Can avian flyways reflect dispersal barriers of clinostomid parasites? First evidence from the mitogenome of Clinostomum complanatum

Clinostomum complanatum (Rudolphi, 1814) is an economically important parasitic flatworm (Trematoda, Digenea), yet little is known on the population structure of these animals. We characterise a new mitochondrial genome for C. complanatum, derived from an Iranian specimen. The newly obtained sequence is used to position the species in the digenean tree of life. The first-ever intraspecific comparison at mitogenome scale within C. complanatum revealed a high degree of similarity to the previously sequenced mitogenome of a distant (Italian) population. Avian migratory routes mirror phylogenetic clustering, and hence we suggest that infection of a flying host enables genetic exchange between parasites across large geographic distances. Comparative mito-genomic work in Clinostomum spp. at both the intra-(C. complanatum) and interspecific (C. complanatum-C. sinensis) level further shows that usage of new and/or additional mitochondrial markers is preferred over single-gene methods for high-resolution diagnostics and population biology.

Automated summary

This study characterizes a new mitochondrial genome for Clinostomum complanatum and reveals the population structure of this parasitic flatworm. It suggests that genetic exchange between different geographic populations of C. complanatum is facilitated by avian migratory routes. The study also highlights the importance of using new or additional mitochondrial markers for high-resolution diagnostics and population biology.