Unraveling the diversification history of grasshoppers belonging to the <i>"Trimerotropis pallidipennis"</i> (Oedipodinae: Acrididae) species group : A hotspot of biodiversity in the Central Andes

The Andean Mountain range has been recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspotsof the world. The proposed mechanisms for such species diversification, among others, are due to the elevation processes occurring during the Miocene and the intensiveglacial action during the Pleistocene. In this study we investigated the diversificationhistory of the grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis species complex which showsa particularly wide latitudinal and altitudinal distribution range across the northern, central and southern Andes in South America. Many genetic lineages of this complexhave been so far discovered, making it an excellent model to investigate the role of thecentral Andes Mountains together with climatic fluctuations as drivers of speciation. Phylogenetics, biogeographic and molecular clock analyses using a multi-locus datasetrevealed that in Peru there are at least two, and possibly four genetic lineages. Twodifferent stocks originated from a common ancestor from North/Central Americawould have dispersed toward southern latitudes favored by the closure of the PanamaIsthmus giving rise to two lineages, the coastal and mountain lineages, which still coexistin Peru (i.e., T. pallidipennis and T. andeana). Subsequent vicariant and dispersalevents continued the differentiation process, giving rise to three to six genetic lineages(i.e., clades) detected in this study, which were geographically restricted to locationsdispersed over the central Andes Mountains in South America. Our results provideanother interesting example of ``island diversification" motored by the topographyplus unstable climatic conditions during the Pleistocene, pointing out the presence ofa hotspot of diversification in the Andean region of Peru.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Molecular characterization of cryptic and sympatric lymnaeid species from the Galba/Fossaria group in Mendoza Province, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

Background Freshwater lymnaeid snails can act as the intermediate hosts for trematode parasites such as the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, that cause significant economic and biomedical burden worldwide, particularly through bovine fascioliasis. Transmission potential is tightly coupled to local compatibility with snail hosts, so accurate identification of lymnaeid species is crucial for understanding disease risk, especially when invasive species are encountered. Mendoza Province, in Argentina, is a center of livestock production and also an area of endemic fascioliasis transmission. However, the distribution of lymnaeid species in the region is not well known. Methods This study examined lymnaeid snails from seven localities in the Department of Malarguë, Mendoza Province, using morphological and molecular analyses and also describing ecological variables associated with snail presence. Results While morphological characters identified two species of lymnaeid, Galba truncatula and G. viatrix, molecular data revealed a third, cryptic species, G. neotropica, which was sympatric with G. viatrix. G. truncatula was exclusively found in high altitude (>1900 meters above sea level [masl]) sites, whereas mixed G. neotropica/G. viatrix localities were at middle elevations (1300–1900 masl), and G. viatrix was found alone at the lowest altitude sites (<1300 masl). Phylogenetic analysis using two mitochondrial markers revealed G. neotropica and G. viatrix to be closely related, and given their morphological similarities, their validities as separate taxonomic entities should be questioned. Conclusions This study highlights the need of a robust taxonomic framework for the identification of lymnaeid snails, incorporating molecular, morphological and ecological variables while avoiding nomenclature redundancy. As the three species observed here, including one alien invasive species, are considered hosts of varying susceptibility to Fasciola parasites, and given the economic importance of fascioliasis for livestock production, this research has critical importance for the ultimate aim of controlling disease transmission

Molecular characterization of cryptic and sympatric lymnaeid species from the Galba/Fossaria group in Mendoza Province, Northern Patagonia, Argentina

