Genetic variability of bird schistosomes (class Trematoda, family Schistosomatidae) of Naroch Lake: identification of a new species in the Trichobilharzia ocellata group (original) (raw)

Doklady. Biochemistry and biophysics

AI-generated Abstract

This study investigates the genetic variability of cercariae from bird schistosomes in the Trichobilharzia ocellata group at Naroch Lake, Belarus. Alongside known species T. szidati, T. franki, and Bilharziella polonica, it identifies six isolates of a new schistosome species, preliminarily named Trichobilharzia sp. var. narochanica. The research demonstrates intraspecific mitochondrial gene cox1 variability, suggesting potential for barcoding in future studies, while highlighting the need for comprehensive morphological and molecular analyses to understand the adaptation and evolutionary dynamics of these parasites.