The best way to study digenean diversity combines molecular genetic methods, life cycle studies and elaborate morphological descriptions. This approach has been barely used for one of the most widespread digenean taxa parasitizing fish - the superfamily Hemiuroidea. Here we applied the integrative approach to the hemiuroideans from the family Derogenidae parasitizing fish at the White and Barents Seas. Analysis of 28S, 18S, 5.8 rDNA, ITS2 and cox1 gene sequences from sexually adult worms (maritae) showed genetic heterogeneity for two derogenid species known from this area: Derogenes varicus and Progonus muelleri. Thus, two pairs of genetic lineages were found: DV1 and DV2, PM1 and PM2, respectively. Data from other regions indicate that two more lineages of D. varicus probably exist. Based on previous records from the White and Barents Seas, we hypothesized that the cercariae found in the moonsnails (family Naticidae) belong to the Derogenidae and may help to differentiate these lineages as species. According to our results, Cercaria appendiculata from Cryptonatica affinis matched DV1, similar nameless cercariae from Euspira pallida and Amauropsis islandica matched DV2, and Cercaria octocauda from C. affinis matched PM1. We provide new data on the structure of these cercariae and discuss the life cycle pattern of the studied digeneans.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1590-1606
Number of pages17
JournalParasitology
Volume149
Issue number12
Early online date15 Aug 2022
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Oct 2022

    Research areas

  • Cercariae, Derogenes, Fish parasites, Hemiuroidea, Progonus, Species recognition, Trematoda, life cycles, fish parasites, species recognition

    Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Parasitology

ID: 97910051