[en] Since the early 1900s, mesomycetozoan parasites have been reported in both European anuran and caudate species. These reports have primarily been descriptive, which has made assessing the impact of these parasites on host populations difficult. Anecdotal reports of Dermocystidium-like parasites are becoming widespread across Europe, possibly indicating that these mesomycetozoan parasites are increasing in distribution and/or abundance. This highlights the need for further investigations into the occurrence, pathogenesis and effects on host health of these parasitic infections for free-living amphibian populations, particularly those which are already stressed or threatened by other factors. Here we report the results of pathological, microbiological and molecular investigations used to characterize unidentified skin lesions in palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) from Larzac, France. We confirm that the lesions are the result of infection with a novel dermocystidium-like parasite, which is related to Amphybiocystidium ranae. We also show that the same parasite is distributed across several newt breeding sites. The lesions that result from infection with this parasite range from single or few vesicular or nodular cutaneous lesions to multiple coalescing skin ulcers with extensive hemorrhages. The latter have not been previously described in amphibians due to mesomycetozoan parasitic infection. Dermocystid DNA was detected only in newts that showed lesions, providing comparative evidence of the parasite's pathogenicity. We discuss the potential significance of the presence of this pathogen in the context of the population health of palmate newts.
Disciplines :
Microbiology Aquatic sciences & oceanology Veterinary medicine & animal health Genetics & genetic processes Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
González-Hernández, M.; Zoological Society of London & Universidad Veracruzana
Denoël, Mathieu ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale
Duffus, A. J. L.; Zoological Society of London & University of London
Garner, T. W. J.; Zoological Society of London
Cunningham, A. A.; Zoological Society of London
Acevedo-Whitehouse, K.; Zoological Society of London
Language :
English
Title :
Dermocystid infection and associated skin lesions in free-living palmate newts (Lissotriton helveticus) from Southern France
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