Hidden in plain sight: novel molecular data reveal unexpected genetic diversity among paramphistome parasites (Digenea: Paramphistomoidea) of European water frogs.

ABSTRACT: Parasites might represent a helpful tool in understanding the historical dispersion and phylogeography of their hosts. In order to reveal whether the migration routes and diversification of hosts can be traceable in the genetic structures of their parasites, we investigated the diversity of paramphistomoid trematodes of Pelophylax frogs in 2 geographically distant European regions. Water frogs belonging to the genus Pelophylax represent a striking example of a species with a high variety of ecological adaptations and a rich evolutionary history. The parasites were collected from 2 Balkan endemic species, P. epeiroticus and P. kurtmuelleri, and 2 species in Slovakia, P. esculentus and P. ridibundus. While in Slovakia, Pelophylax frogs harbour

SUBMITTER: Benovics M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10090778 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature