Origin of the parasites of an invading species, the Australian cane toad (Bufo marinus): are the lungworms Australian or American?
Phylogeographical analyses that identify the geographical origin of parasites in invading species can clarify the parasites' potential for biological control of the invader and the risks posed by the parasite to native species. Our data on nuclear and mitochondrial genetic sequences show that the nematode lungworms (Rhabdias spp.) in invasive Australian populations of cane toads (Bufo marinus) are Rhabdias pseudosphaerocephala, a South American species. We did not find this lungworm species in any Australian frogs sympatric with cane toads, suggesting that the parasite does not attack Australian frogs and hence may offer potential as a biocontrol agent of the toad.
Dubey
Sylvain
S
School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. sylvain.dubey@bio.usyd.edu.au
Shine
Richard
R
D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001938:Brazil; D002024:Bufo marinus / Q000469:parasitology*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D008390:Markov Chains; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D010271:Parasites / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017196:Rhabditida Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary; D017172:Rhabditoidea / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer