Publication details
Diversity of dactylogyrids parasitizing African catfishes (Siluriformes)
| Authors | |
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| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | During a survey of monogeneans parasitizing catfishes, a total of 11 species belonging to six families (Bagridae, Clariidae, Claroteidae, Malapteruridae, Mochokidae and Schilbeidae) were found to be infected with 27 species of dactylogyrids assigned to six genera: Bagrobdella (4 spp.), Protoancylodiscoides (2 spp.), Quadriacanthus (7 spp.), Schilbetrema (10 spp.), Schilbetrematoides (2 spp.), and Synodontella (2 spp.). The results indicate that our investigation covered a majority of dactylogyrid genera (i.e. all except Birgiellus and Paraquadriacanthus) currently known from catfishes in Africa. Furthermore, a DNA-based approach to identification of these parasites (25 species, 6 genera) was applied for the first time. Nine of the monogenean species found were identified as new to science. Quadriacanthus and Schilbetrema represent the most numerous genera accommodating dactylogyrids of African catfishes (Quadriacanthus spp. are known to infect members of Clariidae and Bagridae; Schilbetrema spp. and also Schilbetrematoides spp. are parasites of Schilbeidae). Phylogenetic analyses based on 18S-ITS1 and 28S rDNA sequences depicted six Quadriacanthus species, including those described by us (i.e. Q. fornicatus, Q. mandibulatus, Q. pravus, and Q. zuheiri). The observed interspecific genetic relationships among Quadriacanthus spp. from clariids and Q. bagrae from a bagrid host suggest a possible host-switching event in the evolutionary history of the genus... |
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