Tapeworms of freshwater fishes in North America: an integrative review of taxonomy, phylogeny, host specificity, and research priorities.

ABSTRACT: Tapeworms (Cestoda) are a diverse group of parasitic flatworms that are highly specialized in a parasitic lifestyle. The freshwater fish tapeworms of North America have been relatively well studied since 1855, although their diversity is limited compared to other regions. Most knowledge was gained in the 20th century, with research declining in recent decades, although some groups have recently been revised based on morphological and molecular data. This review updates the current understanding of species diversity, phylogenetic relationships and host-parasite interactions based on a critical re-evaluation of the earlier records. The new data can also inform fisheries management, invasive species control and public health surveillance. Currently, 130 valid adult species are known in six or

SUBMITTER: Scholz T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12529823 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature