Dalius Butkauskas

Assessment of microbial diversity in the river trout Salmo trutta fario L. intestinal tract identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis

The microbial diversity of the intestinal tract content of the river trout from two Lithuanian rivers has been investigated by molecular methods: polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of partial 16S rRNA genes. Predominant bacterial populations detected in the river trout intestinal tract from the Skorblus River were Rahnella (21%), from the Žeimena River, Aeromonas (41.7%) and Plesiomonas (22.9%). Buttiauxella agrestis, Budvicia aquatica, Erwinia persicinus, Yersinia mollaretii, Y. kristensenii, Y. rohdei, Moellerella wisconsensis, Obesumbacterium proteus, Pantoea cedenensis, Rahnella aquatillis, and Rahnella sp. from the Enterobacteriaceae family have been detected in the intestinal tract of freshwater salmonid fish for the first time.

The mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) as intermediate host for Sarcocystis wobeseri sp. nov. from the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)

Morphometric and DNA investigation results of Sarcocystis wobeseri sp. nov. from the barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) and Sarcocystis sp. (cyst type IV) from the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) are presented. No significant morphometric differences between the investigated Sarcocystis species were found. ITS-1, 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA gene sequences of these species showed 100% identity. The conclusion is drawn that it is one and the same Sarcocystis species in different intermediate hosts.

Phylogenetic analysis of intestinal bacteria of freshwater salmon Salmo salar and sea trout Salmo trutta trutta and diet

The microbial diversity of culturable intestinal microflora of wild freshwater salmonid fishes salmon Salmo salar and sea trout Salmo trutta trutta juveniles (0+ years old) from the same environmental conditions were investigated by means of molecular identification techniques and analysis of diet. Significant differences in the intestinal microbial diversity were observed in different fish species. The predominant group in the intestinal tract of the salmon comprised representatives of the Enterobacteriaceae family (23%), Plesiomonas (19.2%) and Carnobacterium (15.3%). Predominant microbiota in sea trout intestinal tract were Enterobacteriaceae (52%), Aeromonas (22%) and Pseudomonas (14%). The results show that Enterobacteriaceae were predominant in the intestinal tract of the salmon and the sea trout juveniles raised on diets of different compositions. However, molecular identification of the intestinal microbiota at the species or genus level revealed differences in these fish species. Bacteria in the hindgut of salmon included Pragia and Serratia. However, bacteria in the gut contents of sea trout from the Enterobacteriaceae family were Buttiauxella, Enterobacter, Moellerella, Pantoea, Rahnella and Tiedjeia arctica. A novel phylotype of T. arctica is harbored in the intestinal tract of wild salmon, and may correspond to a previously undescribed species.

Description of Sarcocystis anasi sp. nov. and Sarcocystis albifronsi sp. nov. in birds of the order Anseriformes

On the basis of the already published morphological, 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA data (Kutkienė et al., Parasitol Res 99:562–565, 2006; Parasitol Res 102:691–696, 2008; Parasitol Res 104:329–336, 2009), and ITS-1 region investigation results of sarcocysts presented in this paper, Sarcocystis albifronsi sp. nov. from the white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and Sarcocystis anasi sp. nov. from the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) are described.

Identification of Sarcocystis rileyi from the mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) in Europe: cyst morphology and results of DNA analysis

Macroscopic cysts of Sarcocystis in ducks were recorded in Europe, but they were not investigated in more detail. Results of light and electron microscopy as well as 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and ITS-1 region sequences of Sarcocystis macrocysts isolated from naturally infected mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) from Lithuania are presented in this paper. According to ultrastructure results, macrocysts examined corresponds to S. rileyi. Phylogenetic investigation showed S. rileyi to be the most closely related to two unnamed Sarcocystis species from anseriforms and to the S. mucosa. This is the first well-documented case of S. rileyi in Europe.

