Molecular phylogeny of the genus Taenia (Cestoda: Taeniidae): Proposals for the resurrection of Hydatigera Lamarck, 1816 and the creation of a new genus Versteria

Phylogenetic Pattern, Evolutionary Processes and Species Delimitation in the Genus Echinococcus

“…Although as many as 13 genera have been described in the family, the most recent taxonomic revision recognised only four; Hydatigera, Taenia, Versteria and Echinococcus (Nakao et al, 2013a). The genus Echinococcus is a monophyletic group of species characterised by small adult worms and larvae (metacestodes) with extensive asexual reproduction.…”

Anthropogenics: Human Influence on Global and Genetic Homogenization of Parasite Populations

“…Subsequently, it was found that this story is considerably more complex, a picture now being revealed by multilocus molecular phylogenies for Taenia (Lavikainen et al, 2008(Lavikainen et al, , 2010Knapp et al, 2011;Nakao et al, 2013a;Terefe et al, 2014) in conjunction with population-level explorations of phylogeography and gene flow among species and populations (e.g., Nakao et al, 2002;Martinez-Hernandez et al, 2009;Michelet et al, 2010;Yamane et al, 2012). Recognition of an intricate history among large carnivore hosts and geographic regions is further highlighted by the cryptic diversity found among cestodes of canids and ursids (Lavikainen et al, 2010Haukisalmi et al, 2011), northern felids (Lavikainen et al, 2013), and hyaenids (Terefe et al, 2014).…”

“…Recognition of an intricate history among large carnivore hosts and geographic regions is further highlighted by the cryptic diversity found among cestodes of canids and ursids (Lavikainen et al, 2010Haukisalmi et al, 2011), northern felids (Lavikainen et al, 2013), and hyaenids (Terefe et al, 2014).…”

“…Species of Echinococcus, however, are the agents of hydatid disease caused by metacestode infections of organs and tissues among herbivorous mammalian intermediate hosts (Eckert et al, 2000). Among 9 currently recognized species, most human infections are associated with Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and, to a lesser extent, other species of the E. granulosus complex (Echinococcus canadensis, Echinococcus equinus, Echinococcus ortleppi), Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus oligarthra (Nakao et al, 2013b). Knowledge about diversity of Echinococcus species has resulted from incremental advances over the past 200 yr. Taxonomic stability through the 1970s was based on comparative morphology and life history, recognizing 4 species (Rausch and Bernstein, 1972;Eckert et al, 2001).…”

“…Diversity was linked to host-based strains, e.g., cervid, sheep, camel, cattle, buffalo, and swine, of varying pathogenicity for humans (Thompson, 1995). Subsequently, extensive data from mtDNA demonstrated the independence of specific genotypes (G-1 to G-10) and suggested putative species status to account for the considerable cryptic diversity within E. granulosus (McManus and Thompson, 2003;Nakao et al, 2013b). Recognition of cryptic species has transformed our concept for host and parasite associations among this assemblage of pathogens.…”