Tracing the origin of the crayfish plague pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci, to the Southeastern United States

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  • Authors: Martín-Torrijos, Laura; Martínez-Ríos, María; Casabella-Herrero, Gloria; Adams, Susan B.; Jackson, Colin R.; Diéguez-Uribeondo, Javier
  • Publication Year: 2021
  • Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
  • Source: Scientific Reports
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88704-8

Abstract

The oomycete Aphanomyces astaci is an emerging infectious pathogen affecting freshwater crayfish
worldwide and is responsible for one of the most severe wildlife pandemics ever reported. The
pathogen has caused mass mortalities of freshwater crayfish species in Europe and Asia, and threatens
other susceptible species in Madagascar, Oceania and South America. The pathogen naturally coexists
with some North American crayfish species that are its chronic carriers. Presumptions that A. astaci
originated in North America are based on disease outbreaks that followed translocations of North
American crayfish and on the identification of the pathogen mainly in Europe. We studied A. astaci in
the southeastern US, a center of freshwater crayfish diversity. In order to decipher the origin of the
pathogen, we investigated (1) the distribution and haplotype diversity of A. astaci, and (2) whether
there are crayfish species-specificities and/or geographical restrictions for A. astaci haplotypes.
A total of 132 individuals, corresponding to 19 crayfish species and one shrimp species from 23
locations, tested positive for A. astaci. Mitochondrial rnnS and rnnL sequences indicated that A. astaci
from the southeastern US exhibited the highest genetic diversity so far described for the pathogen
(eight haplotypes, six of which we newly describe). Our findings that A. astaci is widely distributed
and genetically diverse in the region supports the hypothesis that the pathogen originated in the
southeastern US. In contrast to previous assumptions, however, the pathogen exhibited no clear
species-specificity or geographical patterns.

  • Citation: Martín-Torrijos, Laura; Martínez-Ríos, María; Casabella-Herrero, Gloria; Adams, Susan B.; Jackson, Colin R.; Diéguez-Uribeondo, Javier. 2021. Tracing the origin of the crayfish plague pathogen, Aphanomyces astaci, to the Southeastern United States. Scientific Reports. 11(1): 186-. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88704-8.
  • Keywords: crayfish, disease, pathogens, oomycetes, Aphanomyces astaci, crayfish plague, USA
  • Posted Date: May 4, 2021
  • Modified Date: May 4, 2021

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