Phylogenetic analyses based on molecular and morphological data reveal a new species ofStrigeaAbildgaard, 1790 (Digenea: Strigeidae) and taxonomic changes in strigeids infecting Neotropical birds of prey

Abstract

Members of the genus Strigea Abildgaard, 1790 are endoparasites of birds distributed worldwide. Adults of an undescribed species of the genus Strigea were collected from the intestines of two hawk species (Rupornis magnirostris and Accipiter coperii). Other species identified as Parastrigea macrobursa that were described in Argentina were also recovered from two hawk species (Buteogallus urubitinga and Buteogallus anthracinus) in three localities along the coasts of Mexico. Specimens of the two species were sequenced for three molecular markers, the internal transcribed spacers locus (ITS1-5.8S rDNA- ITS2) and the domains D1–D3 from the large subunit from nuclear ribosomal DNA and the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 from mitochondrial DNA. The newly sequenced specimens were aligned with other strigeids sequences downloaded from GenBank. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses inferred with each molecular marker revealed that our specimens of Strigea sp. formed an independent lineage, which is recognized herein as a new species, Strigea magnirostris n. sp., representing the first species in Mexico and the 16th in the Neotropical region. Morphologically, the new species is distinguished from other congeneric species from the Americas by having an oral sucker with several papillae around it, well-developed pseudosuckers (118–248 μm), a tegument covered with tiny spines, a larger cone genital (193–361 × 296–637) and a larger copulatory bursa (247–531 × 468–784). Our phylogenetic analyses revealed that P. macrobursa is not closely related to other members of the genus Parastrigea and is nested within Strigea, suggesting that P. macrobursa should be transferred to Strigea to form Strigea macrobursa n. comb., expanding its distribution range from Mexico to Argentina. Finally, the analyses also revealed that the taxonomy and systematics of Strigea should be re-evaluated, combining morphological and molecular characteristics.

First species record of Strigea falconis Szidat, 1928 (Trematoda, Strigeidae) from gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus in Iceland—pros and cons of a complex life cycle

“…The recent use of an integrative approach combining morphology, molecular biology and the study of parasites and their hosts is essential and has made it possible to confirm or place species in synonymy and to understand the taxonomy within several genera of this family (Blasco-Costa et al 2016 ; Achatz et al 2020 ; Locke et al 2021 ; Pyrka et al 2021 ; Sokolov et al 2021 ). Regarding the genus Strigea , López-Jiménez et al ( 2023 ) analysed the South American species based on different nuclear and mitochondrial domains. Heneberg et al ( 2018 ) showed the separation of the European species into three clades ( Strigea sensu stricto, Amphistoma and Cryptostrigea ), proved the well-defined status of S. falconis and assumed that it might belong to a separate genus ( Cryptostrigea ).…”

“…The D2 domain of the rDNA (556 bp) and the partial ND1 (395 bp) and cox 1 (236 bp) domains of the mDNA were used for molecular comparisons and tree constructions. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on previous analyses (Heneberg et al 2018 ; López-Jiménez et al 2023 ) and new taxa available in GenBank (Table 2 ), using the neighbour joining (NJ), the maximum likelihood (ML) and minimum evolution (ME) methods, using the MEGA version 11 software. Bayesian inference (BI) analysis was conducted using MrBayes v. 3.2.6 (Huelsenbeck and Ronquist 2001 ; Dereeper et al 2008 , 2010 ).…”

“… Hernández-Mena et al ( 2017 ) Caracara cheriway A Mexico MF398343 MF398319 Patrelle et al ( 2015 ) Pelophylax sp. Ms France KT362372–373 Strigea macrobursa López-Jiménez et al ( 2023 ) Buteogallus urubitinga A Mexico OQ647923–930 OQ648128–133 Buteogallus anthracinus A Mexico OQ647931 OQ648134 Parastrigea P. plataleae Hernández-Mena et al ( 2017 ) Platalea ajaja A Mexico MF398346 P. cincta Hernández-Mena et al ( 2017 ) Eudocimus albus A Mexico MF398347 P. diovadena Hernández-Mena et al ( 2017 ) Eudocimus albus A Mexico MF398348 P. flexilis <...…”

“…cornu Tkach ( 2001 ) AF184264 Aph. brasiliana López-Jiménez et al ( 2022 ) Cochlearius cochlearius A Mexico MZ614713 Apatemon A. sp. jamiesoni Blasco-Costa et al ( 2016 ) Phalacrocorax punctatus A New Zealand KT334169 KT334182 Aff.…”

“…So far, Heneberg et al ( 2018 ) provided the most comprehensive analysis of European strigeids applying the approach of integrative taxonomy. Most recently, there have been attempts to tackle the phylogenetic relationships of the species of the genus Strigea Abildgaard, 1790 and related genera (López-Jiménez et al 2023 ), which together with Heneberg et al ( 2018 ) confirmed the status of S. falconis as a well-defined species.…”