Systematics of Mesocestoides (Cestoda: Mesocestoididae): evaluation of molecular and morphological variation among isolates.
A hypothesis-based framework was used to test if 3 genetic strains of Mesocestoides (clades A, B, and C) are distinct evolutionary lineages, thereby supporting their delimitation as species. For comparative purposes, 3 established cestode species, Taenia pisiformis, Taenia serialis, and Taenia crassiceps were assessed using the same methods. Sequence data from mitochondrial rDNA (12S) and the second internal transcribed spacer of nuclear rDNA (ITS-2) revealed derived (autapomorphic) characters for lineages representing clade A (n = 6 autapomorphies), clade B (n = 4), and clade C (n = 9) as well as T. pisiformis (n = 15) and T. serialis (n = 12). Furthermore, multivariate analysis of morphological data revealed significant differences among the 3 genetic strains of Mesocestoides and between T. pisiformis and T. serialis. The level of phenotypic variation within evolutionary lineages of Mesocestoides and Taenia spp. tapeworms was similar. Results from this study support recognizing Mesocestoides clades A, B, and C as separate species, and provide evidence that clade B and Mesocestoides vogae are conspecific.
Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, Davis 95616, USA. kpadgett@dhs.ca.gov
Kerry A
KA
Padgett
Steven A
SA
Nadler
Linda
L
Munson
Ben
B
Sacks
Walter M
WM
Boyce
D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000469:parasitology*; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D004285:Dogs; D008645:Mesocestoides / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D010542:Peromyscus / Q000469:parasitology; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D013621:Taenia / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics
D018509:DNA, Helminth; D021901:DNA, Intergenic; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C075526:RNA, ribosomal, 12S