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Species identification of North American guinea worms (Nematoda: Dracunculus ) with DNA barcoding
Author(s) -
ELSASSER SARAH C.,
FLOYD ROBIN,
HEBERT PAUL D. N.,
SCHULTEHOSTEDDE ALBRECHT I.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
molecular ecology resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.96
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1755-0998
pISSN - 1755-098X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02393.x
Subject(s) - biology , dna barcoding , otter , mustelidae , host (biology) , zoology , lutra , generalist and specialist species , mink , nematode , parasite hosting , ecology , habitat , world wide web , computer science
Dracunculus insignis is a nematode parasite that infects the subcutaneous tissues of mammals such as raccoon ( Procyon lotor ), mink ( Neovison vison ) and fisher ( Martes pennanti ). D. lutrae , a morphologically similar species, has only been recovered from the otter ( Lontra canadensis ). Species identification of these two North American guinea worms has only been achieved by morphology of males and host identity. As a result, where only female specimens are present, accurate identifications are not possible. To date, specimens recovered from otter have been assumed to be D. lutrae , while those from all other hosts are assumed to be D. insignis . This study uses DNA barcoding to differentiate between these two North American dracunculoids. Our results show that D. insignis is a ‘true’ generalist, showing little sequence divergence regardless of host association, although our studies did validate its occurrence in a new host — the otter. Interestingly, specimens of the host specialist, D. lutrae , showed some sequence divergence, although it was low. The finding of D. insignis in otter substantiates the need to supplement morphology‐based methods in providing species identifications for certain dracunculoids.