Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) from the Sava River Basin: new insights into strain formation, mtDNA-like sequences and dynamics of infection

Vardić Smrzlić, Irena; Valić, Damir; Kapetanović, Damir; Filipović Marijić, Vlatka; Gjurčević, Emil; Teskeredžić, Emin (2015) Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) from the Sava River Basin: new insights into strain formation, mtDNA-like sequences and dynamics of infection. Parasitology International, 64 (5). pp. 243-250. ISSN 1383-5769

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2015.02.004

Abstract

Here we report the genetic variability and presence of mtDNA-like sequences of P. laevis from the chub, Squalius cephalus, caught at the sampling sites along the Sava River and its tributary the Sutla River in Croatia. Sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene of the recovered P. laevis specimens were used for haplotype network construction and phylogenetic analysis. These analyses showed that some specimens contained mitochondrial- like sequences, and they uncovered the existence of a Sava River basin strain different from known strains of P. laevis. This is the first time that P. laevis has been shown to contain mtDNA-like sequences, suggesting the need to exercise caution during COI analyses of P. laevis using universal primers. Highly conserved sequences of two nuclear markers, the ITS region and 18S rRNA, were not helpful for understanding genetic variability or differentiating strains. Furthermore, analysis of the dynamics of P. laevis infections in S. cephalus from the Sava and Sutla Rivers showed decreased prevalence and abundance at sites with inferior water quality, positive association of parasite abundance with fish size, and no clear association of parasite abundance with fish condition index or sex.

Item Type:

Article

Additional Information:

We thank Dr. sc. Zrinka Dragun for her assistance with the statistical analysis. This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport of the Republic of Croatia (project no. 098-0982934-2752) and the European Union FP6 SARIB Project (INCO-CT-2004-509160).

Uncontrolled Keywords:

acanthocephalans; Pomphorhynchus laevis; Squalius cephalus; Sutla/Sava Rivers; genetic variability; mitochondrial-like sequences

Subjects:

BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE > Veterinary Medicine

Divisions:

Division for Marine and Enviromental Research

Projects: