First report of the invasive golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata in Kenya.

Giovanni Cafa,Koskei K Vincent,Roger K Day,Alexander M Muvea,Lisa C Offord,Fernadis Makale,Duncan Chacha,Simeon Kibet,Ivan Rwomushana,Alan G Buddie,Djamila Djeddour

doi:10.31220/agrirxiv.2020.00027

Abstract

Abstract Following reports of an invasive snail causing crop damage in the expansive Mwea irrigation scheme in Kenya, samples of snails and associated egg masses were collected and sent to CABI laboratories in the UK for molecular identification. DNA barcoding analyses using the cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene confirmed the identity of the snails as Pomacea canaliculata , widely considered to be one of the most invasive invertebrates of waterways and irrigation systems worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first record of P. canaliculata in Kenya, and the first confirmed record of an established population in continental Africa. This timely identification shows the benefit of molecular identification when combined with a reliable database such as that provided by the Barcoding of Life Data system. We found that the egg masses tested gave an identical barcode sequence to the adult snails, allowing identifications to be made more rapidly. Given the impact of this species in Asia, there is need for an assessment of the risk to Africa, and the implementation of an appropriate response in Kenya and elsewhere to manage this new threat to agriculture and the environment.

Highlights

Apple snails (Ampullariidae) are freshwater gastropods distributed naturally throughout the humid tropics and subtropics (Berthold, 1991)
Canaliculata in Kenya, and the first confirmed record of an established population in continental Africa. This timely identification shows the benefit of molecular identification when combined with a reliable database such as that provided by the Barcoding of Life Data system
Mwea samples, were to sequences assigned to P. canaliculata with the sole exception of what appeared to be an aberrant P. maculata sequence (MK992483) from Uruguay

Summary

Introduction

Apple snails (Ampullariidae) are freshwater gastropods distributed naturally throughout the humid tropics and subtropics (Berthold, 1991). The largest of nine extant genera in the family, are New World species native to South, Central and North America (Hayes et al.2015). Some Pomacea species, mainly from South America, demonstrate notable invasiveness outside of their native ranges (Hayes et al 2008; Wu et al 2010; Lv et al.2013; Yang et al 2018). Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck 1829), is listed among ‘100 of the world’s worst invasive species’ (Lowe et al 2000) and together with the morphologically similar P. maculata (=P. insularum) (Perry 1910), have become serious agricultural and ecological pests, causing significant economic losses in wetland rice cultivation and threatening biodiversity (Cowie 2002; Tamburi and Martín 2009; Qiu et al.2011). Phylogenetic analyses have provided an invaluable framework for discovering and delineating apple snail species (Rawlings et al 2007; Hayes et al 2008; Yang and Yu 2019)

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Conclusion