@article{IlicicGrossart2022, author = {Ilicic, Doris and Grossart, Hans-Peter}, title = {Basal parasitic fungi in marine food webs-a mystery yet to unravel}, series = {Journal of Fungi}, volume = {8}, journal = {Journal of Fungi}, number = {2}, publisher = {MDPI}, address = {Basel}, issn = {2309-608X}, doi = {10.3390/jof8020114}, pages = {16}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Although aquatic and parasitic fungi have been well known for more than 100 years, they have only recently received increased awareness due to their key roles in microbial food webs and biogeochemical cycles. There is growing evidence indicating that fungi inhabit a wide range of marine habitats, from the deep sea all the way to surface waters, and recent advances in molecular tools, in particular metagenome approaches, reveal that their diversity is much greater and their ecological roles more important than previously considered. Parasitism constitutes one of the most widespread ecological interactions in nature, occurring in almost all environments. Despite that, the diversity of fungal parasites, their ecological functions, and, in particular their interactions with other microorganisms remain largely speculative, unexplored and are often missing from current theoretical concepts in marine ecology and biogeochemistry. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent research avenues on parasitic fungi and their ecological potential in marine ecosystems, e.g., the fungal shunt, and emphasize the need for further research.}, language = {en} } @article{RieboldRussowSchlegeletal.2020, author = {Riebold, Diana and Russow, Kati and Schlegel, Mathias and Wollny, Theres and Thiel, Joerg and Freise, Jona and Hueppop, Ommo and Eccard, Jana and Plenge-Boenig, Anita and Loebermann, Micha and Ulrich, Rainer G{\"u}nter and Klammt, Sebastian and Mettenleiter, Thomas Christoph and Reisinger, Emil Christian}, title = {Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites in small mammals from Germany}, series = {Vector borne and zoonotic diseases}, volume = {20}, journal = {Vector borne and zoonotic diseases}, number = {2}, publisher = {Liebert}, address = {New Rochelle}, issn = {1530-3667}, doi = {10.1089/vbz.2019.2457}, pages = {125 -- 133}, year = {2020}, abstract = {An increase in zoonotic infections in humans in recent years has led to a high level of public interest. However, the extent of infestation of free-living small mammals with pathogens and especially parasites is not well understood. This pilot study was carried out within the framework of the "Rodent-borne pathogens" network to identify zoonotic parasites in small mammals in Germany. From 2008 to 2009, 111 small mammals of 8 rodent and 5 insectivore species were collected. Feces and intestine samples from every mammal were examined microscopically for the presence of intestinal parasites by using Telemann concentration for worm eggs, Kinyoun staining for coccidia, and Heidenhain staining for other protozoa. Adult helminths were additionally stained with carmine acid for species determination. Eleven different helminth species, five coccidians, and three other protozoa species were detected. Simultaneous infection of one host by different helminths was common. Hymenolepis spp. (20.7\%) were the most common zoonotic helminths in the investigated hosts. Coccidia, including Eimeria spp. (30.6\%), Cryptosporidium spp. (17.1\%), and Sarcocystis spp. (17.1\%), were present in 40.5\% of the feces samples of small mammals. Protozoa, such as Giardia spp. and amoebae, were rarely detected, most likely because of the repeated freeze-thawing of the samples during preparation. The zoonotic pathogens detected in this pilot study may be potentially transmitted to humans by drinking water, smear infection, and airborne transmission.}, language = {en} }