The first discovery of Microphallus abortivus trematode in the Black Sea: morphological and molecular characteristics

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  • Authors: Y. V. Andryushina1, D. M. Atopkin2
  • Affiliations:
    1. А. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sevastopol, Russian Federation
    2. Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russian Federation
  • Keywords: трематода, метацеркария, Microphallus abortivus, гастроподы, Hydrobia acuta, Черное море, морфологическая характеристика, молекулярно-генетические данные

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Abstract

Morphological and molecular data were obtained for encysted metacercariae found in the digestive gland of the mollusk, Hydrobia acuta, from the Black Sea. Morphologically, these metacercariae correspond to the family Microphallidae and the genus Microphallus. Results of phylogenetic analyses based on partial 28S rDNA sequence data show that the metacercariae from H. acuta are closely related to Microphallus abortivus with high statistical support. Our study shows that Microphallus abortivus  completes its life cycle in the Black Sea, using Hydrobia acuta mollusks as the second intermediate hosts, while marine and coastal birds can serve as the definitive hosts. This study extends the range of Microphallus abortivus to the Black Sea.

Keywords: трематода, метацеркария, Microphallus abortivus, гастроподы, Hydrobia acuta, Черное море, морфологическая характеристика, молекулярно-генетические данные

Authors

Y. V. Andryushina
А. O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences, Sevastopol, Russian Federation
D. M. Atopkin
Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russian Federation