Phylogenetic relationships of species of the oesophageal parasitic nematode genera Cyclostrongylus and Spirostrongylus (Strongyloidea: Chabertiidae: Cloacininae) with their wallaby hosts (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)

Mol Cell Probes. 2016 Apr;30(2):93-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mcp.2016.01.004. Epub 2016 Jan 21.

Abstract

A phylogeny for seven species of Cyclostrongylus and the monotypic genus Spirostrongylus (Nematoda: Chabertiidae), all highly host specific parasites of the oesophagi of wallabies (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), was constructed using sequence data for the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. There was no evidence for co-speciation, or for the sympatric or synxenic speciation of Cyclostrongylus alatus and Cyclostrongylus perplexus, both of which are parasites of Macropus rufogriseus. Rather, host switching, correlating with geographical distributions, appeared to provide some explanation of the pattern of speciation observed.

Keywords: Chabertiidae; Cyclostrongylus; Macropodidae; Macropus; Nuclear ribosomal DNA; Phylogeny; Spirostrongylus; Wallabia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Esophagus / parasitology
  • Host Specificity
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Macropodidae / parasitology*
  • Macropodidae / physiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods*
  • Strongyloidea / classification*
  • Strongyloidea / genetics
  • Strongyloidea / physiology

Substances

  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer