title: Molecular and morphological evidence for the Holarctic distribution of Urogonimus macrostomus (Rudolphi, 1803) Monticelli, 1888 (Digenea: Leucochloridiidae).
abstract: Species of Urogonimus Monticelli, 1888 (Leucochloridiidae Poche, 1907) are difficult to distinguish using adult morphology, and their taxonomy has been repeatedly subjected to revision. Some Nearctic species have been regarded as synonymous with the Palearctic type species Urogonimus macrostomus (Rudolphi, 1803) Monticelli, 1888. This implies that U. macrostomus is present in the Nearctic, but there is no additional evidence for this putative distribution. We collected trematodes morphologically indistinguishable from U. macrostomus from a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Sequences 2958 bp in total length from the small and large subunits of ribosomal DNA from 2 specimens were 99.8-100% identical to those of U. macrostomus in the Ukraine and Japan. In light of the lack of morphological differences and small degree of genetic variation, we consider the specimens we collected to be conspecific with U. macrostomus in the Palearctic, and the Holarctic range of the species is thus supported. Sequences from a more rapidly evolving gene, cytochrome c oxidase 1, were obtained to aid future study of this and related species.
authors.affiliation: Fluvial Ecosystem Research Section, Aquatic Ecosystem Protection Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Science and Technology Branch, Environment Canada, St. Lawrence Centre, 105 McGill Street, 7th floor, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2Y 2E7.
authors.forename: Sean A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.forename: Angela Rose
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lapierre
authors.forename: Kaylee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Proctor
authors.forename: J Daniel
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Marcogliese
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D046370:Sparrows / Q000469:parasitology*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV