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76 SummaryThe species-specific ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) markers were designed for PCR-based molecular differentiation of Fasciola hepatica, Fascioloides magna, Dicrocoelium dendriticum and Paramphistomum cervi, liver and stomach flukes of domestic and free living ruminants. Complete ITS2 sequences were obtained for D. dendriticum and P. cervi, for the later species, ITS2 structure was determined for the first time. Intraspecific variation within geographically distant populations was found to be either very low (F. hepatica; D. dendriticum) or even absent (F. magna; P. cervi). ITS2 regions with the absence of intraspecific polymorphisms but with interspecific sequence heterogeneity were applied for design of speciesspecific primers. The specificity of developed primers was tested on genomic DNA isolated from adult individuals of studied fluke species. Application of the primers is of particular value for molecular differentiation of morphologically hardly distinguishable F. hepatica, F. magna and P. cervi eggs after coprological examinations.

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Molecular analysis of an extensive specimen collection of morphologically distinct tapeworms of the genus Caryophyllaeus Gmelin, 1790 (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea), parasites of cyprinid fishes in the Palaearctic Region, brought evidence of hostrelated plasticity in critical morphological characters widely used for species circumscription and classification of these tapeworms. The results obtained here do not support the traditionally used morphological concept of species-defining characters of the order Caryophyllidea Carus, 1863, especially due to high morphological plasticity of the scolex and the anterior end of the body. Several morphotypes within both Caryophyllaeus laticeps (Pallas, 1781) and Caryophyllaeus brachycollis Janiszewska, 1953 generally corresponding to different hosts and geographical regions, were recognised likely suggesting host-and geography-related intraspecific morphological variability. Genetic data confirmed euryxenous host specificity of both species, most profoundly C. laticeps, but did not support the existence of cryptic species. In fact, some of the fish hosts may harbour both of the congeneric species including several of their respective morphotypes. The pattern of morphological and genetic divergence observed in both cestode species studied indicates a scenario of possible host range extensions and subsequent parasite diversification. If molecular sequence variability and host-related morphological polymorphism are confirmed in other groups of monozoic cestodes, it may complicate species identification and straightforward classification of these parasites.

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