Scanning electron microscopy of Antarctophthirus microchir (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae): Studying morphological adaptations to aquatic life

Leonardi, María Soledad; Crespo, Enrique A.; Raga, Juan Antonio; Fernández, Mercedes

doi:10.1016/j.micron.2012.03.009

Cited by 16 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Those of other echinophthiriid louse species do not survive immersion (Murray and Nicholls, 1965). Pups can get wet during high tides, but their back usually dries fast (Leonardi et al, 2012a). First-instar nymphs (N1) usually occupy the back of the host after hatching and slowly migrate to the belly; the number decreases when pups start swimming (Aznar et al, 2009).…”

Section: Licementioning

confidence: 99%

“…N1 are the only instar lacking of scales over their body. Second -(N2) and third-instar nymphs (N3) and adults are found together in the ventral side of the host body, even at ages when hosts start swimming (Leonardi et al, 2012a). So, three categories of experimental subjects were established according to their association with the host: eggs, N1 and N2 + N3 + Adults.…”

Section: Licementioning

confidence: 99%

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Uncovering deep mysteries: The underwater life of an amphibious louse

Leonardi¹,

Lazzari²

2014

Journal of Insect Physiology

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Section: Licementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Licementioning

confidence: 99%

Uncovering deep mysteries: The underwater life of an amphibious louse

Leonardi¹,

Lazzari²

2014

Journal of Insect Physiology

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“…Insects are an extremely successful and diverse group of animals that inhabit almost all habitats and ecosystems on Earth [1,2]. Insects play essential roles in the pollination of flowering plants, production of silk and, in certain societies, can be a food source.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Immune priming: the secret weapon of the insect world

2020

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Insects are a highly successful group of animals that inhabit almost every habitat and environment on Earth. Part of their success is due to a rapid and highly effective immune response that identifies, inactivates, and eliminates pathogens. Insects possess an immune system that shows many similarities to the innate immune system of vertebrates, but they do not possess an equivalent system to the antibody-mediated adaptive immune response of vertebrates. However, some insect do display a process known as immune priming in which prior exposure to a sublethal dose of a pathogen, or pathogen-derived material, leads to an elevation in the immune response rendering the insect resistant to a subsequent lethal infection a short time later. This process is mediated by an increase in the density of circulating hemocytes and increased production of antimicrobial peptides. Immune priming is an important survival strategy for certain insects while other insects that do not show this response may have colony-level behaviors that may serve to limit the success of pathogens. Insects are now widely used as in vivo models for studying microbial pathogens of humans and for assessing the in vivo efficacy of antimicrobial agents. Knowledge of the process of immune priming in insects is essential in these applications as it may operate and augment the perceived in vivo antimicrobial activity of novel compounds.

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“…Previously, echinophthiriid species of the genus Antarctophthirus were examined regarding morphology [5,9,10] and transmission possibilities [11,12,13]. Haul-out periods of pinnipeds on land during mating, parturition and lactation are decisive for reproduction and transmission of echinophthiriid lice, as eggs of lice do not survive submerging and transmission depends on physical contact between seals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Seal Louse (Echinophthirius horridus) in the Dutch Wadden Sea: Investigation of Vector-Borne Pathogens and Morphological Adaptations

Hirzmann

Ebmer

Contreras³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Belonging to the anopluran family Echinophthiriidae, Echinophthirius horridus, the seal louse, has been reported to parasitize a broad range of representatives of phocid seals. So far, only few studies focused on vector function of echinophthiriid lice and knowledge on their role in pathogen transmission is still scarce. The current study aims to investigate the role of E. horridus in vector-borne diseases of seals in the Dutch Wadden Sea and to attribute to its morphological features of environmental adaptation.Methods: More than 1200 E. horridus seal lice were collected from 54 harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) and one grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) during their rehabilitation period in the Sealcentre Pieterburen, the Netherlands. DNA was extracted from pooled seal lice of individual seals for molecular detection of the seal heartworm Acanthocheilonema spirocauda, the rickettsial intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Mycoplasma spp. using PCR assays. In addition E. horridus-adult and -eggs were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Results: Seal lice from 35% of the harbour seals (19/54) and from the grey seal proved positive for A. spirocauda. The seal heartworm was molecularly characterised and phylogenetically analysed for the first time (rDNA, cox1). A nested PCR was developed for the cox1 gene to detect A. spirocauda stages in seal lice. A. phagocytophilum and a Mycoplasma species previously identified from a patient with disseminated ‘seal finger’ mycoplasmosis were detected the first time in seal lice. SEM analyses of E. horridus-adults and -eggs brought out more clearly unique morphological features, such as ‘lock-like’ claws, setae-covered cuticle as well as vaulted nit lids carrying micropyles for respiration, which all demonstrate the adaption of this ectoparasite to its semiaquatic host and the marine environment.Conclusions: Our findings support the vector role of seal lice in transmission of A. spirocauda, Mycoplasma spp. and A. phagocytophilum and presented more detailed images of their morphological adaptations to the semiaquatic lifestyle of their hosts. As the vector-borne pathogens might have detrimental effects on the health of seal populations further epidemiological investigations on infections due to these pathogens in seals should be conducted.

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Scanning electron microscopy of Antarctophthirus microchir (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae): Studying morphological adaptations to aquatic life

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

Uncovering deep mysteries: The underwater life of an amphibious louse

Uncovering deep mysteries: The underwater life of an amphibious louse

Immune priming: the secret weapon of the insect world

The Seal Louse (Echinophthirius horridus) in the Dutch Wadden Sea: Investigation of Vector-Borne Pathogens and Morphological Adaptations

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