First molecular identification and phylogenetic tree of Petasiger exaeretus Dietz, 1909 (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) from an intermediate host Radix auricularia (L., 1758) in Greater Zab river, Iraq

Abstract

Introduction. Radix auricularia (Linnaeus, 1758) is a freshwater gastropod belongs to the Lymnaeidae (pond snails) family which act as intermediate hosts or vectors of various parasitic flukes. No study has yet been undertaken on the prevalence of Petasiger spp. infection in R. auricularia. Species of Petasiger (Dietz, 1909) are a cosmopolitan parasite that utilize snails as the first intermediate host, with vertebrates like amphibians larvae and fish as the second intermediate host, followed by fish-eating birds. The current paper is considered to be the first report of Petasiger exaeretus parasitized R. auricularia in Iraq, which is supported with molecular and phylogenetic analysis. Materials and method. Freshwater snails R. auricularia were collected during October 2016-September 2017 from different locations of Sufaia village on the Greater Zab river, Erbil province, Iraq. Results. A total of 307 freshwater snails R. auricularia were collected, only five of them were infected with a prevalence of Petasiger exaeretus (1.62%). Conclusions. The current study agrees with the opinion of Selbach, Soldánová (26), which suggested the possibility of a much higher morphological diversity within Petasiger species, based on the number of described cercariae, compared with adult forms.It is clear that P. phalacrocoracis specimens have often been erroneously designated as P. exaeretus by many authors (Našincová et al., 1994). Certain morphological similarities and dissimilarities between P. exaeretus and P. phalacrocoracis can be detected: the pear-shaped body resembles P. exaeretus, whereas, P. phalacrocoracis have an elongated body.

Ecology, Morphology and Molecular Confirmation of Chaetogaster limnaei (Annelida: Naididae) retrieved from freshwater snail Physa acuta from Greater Zab River, Iraq.

“…thermocycler. PCR results were separated in a 1.3% agarose gel and dyed with a UV-safe dye to detect DNA [14]. DNA sequencing was performed by utilizing a Macrogen Inc. ABI 3730XLs nucleotide sequencing analyzer (Korea).…”

Distribution and Phylogenetic of Freshwater Mussel Unio Tigridis Bourguignat, 1852 (Bivalvia, Unionidae) From Greater Zab River, Iraq

“…Under the following circumstances, PCR was carried out in a MJ Research, Applied Biosystem (AB) thermocycler: 94 C°/4 min; 35 cycles of 94 C°/30 sec; 48 C°/60 sec; 72 C°/90 sec, followed by one cycle of 72 C°/5 min. In order to see DNA under UV light, PCR products were separated on a 1.3% agarose gel and dyed with a safe dye (Bashê and Ali, 2019).…”