New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae)
The parasitic copepod Tracheliastes maculatus Kollar, 1835, infects the freshwater bream, Abramis brama, a key species in European freshwater ecosystems. Despite its widespread occurrence and potential to cause skin hemorrhages, scale erosion and perforation, and fish mortality, species-level identi...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000732 |
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| author | Wojciech Piasecki Geoffrey A. Boxshall Remigiusz Panicz Piotr Eljasik |
| author_facet | Wojciech Piasecki Geoffrey A. Boxshall Remigiusz Panicz Piotr Eljasik |
| author_sort | Wojciech Piasecki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The parasitic copepod Tracheliastes maculatus Kollar, 1835, infects the freshwater bream, Abramis brama, a key species in European freshwater ecosystems. Despite its widespread occurrence and potential to cause skin hemorrhages, scale erosion and perforation, and fish mortality, species-level identification within the genus Tracheliastes has been problematic due to insufficient diagnostic traits. This study refines identification criteria by integrating morphological and genetic approaches. We present the first DNA barcode (COI gene sequence) for Tracheliastes maculaus, providing a molecular basis for taxonomic clarification. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals novel morphological details, including the number and distribution pattern of secondary denticles on endopodal Claw 1 of the antenna and structural differences in endopodal and exopodal side denticles of the antenna, both of which, may serve as new diagnostic features within the genus. Furthermore, we regard Tracheliastes mourkii as a nomen nudum because it was not morphologically diagnosed, and no museum specimen is extant. These findings improve species discrimination and set a benchmark for future taxonomic revisions of Tracheliastes, facilitating more precise ecological and parasitological assessments. A mini-review of the genus is also provided. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a9e31ae9f1654d6bbf95091b49f68dfd |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2213-2244 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife |
| spelling | doaj-art-a9e31ae9f1654d6bbf95091b49f68dfd2025-07-08T04:04:43ZengElsevierInternational Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife2213-22442025-08-0127101108New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae)Wojciech Piasecki0Geoffrey A. Boxshall1Remigiusz Panicz2Piotr Eljasik3Institute of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Szczecin, al. Mickiewicza 16, 70-383 Szczecin, Poland; Corresponding author.Institute of Marine and Environmental Science, University of Szczecin, al. Mickiewicza 16, 70-383 Szczecin, PolandDepartment of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Rd., London SW7 5BD, UKFaculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, ul. Kazimierza Królewicza 4, 71-550 Szczecin, PolandFaculty of Food Sciences and Fisheries, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, ul. Kazimierza Królewicza 4, 71-550 Szczecin, PolandThe parasitic copepod Tracheliastes maculatus Kollar, 1835, infects the freshwater bream, Abramis brama, a key species in European freshwater ecosystems. Despite its widespread occurrence and potential to cause skin hemorrhages, scale erosion and perforation, and fish mortality, species-level identification within the genus Tracheliastes has been problematic due to insufficient diagnostic traits. This study refines identification criteria by integrating morphological and genetic approaches. We present the first DNA barcode (COI gene sequence) for Tracheliastes maculaus, providing a molecular basis for taxonomic clarification. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals novel morphological details, including the number and distribution pattern of secondary denticles on endopodal Claw 1 of the antenna and structural differences in endopodal and exopodal side denticles of the antenna, both of which, may serve as new diagnostic features within the genus. Furthermore, we regard Tracheliastes mourkii as a nomen nudum because it was not morphologically diagnosed, and no museum specimen is extant. These findings improve species discrimination and set a benchmark for future taxonomic revisions of Tracheliastes, facilitating more precise ecological and parasitological assessments. A mini-review of the genus is also provided.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000732DNA barcodingCOIFish parasiteMorphologyGeneticsTaxonomy |
| spellingShingle | Wojciech Piasecki Geoffrey A. Boxshall Remigiusz Panicz Piotr Eljasik New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae) International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife DNA barcoding COI Fish parasite Morphology Genetics Taxonomy |
| title | New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae) |
| title_full | New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae) |
| title_fullStr | New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae) |
| title_short | New identification traits of Tracheliastes maculatus (Copepoda: Lernaeopodidae), a parasite of bream, Abramis brama (Cyprinidae) |
| title_sort | new identification traits of tracheliastes maculatus copepoda lernaeopodidae a parasite of bream abramis brama cyprinidae |
| topic | DNA barcoding COI Fish parasite Morphology Genetics Taxonomy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213224425000732 |
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