Otterly diverse - A high diversity of Dracunculus species (Spirurida: Dracunculoidea) in North American river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Michael J. Yabsley; Kayla B. Garrett; Alec T. Thompson; Erin K. Box; Madeline R. Giner; Ellen Haynes; Heather Barron; Renata M. Schneider; Sarah M. Coker; James C. Beasley; Ernest J. Borchert; Renn Tumlison; Allison Surf; Casey G. Dukes; Colleen Olfenbuttel; Justin D. Brown; Liandrie Swanepoel; Christopher A. Cleveland

International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife (Apr 2024)

Otterly diverse - A high diversity of Dracunculus species (Spirurida: Dracunculoidea) in North American river otters (Lontra canadensis)

Michael J. Yabsley,
Kayla B. Garrett,
Alec T. Thompson,
Erin K. Box,
Madeline R. Giner,
Ellen Haynes,
Heather Barron,
Renata M. Schneider,
Sarah M. Coker,
James C. Beasley,
Ernest J. Borchert,
Renn Tumlison,
Allison Surf,
Casey G. Dukes,
Colleen Olfenbuttel,
Justin D. Brown,
Liandrie Swanepoel,
Christopher A. Cleveland

Affiliations

Michael J. Yabsley: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Corresponding author. 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Wildlife Health Building, Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, GA, USA.
Kayla B. Garrett: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Alec T. Thompson: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Erin K. Box: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Madeline R. Giner: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Ellen Haynes: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Heather Barron: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Sanibel, FL, 33957, USA
Renata M. Schneider: South Florida Wildlife Center, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Sarah M. Coker: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
James C. Beasley: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
Ernest J. Borchert: Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, USA
Renn Tumlison: Applied Science and Technology, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR, 71999, USA
Allison Surf: Applied Science and Technology, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR, 71999, USA
Casey G. Dukes: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
Colleen Olfenbuttel: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
Justin D. Brown: Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
Liandrie Swanepoel: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
Christopher A. Cleveland: Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA; Center for Ecology of Infectious Diseases, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23
p. 100922

Abstract

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The genus Dracunculus contains numerous species of subcutaneous parasites of mammals and reptiles. In North America, there are at least three mammal-infecting species of Dracunculus. Reports of Dracunculus infections have been reported from river otters (Lontra canadensis) since the early 1900s; however, little is known about the species infecting otters or their ecology. Most reports of Dracunculus do not have a definitive species identified because females, the most common sex found due to their larger size and location in the extremities of the host, lack distinguishing morphological characteristics, and few studies have used molecular methods to confirm identifications. Thus, outside of Ontario, Canada, where both D. insignis and D. lutrae have been confirmed in otters, the species of Dracunculus in river otters is unknown. In the current study, molecular characterization of nematodes from river otters revealed a high diversity of Dracunculus species. In addition to confirming D. insignis infections, two new clades were detected. One clade was a novel species in any host and the other was a clade previously detected in Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) from the USA and a domestic dog from Spain. No infections with D. lutrae were detected and neither new lineage was genetically similar to D. jaguape, which was recently described from a neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) from Argentina. These data also indicate that Dracunculus spp. infections in otters are widespread throughout Eastern North America. Currently the life cycles for most of the Dracunculus spp. infecting otters are unknown. Studies on the diversity, life cycle, and natural history of Dracunculidae parasites in wildlife are important because the related parasite, D. medinensis (human Guinea worm) is the subject of an international eradication campaign and there are increasing reports of these parasites in new geographic locations and new hosts, including new species in humans and domestic dogs.

Published in International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife

ISSN: 2213-2244 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Zoology
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-for-parasitology-parasites-and-wildlife/

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