Local differences in immunocompetence reflect resistance of sticklebacks against the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum

Abstract

We investigated population differences in immunological adaptation of three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) to one of their most abundant macroparasites, the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. We compared infection success in lab-bred fish of 2 populations in northern Germany, from a lake, where eye flukes are prevalent, and a river, where these parasites do not occur. In order to discriminate between protection through innate and acquired immunity, we exposed fish either only once or repeatedly. Lake fish were significantly less susceptible than river sticklebacks already after a single exposure, indicating that in sympatric hosts innate immunity plays the major role in the defence against this helminth infection. In both habitat types, previous exposures only marginally decreased infection rates within 12 weeks. Lake fish showed higher immunocompentence by means of respiratory burst activity and spleen size, regardless of the infection status. Furthermore, they were in a better energy status than river fish, as indicated by a higher hepatosomatic index and haematocrit value. Interestingly, F1 hybrid fish of both populations ranged between the pure habitat types in parasite susceptibility as well as in immunological and condition parameters. Our results suggest that sticklebacks from lakes are better adapted to cope with higher parasite abundance in this habitat.

Quantitative genetic architecture of parasite-induced cataract in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

“…In fish that were infected second time, acquired resistance decreased the establishment of cercariae by 85-89%. In contrast, Kalbe and Kurtz (2006), working on three-spined sticklebacks, Gasterosteus aculeatus, found no evidence of a significant decrease in D. pseudospathaceum infection after a previous exposure to the parasite.…”

Spatially and temporally fluctuating selection at non-MHC immune genes: evidence from TAP polymorphism in populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta, L.)

“…This is in agreement with Hansen et al (2002), who predicted that local adaptations are most likely to be found at the level of several river systems rather than at the scale of individual rivers unless selection is very strong. The demonstration of differences in susceptibility to specific parasites among wild populations of salmonids (Bakke et al, 1990(Bakke et al, , 2004Dalgaard et al, 2003) as well as other species of teleost fishes (Gleeson et al, 2000;Kalbe and Kurtz, 2006) suggests that local parasite and pathogen faunas exert a significant selective pressure on wild populations and that local adaptation to parasite faunas might be expected at the larger geographical scale. Indeed, Hansen et al (2007) found temporally stable and possibly adaptive divergence at a MHC class I-linked microsatellite locus between two Norwegian brown trout populations suggesting that these populations are locally adapted at MHC loci.…”

Diversity, specificity and speciation in larval Diplostomidae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) in the eyes of freshwater fish, as revealed by DNA barcodes

“…Metacercariae in species of Diplostomum, Tylodelphys and Austrodiplostomum (Digenea: Diplostomidae) may cause mortality or pathological changes (e.g., blindness) in freshwater fish (reviewed by Chappell et al, 1994 and Overstreet and Curran 2004), with effects that vary among closely related parasite species (Larsen et al, 2005). Aside from their importance in fish health, eye-dwelling diplostomids are frequent subjects of evolutionary and ecological studies (e.g., Ballabeni and Ward, 1993;Kalbe and Kurtz, 2006). However, diplostomid metacercariae are difficult to identify morphologically and molecular methods are often used to distinguish species (Locke et al, 2010a,b;Rellstab et al, 2011;Cavaleiro et al, 2012;Behrmann-Godel, 2013;Chibwana et al, 2013;Désilets et al, 2013;Georgieva et al, 2013;Ndeda et al, 2013;Blasco-Costa et al, 2014;Pérez-del-Olmo et al, 2014;Kuhn et al, 2015;García-Varela et al, 2015;Mateos-Gonzalez et al, 2015;Otachi et al, 2015).…”