Taxonomic revision of Microcotyle caudata Goto, 1894 parasitic on gills of sebastids (Scorpaeniformes: Sebastidae), with a description of Microcotyle kasago n. sp. (Monogenea: Microcotylidae) from off Japan

Development of a PCR‐RFLP method for differential identification of Microcotyle sebastis and Microcotyle caudata isolated from cultured rockfish in Korea

“…These specimens were stained with alum carmine, dehydrated in ethanol series, cleared in xylene-creosote and mounted in Canada balsam. Morphological observation and identification was conducted under a microscope, according to Ono et al (2020). Parasite prevalence (P) and mean abundance (MA) were calculated as described by Bush et al (1997).…”

“…The genus Microcotyle is the largest genus in the family Microcotylidae, currently having 69 valid species listed in the WoRMS website; however, it remains a difficult genus for classification (Bouguerche et al., 2019a,2019b; WoRMS, 2021). Recently, molecular tools have been applied to the Microcotyle taxonomy and several new Microcotyle species have been described by morphological re‐examination and molecular analyses (Ayadi et al., 2017; Bouguerche et al., 2019a,2019b; Machkewskyi et al., 2013; Ono et al., 2020; Villora‐Montero et al., 2020).…”

“…Ono et al. (2020) recently reported that all of these S. inermis species are hosts of M. caudata . In Korea, however, S. inermis species complex is collectively propagated as S. inermis without further discrimination, and there is no information on their microcotylid monogeneans.…”

“…Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mt cox 1) and/or other genes (e.g. 28S rDNA and cytochrome b ) have been applied as useful tools for describing new Microcotyle species (Ayadi et al., 2017; Bouguerche et al., 2019a,2019b; Ono et al., 2020; Villora‐Montero et al., 2020). Furthermore, PCR‐RFLP of these genes can provide an accurate, rapid and cost‐effective differential identification tool for morphologically similar monogenean species (Kobayashi et al., 2018; Matejusová et al., 2004; Rokicka et al., 2007 ) .…”

“…S. inermis species are known to have three different colour morphotypes and are collectively considered a S. inermis species complex that was separated into three valid species (S. inermis, S. ventricosus and S. cheni) by Kai and Nakabo (2008). Ono et al (2020) recently reported that all of these S. inermis species are hosts of M. caudata. In Korea, however, S. inermis species complex is collectively propagated as S. inermis without further discrimination, and there is no information on their microcotylid monogeneans.…”