Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT
Abstract The seal heartworm Acanthocheilonema spirocauda (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitizes the heart and pulmonary arteries of various phocid seals of the Northern Hemisphere. Over many decades, potential vectors of this parasite have been discussed, and to this date, the life cycle is not fully...
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Nature Portfolio
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18418-y |
| _version_ | 1811340510485282816 |
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| author | David Ebmer Stephan Handschuh Thomas Schwaha Ana Rubio-García Ulrich Gärtner Martin Glösmann Anja Taubert Carlos Hermosilla |
| author_facet | David Ebmer Stephan Handschuh Thomas Schwaha Ana Rubio-García Ulrich Gärtner Martin Glösmann Anja Taubert Carlos Hermosilla |
| author_sort | David Ebmer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The seal heartworm Acanthocheilonema spirocauda (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitizes the heart and pulmonary arteries of various phocid seals of the Northern Hemisphere. Over many decades, potential vectors of this parasite have been discussed, and to this date, the life cycle is not fully known. The seal louse Echinophthirius horridus (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae) is an obligatory, permanent and haematophagous ectoparasite of phocids that has been hypothesized to function as obligate intermediate host for A. spirocauda. We examined 11 adult E. horridus specimens collected from stranded harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in rehabilitation at the Sealcentre Pieterburen by X-ray microCT imaging, aiming to illustrate larval A. spirocauda infection sites in situ. In three of these specimens, thread-like larvae were detected in insect organs. Detailed imaging of the most infected louse revealed a total of 54 A. spirocauda larvae located either in fat bodies or the haemocoel. Histological analysis of the same specimen illustrated nematode cross-sections, confirming X-ray microCT data. The current data strongly suggest that E. horridus is a natural intermediate host for A. spirocauda. Moreover, we demonstrate the potential of X-ray microCT-based imaging as a non-destructive method to analyze host-parasite interactions, especially in the neglected field of marine mammal parasitology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:43:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d77f9a3d4410434e9e60282ee060f0df |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:43:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-d77f9a3d4410434e9e60282ee060f0df2022-12-22T02:34:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-08-0112111010.1038/s41598-022-18418-yNovel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCTDavid Ebmer0Stephan Handschuh1Thomas Schwaha2Ana Rubio-García3Ulrich Gärtner4Martin Glösmann5Anja Taubert6Carlos Hermosilla7Institute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University GiessenVetCore Facility for Research, Imaging Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaDepartment of Evolutionary Biology, University of ViennaSealcentre PieterburenInstitute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus Liebig University GiessenVetCore Facility for Research, Imaging Unit, University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University GiessenInstitute of Parasitology, Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg, Justus Liebig University GiessenAbstract The seal heartworm Acanthocheilonema spirocauda (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitizes the heart and pulmonary arteries of various phocid seals of the Northern Hemisphere. Over many decades, potential vectors of this parasite have been discussed, and to this date, the life cycle is not fully known. The seal louse Echinophthirius horridus (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae) is an obligatory, permanent and haematophagous ectoparasite of phocids that has been hypothesized to function as obligate intermediate host for A. spirocauda. We examined 11 adult E. horridus specimens collected from stranded harbour seals (Phoca vitulina) in rehabilitation at the Sealcentre Pieterburen by X-ray microCT imaging, aiming to illustrate larval A. spirocauda infection sites in situ. In three of these specimens, thread-like larvae were detected in insect organs. Detailed imaging of the most infected louse revealed a total of 54 A. spirocauda larvae located either in fat bodies or the haemocoel. Histological analysis of the same specimen illustrated nematode cross-sections, confirming X-ray microCT data. The current data strongly suggest that E. horridus is a natural intermediate host for A. spirocauda. Moreover, we demonstrate the potential of X-ray microCT-based imaging as a non-destructive method to analyze host-parasite interactions, especially in the neglected field of marine mammal parasitology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18418-y |
| spellingShingle | David Ebmer Stephan Handschuh Thomas Schwaha Ana Rubio-García Ulrich Gärtner Martin Glösmann Anja Taubert Carlos Hermosilla Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT Scientific Reports |
| title | Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT |
| title_full | Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT |
| title_fullStr | Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT |
| title_short | Novel 3D in situ visualization of seal heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) larvae in the seal louse (Echinophthirius horridus) by X-ray microCT |
| title_sort | novel 3d in situ visualization of seal heartworm acanthocheilonema spirocauda larvae in the seal louse echinophthirius horridus by x ray microct |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-18418-y |
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