Abstract
Shellfish, including the key species the common cockle Cerastoderma edule, living and feeding in waters contaminated by infectious agents can accumulate them within their tissues. It is unknown if microbial pathogens and microparasites can subsequently be transmitted via concomitant predation to their consumers, including shorebirds. The objective of this study was to assess if pathogens associated with C. edule could be detected seasonally in the faeces of shorebirds that feed on C. edule and in the physical environment (sediment) in which C. edule reside, along the Irish and Celtic Seas. Two potentially pathogenic global groups, Vibrio and Haplosporidia, were detected in C. edule. Although Haplosporidia were not detected in the bird faeces nor in the sediment, identical strains of Vibrio splendidus were detected in C. edule and bird faecal samples at sites where the oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus and other waders were observed to be feeding on cockles. Vibrio spp. prevalence was seasonal and increased in C. edule and bird faecal samples during the warmer months, possibly due to higher seawater temperatures that promote the replication of this bacteria. The sediment samples showed an overall higher prevalence of Vibrio spp. than the bird faecal and C. edule samples, and its detection remained consistently high through the sites and throughout the seasons, which further supports the role of the sediment as a Vibrio reservoir. Our findings shed light on the fact that not all pathogen groups are transmitted from prey to predator via feeding but bacteria such as V. splendidus can be. As most of the wading birds observed in this study are migratory, the results also indicate the potential for this bacterium to be dispersed over greater geographic distances, which will have consequences for areas where it may be introduced.
Highlights
Shellfish, including the key species the common cockle Cerastoderma edule, living and feeding in waters contaminated by infectious agents can accumulate them within their tissues
A variety of waders (Supplementary Table S1)—oystercatchers Haematopus ostralegus, curlews Numenius arquata, bar-tailed godwits Limosa lapponica, black-tailed godwits Limosa limosa, common redshanks Tringa totanus, red knot Calidris canutus and dunlins Calidris alpina—that feed on bivalves, including cockles, were identified in the recordings along with several species of seagulls—Larus canus, Chroicocephalus ridibundus, Larus marinus, Larus melanocephalus—and hooded crows (Corvus cornix), both groups with a generalist diet but that can feed on bivalves in coastal areas (Supplementary Table S2)
This study demonstrates connectivity between the presence of vibrios in the marine environment and the different compartments that they can be detected in, i.e. sediment, invertebrates, and vertebrates
Summary
Shellfish, including the key species the common cockle Cerastoderma edule, living and feeding in waters contaminated by infectious agents can accumulate them within their tissues. It is unknown if microbial pathogens and microparasites can subsequently be transmitted via concomitant predation to their consumers, including shorebirds. Parasitism contributes significantly to the biodiversity of mudflat ecosystems, the composition of parasites in the food web of the mudflat ecosystems has been u nderstudied[1] Cockles inhabiting those habitats can accumulate agents that are potentially pathogenic[12] and act as a reservoir for subsequent infection of other species[5]. Azandégbé et al.[28] reported the occurrence of V. aestuarianus in sediment at two C. gigas farms in France and suggested that this bacterium might subsist during the cold seasons in the sediment and rise again under favourable conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
