Hiding in plain sight: discovery and phylogeography of a cryptic species of Trichinella (Nematoda: Trichinellidae) in wolverine (Gulo gulo)

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Language of the publication
English
Date
2020-03-24
Type
Article
Author(s)
  • Sharma, Rajnish
  • Thompson, Peter C.
  • Hoberg, Eric P.
  • Scandrett, Brad W.
  • Konecsni, Kelly
  • Harms, N. Jane
  • Kukka, Piia M.
  • Jung, Thomas S.
  • Elkin, Brett
  • Mulders, Robert
  • Larter, Nicholas C.
  • Branigan, Marsha
  • Pongracz, Jodie
  • Wagner, Brent
  • Kafle, Pratap
  • Lobanov, Vladislav A.
  • Rosenthal, Benjamin M.
  • Jenkins, Emily J.
Publisher
Elsevier

Abstract

Understanding parasite diversity and distribution is essential in managing the potential impact of parasitic diseases in animals and people. Imperfect diagnostic methods, however, may conceal cryptic species. Here, we report the discovery and phylogeography of a previously unrecognized species of Trichinella in wolverine (Gulo gulo) from northwestern Canada that was indistinguishable from T. nativa using the standard multiplex PCR assay based on the expansion segment 5 (ESV) of ribosomal DNA. The novel genotype, designated as T13, was discovered when sequencing the mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic analyses of the mitochondrial genome and of 15 concatenated single copy orthologs of nuclear DNA indicated a common ancestor for the encapsulated clade is shared by a subclade containing Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella nelsoni, and a subclade containing T13 and remaining taxa: T12 + (T2 + T6) + [(T5 + T9) + (T3 + T8)]. Of 95 individual hosts from 12 species of mammalian carnivores from northwestern Canada from which larvae were identified as T. nativa on multiplex PCR, only wolverines were infected with T13 (14 of 42 individuals). These infections were single or mixed with T. nativa and/or T6. Visual examination and motility testing confirmed that T13 is encapsulated and likely freeze-tolerant. We developed a new Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism which unequivocally distinguishes between T13 and T. nativa. We propose Trichinella chanchalensis n. sp. for T13, based on significant genetic divergence from other species of Trichinella and broad-based sampling of the Trichinella genome. Exploration of Alaskan and Siberian isolates may contribute to further resolution of a phylogeographically complex history for species of Trichinella across Beringia, including Trichinella chanchalensis n. sp. (T13).

Subject

  • Animal diseases

Keywords

  • Trichinellosis and other foodborne zoonotic pathogens,
  • Trichinella

Rights

Pagination

277-287

Peer review

Yes

Article

Journal title
International Journal for Parasitology
Journal volume
50
Journal issue
4
Accepted date
2020-01-16
Submitted date
2019-07-31

Citation(s)

Sharma, R., Thompson, P. C., Hoberg, E. P., Brad , B. W., Konecsni, K., Harms, N. J., Kukka, P. M., Jung, T. S., Elkin, B., Mulders, R., Larter, N. C., Branigan, M., Pongracz, J., Wagner, B., Kafle, P., Lobanov, V. A., Rosenthal, B. M., & Jenkins, E. J. (2020). Hiding in plain sight: Discovery and phylogeography of a cryptic species of trichinella (Nematoda: Trichinellidae) in Wolverine (gulo gulo). International Journal for Parasitology, 50(4), 277–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.01.003

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