Molecular evidence of new freshwater turtle blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in the intermediate snail host Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, 1981 in an urban aquatic ecosystem in Brazil

• Published in: Parasitology research (1987) 2021, Vol.120 (1), p.133-143
• Main Authors: Ciccheto, Juliana Rosa Matias, Stabile, Bruno Henrique Mioto, Fermino, Fábio, Fabrin, Thomaz Mansini Carrenho, de Oliveira, Alessandra Valéria, Takemoto, Ricardo Massato, da Graça, Rodrigo Junio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Animal behavior; Animals; Aquatic ecosystems; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biomphalaria; Biomphalaria - parasitology; Brazil; Cercaria; Cercaria - classification; Cercaria - genetics; Cercaria - growth & development; Cercaria - isolation & purification; Cytochrome oxidase; Digenea; DNA, Helminth - genetics; Ecosystem; Ecosystems; Fresh Water - parasitology; Genera; Helminthology - Original Paper; Immunology; Life cycles; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Morphology; New species; Parasites; Phylogeny; Physical characteristics; Randisi, Robert J; Schistosomatidae - classification; Schistosomatidae - genetics; Schistosomatidae - growth & development; Schistosomatidae - isolation & purification; Spirorchiidae; Trematode Infections - parasitology; Trematode Infections - transmission; Trematode Infections - veterinary; Turtles; Turtles - parasitology; Vascular system
• ISSN: 0932-0113; 1432-1955
• DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06945-4

In this study, two potentially new species of turtle blood flukes (TBFs) (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) have been recorded from South Brazil. The spirorchiid parasites infect the vascular system of turtles, thereby compromising their health. The life cycle of these parasites is not well studied. The larval stage of cercaria is found in intermediate gastropod hosts, with some species presenting similar morphological characteristics, which can result in misinterpretations when using only morphological taxonomy for species identification. In this study, we recorded a single morphotype belonging to the family Spirorchiidae in Biomphalaria occidentalis in an urban aquatic ecosystem in Brazil. However, molecular data (28S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I) confirmed the presence of two species of Spirorchiidae in the sampled environment; both phylogenetically close to genera previously studied in freshwater turtles from the Peruvian Amazon. In this study, species characterization was possible because of molecular tools. We recommend using more than one molecular marker in future studies focusing on TBFs, which need attention about their evolutionary history and ecology to understand their distribution in South America.