Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Publication Title
IJP: Parasites and Wildlife
Abstract
The distinct evolutionary pressures faced by Pinnipeds have likely resulted in strong coevolutionary ties to their parasites (Leidenberger et al., 2007). This study focuses on the phocid seal filarial heartworm speciesAcanthocheilonema spirocauda. A. spirocauda is known to infect a variety of phocid seals, but does not appear to be restricted to a single host species (Measures et al., 1997; Leidenberger et al., 2007; Lehnert et al., 2015). However, to date, seal heartworm has never been reported in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) (Measures et al., 1997; Leidenberger et al., 2007; Lehnert et al., 2015). The proposed vector for seal heartworm is Echinophthirius horridus, the seal louse. Seal lice are known to parasitize a wide array of phocid seal species, including the grey seal. With the advent of climate change, disease burden is expected to increase across terrestrial and marine mammals (Harvell et al., 2002). Accordingly, increased prevalence of seal heartworm has recently been reported in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) (Lehnert et al., 2015). Thus, the need for improved, rapid, and cost-effective diagnostics is urgent. Here we present the first A. spirocauda-specific rapid diagnostic test (a quantitative real- time PCR assay), based on a highly repetitive genomic DNA repeat identified using whole genome sequencing and subsequent bioinformatic analysis. The presence of an insect vector provides the opportunity to develop a multifunctional diagnostic tool that can be used not only to detect the parasite directly from blood or tissue specimens, but also as a molecular xenomonitoring (XM) tool that can be used to assess the epidemiological profile of the parasite by screening the arthropod vector. Using this assay, we provide evidence for the first reported case of seal heartworm in a grey seal.
Keywords
Harbor seal, Parasites, Seal heartworm, Acanthocheilonema spirocauda, Real-time PCR, Molecular diagnostics, Xenomonitoring, Genomic repeats
Volume
7
First Page
147
Last Page
154
DOI
doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.04.001
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Rights
© 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian Society for Parasitology. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/).
Recommended Citation
Keroack, Caroline D.; Williams, Kalani M.; Fessler, M. K.; DeAngelis, Kaela E.; Tsekitsidou, Eirini; Tozloski, Jillian M.; and Williams, Steven A., "A Novel Quantitative Real-Time PCR Diagnostic Assay for Seal Heartworm (Acanthocheilonema spirocauda) Provides Evidence for Possible Infection in the Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)" (2018). Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/bio_facpubs/32
Comments
Archived as published.