Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.0
2.1
Journals
Diversity
Special Issues
Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals
share announcement

Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Diversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2026) | Viewed by 15217

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Joanna Dzido

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Parasitology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: biology, taxonomy and phylogenetic of animal parasites
Dr. Martina Orosová

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Parasitology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 04001 Košice, Slovakia
Interests: comparative cytogenetics and karyotype evolution in helminths; parasitology; zoology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Parasites are one of the most diverse groups of animals and one of the most common health problems that animals have to face. Parasitic diseases in aquatic animals are caused by a wide variety of endoparasites (helminths, protozoa) and ectoparasites (crustaceans, mites, lice), and some could be potentially dangerous to human health. The environment, especially climate change, undeniably impacts the distribution and diversity of both parasites and their hosts. Phylogenetic studies can provide new insights into the population structure, evolutionary relationships, transmission between different hosts, delimiting species in morphologically challenging grups. In this Special Issue of Diversity, we invite researchers to submit research publications, including both reviews and original research articles. This Special Issue will provide a platform for the presentation of the latest knowledge and information regarding the diversity and phylogenetic relationships of various species of aquatic animals (freshwater and salt water).

Dr. Joanna Dzido
Dr. Martina Orosová
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

 

Keywords

  • biodiversity
  • genetic diversity
  • phylogeny
  • taxonomy
  • distibution
  • systematics
  • biogeography
  • evolution
  • ecology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 1245 KB  
Article
Morphology and Molecular Characterizations of Two New Myxidium Species (Bivalvulida: Myxidiidae) Infecting the Gallbladder of Sarcocheilichthys spp. (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the East Dongting Lake, China
by Wenjing Dai, Qi Yin, Yuechuan Liu, Xiaojing Zhao, Xinhua Liu and Shisi Ren
Diversity 2026, 18(4), 233; https://doi.org/10.3390/d18040233 - 18 Apr 2026
Viewed by 373
Abstract
During a survey of myxozoan diversity in fishes from Hunan Province, two new Myxidium species were discovered infecting the gallbladder of Sarcocheilichthys kiangsiensis Nichols, 1930 and Sarcocheilichthys parvus Nichols, 1930, in Dongting Lake, China. In both cases, myxospores were observed freely floating in [...] Read more.
During a survey of myxozoan diversity in fishes from Hunan Province, two new Myxidium species were discovered infecting the gallbladder of Sarcocheilichthys kiangsiensis Nichols, 1930 and Sarcocheilichthys parvus Nichols, 1930, in Dongting Lake, China. In both cases, myxospores were observed freely floating in the biles, with no typical plasmodia detected. Morphologically, both of them can be differentiated from previously described congeners by a combination of features, including myxospore dimensions, polar capsule shape, number of polar tubule coils and shell valve striations. BLASTn research indicated that neither species matched any available species in GenBank. The highest sequence similarity for Myxidium kiangsiensis n. sp. was 98.54% with M. asiaticum Chen et al., 2020 (PQ776264), and that for Myxidium parvusis n. sp. was 93.06% with Zschokkella guelaguetza Alama-Bermejo et al., 2023 (OQ888223). This study represents the first record of Myxidiidae infection in Sarcocheilichthys hosts. Phylogenetic analysis based on the obtained SSU rDNA sequences placed the two species in separate subclades interspersed with other Myxidium and Zschokkella species. This topology further corroborates the polyphyletic nature of these two genera. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2323 KB  
Article
A New Species of Encotyllabe Diesing, 1850 (Monopisthocotylea: Capsalidae), from the Pharyngeal Plates of Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi, 1846) (Eupercaria: Sciaenidae) in Peru, with Notes on the Nomenclatural Status of E. callaoensis Tantaleán, 1974
by Andrés Huerta, Carlos Villena, Moises Ramos, Joanna Rojas, Kelly Milla, Aarón Mondragón-Martínez, Luis Ñacari, Celso Luis Cruces and Jhon Darly Chero
Diversity 2025, 17(11), 795; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17110795 - 14 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1010
Abstract
A new species of Encotyllabe Diesing, 1850 (Monopisthocotylea: Capsalidae), Encotyllabe tantaliani n. sp., is described from the pharyngeal plates of the Lorna drum, Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi, 1846) (Eupercaria: Sciaenidae), collected from two localities along the Peruvian coast. This new species was originally proposed [...] Read more.
