Molecular phylogeny of monogeneans parasitizing African freshwater Cichlidae inferred from LSU rDNA sequences

Abstract

The African freshwater fish of Cichlidae are parasitized by five genera of monogeneans belonging to Dactylogyridea. Ectoparasitic Scutogyrus, Onchobdella, and the highly diversified Cichlidogyrus represent three genera located on the gills, while the endoparasitic Enterogyrus and Urogyrus are located in the stomach and the urinary bladder, respectively. Representatives of four dactylogyridean genera (except for Urogyrus) were collected from seven cichlid species in West Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the phylogenetic relationships between ectoparasitic and endoparasitic dactylogyridaen monogeneans specific to African freshwater Cichlidae and other representatives of Dactylogyridae, including a wide range of species from both freshwater and marine environments. All phylogenetic analyses point to the polyphyletic origin of the subfamily Ancyrocephalinae. Both Enterogyrus and Onchobdella were found to be monophyletic. The phylogenetic position of Scutogyrus longicornis was placed within the Cichlidogyrus species, which suggests the non-monophyly of Cichlidogyrus. Therefore, we have proposed a taxonomical revision of the species recently considered to be Scutogyrus. However, these four dactylogyridean genera-specific to cichlids do not form a monophyletic group. Using LSU rDNA analyses, we found that Enterogyrus and Onchobdella form a clade with Protogyrodactylus, i.e., the parasite species does not live in cichlids, which suggests that endoparasitism in cichlid monogeneans is not an ancestral feature.

Non-lethal detection of DNA from Cichlidogyrus spp. (Monogenea, Ancyrocephalinae) in gill mucus of the Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

“…A small region (25% of total coverage) showed > 90% homology with the D1 to D2 regions of LSU rDNA from Scutogyrus longicornis (DQ157659.1) (Wu et al 2006) and the LSU rDNA region of S. longicornis (HQ010035.1) (Mendlová et al 2010). The (Tingbao et al 2006).…”

“…2 AS-2010 (HQ010028.1), Cichlidogyrus sp. 1 AS-2010 (HQ010027.1), C. aegypticus (HQ -010021.1), and C. halli (HQ010025.1) (Mendlová et al 2010), and also some regions of the D1 to D2 domain of LSU rDNA and the combined LSU and partial sequence of small subunit (SSU) rDNA data sets of Cichlidogyrus sp. 1 XW-2006 (DQ537367.1) and Cichlidogyrus sp.…”

A revised description of Synodontella zambezensis Douëllou et Chishawa, 1995 (Monogenea: Ancyrocephalidae) from the gills of Synodontis zambezensis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from South Africa

“…The effort to fi nd the phylogenetic position of Synodontella species among dactylogyrid parasites of Siluriformes did not provide satisfying results. The SSU and LSU rDNA regions are often used for inferring phylogenies among various groups of dactylogyrids (Pouyaud et al, 2006;Wu et al, 2007;Mendlová et al, 2010;Šimková et al, 2013;Mendoza-Palmero et al, 2015). It has been shown in a recent study of Mendoza-Palmero et al (2015) that parasites of different genera of various catfi shes are not always closely related and create paraphyletic lineages.…”

Ribosomal DNA as molecular markers and their applications in the identification of fish parasites (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) from India

“…This is because the monogeneans affect those organs and tissues which are vital to normal functioning such as gills and skin, the organs of respiration [5,6] . The negative effect of monogeneans on the fish host may vary between species.…”