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Unveiling patterns of genetic variation in parasite–host associations: an example with pinworms and Neotropical primates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2018

Brenda Solórzano García*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
Amanda D. Melin
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Filippo Aureli
Affiliation:
Instituto de Neuroetología, Universidad Veracruzana, C.P. 91190, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico Research Centre in Evolutionary Anthropology and Palaeoecology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
Gerardo Pérez Ponce de León
Affiliation:
Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
*
Author for correspondence: Brenda Solórzano García, E-mail: brenda_solorzano@yahoo.com.mx

Abstract

Patterns of genetic variation among populations can reveal the evolutionary history of species. Pinworm parasites are highly host specific and form strong co-evolutionary associations with their primate hosts. Here, we describe the genetic variation observed in four Trypanoxyuris species infecting different howler and spider monkey subspecies in Central America to determine if historical dispersal processes and speciation in the host could explain the genetic patterns observed in the parasites. Mitochondrial (cox1) and ribosomal (28S) DNA were analysed to assess genetic divergence and phylogenetic history of these parasites. Sequences of the 28S gene were identical within pinworms species regardless of host subspecies. However, phylogenetic analyses, haplotype relationships and genetic divergence with cox1 showed differentiation between pinworm populations according to host subspecies in three of the four Trypanoxyuris species analysed. Haplotype separation between host subspecies was not observed in Trypanoxyuris minutus, nor in Trypanoxyuris atelis from Ateles geoffoyi vellerosus and Ateles geoffoyi yucatanensis. Levels of genetic diversity and divergence in these parasites relate with such estimates reported for their hosts. This study shows how genetic patterns uncovered in parasitic organisms can reflect the host phylogenetic and biogeographic histories.

Information

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 
Figure 0

Fig. 1. Collection sites of Trypanoxyuris spp. from different host subspecies. Triangles = Ateles geoffroyi; black: At. g. frontatus; white: At. g. vellerosus; gray: At. g. yucatanensis. Circles = Alouatta palliata; black: Al. p. mexicana; gray: Al. p. palliata.

Figure 1

Fig. 2. Maximum likelihood cox1 phylogenetic tree of Trypanoxyuris spp. Numbers at the nodes represent ML bootstrap percentage, followed by posterior probabilities from Bayesian Inference. Trypanoxyuris species are indicated by bars at the right extreme of the tree. Trypanoxyuris from different host subspecies are marked as indicated at the top left of the figure. GenBank accession numbers indicate pinworm sequences acquired from different hosts: AB626877 Lagothrix lagotricha; AB626976 Ateles belzebuth; AB626875 Ateles geoffroyi; AB626878–79 Aotus azarae; AB626858–59 Macaca fuscata; AB626860, AB626880 Pan troglodytes; AB626865, AB626868 Homo sapiens.

Figure 2

Fig. 3. Median-joining haplotype network based on cox 1 for Trypanoxyuris spp. Haplotype frequency is represented by the diameter of the circle. Numbers indicate mutational steps larger than 3 between haplotypes. (A) Trypanoxyuris atelis; (B) T. multilabiatus; (C) T. atelophora; (D) T. minutus. Trypanoxyuris from different host subspecies are marked as indicated at the bottom of the figure.

Figure 3

Table 1. Cox1 genetic divergence among pinworms from different host subspecies

Figure 4

Table 2. Estimates of genetic diversity of the mitochondrial cox1 gene for each species of Trypanoxyuris collected from each primate host

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