First Insights into Population Structure and Genetic Diversity Versus Host Specificity in Trypanorhynch Tapeworms Using Multiplexed Shotgun Genotyping.

ABSTRACT: Theory predicts relaxed host specificity and high host vagility should contribute to reduced genetic structure in parasites while strict host specificity and low host vagility should increase genetic structure. Though these predictions are intuitive, they have never been explicitly tested in a population genomic framework. Trypanorhynch tapeworms, which parasitize sharks and rays (elasmobranchs) as definitive hosts, are the only order of elasmobranch tapeworms that exhibit considerable variability in their definitive host specificity. This allows for unique combinations of host use and geographic range, making trypanorhynchs ideal candidates for studying how these traits influence population-level structure and genetic diversity. Multiplexed shotgun genotyping (MSG) data sets were generate

SUBMITTER: Herzog KS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10616631 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature