Taxonomic approaches to and interpretation of host specificity of trematodes of fishes: lessons from the Great Barrier Reef

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (13) ◽  
pp. 1710-1722 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. L. MILLER ◽  
R. A. BRAY ◽  
T. H. CRIBB
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
Host Distribution ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
Host Parasite

SUMMARYThe taxonomy of trematodes of Great Barrier Reef (GBR) fishes has been studied in some detail for over 20 years. Understanding of the fauna has been informed iteratively by approaches to sampling, understanding of morphology, the advent of molecular methodology and a feed-back loop from the emergent understanding of host specificity. Here we analyse 658 host-parasite combinations for 290 trematode species, 152 genera and 28 families from GBR fishes. These are reported from 8 orders, 38 families, 117 genera and 243 species of fishes. Of the 290 species, only 4 (1·4%) have been reported from more than one order of fishes and just 23 (7·9%) infect more than one family; 77·9% of species are known from only one genus, and 60% from only one species of fish. Molecular studies have revealed several complexes of cryptic species and others are suspected; we conclude that no euryxenous host distribution should be accepted on the basis of morphology only. The occurrence of individual trematode species in potential hosts is patchy and difficult to predict reliablya priorior explain convincinglya posteriori. These observations point to the need for a vigorous iterative interaction between the accretion of host specificity data and its interpretation.

Patterns of digenean parasitism of bivalves from the Great Barrier Reef and associated waters

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 387 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan J. Bott ◽  
John M. Healy ◽  
Thomas H. Cribb
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Trematode Species ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Bivalve Species ◽  
Marine Waters ◽  
New Host ◽  
Lizard Island ◽  
Marine Bivalves ◽  
Low Prevalence ◽  
Host Parasite

Digenean parasites of marine bivalves are relatively poorly known, particularly in Australia. We surveyed 2256 bivalve individuals (47 species, 17 families) from Queensland marine waters incorporating south-east Queensland, Heron Island (southern Great Barrier Reef) and Lizard Island (northern Great Barrier Reef). Infections of trematode species from three families, Bucephalidae, Gorgoderidae and Monorchiidae, were found. Overall prevalence of infection was 2.3%. The Bucephalidae was the most commonly found family; 11 species were found in Tellinidae, Ostreidae, Isognomonidae and Spondylidae – the latter two previously unknown as hosts for bucephalids. A single gorgoderid infection was found in a venerid, Lioconcha castrensis. Five species of monorchiids were found from Tellinidae and Lucinidae. All infections are new host/parasite records. No infections were found in 35 of the 47 bivalve species sampled. The generally low prevalence of infection by digeneans of bivalves suggests that it is unlikely that any of the species reported here are seriously damaging to bivalve populations in these waters. We deduce that, at best, we have some life-cycle information but no actual identifications for 10% of the species of trematodes that infect bivalves of Queensland marine waters.

Phylogenetic studies explain the discrepant host distribution of Allopodocotyle heronensis sp. nov. (Digenea, Opecoelidae) in Great Barrier Reef serranids

2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Downie ◽  
Thomas Cribb
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
Host Distribution ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus ◽  
A New Species

AbstractWe report a new species of Allopodocotyle Pritchard, 1966 from the intestine of two species of Serranidae, Cromileptes altivelis and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, from the southern Great Barrier Reef. Despite the examination of eight other species of Epinephelus from the same region this species appears anomalous in its distribution in one species of Epinephelus and the single species of Cromileptes. Molecular phylogenetic studies of the Epinephelinae suggest, however, that these two species are closely related so that the host specificity demonstrated by this species is actually stenoxenic (phylogenetically related hosts) rather than euryxenic.

scholarly journals A priori and a posteriori methods in comparative evolutionary studies of host-parasite associations

Cladistics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley P.G Dowling ◽  
Marco G.P Veller ◽  
Eric P Hoberg ◽  
Daniel R Brooks
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
A Posteriori ◽  
Evolutionary Studies ◽  
Host Parasite

A review of the family Transversotrematidae (Trematoda : Digenea) with the description of a new genus, Crusziella

1992 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 909 ◽  
Author(s):  
TH Cribb ◽  
RA Bray ◽  
SC Barker
Keyword(s):  
Great Barrier Reef ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Barrier Reef ◽  
The Family ◽  
Cladistic Analyses

The Transversotrernatidae are reviewed. The following species are recognised: Transversotrema haasi, T. licinum, T. patialense, T. chauhani, Prototransversotrema steeri, P. exquisitum, sp. nov., Crusziella formosa, gen. et sp. nov. and Squamacola parvivitellaria. Four species of Transversotrema (T. koliensis, T. laruei, T. chackai and T. soparkari) are placed into synonymy with T. patialense. The Squamacolidae is made a synonym of the Transversotrernatidae. Prototransversotrema exquisitum is described from Liza subviridis (Mugilidae) from North Queensland. Crusziella formosa is described from Crenimugil crenilabis (Mugilidae) from the southern Great Barrier Reef. New Australian hosts and localities are recorded for Transversotrema haasi, T. licinum, T. patialense and Prototransversotrema steeri. Phylogeny in the Transversotrernatidae is inferred from cladistic analyses of six characters. This analysis suggests that Crusziella and Transversotrema are most closely related. The geographical distribution and host-specificity of the Transversotrernatidae is discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document