The Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Species <i>Lissachatina fulica</i> in the Urban Area of Cali, Colombia

The Genetic Diversity of the Invasive Species <i>Lissachatina fulica</i> in the Urban Area of Cali, Colombia

The African giant snail, <i>Lissachatina fulica</i> (the Achatinidae family), is an invasive mollusk found in many countries across the Pacific, the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America. <i>Lissachatica fulica</i> is known for its rapid dispersal and poses several ecosystem pro...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Andres Castillo, María C. Rodríguez, Claudia M. Franco, Alan Giraldo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
<i>Lissachatina fulica</i>
African giant snail
invasive species
plague
public health
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/17/3/177
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Summary:The African giant snail, <i>Lissachatina fulica</i> (the Achatinidae family), is an invasive mollusk found in many countries across the Pacific, the Caribbean, Asia, and Latin America. <i>Lissachatica fulica</i> is known for its rapid dispersal and poses several ecosystem problems. It displaces native mollusk species and causes economic losses by damaging cultivated plants. This snail is also a public health concern as it can transmit the nematode <i>Angiostrongylus cantonensis</i>, leading to meningoencephalitis in humans. This study utilizes the 16S rRNA gene to examine the genetic variation in <i>L. fulica</i> in the city of Cali, located in southwestern Colombia. We identified two haplotypes, designated as C and D. Among the 578 samples analyzed, haplotype C was found in 11% of the samples, while haplotype D was present in 89%. Concerning demographic events in <i>L</i>. <i>fulica</i>, such as population expansions, contractions, and bottlenecks, the negative value of Tajima’s D index suggests that positive selection has favored certain alleles or haplotypes, reducing genetic variation. In conclusion, the clear dominance of haplotype D in most areas might indicate that haplotype D is either more prevalent or advantageous in these environments. However, further analysis would be needed to understand the reasons for this pattern (e.g., environmental, genetic, or social factors).
ISSN:1424-2818

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