Description and prevalence of gregarines infecting the amphipod Gammarus pulex, in the Water of Leith, Scotland, UK

McKinley, Kevin; Tsaousis, Anastasios D.; Rückert, Sonja

Abstract

Gregarines are symbiotic protists that are found in a broad spectrum of invertebrates, including insects, crustaceans, and annelids. Among these the globally distributed amphipod Gammarus pulex is one of the earliest recognized hosts for aquatic gregarines and is prevalent among macroinvertebrates in freshwater environments. In this study, samples of G. pulex were collected in the Water of Leith river, Scotland, UK. Gregarines were identified using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as standard molecular techniques. We identified three septate eugregarine symbionts—Heliospora longissima, Cephaloidophora gammari, and the here newly characterized Cephaloidophora conus n. sp. (formerly Cephaloidophora sp.) associated with Gammarus pulex in the Water of Leith. Prevalences for identified gregarine species were calculated and seasonal dynamics of gregarine infections/colonization were analyzed. Prevalences were highest in autumn and spring reaching almost 50%. While the two Cephaloidophora species showed similar colonization patterns, the prevalence of Heliospora showed an opposite trend. Identifying gregarine infection/colonization patterns is one step towards better understanding the gregarine-host relationship, as well as possible impacts of the gregarines on their hosts.

Citation

McKinley, K., Tsaousis, A. D., & Rückert, S. (2024). Description and prevalence of gregarines infecting the amphipod Gammarus pulex, in the Water of Leith, Scotland, UK. European Journal of Protistology, 94, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126084

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 1, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 19, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 30, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 30, 2024
• Journal: European Journal of Protistology
• Print ISSN: 0932-4739
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 94
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejop.2024.126084
• Keywords: Gregarine apicomplexa, Cephaloidophora, Freshwater shrimp, Gammarus pulex, Infection levels