First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya
Abstract Following reports of an invasive snail causing crop damage in the expansive Mwea irrigation scheme in Kenya, samples of snails and associated egg masses were collected and sent to CABI laboratories in the UK for molecular identification. DNA barcoding analyses using the cytochrome oxidase s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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CABI
2021-03-01
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| Series: | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00032-z |
| _version_ | 1826840677896421376 |
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| author | Alan G. Buddie Ivan Rwomushana Lisa C. Offord Simeon Kibet Fernadis Makale Djamila Djeddour Giovanni Cafa Koskei K. Vincent Alexander M. Muvea Duncan Chacha Roger K. Day |
| author_facet | Alan G. Buddie Ivan Rwomushana Lisa C. Offord Simeon Kibet Fernadis Makale Djamila Djeddour Giovanni Cafa Koskei K. Vincent Alexander M. Muvea Duncan Chacha Roger K. Day |
| author_sort | Alan G. Buddie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Following reports of an invasive snail causing crop damage in the expansive Mwea irrigation scheme in Kenya, samples of snails and associated egg masses were collected and sent to CABI laboratories in the UK for molecular identification. DNA barcoding analyses using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene gave preliminary identification of the snails as Pomacea canaliculata, widely considered to have the potential to be one of the most invasive invertebrates of waterways and irrigation systems worldwide and which is already causing issues throughout much of south-east Asia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented record of P. canaliculata in Kenya, and the first confirmed record of an established population in continental Africa. This timely identification shows the benefit of molecular identification and the need for robust species identifications: even a curated sequence database such as that provided by the Barcoding of Life Data system may require additional checks on the veracity of the underlying identifications. We found that the egg mass tested gave an identical barcode sequence to the adult snails, allowing identifications to be made more rapidly. Part of the nuclear elongation factor 1 alpha gene was sequenced to confirm that the snail was P. canaliculata and not a P. canaliculata/P. maculata interspecies hybrid. Given the impact of this species in Asia, there is need for an assessment of the risk to Africa, and the implementation of an appropriate response in Kenya and elsewhere to manage this new threat to agriculture and the environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T06:13:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54c3c4217cfd4d6d9364d92265bf4ac4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4044 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-02-16T12:45:53Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | CABI |
| record_format | Article |
| series | CABI Agriculture and Bioscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-54c3c4217cfd4d6d9364d92265bf4ac42025-02-02T21:55:00ZengCABICABI Agriculture and Bioscience2662-40442021-03-012111010.1186/s43170-021-00032-zFirst report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in KenyaAlan G. Buddie0Ivan Rwomushana1Lisa C. Offord2Simeon Kibet3Fernadis Makale4Djamila Djeddour5Giovanni Cafa6Koskei K. Vincent7Alexander M. Muvea8Duncan Chacha9Roger K. Day10CABICABICABIKenya Plant Health Inspectorate ServiceCABICABICABINational Irrigation Authority-MIAD CentreKenya Plant Health Inspectorate ServiceCABICABIAbstract Following reports of an invasive snail causing crop damage in the expansive Mwea irrigation scheme in Kenya, samples of snails and associated egg masses were collected and sent to CABI laboratories in the UK for molecular identification. DNA barcoding analyses using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene gave preliminary identification of the snails as Pomacea canaliculata, widely considered to have the potential to be one of the most invasive invertebrates of waterways and irrigation systems worldwide and which is already causing issues throughout much of south-east Asia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documented record of P. canaliculata in Kenya, and the first confirmed record of an established population in continental Africa. This timely identification shows the benefit of molecular identification and the need for robust species identifications: even a curated sequence database such as that provided by the Barcoding of Life Data system may require additional checks on the veracity of the underlying identifications. We found that the egg mass tested gave an identical barcode sequence to the adult snails, allowing identifications to be made more rapidly. Part of the nuclear elongation factor 1 alpha gene was sequenced to confirm that the snail was P. canaliculata and not a P. canaliculata/P. maculata interspecies hybrid. Given the impact of this species in Asia, there is need for an assessment of the risk to Africa, and the implementation of an appropriate response in Kenya and elsewhere to manage this new threat to agriculture and the environment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00032-zApple snailInvasive speciesMolecular identificationDNA barcodingCOI genePhytosanitary risk |
| spellingShingle | Alan G. Buddie Ivan Rwomushana Lisa C. Offord Simeon Kibet Fernadis Makale Djamila Djeddour Giovanni Cafa Koskei K. Vincent Alexander M. Muvea Duncan Chacha Roger K. Day First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya CABI Agriculture and Bioscience Apple snail Invasive species Molecular identification DNA barcoding COI gene Phytosanitary risk |
| title | First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya |
| title_full | First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya |
| title_short | First report of the invasive snail Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya |
| title_sort | first report of the invasive snail pomacea canaliculata in kenya |
| topic | Apple snail Invasive species Molecular identification DNA barcoding COI gene Phytosanitary risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43170-021-00032-z |
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