Coexistence and population genetic structure of the whooper swan Cygnus cygnus and mute swan Cygnus olor in Lithuania and Latvia

Two closely related swan species, the mute swan Cygnus olor and the whooper swan Cygnus cygnus, were formerly allopatric throughout their breeding ranges, but during the last decades a sympatric distribution has become characteristic of these species in the Baltic Sea region. The whooper swan has gradually replaced the mute swan in many suitable habitats in Lithuania and Latvia. Marked differences in the genetic population structure of both species may partially explain the dominance of the whooper swan, as genetic population divergence can be a major factor affecting inter-specific competition. A homogenous genetic population structure was defined for mute swans breeding in Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Belarus. Breeding mute swans in this region are mostly of naturalised origin. A diverse population genetic structure characterizes whooper swans breeding in Lithuania and Latvia.

INVESTIGATION OF THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF SARCOCYSTIS SPP. FROM GREYLAG (ANSER ANSER) AND WHITE-FRONTED (ANSER ALBIFRONS) GEESE TO OTHER CYST FORMING COCCIDIA USING 18S AND 28S rRNA GENE SEQUENCES

Based on cyst morphology, Sarcocystis cysts type I were found in one White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) and cysts type III in one Greylag goose (Anser anser) and two White-fronted geese. Sarcocysts isolated from infected birds as intermediate host have not been previously described and are unnamed. Type III sarcocysts detected in White-fronted and Greylag geese may illustrate the case of polyhostal nature of sarcocysts when same-species parasites infest intermediate hosts of different species. The obtained partial sequences of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA showed the highest homology for the genera Sarcocystis and Frenkelia. In the tree of phylogenetic relationships, the species involved in this study were grouped with Frenkelia microti, Frenkelia glareoli, Sarcocystis muris and Sarcocystis neurona. Analysis of the partial sequences of 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA revealed the phylogenetic and taxonomic status of the investigated Sarcocystis spp.

Identification of Flyways of Woodpigeon (Columba Palumbus) in Europe by using Genetic Methods

The attempt to identify the flyways of Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) was made by means of genetic analysis. Samples for genetic study were collected in different breeding and wintering habitats (in Portugal, France, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania) of Woodpigeons. Five polymorphic loci controlling synthesis of five different liver proteins (Mc, Tf, PreTf, PostAl, PreAl) and fragments of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA obtained using ten random primers were explored during the study. Significant differences based on frequency of alleles of proteins between populations of Woodpigeons breeding in Portugal and the rest European migratory populations of Woodpigeons were detected. Woodpigeon populations breeding in the region of the Baltic Sea were represented by close clusters in a dendrogram on the contrary to absence of the close clustering among populations of Woodpigeons wintering in Spain and France. It is supposed that genetic variability of Woodpigeon populations is base...

INVESTIGATION OF GENETIC VARIABILITY IN THE EUROPEAN EEL (ANGUILLA ANGUILLA (L.)) IN LITHUANIA USING MICROSATELLITE DNA MARKERS

To find out if native and introduced European eel (Anguilla anguilla) populations differ from one another genetically, we used five microsatellite markers and compared naturally recruited and introduced European eel populations at four different locations. Samples of naturally recruited eels were taken from the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon, while introduced eels were sampled from Lakes Dringis and Siesartis. Results of the study do not support the hypothesis on panmixia in the European eel, since low but significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.0238, p = 0.0148) was found to exist among introduced eel groups. Significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.0228, p = 0.0281) among the Baltic Sea, the Curonian Lagoon, Lake Dringis and Lake Siesartis populations was ascertained too.

Long-Term Genetic Investigations – Background for Research on Wildfowl Populations in the Changing Environmental Conditions

Since the year 1980 genetic investigations of wildfowl have been performed in various breeding sites in the Northern Palearctic. The research was done on ca 800 individuals of 20 wildfowl species. To evaluate genetic diversity we used the following genetic markers: blood serum lipoprotein and common protein antigen systems, polymorphous common protein and isoenzyme systems, DNA random and microsatellite markers. It was found that the same species migrating from different wintering sites differed considerably not only by frequency of alleles of isoenzymes and common proteins, but also by frequency of random DNA fragments. We determined genetic diversity of seaducks wintering in the Baltic Sea, and the scope of inter-specific similarity and genetic distances between these species. Significant genetic differences were also identified among migratory and sedentary populations of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) in different sites of the eastern Baltic region. Genetic studies form the background for long-term ecol...