Diversity, phylogeny and intraspecific variability of Paradiplozoon species (Monogenea: Diplozoidae) parasitizing endemic cyprinoids in the Middle East

Abstract

Diplozoidae are common monogenean ectoparasites of cyprinoid fish, with the genus Paradiplozoon being the most diversified. Despite recent studies on Diplozoidae from Europe, Africa and Asia, the diversity, distribution and phylogeny of this parasite group appears to be still underestimated in the Middle East. The objective of this study was to investigate the diversity, endemism and host specificity of diplozoids parasitizing cyprinoid fish from the Middle East, considering this region as an important historical interchange of fish fauna, and to elucidate the phylogenetic position of Middle Eastern Paradiplozoon species within Diplozoidae. Four Paradiplozoon species were collected from 48 out of 94 investigated cyprinoid species. Three known species, Paradiplozoon homoion, Paradiplozoon bliccae and Paradiplozoon bingolensis, were recorded on new cyprinoid host species, and a new species, Paradiplozoon koubkovae n. sp., was recorded on Luciobarbus capito and Capoeta capoeta from the Caspian Sea basin in Iran and Turkey. Paradiplozoon bliccae, exhibiting a wide host range in the Middle East, expressed both morphological and genetic intraspecific variabilities. The four Paradiplozoon species collected in the Middle East were placed in divergent clades, showing the rich evolutionary history of diplozoid parasites in the Middle East. Our study also revealed that two lineages of African diplozoids have a Middle Eastern origin. We stress the importance of applying an integrative approach combining morphological, ecological and molecular methods to reveal the real diversity of diplozoids.

New species of Dermoergasilus Ho & Do, 1982 (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Ergasilidae) parasitizing endemic cichlid Paretroplus polyactis (Bleeker) in Madagascar

“…Diversity of fish ectoparasites in native Malagasy freshwater fish has been little studied in the past. The present study was a part of large parasitological investigation performed only in 4 localities of north-western Madagascar, however, documenting unknown diversity of fish parasites in isolated freshwater region with endemic fish fauna (i.e., Madagascar), the pattern which was previously shown for endemic freshwater fish in other regions i.e., Peri-Mediterranean and Middle East (Benovics et al ., 2017 , 2021 ; Rahmouni et al ., 2017 ; Řehulková et al , 2020 ; Nejat et al ., 2023 ). Prior to this study, 12 valid species of Dermoergasilus were known, including 1 species, specifically D. longiabdominalis , in mugilid hosts in Madagascar.…”

Gill parasites of Schizocypris altidorsalis (Pisces: Cyprinidae), a threatened freshwater fish in Iran

“…The preserved parasites were then sent to Shamsi's Parasitology Laboratory at Charles Sturt University, Australia, where the specimens underwent morphological examination and molecular analyses of their taxonomic classification and genetic characteristics. Parasites were morphologically examined as previously described by Gussev (1983) and Jalali et al (2005), and identified in accordance with previous publications (Galli et al 2010;Huang et al 2023;Nejat et al 2023). The terminology to describe various body-part structures is mainly in accordance with Galli et al (2010).…”

“…DNA was extracted using DNeasy Blood and Tissue kits (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), as per the manufacturer's instructions, and modified (Shamsi et al 2018) the rDNA region was performed as previously described (Roohi et al 2019;Shamsi et al 2021;Nejat et al 2023).…”

“…Closely related species of Monogenea were used as outgroup. For ITS-2 tree, analysing of phylogenetic trees built in previous works (Huang et al 2023;Nejat et al 2023) for Paradiplozoon spp. was useful as well.…”

Transcriptome Profile Analyses of Head Kidney in Roach (Rutilus rutilus), Common Bream (Abramis brama) and Their Hybrids: Does Infection by Monogenean Parasites in Freshwater Fish Reveal Differences in Fish Vigour among Parental Species and Their Hybrids?

“…Paradiplozoon (Diplozoidae) are relatively large-bodied monogenean parasites (with a body size ranging in different species from 0.8 to 8.2 mm) and common gill parasites on cyprinoid fish [ 7 ]. Among Paradiplozoon species, Paradiplozoon homoion is a generalist species with the highest range of host species [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Paradiplozoon homoion , like other diplozoid monogeneans, is representative of blood-feeding ectoparasites that degrade host blood components predominantly intracellularly [ 12 ].…”