Thermal preferences of bird schistosome snail hosts increase the risk of swimmer's itch

Żbikowska, Elżbieta; Marszewska, Anna

doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.08.023

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…However, since the snails were sampled in different seasons (from spring until autumn) (fig. 2), and infection is highly temperature-dependent, precaution is required with respect to interpretation of data as the infection level may vary considerably over a season (Loy & Haas, 2001; Zbikowska & Nowak, 2009; Brown et al ., 2011; Al-Jubury et al ., 2020). The species identified were T .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Avian schistosomes of the genus Trichobilharzia are digenean parasites occurring worldwide, with an increasing presence at northern latitudesfor example, Denmark, Norway and Sweden (Thors & Linder, 2001;Larsen et al, 2004;Soleng & Mehl, 2011;Tracz et al, 2019;Al-Jubury et al, 2020). Several species within the genus are of medical importance as their cercariae cause cercarial dermatitis (swimmer's itch) in humans (Horák et al, 2015;Christiansen et al, 2016;Zbikowska & Marszewska, 2018;Tracz et al, 2019;Al-Jubury et al, 2020). The first connection between bird schistosomes and swimmer's itch was described from Michigan, USA, almost a century ago (Cort, 1928).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Avian schistosome species in Danish freshwater lakes: relation to biotic and abiotic factors

et al. 2021

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Due to the increased prevalence of human infections with bird schistosome larvae (cercarial dermatitis) associated with bathing in Danish lakes, a nationwide survey of infected intermediate host snails was conducted in 2018–2020. Pulmonate snails (10,225 specimens) were collected from 39 freshwater lakes (in the four major geographic regions in Denmark) and subjected to shedding. Released schistosome cercariae were isolated and identified by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing whereby Trichobilharzia regenti, Trichobilharzia franki, Trichobilharzia szidati and Trichobilharzia anseri were recorded. Infections were primarily determined by biotic factors such as the presence of final host birds and intermediate host snails and water temperature was noted as an important abiotic parameter associated with the infection. No clear connection with other abiotic factors (conductivity, alkalinity, pH, nitrogen, phosphorous) was seen. The widespread occurrence of infected snails, when compared to previous investigations, suggests that climate changes at northern latitudes could be responsible for the increased risk of contracting cercarial dermatitis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Avian schistosome species in Danish freshwater lakes: relation to biotic and abiotic factors

et al. 2021

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“…Previous laboratory tests showed that the average number of cercariae released from one snail per (one) day exceeded even 1800 larvae (Żbikowska and Marszewska, 2018). The effectiveness of attacks of bird schistosomecercariae on humans was also high.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Can Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gastropoda) affect the prevalence of Trichobilharzia szidati in Lymnaea stagnalis populations?

Żbikowska

Stanicka

Cichy

et al. 2021

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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Swimmer's itch is an emerging disease caused by bird schistosomes affecting people all over the world. Lymnaeidae − main host snails in Europe − are the source of harmful cercariae of these zoonotic parasites. The aim of this work was to determine whether Polish lakes, inhabited by Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gray, 1843), result in a lower potential risk of swimmer's itch compared to lakes uninhabited by this non-native snail species. As a result of the dilution effect created by increasing the diversity of co-occurring non-host targets for miracidia, the risk of this zoonosis may be reduced. We studied the prevalence of digenean trematodes in Lymnaea stagnalis (Linnaeus, 1758) populations from 30 water bodies partly inhabited by P. antipodarum. The bird schistosome infection in snail hosts was found in five lakes inhabited and 11 lakes uninhabited by the non-native snails. The prevalence of these parasitesin host snail populations in the lakes uninhabited was significantly higher than in lakes inhabited by P. antipodarum. We conclude that P. antipodarum seems to be a good potential target for reducing the risk of swimmer's itch via the dilution effect. We expect from our point of view to stimulate a discussion on the use of this species to protect bathing areas against the threat of swimmer's itch.

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“…The specimens of both snail species À L. stagnalis and P. corneus À release rather high numbers of bird schistosome cercariae in comparison to other digenean species (Żbikowska and Marszewska, 2018). However, additionally P. corneus individuals have a significantly longer lifespan than individuals belonging to Lymnaeidae; therefore, these snails can release invasive larvae for extended periods of time (Żbikowska and Marszewska, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The genus Bilharziella vs. other bird schistosomes in snail hosts from one of the major recreational lakes in Poland

Stanicka

Migdalski

Zając

et al. 2021

Knowl. Manag. Aquat. Ecosyst.

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Bird schistosomes are commonly established as the causative agent of swimmer's itch − a hyper-sensitive skin reaction to the penetration of their infective larvae. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of the genus Bilharziella in comparison to other bird schistosome species from Lake Drawsko − one of the largest recreational lakes in Poland, struggling with the huge problem of swimmer's itch. In total, 317 specimens of pulmonate snails were collected and examined. The overall digenean infection was 35.33%. The highest bird schistosome prevalence was observed for Bilharziella sp. (4.63%) in Planorbarius corneus, followed by Trichobilharzia szidati (3.23%) in Lymnaea stagnalis and Trichobilharzia sp. (1.3%) in Stagnicola palustris. The location of Bilharziella sp. on the presented phylogeny showed that it is with high probability a different species than known so far B. polonica. Our finding complements the confirmed occurrence of bird schistosomes in European water bodies. Overall, presented research reveals the special importance of P. corneus as a source of the bird schistosome cercariae. This study suggests that the health threat connected with the blood flukes need to be further investigated by constant monitoring of their occurrence in intermediate hosts.

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Thermal preferences of bird schistosome snail hosts increase the risk of swimmer's itch

Cited by 10 publications

References 33 publications

Avian schistosome species in Danish freshwater lakes: relation to biotic and abiotic factors

Avian schistosome species in Danish freshwater lakes: relation to biotic and abiotic factors

Can Potamopyrgus antipodarum (Gastropoda) affect the prevalence of Trichobilharzia szidati in Lymnaea stagnalis populations?

The genus Bilharziella vs. other bird schistosomes in snail hosts from one of the major recreational lakes in Poland

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