Scientists discover tarantula-killing worms
New parasite named after actor Jeff Daniels

Date:
January 19, 2022
Source:
University of California - Riverside
Summary:
Scientists have named a newly discovered species of worm that
kills tarantulas after American actor Jeff Daniels, a distinction
no other actor can claim.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Scientists have named a newly discovered species of worm that kills
tarantulas after American actor, musician and producer Jeff Daniels,
a distinction no other entertainer can claim.


========================================================================== There are more than 25,000 described species of these worms,
called nematodes, and they are one of the most abundant animals on
Earth. However, this is only the second time one has ever been found to
infect tarantulas.

They named it Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi, because Daniels' character in the
1990 film Arachnophobia saves a town from a deadly infestation of spiders.

"His character in the film is a spider killer, which is exactly what
these nematodes are," said UC Riverside parasitologist Adler Dillman,
who led a team that discovered the nematode.

"When I first heard a new species of nematode had been named after me, I thought, 'Why? Is there a resemblance?' joked Daniels, in remarks to UCR.

"Honestly, I was honored by their homage to me and Arachnophobia. Made
me smile. And of course, in Hollywood, you haven't really made it
until you've been recognized by those in the field of parasitology."
The team's work describing jeffdanielsi has recently been published in
the Journal of Parasitology.

In September 2019, a wholesale tarantula breeder contacted Dillman
for help identifying a mysterious infection in some of their
tarantulas. Specimens sent for inspection had an odd white mass around
the mouth area. Dillman, who teaches the only parasitology class at UCR, recognized the white areas immediately as nematodes.



========================================================================== Previously, scientists in Europe identified the first nematodes found on tarantulas. However, that research examined only the worms themselves;
not the worms as found on the spiders.

Once infected, tarantulas begin to exhibit strange behaviors like
walking around on tiptoe and not eating. The appendages that control
the tarantula's fangs also stop working.

"It may take months because tarantulas don't have to eat particularly
often.

However, if they get this infection, they will die of starvation,"
Dillman said.

In addition to confirming that jeffdanielsi infection is lethal,
Dillman's team learned how the worms reproduce, and where on the spiders
they reside.

Jeffdanielsi are mostly self-fertilizing hermaphrodites that produce their
own sperm and eggs. On average, Dillman said a single hermaphrodite can
produce 160 babies in its lifespan. In the laboratory, that lifespan is
11 days. It isn't clear how long they can live on a tarantula.



==========================================================================
The research team also found that the nematodes only inhabited the mouth
area - - none were in the stomach, nor did they appear to cause damage
to the exterior of the tarantulas.

"It isn't clear that the nematodes feed on the spider itself. It's
possible that they feed on bacteria that live on the tarantulas," Dillman
said. When the researchers grew the worms in the laboratory, they ate
e. coli, making a stronger case that they are generally bacteria eaters.

One mystery that remains to be solved is how the nematodes are able to
change the tarantulas' behavior and paralyze their pedipalps, the organs
that control their fangs.

Dillman is planning additional studies to understand this, as well as
how breeders can treat or even prevent jeffdanielsi infections.

Though identifying a tarantula parasite is rare, Dillman believes this
says more about the number of people that study tarantulas rather than
the likely uniqueness of nematodes infecting them.

"Nematodes have been around for hundreds of millions
of years. They've evolved to infect every kind of host
on the planet including humans," he said. "Any animal you
know of on planet Earth, there's a nematode that can infect it." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
University_of_California_-_Riverside. Original written by Jules
Bernstein. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Jacob Schurkman, Kyle Anesko; Joaqui'n Abolafia; Irma Tandingan
De Ley;
Adler R. Dillman. Tarantobelus Jeffdanielsi
N. Sp. (panagrolaimomorpha; Panagrolaimidae), a Nematode Parasite
of Tarantulas. J Parasitol, 2022 DOI: 10.1645/21-42 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220119090856.htm

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