Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa
This study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of Hydatigera parva in 341 native rodents in a riparian habitat in the Mediterranean part of Spain. Polycephalic larvae were found in 32% of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus; n = 84) and 0.4% of Algerian mice (Mus spretus; n = 257) examined,...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Parasitology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025000058/type/journal_article |
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| author | Milan Miljević Marija Rajičić Javier Marco Jelena Blagojević Ruth Rodríguez-Pastor Branka Bajić Javier Millán |
| author_facet | Milan Miljević Marija Rajičić Javier Marco Jelena Blagojević Ruth Rodríguez-Pastor Branka Bajić Javier Millán |
| author_sort | Milan Miljević |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of Hydatigera parva in 341 native rodents in a riparian habitat in the Mediterranean part of Spain. Polycephalic larvae were found in 32% of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus; n = 84) and 0.4% of Algerian mice (Mus spretus; n = 257) examined, with a significantly higher prevalence in the former. No significant differences in infection prevalence in wood mouse were found between sex and age groups, habitats (agricultural vs natural) or seasons. Genetic analysis of 25 cysts using cox1 sequences revealed low nucleotide (0.00110) and haplotype diversity (0.380), suggesting limited genetic variation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the studied H. parva isolates were genetically distinct from other species within the genus Hydatigera. The results indicate a lower genetic diversity in European than in African populations, supporting the hypothesis that H. parva was introduced to Europe from Africa, possibly with its final host, the common genet (Genetta genetta), an abundant predator in the study area. This study is the first population genetic study of H. parva in the Iberian Peninsula. It provides insights into the population structure of the parasite and its interaction with rodent hosts, and thereby constitutes an example of the potential identification of an introduction route of a parasite with its definitive host. It also confirms the importance of the wood mouse as an intermediate host for the maintenance of the parasite’s life cycle in Europe and forms the basis for further studies on the distribution and genetic diversity of H. parva. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-97d19d5cc3bc4ffdaf9ca31568cd925d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0031-1820 1469-8161 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasitology |
| spelling | doaj-art-97d19d5cc3bc4ffdaf9ca31568cd925d2025-08-20T03:48:06ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-81612025-02-0115214915510.1017/S0031182025000058Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from AfricaMilan Miljević0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0146-9850Marija Rajičić1Javier Marco2Jelena Blagojević3Ruth Rodríguez-Pastor4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8435-6386Branka Bajić5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4849-1756Javier Millán6https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5608-781XDepartment of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaDepartamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaDepartamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, SpainDepartment of Genetic Research, Institute for Biological Research ‘Siniša Stanković’—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, SerbiaInstituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2 (Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA), Zaragoza, Spain Fundación ARAID, Zaragoza, Spain Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, ChileThis study investigated the prevalence and genetic diversity of Hydatigera parva in 341 native rodents in a riparian habitat in the Mediterranean part of Spain. Polycephalic larvae were found in 32% of wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus; n = 84) and 0.4% of Algerian mice (Mus spretus; n = 257) examined, with a significantly higher prevalence in the former. No significant differences in infection prevalence in wood mouse were found between sex and age groups, habitats (agricultural vs natural) or seasons. Genetic analysis of 25 cysts using cox1 sequences revealed low nucleotide (0.00110) and haplotype diversity (0.380), suggesting limited genetic variation. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the studied H. parva isolates were genetically distinct from other species within the genus Hydatigera. The results indicate a lower genetic diversity in European than in African populations, supporting the hypothesis that H. parva was introduced to Europe from Africa, possibly with its final host, the common genet (Genetta genetta), an abundant predator in the study area. This study is the first population genetic study of H. parva in the Iberian Peninsula. It provides insights into the population structure of the parasite and its interaction with rodent hosts, and thereby constitutes an example of the potential identification of an introduction route of a parasite with its definitive host. It also confirms the importance of the wood mouse as an intermediate host for the maintenance of the parasite’s life cycle in Europe and forms the basis for further studies on the distribution and genetic diversity of H. parva.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025000058/type/journal_articleApodemusEuropeHydatigeraIberiarodents |
| spellingShingle | Milan Miljević Marija Rajičić Javier Marco Jelena Blagojević Ruth Rodríguez-Pastor Branka Bajić Javier Millán Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa Parasitology Apodemus Europe Hydatigera Iberia rodents |
| title | Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa |
| title_full | Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa |
| title_fullStr | Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa |
| title_short | Hydatigera parva population genetics in Iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from Africa |
| title_sort | hydatigera parva population genetics in iberian rodents provides insights into its introduction from africa |
| topic | Apodemus Europe Hydatigera Iberia rodents |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182025000058/type/journal_article |
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