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Cryptic microsporidian parasites differentially affect invasive and native Artemia spp
Nicolas O Rode1, Eva J P Lievens, Adeline Segard
1Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR CNRS 5175, 1, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France. nicolas.rode@ens-lyon.org
International Journal for Parasitology
|July 16, 2013
Summary
Microsporidian parasites show distinct host specificities, with Anostracospora rigaudi favoring native Artemia parthenogenetica and Enterocytospora artemiae preferring invasive Artemia franciscana. The invasive host
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Invasive species biology
- Ecology
Background:
- Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites with complex host-parasite interactions.
- The invasive brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and native Artemia parthenogenetica coexist in sympatry, presenting an ideal system to study host specificity.
- Understanding microsporidian host specificity is crucial for predicting the ecological impact of invasive species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the host specificity of Anostracospora rigaudi and Enterocytospora artemiae in invasive and native Artemia hosts.
- To assess the impact of these microsporidian infections on host reproduction.
- To compare microsporidian prevalence in native and introduced Artemia populations across different biogeographical regions.
Main Methods:
- Field surveys to determine microsporidian prevalence in sympatric native and invasive Artemia populations.
- Experimental infections to confirm host specificity and assess reproductive effects.
- Phylogeographic analyses to trace the origins and introductions of microsporidian species.
Main Results:
- Anostracospora rigaudi was significantly more prevalent in native A. parthenogenetica, while Enterocytospora artemiae was more prevalent in invasive A. franciscana.
- Infection with An. rigaudi severely reduced female reproduction in both hosts; E. artemiae had a lesser impact.
- Microsporidian prevalence was higher in native hosts compared to invasive hosts at the community level.
- No evidence of co-introduction of E. artemiae with A. franciscana was found, despite its presence in both native and introduced populations.
Conclusions:
- The success of the invasive A. franciscana is likely due to lower susceptibility to virulent microsporidian parasites, not reduced parasite prevalence or virulence in introduced areas.
- Contrasting host specificities of An. rigaudi and E. artemiae shape microsporidian community structure in sympatric Artemia populations.
- The findings highlight the importance of host-parasite interactions in the ecology of invasive species.
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