Nucleotide sequences representing nine genes and five presumptive genetic loci were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among seven Baylisascaris species, including one species with no previously available molecular data. These genes were used to test the species status of B. procyonis and B. columnaris using a coalescent approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined analysis of sequence data strongly supported monophyly of the genus and separated the species into two main clades. Clade 1 included B. procyonis, B. columnaris, and B. devosi, species hosted by musteloid carnivores. Clade 2 included B. transfuga and B. schroederi from ursids, B. ailuri, a species from the red panda (a musteloid), and B. tasmaniensis from a marsupial. Within clade 2, geographic isolates of B. transfuga, B. schroederi (from giant panda), and B. ailuri formed a strongly supported clade. In certain analyses (e.g., some single genes), B. tasmaniensis was sister to all other Baylisascaris species rather than sister to the species from ursids and red panda. Using one combination of priors corresponding to moderate population size and shallow genetic divergence, the multispecies coalescent analysis of B. procyonis and B. columnaris yielded moderate support (posterior probability 0.91) for these taxa as separate species. However, other prior combinations yielded weak or no support for delimiting these taxa as separate species. Similarly, tree topologies constrained to represent reciprocal monophyly of B. columnaris and B. procyonis individuals (topologies consistent with separate species) were significantly worse in some cases, but not others, depending on the dataset analyzed. An expanded analysis of SNPs and other genetic markers that were previously suggested to distinguish between individuals of B. procyonis and B. columnaris was made by characterization of additional individual nematodes. The results suggest that many of these SNPs do not represent fixed differences between nematodes derived from raccoon and skunk hosts.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.