Updates to the sporadic knowledge on microsporidian infections in groundwater amphipods (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Niphargidae)

The present study provides new insight into suitable microsporidian–host associations. It relates regional and continental-wide host specialization in microsporidians infecting amphipods to degraded and recovering habitats across 2 German river catchments. It provides a unique opportunity to infer the persistence of parasites following anthropogenic disturbance and their establishment in restored rivers. Amphipods were collected in 31 sampling sites with differing degradation and restoration gradients. Specimens were morphologically (hosts) and molecularly identified (host and parasites). Amphipod diversity and abundance, microsporidian diversity, host phylogenetic specificity and continental-wide β-specificity were investigated and related to each other and/or environmental variables. Fourteen microsporidian molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs), mainly generalist parasites, infecting 6 amphipod MOTUs were detected, expanding the current knowledge on the host range by 17 interactions. There was no difference in microsporidian diversity and host specificity among restored and near-natural streams (Boye) or between those located in urban and rural areas (Kinzig). Similarly, microsporidian diversity was generally not influenced by water parameters. In the Boye catchment, host densities did not influence microsporidian MOTU richness across restored and near-natural sites. High host turnover across the geographical range suggests that neither environmental conditions nor host diversity plays a significant role in the establishment into restored areas. Host diversity and environmental parameters do not indicate the persistence and dispersal of phylogenetic host generalist microsporidians in environments that experienced anthropogenic disturbance. Instead, these might depend on more complex mechanisms such as the production of resistant spores, host switching and host dispersal acting individually or conjointly.

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“…( 2015 ); (g) Grabner et al . ( 2020 ); (h) Hogg et al . ( 2002 ); (i) Ironside ( 2013 ); (j) Ironside and Wilkinson ( 2018 ); (k) Krebes et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Generalist parasites persist in degraded environments: a lesson learned from microsporidian diversity in amphipods

et al. 2022

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“…Its closest relative was a Microsporidium sp. infecting the subterranean amphipod Niphargus aquilex in Germany ( Grabner et al, 2020 ). These two sequences formed MOTU I.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wide geographic distribution of overlooked parasites: Rare Microsporidia in Gammarus balcanicus, a species complex with a high rate of endemism

Quilès

Rigaud

Wattier

et al. 2021

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

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Parasites and other symbionts deeply influence host organisms, and no living organism can be considered to have evolved independent of its symbionts. The first step towards understanding symbiotic influences upon host organisms is a strong supporting knowledge of parasite/symbiont diversity. Parasites of freshwater amphipods are diverse, with Microsporidia being a major group. These intracellular parasites impact gammarid fitness in different ways, ranging from reduced fitness to increased fecundity. Many Microsporidia have been recorded using molecular data, with multiple taxa pending formal taxonomic description. While some parasites are common, others are known only through sporadic records of single infections. In this study, we focus on rare/sporadic microsporidian infections within Gammarus balcanicus , a host species complex with a high level of endemism. In addition to enriching our knowledge on Microsporidia parasite diversity in amphipod hosts, we test whether these symbionts are specific to G. balcanicus or if they are the same taxa infecting other gammarid species. Of 2231 hosts from 87 sites, we catalogued 29 sequences of “rare” Microsporidia clustering into 19 haplogroups. These haplogroups cluster into 11 lineages: four pre-described taxa ( Cucumispora roeselum , C. ornata, C. dikerogammari and Enterocytospora artemiae ) and seven ‘Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units’, which are known from previously published studies to infect other European amphipod species. Our study significantly widens the geographic range of these Microsporidia and expands the known spectrum of hosts infected. Our results suggest that these parasites are ancient infections of European gammarids. For some host-parasite systems, we hypothesize that the common parasite ancestors that infected the hosts' common ancestors, diversified alongside host diversification. For others, we observe Microsporidia taxa with wide host ranges that do not follow host phylogeny.

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“…temperature, flow velocity, nutrient availability) that can affect infection rate and thereby parasite prevalence (Marcogliese, 2001 ; Kelly et al ., 2002 ; Narr et al ., 2019 ). Asellus aquaticus collected from spring habitats in the present study showed the lowest proportion of infected individuals, which is in contrast to findings from amphipods, where species-rich microsporidian communities were found in niphargid amphipods from such ground water-dependent habitats (Grabner et al ., 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microsporidia are frequently found in aquatic systems where the majority of known species infects aquatic invertebrates (Stentiford et al ., 2013 ; Stentiford and Dunn, 2014 ). While there are numerous studies on microsporidians in aquatic crustaceans such as amphipods (Krebes et al ., 2010 ; Grabner et al ., 2015 , 2020 ; Madyarova et al ., 2015 ; Weigand et al ., 2016 ; Bacela-Spychalska et al ., 2018 ; Quiles et al ., 2019 , 2020 , 2021 ), to our knowledge the only microsporidium reported from Asellus aquaticus is Mrazekia argoisi that was detected in fat body cells of the host (Kudo, 1924 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microsporidian diversity in the aquatic isopodAsellus aquaticus

et al. 2022

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We conducted a molecular survey on microsporidian diversity in different lineages (operational taxonomic units = OTUs) of Asellus aquaticus from 30 sites throughout Europe. Host body length was determined, and DNA was extracted from host tissue excluding the intestine and amplified by microsporidian-specific primers. In total, 247 A. aquaticus specimens were analysed from which 26.7% were PCR-positive for microsporidians, with significantly more infections in larger individuals. Prevalence ranged between 10 and 90%. At 9 sites, no microsporidians were detected. A significant relationship was found between the frequency of infected individuals and habitat type, as well as host OTU. The lowest proportion of infected individuals was detected in spring-habitats (8.7%, n = 46) and the highest in ponds (37.7%, n = 53). Proportion of infected individuals among host OTUs A, D and J was 31.7, 21.7 and 32.1%, respectively. No infections were detected in OTU F. Our results are, however, accompanied by a partially low sample size, as only a minimum of 5 individuals was available at a few locations. Overall, 17 different microsporidian molecular taxonomic units (MICMOTUs) were distinguished with 5 abundant isolates (found in 4–17 host individuals) while the remaining 12 MICMOTUs were “rare” and found only in 1–3 host individuals. No obvious spatio-genetic pattern could be observed. The MICMOTUs predominantly belonged to Nosematida and Enterocytozoonida. The present study shows that microsporidians in A. aquaticus are abundant and diverse but do not show obvious patterns related to host genetic lineages or geography.

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Updates to the sporadic knowledge on microsporidian infections in groundwater amphipods (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Niphargidae)

Cited by 8 publications

References 30 publications

Generalist parasites persist in degraded environments: a lesson learned from microsporidian diversity in amphipods

Generalist parasites persist in degraded environments: a lesson learned from microsporidian diversity in amphipods

Wide geographic distribution of overlooked parasites: Rare Microsporidia in Gammarus balcanicus, a species complex with a high rate of endemism

Microsporidian diversity in the aquatic isopodAsellus aquaticus

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