Histopathological screening of Pontogammarus robustoides (Amphipoda), an invader on route to the United Kingdom

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107970
• Publication Date: 2023-07-06T15:50:30Z
• Authors: Daniel A. Warren; Amy L. Burgess; Sebastian Prati; Karolina Bacela-S...; Martin S. J. Rogers; Jamie Bojko
• Keywords: Parasite; Microsporidia; Animals; Amphipoda; Parasites; Introduced Species; Biologie; Biological Invasions; Haplosporidium; Apicomplexa; United Kingdom; 3. Good health; Host-Parasite Interactions

Biological invasions may act as conduits for pathogen introduction. To determine which invasive non-native species pose the biggest threat, we must first symbionts (pathogens, parasites, commensals, mutualists) they carry, via pathological surveys that can be conducted in multiple ways (i.e., molecular, pathological, and histological). Whole animal histopathology allows observation of pathogenic agents (virus to Metazoa), based on their effect upon host tissue. Where technique cannot accurately predict taxonomy, it does highlight groups importance. This study provides a histopathological survey Pontogammarus robustoides (invasive amphipod Europe) baseline symbiont translocate other areas/hosts future invasions. (n=1,141) collected throughout Poland (seven sites), were noted include total 13 symbiotic groups: putative gut epithelia virus (overall prevalence = 0.6%), hepatopancreatic cytoplasmic (1.4%), bacilliform (15.7%), systemic bacteria (0.7%), fouling ciliates (62.0%), gregarines (39.5%), (0.4%), haplosporidians muscle infecting microsporidians (6.4%), digeneans (3.5%), external rotifers (3.0%), an endoparasitic arthropod (putatively: Isopoda) (0.1%), Gregarines with microsporidian infections (1.4%). Parasite assemblages partially differed across collection sites. Co-infection patterns revealed strong positive negative associations between five parasites. Microsporidians common sites could easily spread areas following invasion P. robustoides. By providing this initial survey, hope provide concise list risk-assessment case novel by highly amphipod.