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Life cycle of the seabird digenean Gymnophallus minor (Gymnophallidae) in the Arctic

Part of: Helminths and their molluscan hosts: updates and remaining challenges

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2025

K.V. Galaktionov Open the ORCID record for K.V. Galaktionov [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Gonchar Open the ORCID record for A. Gonchar [Opens in a new window] ,
K.M. Wegner Open the ORCID record for K.M. Wegner [Opens in a new window] ,
R. Wolfensberger Open the ORCID record for R. Wolfensberger [Opens in a new window] ,
C. Buschbaum Open the ORCID record for C. Buschbaum [Opens in a new window]  and
A.E. Romanovich Open the ORCID record for A.E. Romanovich [Opens in a new window]
K.V. Galaktionov
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitic Worms and Protists, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Emb. 1, St Petersburg 199034, Russia Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Saint Petersburg University, Universitetskaya Emb.7/9, St Petersburg 199034, Russia
A. Gonchar*
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Parasitic Worms and Protists, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Universitetskaya Emb. 1, St Petersburg 199034, Russia Department of Invertebrate Zoology, Saint Petersburg University, Universitetskaya Emb.7/9, St Petersburg 199034, Russia
K.M. Wegner
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) – Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Coastal Ecology, Waddensea Station Sylt, Hafenstrasse 43, 25992 List, Germany
R. Wolfensberger
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) – Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Coastal Ecology, Waddensea Station Sylt, Hafenstrasse 43, 25992 List, Germany
C. Buschbaum
Affiliation:
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) – Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Coastal Ecology, Waddensea Station Sylt, Hafenstrasse 43, 25992 List, Germany
A.E. Romanovich
Affiliation:
Research Park, Saint Petersburg University, Universitetskaya Emb.7/9, St Petersburg 199034, Russia
*
Corresponding author: A. Gonchar; Emails: anya.gonchar@gmail.com; a.gonchar@spbu.ru; anna.gonchar@zin.ru
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Abstract

Gymnophallidae is one of the digenean families featuring bivalves as first intermediate hosts. However, the exact bivalve host species remain unknown for most members of this family. Gymnophallids have been one of the targets in our continuous efforts to reveal the diversity of digeneans in the higher north. Here, we focus on Gymnophallus minor, which we found in eiders from various locations in the Arctic and sub-Arctic. Sexual adults (maritae) of G. minor can be easily identified because they have a distinctive character: the roughly equal size of the pharynx and the ventral sucker. We also matched them, using DNA markers, with the intramolluscan stages (sporocysts, cercariae, and metacercariae) from the bivalve Liocyma fluctuosa collected on Spitsbergen. Taken together, we compile the first data on the life cycle of G. minor and discuss them in the context of other gymnophallids.

Keywords

Life cycleintermediate hostbivalvemetacercariabird parasite

Information

Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 99 , 2025 , e37
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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