Phylogenetic Analysis of Alloglossidium Simer, 1929 (Digenea: Plagiorchiiformes: Macroderoididae) with Discussion of the Origin of Truncated Life Cycle Patterns in the Genus

Authors

Joseph P. Carney, University of Manitoba
Daniel R. Brooks, University of TorontoFollow

Date of this Version

12-1991

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology (December 1991) 77(6): 890-900. Copyright 1991, the American Society of Parasitologists. Used by permission.

Abstract

Alloglossidium comprises 9 species of North American plagiorchiiform digeneans using ictalurid catfish, freshwater crustacea, and hirudinid leeches as definitive hosts. Two hypotheses about the evolution of this array of definitive hosts were examined using phylogenetic systematic analysis. Two most parsimonious trees, based on 15 homologous series derived from morphological data, each indicated the two species utilizing ictalurid catfish definitive hosts are basal members of the group, whereas the two species using freshwater crayfish definitive hosts and the five utilizing leech definitive hosts each comprise relatively derived monophyletic sister groups. The results suggest that species using crustaceans as definitive hosts are derived by life cycle truncation, whereas those using leeches as definitive hosts appear to be derived through a switch from crustaceans to leeches.