Revising the Freshwater Thelohania to Astathelohania gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species.

ABSTRACT: Crayfish are common hosts of microsporidian parasites, prominently from the genus Thelohania. Thelohania is a polyphyletic genus, with multiple genetically distinct lineages found from freshwater and marine environments. Researchers have been calling for a revision of this group for over a decade. We provide evidence that crayfish-infecting freshwater Thelohania are genetically and phylogenetically distinct from the marine Thelohania (Clade V/Glugeida), whilst also describing two new species that give further support to the taxonomic revision. We propose that the freshwater Thelohania should be transferred to their own genus, Astathelohania gen. et comb. nov., in a new family (Astathelohaniidae n. fam.). This results in the revision of Thelohania contejeani (Astathelohania contejeani), The

SUBMITTER: Stratton CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8951847 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature