New record of the fish leech Piscicola pojmanskae (Annelida: Hirudinida: Piscicolidae) - DNA barcoding and phylogeny.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to confirm the taxonomic status of Piscicola pojmanskae Bielecki, 1994 found on Salmonidae fish. The fish leech was identified based on a diligent morphological analysis as well as COI gene sequence (DNA barcoding). The phylogenetic relationship with other piscicolid leeches was analyzed as well. Piscicola pojmanskae was found on various fins of both graylings and the resident form of trouts. The prevalence of infection was 1.63%. In this paper, probable causes of the lack of relation between the number of leeches on the fins and the fish body length as well as the host-searching strategy used by P. pojmanskae are discussed.

SUBMITTER: Cichocka JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6105242 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature