Dreissenid mussels as sentinel biomonitors for human and zoonotic pathogens

After becoming well-established in newly-colonized waterways, invasive bivalves can prove beneficial as biomonitoring sentinels for human and animal pathogens. Because invasive bivalves often occur in large numbers, filter large volumes of water, and retain filtered particulate material in their systems, they can accumulate suspended microscopic waterborne pathogens. Our experimental work over 15 years has resulted in the development of both Corbicula fluminea and Dreissena spp. as sentinel biomonitors in diverse waterways in the Laurentian Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River system of North America, and in the Shannon River system in Ireland. Employing sensitive and accurate molecular techniques for diagnosis, we have used these invasive bivalves as sentinels to detect the presence of the eukaryotic pathogens Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Cyclospora, Enterocytozoon, and Encephalitozoon in laboratory and field settings. Together, these pathogens cause widespread and serious illness and death among both human and animal hosts. By coupling the use of these and other filter-feeding invertebrate sentinels with regularly-deployed navigational aids, we propose that this approach can be applied to develop cost-effective public health biomonitoring programs in navigable waterways throughout the world.