Resolution of the identity of three species of Diplostomum (Digenea: Diplostomidae) parasitising freshwater fishes in South Africa, combining molecular and morphological evidence.

ABSTRACT: Reliable data on the diversity of the genus Diplostomum (Digenea: Diplostomidae) parasitising freshwater fishes in South Africa, as well as in Africa, is almost non-existent. Most of the morphology-based identifications of species within this genus reported from Africa require critical revision. The aim of the present study was to determine the diversity of Diplostomum metacercariae in South African fishes applying molecular and traditional morphological techniques. To achieve this aim, a total of 216 fishes belonging to 21 species collected in the Rivers Phongolo, Riet, Usuthu and Mooi in three provinces of South Africa were examined. Metacercariae of Diplostomum were recovered from the eye lenses of 38 fishes belonging to five species of the families Anguillidae, Cic

SUBMITTER: Hoogendoorn C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6938850 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature