Phylogenetic relationships between Lymnaeidae in relation to infection with Fasciola sp. in Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT

In this paper, lymnaeid snails collected from 107 localities in Hokkaido, Japan were examined for infection by Fasciola larvae. DNA sequences from the snails were analysed phylogenetically based on their mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene. Based on shell morphology, the snails were identified as Galba truncatula, Radix auricularia, and Austropeplea ollula and were divided into distinct clades in the COI tree. No Fasciola larvae were detected in any of the collected snails. The 58 haplotypes of Galba truncatula which were found in Hokkaido included five detected previously in snails infected with Fasciola larvae, and constituted a closely related haplogroup (Gt-c1), suggesting that Gt-c1 snails would be susceptible to Fasciola sp. The Gt14 haplotype snails were considered to be Lymnaea schirazensis, an intermediate host of F. hepatica. The COI haplotypes of A. ollula belonged to a single clade, and were considered conspecific, whereas those of R. auricularia constituted three genetically distinct haplogroups, each of which was possibly a distinct species. This study suggests that morphologically-identified lymnaeid snails possibly include additional species. Further study of these snails is required to clarify their susceptibility to Fasciola sp.

KEYWORDS:

• Galba truncatula
• Radix auricularia
• Austropeplea ollula
• cytochrome c oxidase subunit I

Acknowledgments

Additionally, the authors sincerely thank the comments and suggestions from the reviewers and editors.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Yuma Ohari http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3008-3102

Tadashi Itagaki http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1982-5275

Additional information

Funding

The research was financially supported by the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant from The Japan Science Society (27-505).