Molecular and morphological circumscription ofMesocestoidestapeworms from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe

Abstract

Here we examine 3157 foxes from 6 districts of the Slovak Republic in order to determine for the first time the distribution, prevalence and identity of Mesocestodes spp. endemic to this part of central Europe. During the period 2001-2006, an average of 41.9% of foxes were found to harbour Mesocestoides infections. Among the samples we confirmed the widespread and common occurrence of M. litteratus (Batsch, 1786), and report the presence, for the first time, of M. lineatus (Goeze, 1782) in the Slovak Republic, where it has a more restricted geographical range and low prevalence (7%). Using a combination of 12S rDNA, CO1 and ND1 mitochondrial gene sequences together with analysis of 13 morphometric characters, we show that the two species are genetically distinct and can be differentiated by discrete breaks in the ranges of the male and female reproductive characters, but not by the more commonly examined characters of the scolex and strobila. Estimates of interspecific divergence within Mesocestoides ranged from 9 to 18%, whereas intraspecific variation was less than 2%, and phylogenetic analyses of the data showed that despite overlapping geographical ranges, the two commonly reported European species are not closely related, with M. litteratus more closely allied to North American isolates of Mesocestoides than to M. lineatus. We confirm that morphological analysis of reproductive organs can be used to reliably discriminate between these often sympatric species obtained from red foxes.

Endoparasites of wildcats in Croatia

“…The parasite identifications and staining were based on the available descriptions (MEHLHORN et al, 1993;HRČKOVA et al, 2011;BRIANTI et al, 2012;SChMÄSChke, 2013 (Fig. 2 -Fig.…”

Occurrence of Mesocestoides canislagopodis (Rudolphi, 1810) (Krabbe, 1865) in mammals and birds in Iceland and its molecular discrimination within the Mesocestoides species complex

“…In Europe, Yanchev (1986) reported seven Mesocestoides species; at present, 12 species are listed in the Fauna Europea database (www.faunaeur.org). Molecular tools have significantly helped to identify Mesocestoides species, both by using ordinal and generic markers such as the 28S (D1-D3), 18S, and the ITS2 of the ribosomal DNA, or more specific domains such as cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and 12S of the mitochondrial DNA (Bowles and McManus 1994;Nakao et al 2000;Dinkel et al 2011;Eleni et al 2007;Hrčkova et al 2011;Littlewood et al 1999Littlewood et al , 2008Padgett et al 2013;Waeschenbach et al 2007;Jabbar et al 2012;Zalesny and Hildebrand 2012). Unfortunately, the use of these new tools has also led to submission of haplotypes without proper morphological characters for identifications (Foronda et al 2007;Padgett et al 2013).…”

“…Unfortunately, the use of these new tools has also led to submission of haplotypes without proper morphological characters for identifications (Foronda et al 2007;Padgett et al 2013). To date, only three representatives of the genus-Mesocestoides litteratus (Batsch, 1786), M. lineatus (Goeze, 1782), and M. corti (Hoeppli, 1925) (= M. vogae (Etges 1991)-can reliably be identified as valid species, using both morphological and molecular characters Gubány and Eszterbauer 1998;Nickisch-Rosenegk et al 1999;Literák et al 2006;Hrčkova et al 2011).…”

Helminth fauna and zoonotic potential of the European hamster Cricetus cricetus Linnaeus, 1758 in agrobiocoenoses from Vojvodina province (Serbia)

“…The infection is rare, and it appears that other animals besides rodents play a part in its transmission, but the presence of this tapeworm genus in Serbian hamsters should be taken with caution and further research should be undertaken. While European mammals were once thought to be parasitized by a single Mesocestoides species (M. lineatus), recent research shows that this is not the case (Literák et al, 2006;Hrčkova et al, 2011). In order to determine which Mesocestoides species is found in Serbian hamsters, future studies may need to incorporate molecular methods as opposed to morphological characters used herein.…”