A new species of Encotyllabe Diesing, 1850 (Monopisthocotylea: Capsalidae), Encotyllabe tantaliani n. sp., is described from the pharyngeal plates of the Lorna drum, Sciaena deliciosa (Tschudi, 1846) (Eupercaria: Sciaenidae), collected from two localities along the Peruvian coast. This new species was originally proposed as E. callaoensis Tantaleán, 1974, in an unpublished doctoral thesis, and is herein recognized as a nomen nudum under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Encotyllabe tantaliani n. sp. is distinguished from all known congeners by the following combination of morphological features: (1) an anteriorly tapering body proper, (2) slightly lobed testes markedly larger than the ovary, (3) vitelline follicles beginning at the level of the male copulatory organ (MCO) and absent from the regions of the reproductive organs, (4) a genital pore positioned posterolateral to the pharynx, and (5) an oblong-shaped MCO. Phylogenetic analysis based on cox1 sequence places E. tantaliani n. sp. in a clade with Encotyllabe percussa Morales-Ávila, Jufaili & Ogawa, 2024, a parasite of Lethrinus nebulosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Eupercaria: Lethrinidae) from the Arabian Gulf. Pairwise genetic distances support the distinctiveness of the new species from its closest congeners. Encotyllabe tantaliani n. sp. represents the first species of the genus described from a host belonging to the Sciaenidae host. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 11826 KB  
Article
Molecular Diversity of the Genus Plagiorchis Lühe, 1899 in Snail Hosts of Central Europe with Evidence of New Lineages
by Petra Kundid, Camila Pantoja, Kristýna Janovcová and Miroslava Soldánová
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030158 - 1 Mar 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4615
Abstract
Cercariae of Plagiorchis spp. are frequently reported in European freshwater snails, but their true diversity is difficult to estimate due to subtle differences in morphology. We molecularly characterized 67 isolates of Plagiorchis cercariae collected from four lymnaeid snail hosts, Ampullaceana balthica, Ampullaceana [...] Read more.
Cercariae of Plagiorchis spp. are frequently reported in European freshwater snails, but their true diversity is difficult to estimate due to subtle differences in morphology. We molecularly characterized 67 isolates of Plagiorchis cercariae collected from four lymnaeid snail hosts, Ampullaceana balthica, Ampullaceana lagotis, Radix auricularia and Lymnaea stagnalis in freshwater ecosystems in the Czech Republic and Poland. Based on mitochondrial cox1 and nuclear 28S sequences, ten species or species-level lineages were identified, including the first molecular evidence of P. vespertilionis from snail hosts and two species-level lineages reported for the first time. Previously undescribed species and species-level lineages are characterized morphometrically. We confirm the overlapping spatial distribution of Plagiorchis spp. in their snail hosts from Central Europe with those from Western and sub-Arctic Europe. Our results increase the known diversity of Plagiorchis spp. in Europe to 25 species/lineages in snails, but further research is needed to establish links between life cycle stages and to assess the host specificity of these parasites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 3510 KB  
Article
Karyological Study of Acanthocephalus lucii (Echinorhynchida): The Occurrence of B Chromosomes in Populations from PCB-Polluted Waters
by Anna Marková, Martina Orosová, František Marec, Daniel Barčák and Mikuláš Oros
Diversity 2024, 16(3), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16030140 - 23 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2865
Abstract
In this study, we performed a cytogenetic analysis of Acanthocephalus lucii specimens from three sites with different levels of environmental pollution. Standard and fluorochrome staining (CMA3/DAPI), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA and histone H3 probes, and silver impregnation [...] Read more.
In this study, we performed a cytogenetic analysis of Acanthocephalus lucii specimens from three sites with different levels of environmental pollution. Standard and fluorochrome staining (CMA3/DAPI), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA and histone H3 probes, and silver impregnation were performed. Chromosome complements of 2n = 7/8 (male/female), n = 1m + 2sm + 1a (X), and CMA3-positive bands in all chromosomes were found in all three populations. FISH revealed one 18S rDNA locus on the X chromosome and one locus of H3 histone genes on the first chromosome pair. At the intraspecific level, the populations differed in the presence of supernumerary B chromosomes, which were found in all specimens from Zemplínska Šírava and in 89.4% of specimens from the Laborec River, but not at the reference site. The first two sites are considered to be water bodies with high toxin contamination. Based on this fact, we assume an increased frequency of chromosome breaks leading to the formation of DNA fragments that have the potential to form B chromosomes. The present results add to the very limited data on the organization of multigene families in the genome of Acanthocephala and suggest a possible causal link between water pollution and the occurrence of B chromosomes in fish parasites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

