Molecular phylogeny of monogeneans (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) parasitizing African freshwater catfishes (Siluriformes)
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| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | This study constitutes the first evolutionary investigation of monogenean gill parasites of freshwater catfishes in Africa. Our main aim was to reconstruct molecular phylogeny of dactylogyrids specific to African siluriform fishes and determine their phylogenetic position within other dactylogyridean species parasitizing siluriforms from Africa (Ethiopian region), Asia (Oriental region) and Neotropical region. In 2014, representatives of six dactylogyridean genera (Bagrobdella, Protoancylodiscoides, Quadriacanthus, Schilbetrema, Schilbetrematoides and Synodontella) were collected from ten host species belonging to six families (Bagridae, Claridae, Claroteidae, Malapteruridea, Mochokidae and Schilbeidae) during the field expedition in Sudan (White Nile and Blue Nile). Species identification was performed based on morphological analysis of sclerotized structures and molecular characters (partial 18S rDNA, entire ITS1, partial 28S rDNA). Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using maximum likelihood (ML, RaxML) method. Our results showed the monophyletic nature of the six dactylogyridean genera. Species infecting African, Asiatic and Neotropical siluriforms were split into two strongly supported clades. Clade A included the four genera of dactylogyrids from Neotropical region, while clade B comprised parasites of siluriform fishes from all three regions. Monogeneans of African catfishes formed two separate clades. Species of Schilbetrema, Schilbetrematoides, Synodontella, Bagrobdella and Protoancylodiscoides clustered as a strongly supported monophyletic group together with Asiatic species Chauhanellus, Hamatopeduncularia and Neocalceostomoides. Quadriacanthus species from Africa formed clade with Asiatic species Q. kobinensis and Bychowskiella pseudobagri. This study was supported by ECIP (European Centre of IchthyoParasitology); centre of excellence program on the Czech Science Foundation; project No. P505/12/G112. |
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