Chromosome studies ofIchthyocotylurus platycephalus(Creplin, 1825) Odening 1969 with description of triploid variant and comparative karyology of the genusIchthyocotylurus

Abstract

This paper reports the first karyological study of trematode Ichthyocotylurus platycephalus (Creplin, 1825) Odening 1969. Chromosome number and morphology were studied in somatic cells of parthenites from intermediate host -mollusc Valvata piscinalis using an air drying technique and Giemsa staining. The karyotype consisted of 20 chromosomes comprising five pairs of subtelo-acrocentric (1 st to 5 th ), two pairs of submeta-subtelocentric (6 th -7 th ), one submetacentric (9 th ) and two pairs of metacentric chromosomes (8 th , 10 th ). A supernumerary chromosome variation (presenceIabsence of B-chromosome) and occurrence of triploidy in one population of I. platycephalus are reported. In addition, the karyological analysis of Lithuanian population of l. variegatus was carried out. In the light of presented and previously obtained data comparative karyology of genus Ichthyocotylurus is discussed.

Hooking the scientific community on thorny-headed worms: interesting and exciting facts, knowledge gaps and perspectives for research directions on Acanthocephala

“…Due to the sparse data available for acanthocephalans, the application of karyotype data for taxonomic purpose is still very limited. However, there are some interesting examples of the usefulness of basic karyotype data in other parasite groups such as trematodes and cestodes [121,122,129,161]. It is important to note that different environmental conditions may lead to intra-specific variation in karyotype, an issue that calls for careful use of this tool in taxonomic studies.…”

Chromosome analysis and the occurrence of B chromosomes in fish parasite Acanthocephalus anguillae (Palaeacanthocephala: Echinorhynchida)

“…In addition, karyotypes can easily be used to reinforce proposed taxonomic changes. There are some good examples in other parasite groups such as trematodes [ 50 , 65 ] and cestodes, e.g. the split of the genus Pseudoglaridacris from the original genus Glaridacris (different 2 n ) [ 46 ] or the proposed taxonomic assignment based on the obvious differences in the gross chromosome morphology of Schistocephalus solidus and Ligula intestinalis compared to other studied representatives of their families, which was discussed a decade earlier than it was accepted [ 49 ].…”