36 pages, 3251 KB  
Article
Diversity and Phylogeny of Gyrodactylus spp. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) across the Strait of Gibraltar: Parasite Speciation and Historical Biogeography of West Mediterranean Cyprinid Hosts
by Chahrazed Rahmouni, Mária Seifertová, Michal Benovics and Andrea Šimková
Diversity 2023, 15(11), 1152; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15111152 - 20 Nov 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4752
Abstract
Knowledge on the diversity of parasitic flatworms of Western Mediterranean cyprinids is extremely scarce. In the present study, we parasitologically investigated 12 cyprinid species across the Strait of Gibraltar inhabiting watersheds in northwest Africa (Morocco) and Iberia (Portugal and Spain). Taxonomically relevant features [...] Read more.
Knowledge on the diversity of parasitic flatworms of Western Mediterranean cyprinids is extremely scarce. In the present study, we parasitologically investigated 12 cyprinid species across the Strait of Gibraltar inhabiting watersheds in northwest Africa (Morocco) and Iberia (Portugal and Spain). Taxonomically relevant features of the attachment organ and sequences of the 18S rDNA and ITS regions were used for species delineation and to investigate their phylogenetic relatedness. Among the Gyrodactylus collected from Morocco and Spain, we identified specimens with an unusual T-shaped dorsal bar observed herein for the first time. In contrast, the membranous patch-like structure surrounding the twisted inner roots of hamuli and the median ridge of the ventral bar have been generally observed in Eurasian relatives. Our analyses suggest vicariant speciation of Gyrodactylus across the Strait of Gibraltar. We describe herein G. gibraltarensis sp. nov. from Iberian Luciobarbus graellsii; G. moroccensis sp. nov. from northwest African cyprinids, i.e., L. maghrebensis, L. rabatensis, L. rifensis, L. yahyaouii, and L. zayanensis; and finally, G. pseudomoroccensis sp. nov. from Moroccan L. ksibi, all possessing a new haptoral configuration. The genetic divergence and conservative morphologies in populations of G. moroccensis sp. nov. from five cyprinid species support its ongoing speciation in Northwest Africa. The West Mediterranean lineage was revealed to be monophyletic, with Eurasian species forming a sister group. Morphologically, West Mediterranean Gyrodactylus also appeared to be of Middle Eastern origin. Gyrodactylus spp. possessing an unusual T-shaped dorsal bar have most likely speciated, allowing for the appearance of a haptoral morphology that is restricted to the region across the Strait of Gibraltar. To conclude, viviparous Gyrodactylus reflect parasite speciation across the Strait of Gibraltar and the historical biogeography of cyprinids in the West Mediterranean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogenetics of Parasites in Aquatic Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop