Parasite host-switching from the invasive American red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, to the native Mediterranean pond turtle, Mauremys leprosa, in natural environments

Abstract

This review examines the ecological, economical, and public health significance of chironomids and provides examples of chironomid invasions via international shipping and the subsequent local and regional impacts. Dispersal and adaptation mechanisms as facilitators of chironomid invasions are presented, and control methods are discussed. Impacts ranged from increased nuisance occurrences to agricultural disruption. Anthropogenic activities including pollution-related decimation of aquatic benthic communities might allow introduction of invasive chironomids. Chironomids can inhabit many environments, including eutrophic lakes and wastewater treatment areas, and may accumulate contaminants in high concentrations. Health concerns include the association of chironomid egg masses with Vibrio cholerae, roles of chironomids as vectors for avian botulism, and effects of chironomid chemicals as human allergens. Therefore, the presence of new chironomid species in an environment may present threats to public health and local ecosystems.

Tracking platyhelminth parasite diversity from freshwater turtles in French Guiana: First report of Neopolystoma Price, 1939 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) with the description of three new species

“…Furthermore, in a changing world where animals are sold for pets, some species may invade new environments and bring with them a great number of parasite species. Concerning turtles, Meyer et al [ 25 ] and Héritier et al [ 23 ] investigated the polystome richness among two European freshwater turtles, Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812) and Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus, 1758), respectively. They documented a greater polystome diversity than expected assuming a high degree of host- and site-specificity [ 22 ].…”

“…Surprisingly, a few polystome species reported within populations of M. leprosa and E. orbicularis were also found in American hosts that had never been recorded in the European freshwater environments of investigation. Meyer et al [ 25 ] and Héritier et al [ 23 ] showed that these parasite species were in fact introduced into natural wetlands following the introduction of the American red-eared slider T. s. elegans . Because that turtle is among the most common exotic turtle species in captivity, it would act as a reservoir of numerous parasite species [ 24 ], and, once released into freshwater habitats, it would have served as a carrier of parasites, as for instance Neopolystoma sp.…”

“…Regardless of the scenarios involved in host-parasite diversification, these parasites are mostly host- and site-specific [ 22 ]. However, they appear to be less specific following host releases, which has been demonstrated in confined and natural environments after translocation of American freshwater turtles, especially red-eared sliders Trachemys scripta elegans (Wied, 1939) [ 23 – 25 ].…”

Evolutionary processes involved in the diversification of chelonian and mammal polystomatid parasites (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea, Polystomatidae) revealed by palaeoecology of their hosts

“…They have colonized discrete ecological niches within the host, i.e. the urinary bladder, the pharyngeal cavity and the conjunctival sacs (Table 1), and are highly host and site specific, except when turtles are translocated in new environments (see Meyer et al, 2015;Verneau et al, 2011). Regarding our phylogeny that comprises 20 species collected from 16 distinct turtles (Fig.…”

A Review of the Effects of Climate Change on Chelonians

“…and snails in Bermuda [84]. Finally, red-eared sliders may transmit parasites to native chelonians [85,86].…”