Abstract
The classification and description of digenean trematodes are commonly accomplished by using morphological features, especially in adult stages. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of the genetic composition of larval digenean trematodes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from clinostomatid metacercaria, 27-spined echinostomatid redia, avian schistosome cercaria and strigeid metacercaria from various dams in the proximity of Tshwane metropolitan, South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction was performed using the extracted DNA with primers targeting various regions within the larval digenean trematodes’ genomes. Agarose gel electrophoresis technique was used to visualise the PCR products. The PCR products were sequenced on an Applied Bioinformatics (ABI) genetic analyser platform. Genetic information obtained from this study had a higher degree of discrimination than the morphological characteristics of seemingly similar organisms.
Highlights
The classification of digenean parasites, especially using only the larval stages, to determine the species level employing exclusively morphological characteristics is very challenging, because of the lack of genitalia that are regarded as the most important structures in the identification of these organisms (Moema et al 2013)
Examples include the study of Blair et al (1998) that presented the first molecular phylogenetic study for the superfamily Hemiuroidea, which was first recognised under the name Hemiurida by Dollfus (1923)
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification using primer pairs ITS1-19dg/ITS1-4S1dg, ITS1-1dg/ ITS1-2dg, ITS2-F/ITS2-R, large subunit rDNA (LSU)/1500R and DIG 125/1500R yielded bands ranging in size from 500 base pairs to 1500 bp, respectively (Table 2)
Summary
The classification of digenean parasites, especially using only the larval stages, to determine the species level employing exclusively morphological characteristics is very challenging, because of the lack of genitalia that are regarded as the most important structures in the identification of these organisms (Moema et al 2013). In Dollfus’ classification, this superfamily was assigned three families, namely Hemiruidae, Accacoelidae and Syncoeliidae. Recent authors such as Blair et al (1998) tested for the resemblance between morphological and molecular data and explored the evolution of some morphological characters. The above-mentioned authors concluded that molecular data provide more resolution in the phylogenetic relationships of digenean parasites
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