Mechanisms and Drivers for the Establishment of Life Cycle Complexity in Myxozoan Parasites.

ABSTRACT: It is assumed that complex life cycles in cnidarian parasites belonging to the Myxozoa result from incorporation of vertebrates into simple life cycles exploiting aquatic invertebrates. However, nothing is known about the driving forces and implementation of this event, though it fostered massive diversification. We performed a comprehensive search for myxozoans in evolutionary ancient fishes (Chondrichthyes), and more than doubled existing 18S rDNA sequence data, discovering seven independent phylogenetic lineages. We performed cophylogenetic and character mapping methods in the largest monophyletic dataset and demonstrate that host and parasite phylogenies are strongly correlated, and that tectonic changes may explain phylogeographic clustering in recent skates and softnose skates, in th

SUBMITTER: Lisnerova M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7168919 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature