Publications by authors named "P Alda"

Background: Biological invasions pose risks to the normal functioning of ecosystems by altering the structure and composition of several communities. Molluscs stand out as an extensively studied group given their long history of introduction by either natural or anthropogenic dispersal events. An alien population of the lymnaeid species Orientogalba viridis was first sighted in 2009 in southern Spain.

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Fasciolosis is a re-emergent parasitic disease of worldwide significance with a major global impact on livestock health and production. In the French Mediterranean island of Corsica, fasciolosis has been recognized for a long time but little is known about its dynamic as the main investigations are outdated. Three compartments - definitive domestic hosts, intermediate hosts and environment - involved in fasciolosis transmission were studied by applying an integrative and extensive approach: (1) farm and abattoir surveys, (2) snail sampling, identification and infection prospection, and (3) snail habitat analysis; and (4) a questionnaire-based survey to inquire about husbandry practices and environmental risks.

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Fasciola hepatica is a worldwide emerging and re-emerging parasite heavily affecting several regions in South America. Some lymnaeid snail species of American origin are among the major hosts of F. hepatica worldwide.

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Parasites with complex life cycles engaging multiple host species living among different environments well-exemplify the value of a cross-cutting One Health approach to understanding fundamental concerns like disease emergence or spread. Here we provide new information regarding a pathogenic schistosome trematode parasite of both wild and domestic mammals that has recently expanded its known range from mesic/wet environments of the southeastern United States to the arid southwest. In 2018, 12 dogs living near a man-made pond in Moab, Utah, were found positive for , the most westerly report of this endemic North American schistosome, and the first from Utah.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cryptic species pose challenges in systematic and biogeographic studies, especially when they are invasive or transmit diseases.
  • The research focuses on the genus Galba, a group of invasive freshwater snails that reproduce mainly through self-fertilization and can carry liver flukes harmful to humans and livestock.
  • Using an integrative approach involving morphology, molecular data, and broad sampling, the study reveals that Galba has six species or complexes, with significant variations in shell shape and genetic diversity, and emphasizes the necessity of molecular markers for accurate species identification.
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