1. Lepocreadiidae (Trematoda) associated with gelatinous zooplankton (Cnidaria and Ctenophora) and fishes in Australian and Japanese waters.
- Author
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Cribb TH, Cutmore SC, Wee NQ, Browne JG, Morales PD, and Pitt KA
- Subjects
- Animals, Australia, Japan, Cnidaria classification, Fishes parasitology, Metacercariae isolation & purification, Phylogeny, DNA, Ribosomal Spacer analysis, DNA, Mitochondrial analysis, DNA, Helminth analysis, DNA, Ribosomal analysis, East Asian People, Trematoda classification, Trematoda genetics, Trematoda isolation & purification, Trematoda anatomy & histology, Trematode Infections veterinary, Trematode Infections parasitology, Trematode Infections epidemiology, Fish Diseases parasitology, Fish Diseases epidemiology, Zooplankton
- Abstract
We examined gelatinous zooplankton from off eastern Australia for lepocreadiid trematode metacercariae. From 221 specimens of 17 species of cnidarian medusae and 218 specimens of four species of ctenophores, infections were found in seven cnidarian and two ctenophore species. Metacercariae were distinguished using cox1 mtDNA, ITS2 rDNA and morphology. We identified three species of Prodistomum Linton, 1910 [P. keyam Bray & Cribb, 1996, P. orientale (Layman, 1930), and Prodistomum Type 3], two species of Opechona Looss, 1907 [O. kahawai Bray & Cribb, 2003 and O. cf. olssoni], and Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970. Two species were found in cnidarians and ctenophores, three only in cnidarians, and one only in a ctenophore. Three Australian fishes were identified as definitive hosts; four species were collected from Scomber australasicus and one each from Arripis trutta and Monodactylus argenteus. Transmission of trematodes to these fishes by ingestion of gelatinous zooplankton is plausible given their mid-water feeding habits, although such predation is rarely reported. Combined morphological and molecular analyses of adult trematodes identified two cox1 types for C. saba, three cox1 types and species of Opechona, and six cox1 types and five species of Prodistomum of which only two are identified to species. All three genera are widely distributed geographically and have unresolved taxonomic issues. Levels of distinction between the recognised species varied dramatically for morphology, the three molecular markers, and host distribution. Phylogenetic analysis of 28S rDNA data extends previous findings that species of Opechona and Prodistomum do not form monophyletic clades., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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