Population structure and dispersal routes of an invasive parasite, Fascioloides magna, in North America and Europe

Abstract

Background Fascioloides magna (Trematoda: Fasciolidae) is an important liver parasite of a wide range of free-living and domestic ruminants; it represents a remarkable species due to its large spatial distribution, invasive character, and potential to colonize new territories. The present study provides patterns of population genetic structure and admixture in F. magna across all enzootic regions in North America and natural foci in Europe, and infers migratory routes of the parasite on both continents.MethodsIn total, 432 individuals from five North American enzootic regions and three European foci were analysed by 11 microsatellite loci. Genetic data were evaluated by several statistical approaches: (i) the population genetic structure of F. magna was inferred using program STRUCTURE; (ii) the genetic interrelationships between populations were analysed by PRINCIPAL COORDINATES ANALYSIS; and (iii) historical dispersal routes in North America and recent invasion routes in Europe were explored using MIGRATE.ResultsThe analysis of dispersal routes of the parasite in North America revealed west-east and south-north lineages that partially overlapped in the central part of the continent, where different host populations historically met. The exact origin of European populations of F. magna and their potential translocation routes were determined. Flukes from the first European focus, Italy, were related to F. magna from northern Pacific coast, while parasites from the Czech focus originated from south-eastern USA, particularly South Carolina. The Danube floodplain forests (third and still expanding focus) did not display relationship with any North American population; instead the Czech origin of the Danube population was indicated. A serial dilution of genetic diversity along the dispersion route across central and eastern Europe was observed. The results of microsatellite analyses were compared to previously acquired outputs from mitochondrial haplotype data and correlated with past human-directed translocations and natural migration of the final cervid hosts of F. magna.ConclusionsThe present study revealed a complex picture of the population genetic structure and interrelationships of North American and European populations, global distribution and migratory routes of F. magna and an origin of European foci.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1811-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Phylogenetic analysis of Spirocerca lupi and Spirocerca vulpis reveal high genetic diversity and intra-individual variation

“…Studies on the genetic diversity and differentiation between parasites are of special importance since they can expand the understanding of their distribution patterns and processes of speciation [14]. There is still limited information regarding the evolutionary history and speciation processes in S. lupi and S. vulpis , contrary to knowledge on other helminth parasites, such as Fasciola hepatica [8], Fascioloides magna [51] and Anisakis spp. [52].…”

“…For instance, a high genetic diversity within each host but low differentiation between populations was found in F. hepatica , with the implications of possible spread of anthelmintic resistance genes. Additionally, a migratory route of hosts infected with F. magna and a speciation foci was found in a genetic population study [51]. Spirocerca spp.…”

Borrelia bavariensis: Vector Switch, Niche Invasion, and Geographical Spread of a Tick-Borne Bacterial Parasite

“…In addition, it may affect populations of new host species through parasite "spillover" (Iglesias et al, 2015), and also alter the success of other parasites already present in the new domain through competition for existing and new hosts (Dunn, 2009). In turn, the parasite itself may as a result of its introduction undergo evolutionary change in order to adapt to its new circumstances (e.g., Juhasova et al, 2016).…”

De novo developed microsatellite markers in gill parasites of the genus Dactylogyrus (Monogenea): revealing the phylogeographic pattern of population structure in the generalist parasite Dactylogyrus vistulae

“…These polymorphic tandem repeats were previously employed in studies of the population structures of medically important human parasites (e.g., Schistosoma haematobium, Gower et al, (2011)). However, they are still strongly underutilized in studies of parasitic platyhelminths in wildlife, as only a few papers focusing on cestodes (i.e., Luo, Nie, Zhang, Yao & Wang, 2003;Štefka, Hypša & Scholz, 2009;Umhang et al, 2018;Bazsalovicsová et al, 2020) or digeneans (i.e., Criscione, Cooper & Blouin, 2006;Louhi, Karvonen, Rellstab & Jokela, 2010;Criscione, Vilas, Paniagua & Blouin, 2011;Valdivia, Criscione, Cárdenas, Durán & Oliva, 2014;Dar, Vignoles, Rondeland & Dreyfuss, 2015;Juhásová et al, 2016;Vásquez et al, 2016;van Paridon, Colwell, Goater & Gilleard, 2017;Criscione, van Paridon, Gilleard & Goater, 2020) have so far been published. The above studies have shown that microsatellites, as molecular population markers, are more discriminative than rDNA and mtDNA.…”

“…The above studies have shown that microsatellites, as molecular population markers, are more discriminative than rDNA and mtDNA. They have also demonstrated their usefulness in revealing the population genetic structure and historical migratory routes of parasites with a wide distribution range (Štefka et al, 2009;Juhásová et al, 2016;Bazsalovicsová et al, 2020), and also migratory patterns of their hosts . However, prior to our study, no population genetic studies utilizing microsatellites had been performed on monogeneans.…”