The life cycle of Monorchis parvus (Digenea: Monorchiidae) demonstrated by developmental and molecular data

Abstract

Cercaria cerastodermae I, a digenean parasite of Cerastoderma edule, was recorded for the first time in the Atlantic Ocean off the Iberian peninsula. Sporocysts were present in the hemolymph of the digestive gland, gonad, gills, and foot of the mollusc. Most of the cercariae present within sporocysts were encysted as metacercariae. The corresponding adult stages were obtained after experimental infection of several Diplodus sargus artificially reared in fish farms and that had previously been protected against natural infections. Numerous adult specimens of Monorchis parvus were collected in Diplodus annularis along the French Mediterranean coast. Comparison of wild and experimental adults allowed the adult stage of Cercaria cerastodermae I to be identified as M. parvus. Another monorchid, Monorchis monorchis, a parasite of Spondyliosoma cantharus, was found in the same Mediterranean area and compared with M. parvus. Additionally, ITS1 nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences of C. cerastodermae I and of the adults collected in naturally infected D. annularis and S. cantharus were obtained. Sequence data indicate that C. cerastodermae I corresponds to the adult of M. parvus found in D. annularis and is clearly distinct from M. monorchis found in S. cantharus.