"Neotropical Turtle Blood Flukes: Two New Genera and Species from the A" by Stephen A. Bullard, Jackson R. Roberts et al.

Faculty Publications

Title

Neotropical Turtle Blood Flukes: Two New Genera and Species from the Amazon River Basin with a Key to Genera and Comments on a Marine-Derived Parasite Lineage in South America

Authors

Stephen A. Bullard, 1 Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Jackson R. Roberts, 2 Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Sciences, Biological Sciences Department, Louisiana State University, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803.
Micah B. Warren, 1 Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Haley R. Dutton, 1 Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Nathan V. Whelan, 3 Southeastern Conservation Genetics Laboratory, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Carlos F. Ruiz, 1 Aquatic Parasitology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849.
Thomas R. Platt, 4 Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.
Vasyl V. Tkach, 5 Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2019

Abstract

Two new genera and species of freshwater turtle blood flukes (TBFs) are described herein based on specimens infecting the nephritic and mesenteric blood vessels of "matamatas" (a side-necked turtle, [Schneider, 1783] [Pleurodira: Chelidae]) from the Amazon River Basin, Peru. These taxa comprise the first-named species and the first-proposed genera of freshwater TBFs from the continent of South America. A new comparison of all TBF genera produced 6 morphologically diagnosed groups that are discussed in light of previous TBF classification schemes and a novel phylogenetic hypothesis based on the nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S). Considering external and internal anatomical features, species of the new genera ( Bullard and Roberts n. gen., Bullard and Roberts n. gen.) are most similar to each other and are together most similar to those of several marine TBF genera. The 28S phylogenetic analysis supported the monophyly of all 6 morphologically diagnosed groups of genera. Most notably, the freshwater TBFs of South America comprise a derived group nested within the clade that includes the paraphyletic marine TBFs. Not surprisingly in light of morphology, another marine TBF lineage ( Price, 1934) clustered with the freshwater TBFs of Roberts, Platt, and Bullard, 2016 and Stunkard, 1925. Our results, including an ancestral state reconstruction, indicated that (1) freshwater TBFs have colonized marine turtles twice independently and that (2) the South American freshwater TBFs comprise a marine-derived lineage. This is the first evidence that TBFs have twice independently transitioned from a marine to freshwater definitive host. Marine incursion is considered as a possible mechanism affecting the natural history of marine-derived freshwater TBFs in South America. A dichotomous key to accepted TBF genera is provided.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

The Journal of parasitology

First Page

497

Last Page

523

Recommended Citation

Bullard, S. A., Roberts, J. R., Warren, M. B., Dutton, H. R., Whelan, N. V., Ruiz, C. F., Platt, T. R., & Tkach, V. V. (2019). Neotropical Turtle Blood Flukes: Two New Genera and Species from the Amazon River Basin with a Key to Genera and Comments on a Marine-Derived Parasite Lineage in South America. The Journal of parasitology, 105 (4), 497-523. Retrieved from https://repository.lsu.edu/biosci_pubs/4591

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