Molecular phylogeny of African gyrodactylid monogeneans
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| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | Representatives of different genera of Gyrodactylidae infect a wide range of hosts from diverse aquatic environments. Recently undertaken parasitological surveys of the monogean fauna of fishes in several countries throughout Africa demonstrate a high morphological diversity and species richness. The aim of this study was to investigate the phylogenetic relationships between gyrodactylid monogeneans of African freshwater fishes and other representatives of the family Gyrodactylidae, including a wide range of species/genera from both freshwater and marine systems. The phylogenetic analyses, based on SSU and ITS rDNA sequences, point to a polyphyletic origin of African Gyrodactylus. Interestingly, African Gyrodactylus spp. make up well-supported clades possibly indicating speciation within host orders: 1) parasites of the characin (Characiformes) families Alestidae and Citharinidae; 2) parasites of cichlids (Cichlidae); 3) parasites of catfishes (Siluriformes), consisting of a lineage infecting mochokids and one infecting clariids. Macrogyrodactylus spp. firmly cluster into a monophyletic group. The phylogenetic position of Diplogyrodactylus was not well resolved. We found that Swingleus and Fundulotrema form a clade with Gyrodactylus species belonging to the G. wageneri-group. |
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