A molecular tool for tracking community composition of cryptic and sympatric Lymnaeid snails in South America

LOUNNAS, M.; ALDA, P.; POINTIER, J.P.; HURTREZ-BOUSSÈS, S.

Lyon

Workshop; Réseau Ecologie des Interactions Durables; 2015

INRA

Lymnaeids are freshwater pulmonate snails involved in the transmission of several parasites including Fasciola hepatica. Accurate identification of lymnaeid species is crucial because disease risk varies among snail species. Nonetheless, many species are morphologically indistinguishable because lymnaeids show extremely homogeneous anatomical traits. Thus, the main goal of this study was to develop a quick and cheap molecular tool that distinguishes cryptic lymnaeid species. We developed a molecular kit combining microsatellite specific primers that enable us to identify three cryptic lymnaeids species: Galba cubensis/neotropica, Galba schirazensis, and Galba truncatula. We tested our kit in 723 individuals from 84 communities from South America. We found that G. schirazensis and G. truncatula present a restricted distribution while G. cubensis/neotropica is widely distributed. The next step is to develop an ecological niche model that will help us to understand which are the environmental variables explain lymnaeids distribution.