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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Royal Society Open Science

Histopathological insights into the parasitoid interaction between Sarcophaga sp. and Theba pisana

  • Rebecca Leandri1
  • Gennaro Volpe1
  • Giorgia Rosato1
  • Daniel Whitmore2
  • Gionata De Vico1
  • Karen Power1
  1. 1Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II 1 , Naples, Campania, Italy
  2. 2Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart 2 , Stuttgart, BW, Germany
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Abstract

Theba pisana is becoming an urgent threat to agriculture and biodiversity owing to its ability to harm various plants, to be a competitor with other snail species over food resources, and to be an intermediate host for zoonotic parasites. Environmentally sustainable agents are needed to control the expansion of this species out of its original range of distribution. We report for the first time the development of the parasitoid fly Sarcophaga sp. within a population of T. pisana in Southern Italy and the associated histopathological lesions. Histological analyses of 60 samples revealed infection in 47 individuals, and two possible aspects: 33/47 individuals showed early larval degeneration and moderate immune response, whereas 14/47 individuals presented fully degenerated larvae and enhanced immune activation. Molecular analyses based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I marker indicated high affinity with the Sarcophaga genus; however, species-level identification remains uncertain. These findings provide the first histopathological description of T. pisana immune responses against Sarcophaga sp. and suggest a variable host–parasitoid interaction. The observed host mortality suggests potential use of this fly as a biological control agent; its effectiveness and possible ecological risks for non-target gastropods require careful evaluation through further studies.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{leandri2026histopathological,
  title = {{Histopathological insights into the parasitoid interaction between Sarcophaga sp. and Theba pisana}},
  author = {Rebecca Leandri and Gennaro Volpe and Giorgia Rosato and Daniel Whitmore and Gionata De Vico and Karen Power},
  journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1098/rsos.260475},
  url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/9/260475/483428/Histopathological-insights-into-the-parasitoid},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Histopathological insights into the parasitoid interaction between Sarcophaga sp. and Theba pisana
AU  - Rebecca Leandri
AU  - Gennaro Volpe
AU  - Giorgia Rosato
AU  - Daniel Whitmore
AU  - Gionata De Vico
AU  - Karen Power
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/30
JO  - Royal Society Open Science
DO  - 10.1098/rsos.260475
UR  - https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rsos/article/13/9/260475/483428/Histopathological-insights-into-the-parasitoid
AB  - Theba pisana is becoming an urgent threat to agriculture and biodiversity owing to its ability to harm various plants, to be a competitor with other snail species over food resources, and to be an intermediate host for zoonotic parasites. Environmentally sustainable agents are needed to control the expansion of this species out of its original range of distribution. We report for the first time the development of the parasitoid fly Sarcophaga sp. within a population of T. pisana in Southern Italy and the associated histopathological lesions. Histological analyses of 60 samples revealed infection in 47 individuals, and two possible aspects: 33/47 individuals showed early larval degeneration and moderate immune response, whereas 14/47 individuals presented fully degenerated larvae and enhanced immune activation. Molecular analyses based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I marker indicated high affinity with the Sarcophaga genus; however, species-level identification remains uncertain. These findings provide the first histopathological description of T. pisana immune responses against Sarcophaga sp. and suggest a variable host–parasitoid interaction. The observed host mortality suggests potential use of this fly as a biological control agent; its effectiveness and possible ecological risks for non-target gastropods require careful evaluation through further studies.
SN  - 2054-5703
ER  -