Morpho-Molecular Features and Phylogenetic Relationships of Metorchis butoridi Oschmarin, 1963 (Trematoda: Opisthorchiidae) from East Asia

Abstract

Adult trematodes of the genus Metorchis were found in the gallbladders of ducklings that had been experimentally fed freshwater fishes of the genera Rhynchocypris and Rhodeus that were naturally infected by Metorchis metacercariae. Some of the trematodes were identified as Metorchis ussuriensis, whose morphology of developmental stages and molecular data had previously been described in detail. The other trematodes were confirmed as species Metorchis butoridi on the basis of morphological features: subterminal oral sucker, vitelline follicles with interrupted bands, and rosette-shaped testes. An analysis of phylogenetic relationships within Opisthorchiidae using nuclear and mitochondrial markers confirmed that the obtained trematodes were actually from the genus Metorchis. The morphological and molecular features indicated that a number of trematodes found in East Asia and described as Metorchis orientalis belong to M. butoridi. Also, the M. orientalis individuals from Europe are, in fact, representatives of another Metorchis species.