution was not offered until 2012 when a clarifying new anatomical and developmental interpretation of nematode eggshells was proposed by members of the Caenorhabditis elegans Research Community. However, their findings were explained using arcane acronyms and technical jargon intended for an audience of experimental molecular geneticists, and so their papers have rarely been cited outside the C. elegans community. Herein we (1) provide a critical review of nematode eggshell literature in which we correct errors and relabel imagery in important historical reports; (2) describe common reporting errors and their causes using language familiar to researchers having a basic understanding of microscopy and nematode eggs; (3) recommend a new hexalaminar anatomical and terminological framework for nematode eggshells based on the 2012 C. elegans framework; and (4) recommend new unambiguous terms appropriate for the embryonated/larvated eggs regularly encountered by practicing nematodologists to replace ambiguous or ontogenetically restricted terms in the 2012 C. elegans framework. We also (5) propose a resolution to conflicting claims made by the C. elegans team versus classical literature regarding Layer #3, (6) extend the C. elegans hexalaminar framework to include the polar plugs of trichinelloids, and (7) report new findings regarding trichinelloid eggshell structure.

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“…A fourth, but now extinct population of Huffmanela was discovered to have been infecting centrarchids in the nearby Comal Springs until the drought of 1956 [45]. Recently, adults and eggs that are morphometrically and genetically undisguisable from SMR H. huffmani were discovered infecting freshwater poeciliids from ornamental fish ponds in Ruskin, Florida [51]. The 21 other nominate species and about 15 additional innominate but distinctive populations of Huffmanela have all been reported exclusively from marine or estuarine fishes, and H. huffmani remains the only reported freshwater species.…”

Section: The Clades Of Focusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeography of Selected Spring Endemics in Texas Interglacial-Drought Refugia with Unexpected Insights from a Spring-Dependent Nematode Parasite

et al. 2023

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The contemporary distribution of crenobiontic endemics in central Texas is enigmatic because only some springs are occupied by crenobionts despite other unoccupied springs having seemingly suitable habitats. In the absence of complete paleo-records, a cohesive and widely accepted explanation for this biogeography has eluded researchers for many years. We suggest that data on contemporary species with obligate coevolution, such as parasites with multiple obligate hosts in their life cycles, can help to fill intervening gaps in the paleo-record because the contemporary distribution of such a parasite indicates that its hosts cohabitated without interruption since the arrival of the parasite. To test this conjecture, we studied one such parasite endemic to a select few central Texas springs, Huffmanela huffmani. By studying the distribution of the intermediate host, geologic and paleo-climatic records, performing lab experiments with live animals, and examining archived museum specimens of the definitive hosts from the 1950s, we were able to test multiple predictions about how the distribution of H. huffmani became what it is today. Our results corroborate a narrative suggesting that several severe droughts since the Wisconsin glaciations are responsible for having sculpted the present-day distribution of central Texas crenobionts.

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Cited by 3 publications

References 31 publications

Description, molecular identification and pathological lesions of Huffmanela persica sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) from the daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus

Description, molecular identification and pathological lesions of Huffmanela persica sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae: Huffmanelinae) from the daggertooth pike conger Muraenesox cinereus

Nematode eggshells: A new anatomical and terminological framework, with a critical review of relevant literature and suggested guidelines for the interpretation and reporting of eggshell imagery

Biogeography of Selected Spring Endemics in Texas Interglacial-Drought Refugia with Unexpected Insights from a Spring-Dependent Nematode Parasite

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