The hidden Parascape: genetic diversity of digenean parasites and their hosts within African National Parks

Tober, Anya 2024. The hidden Parascape: genetic diversity of digenean parasites and their hosts within African National Parks. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Global climate change, anthropogenic expansion and habitat loss threaten terrestrial, marine and freshwater biodiversity. This biodiversity is key to the functioning of healthy ecosystems and provision of services on which billions of people rely. Protected areas strive to protect the world’s most biodiverse and vulnerable areas. This biodiversity also includes pathogens, many of which are neglected compared to the megafauna. A diverse group of freshwater parasites, the digeneans, have complex lifecycles, involving an intermediate freshwater snail host and one or more secondary hosts. This group includes the medically and economically important schistosomes which cause chronic disease in humans and livestock; however, little is known about the species which infect wildlife. With a focus on Kruger National Park, South Africa, this thesis investigates the challenges that African protected areas face in maintaining biodiversity and managing disease in an era of unprecedented global change. Using multiple molecular methodologies, this thesis assesses the genetic diversity of digenean parasites, their intermediate freshwater snail hosts and their definitive Cape buffalo hosts within Kruger National Park. Parasite diversity was high and included rare species indicative of the park’s large biodiversity of megafauna. Schistosomes of economic and potential zoonotic importance (S. mattheei) were also detected within the snail and cape buffalo hosts, which should be monitored in relation to the rural communities bordering the park and shared water sources. Although multiple snail species were detected across the park, the high densities of invasive Tarebia granifera snails as well as snails from the genus Bulinus (potential hosts for schistosomes) are concerning and should be monitored closely. The Cape buffalo population has also maintained high genetic diversity which can be partially explained by local adaptation. High prevalence of S. mattheei infection were detected in the Cape buffalo, however this did not appear to influence local adaptation. This thesis, while highlighting key knowledge gaps and management priorities for Kruger National Park and other African protected areas, provides new insights into the diversity of the freshwater parasites and hosts within Kruger. These findings can help park managers make informed decisions into future management policies surrounding biodiversity and disease. It also provides empirical data which can be incorporated into larger One Health studies surrounding disease risks at the human-livestock-wildlife interface

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Biosciences
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	9 July 2025
Last Modified:	10 Jul 2025 10:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/179679

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