Molecular identification of the trematode P. ichunensis stat. n. from lungs of siberian tigers justified reappraisal of Paragonimus westermani species complex

AbstractFlukes from the genusParagonimus Braun, 1899 are medically important foodborne trematodes predominantly occurring throughout Asian countries. Providing molecular genetic characteristics based on ITS2 and partial 28  S rDNA of the paragonimids from the Russian Far East, Northeast, South, and Southeast Asian countries, we performed a partial reappraisal ofParagonimus westermani species complex. Members of this complex are genetically distinct worms with different divergence times and explosive expansion during Miocene-Pliocene epochs. We confirm the taxonomic status as valid species forP. ichunensis stat. n. (from the Russian Far East and Northern China), andP. filipinus (from the Philippines), which were previously considered subspecies ofP. westermani, and reinstated the species nameP. pulmonalis (from Japan). We suggest considering the worms from South Korea the Korean variety ofP. ichunensis, because Korean specimens are sister and genetically closest toP. ichunensis from Northeast China and Primorsky region of Russia. Worms from South (India (type 2), Sri Lanka), Southeast (Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand (types 1 and 2)) and East Asia (Taiwan) were left in the paragonimid systematics asParagonimus sp. We propose to consider Indian worms of type 1 as trueP. westermani, but in further revisions, due to the lack of holotype and unknown exact type locality, new type specimens (neotype) should be established.
Source: Journal of Parasitic Diseases - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research