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2024 (English)In: Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, ISSN 1066-5234, E-ISSN 1550-7408, Vol. 71, no 3, article id e13021Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Freshwater bivalves play key ecological roles in lakes and rivers, largely contributing to healthy ecosystems. The freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, is found in Europe and on the East coast of North America. Once common in oxygenated streams, M. margaritifera is rapidly declining and consequently assessed as a threatened species worldwide. Deterioration of water quality has been considered the main factor for the mass mortality events affecting this species. Yet, the role of parasitic infections has not been investigated. Here, we report the discovery of three novel protist lineages found in Swedish populations of M. margaritifera belonging to one of the terrestrial groups of gregarines (Eugregarinorida, Apicomplexa). These lineages are closely related–but clearly separated–from the tadpole parasite Nematopsis temporariae. In one lineage, which is specifically associated with mortality events of M. margaritifera, we found cysts containing single vermiform zoites in the gills and other organs of diseased individuals using microscopy and in situ hybridization. This represents the first report of a parasitic infection in M. margaritifera that may be linked to the decline of this mussel species. We propose a tentative life cycle with the distribution of different developmental stages and potential exit from the host into the environment.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
John Wiley & Sons, 2024
Keywords
freshwater perl mussel, gregarine, ISH, Margaritifera margaritifera, mass mortality, mortality, Nematopsis, pathology, phylogeny, TEM
National Category
Ecology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-446934 (URN)10.1111/jeu.13021 (DOI)001184534000001 ()
Funder
Science for Life Laboratory, SciLifeLabSwedish Research Council Formas, 2017-01197Swedish Research Council, 2018-0597Swedish Research Council, 2017-04563
Note
Authors and title in the list of papers of Mahwash Jamy's thesis: Alfjorden, A., Brännström, I. O., Wengström, N., Jamy, M., Kristmundson, A., Jansson, E., Burki, F. Identification of a new gregarine parasite [Apicomplexa, Alveolata] in mass mortality events of freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera)
2021-06-222021-06-222024-09-20Bibliographically approved