Environmental Release of Zoonotic Pathogens by Pomacea canaliculata Drives Competitive Dominance by Infecting Native...

Pomacea canaliculata is an invasive species distributed globally, yet the mechanisms behind its rapid ecosystem dominance and lethal effects on native species remain unclear. This study analyzed the dissemination pattern of pathogens from the gut of P. canaliculata to the aquatic environment. Combined with field surveys and mesocosm experiments, the impact of pathogens released by P. canaliculata on the native snail Cipangopaludina chinensis was evaluated. The direct lethal effects of the core bacterium on native snails were further demonstrated through in vivo and in vitro infection. Results show that 168 species of zoonotic pathogens existed in the gut of P. canaliculata, carrying 82 virulence factors and half of the high-risk antibiotic-resistant genes known to cause diseases. These pathogens released by P. canaliculata in the aquatic environment ultimately caused gut microbiota dysbiosis, mortality, and population decline in native snails, while it can be alleviated in the pathogen-limited P. canaliculata model. Aeromonas strains, the primary pathogen isolated from P. canaliculata, induced intestinal necrosis and death in native snails. Therefore, the release of pathogens is considered a previously overlooked invasion strategy of P. canaliculata, which poses a substantial public health threat within the One Health framework.