Background: Freshwater lymnaeid snails can act as the intermediate hosts for trematode parasites such as the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica, that cause significant economic and biomedical burden worldwide, particularly through bovine fascioliasis. Transmission potential is tightly coupled to local compatibility with snail hosts, so accurate identification of lymnaeid species is crucial for understanding disease risk, especially when invasive species are encountered. Mendoza Province, in Argentina, is a center of livestock production and also an area of endemic fascioliasis transmission. However, the distribution of lymnaeid species in the region is not well known. Methods: This study examined lymnaeid snails from seven localities in the Department of Malarguë, Mendoza Province, using morphological and molecular analyses and also describing ecological variables associated with snail presence. Results: While morphological characters identified two species of lymnaeid, Galba truncatula and G. viatrix, molecular data revealed a third, cryptic species, G. neotropica, which was sympatric with G. viatrix. G. truncatula was exclusively found in high altitude (>1900 meters above sea level [masl]) sites, whereas mixed G. neotropica/G. viatrix localities were at middle elevations (1300-1900 masl), and G. viatrix was found alone at the lowest altitude sites (<1300 masl). Phylogenetic analysis using two mitochondrial markers revealed G. neotropica and G. viatrix to be closely related, and given their morphological similarities, their validities as separate taxonomic entities should be questioned. Conclusions: This study highlights the need of a robust taxonomic framework for the identification of lymnaeid snails, incorporating molecular, morphological and ecological variables while avoiding nomenclature redundancy. As the three species observed here, including one alien invasive species, are considered hosts of varying susceptibility to Fasciola parasites, and given the economic importance of fascioliasis for livestock production, this research has critical importance for the ultimate aim of controlling disease transmission.Fil: Standley, Claire J.. University Of Princeton. Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Prepelitchi, Lucila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Unidad de Ecología de Reservorios y Vectores de Parásitos; Argentina;Fil: Pietrokovsky, Silvia Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina;Fil: Issia, Laura Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Unidad de Ecología de Reservorios y Vectores de Parásitos; Argentina;Fil: Stothard, J. Russell. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Department of Parasitology; Reino Unido;Fil: Wisnivesky, Maria Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Unidad de Ecología de Reservorios y Vectores de Parásitos; Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina

Unraveling the diversification history of grasshoppers belonging to the <i>"Trimerotropis pallidipennis"</i> (Oedipodinae: Acrididae) species group : A hotspot of biodiversity in the Central Andes

The Andean Mountain range has been recognized as one of the biodiversity hotspotsof the world. The proposed mechanisms for such species diversification, among others, are due to the elevation processes occurring during the Miocene and the intensiveglacial action during the Pleistocene. In this study we investigated the diversificationhistory of the grasshopper Trimerotropis pallidipennis species complex which showsa particularly wide latitudinal and altitudinal distribution range across the northern, central and southern Andes in South America. Many genetic lineages of this complexhave been so far discovered, making it an excellent model to investigate the role of thecentral Andes Mountains together with climatic fluctuations as drivers of speciation. Phylogenetics, biogeographic and molecular clock analyses using a multi-locus datasetrevealed that in Peru there are at least two, and possibly four genetic lineages. Twodifferent stocks originated from a common ancestor from North/Central Americawould have dispersed toward southern latitudes favored by the closure of the PanamaIsthmus giving rise to two lineages, the coastal and mountain lineages, which still coexistin Peru (i.e., T. pallidipennis and T. andeana). Subsequent vicariant and dispersalevents continued the differentiation process, giving rise to three to six genetic lineages(i.e., clades) detected in this study, which were geographically restricted to locationsdispersed over the central Andes Mountains in South America. Our results provideanother interesting example of ``island diversification" motored by the topographyplus unstable climatic conditions during the Pleistocene, pointing out the presence ofa hotspot of diversification in the Andean region of Peru.Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectore

Presencia de Pseudosuccinea columella naturalmente infestada con Fasciola hepatica en Santo Tomé (Corrientes, Argentina)

La fasciolosis es una enfermedad producida por Fasciola hepatica. Esta parasitosis produce grandes pérdidas económicas en el ganado bovino de la Provincia de Corrientes, Argentina, y también tiene carácter zoonótico. En el norte de la Provincia, Pseudosuccinea columella es el caracol involucrado en la transmisión de la enfermedad. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue ampliar los datos sobre la distribución de P. columella y su infestación natural por F. hepatica en la Provincia de Corrientes. Se recolectaron caracoles en un establecimiento ganadero del Departamento de Santo Tomé, al nordeste de la Provincia, que fueron identificados taxonómicamente, medidos y disecados para verificar la presencia de cercarias de F. hepatica. Los 115 caracoles recolectados fueron identificados como P. columella. La longitud de la conchilla varió entre 0,8–21,3 mm, con una media de 10,0 mm. La prevalencia de caracoles naturalmente infestados por F. hepatica fue de 8 (7,4%) sobre 108 examinados. La presencia de P. columella en distintos departamentos del norte y nordeste de la Provincia de Corrientes y las altas prevalencias de infestación natural por F. hepatica registradas, indicarían el asentamiento de un ciclo de transmisión enzoótica en esta zona