Population genetic structure of Dactylogyrus vistulae, a gill parasite of cyprinoid fish in the Western Palearctic

Abstract

Monogenean parasites with a broad host range and direct life cycle provide insight into population genetic structure and dispersal processes. Dactylogyrus vistulae infects over 50 cyprinoid fish species across the western Palearctic, making it an ideal model for assessing host and geographic influences on parasite population structure. Herein, we utilized 20 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial COI sequences to analyze the genetic variability and structure of D. vistulae populations, with a deeper focus on Czech river systems.

Low allelic variance was observed across most populations, except in the Aoos River, Greece, where high genetic diversity suggests either a large population size or an ancestral refugium. Moderate variance was detected in the Middle East, though some Anatolian populations exhibited reduced diversity, likely due to recent colonization. Czech populations showed weak genetic structuring despite occupying distinct river basins, likely due to fish translocations.

Mitochondrial COI analysis revealed up to 18.5% haplotype divergence, with the highest diversity in the Padano-Venetian, Caspian Sea, and Dalmatian districts. Dalmatian haplotypes formed a distinct haplogroup, though genetic similarities between Padano-Venetian and Dalmatian populations suggest historical connections or fish host introductions. These results support a south-to-north D. vistulae dispersal through the Balkans, associated with cyprinoid fish migration.

This study highlights the roles of host dispersal, environmental factors, and human influence in shaping fish parasite population structure, emphasizing the need for further genomic and ecological research.