New insights into diversity and phylogeny of Dactylogyrus (Monogenea) parasitizing cyprinoid fishes in the Middle East
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| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Dactylogyrus exhibiting host specificity to cyprinoid fish is one of the most diverse genera of dactylogyrid monogeneans. The Middle East represents a puzzling region regarding the diversity and distribution of cyprinoid fish and their host-specific Dactylogyrus. High endemism of cyprinoid fish was documented in this region. Even though the Dactylogyrus is highly diverse in the Middle East, the phylogenetic position of Dactylogyrus from this region was not studied yet. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of Dactylogyrus species hypothesizing that the Middle East host-specific Dactylogyrus species could reveal historical dispersion of their cyprinoid host fish. In September 2021, a total of 160 cyprinoid specimens from Iraq were examined for the presence of Dactylogyrus. All collected specimens were identified based on morphology and molecular markers. Fifteen Dactylogyrus species from 10 host species were identified. To reconstruct the Dactylogyrus phylogeny, partial regions of 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA, and complete ITS1 region were amplified. The phylogenetic tree showed seven lineages of Dactylogyrus, with the Middle East species positioned in five of them. Two potentially new species for science were revealed by morphology and molecular data. Furthermore, molecular data revealed genetic intraspecific variability for three species, specifically D. goktschicus, D. lenkorani, and D. persis. The phylogenetic position of Middle Eastern Dactylogyrus species to European, African, and North American congeners indicated that cyprinoid fish had multiple contacts throughout these continents associated with host-switches of Dactylogyrus and indicated the usefulness of studying host-specific monogenean parasites as a tool to reveal the historical contacts of cyprinoids. The study was supported by Czech Science Foundation, project n. GA20-13539S. |
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