Diversity of Plagiorchis (Trematoda: Digenea) in high latitudes: Species composition and snail host spectrum revealed by integrative taxonomy. (13th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kudlai, Olena; Pantoja, Camila; O'Dwyer, Katie; Jouet, Damien; Skírnisson, Karl; Faltýnková, Anna
• Is Part Of: Journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research. Volume 59:Number 5(2021)
• Page Start: 937
• Page End: 962
• Publication Date: 2021-04-13
• Subjects: cercariae -- Europe -- mitochondrial and nuclear DNA -- Mollusca -- morphology; Animals -- Classification -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 578.012
• DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12469
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-5745

Abstract

Abstract: Parasites are important components of ecosystems, thus identifying patterns of their diversity is crucial for studies investigating ecosystem functioning, food web structure, trophic interactions and epidemiological parameters. Via an integrative taxonomic approach, we studied the diversity and distribution of trematodes of the genus Plagiorchis Lühe, 1899 in snails in the sub‐Arctic freshwater ecosystems of Iceland and for comparative purposes in West and North Europe (Ireland and Finland, respectively), supplemented by data from Alaska, USA, all regions with remarkably few data on trematode diversity. Molecular genetic and morphological analyses of 68 samples of cercarial isolates of Plagiorchis collected from 3, 069 snails belonging to six species revealed a total of 16 species/species‐level lineages of Plagiorchis with five found in Iceland, six in Finland, nine in Ireland and five in Alaska. Two species‐level lineages found in Iceland, Finland and Ireland were reported for the first time; for all species/species‐level lineages identified by DNA sequences we provide the first morphological characterization. Our analysis of the diversity of Plagiorchis and their snail host spectrum in Europe provides evidence for Radix balthica and Lymnaea stagnalis as primary first intermediate hosts. By comparing DNA sequence data for Plagiorchis spp. from this and previous studies, we demonstrate no overlapping spatial distribution for members of the genus in our material between the continents of Europe and North America. We infer that the spatial distribution of Plagiorchis spp. is constrained mainly by migratory birds' ranges. Finally, in Europe, further research is needed to evaluate whether the diversity of Plagiorchis spp. in R . balthica is unique to high latitude ecosystems. Abstract : We evaluated the diversity of the trematode parasites Plagiorchis spp. in freshwater snails in Iceland, Finland, Ireland and Alaska (USA) via an integrative taxonomic approach. Our data show that the diversity of Plagiorchis had been underestimated in high latitude regions; the snails Radix balthica and Lymnaea stagnalis are primary first intermediate hosts for Plagiorchis spp. in Europe; and there is no overlapping spatial distribution for Plagiorchis spp. between Europe and North America.