Dactylogyrus species parasitizing European Barbus species:: morphometric and molecular variability

The aims of the study were (1) to describe the Dactylogyrus communities living on selected South European Barbus species, (2) to analyze morphometric variability of their attachment and repoductive organs, and (3) to perform molecular phylogenetic analyses, in order to investigate the mode of speciation in Dactylogyrus species parasitizing congeneric hosts. In Bugaria, Dactylogyrus crivillius, D. dyki and D. petenyi were found on B. balcanicus, and D. dyki revealed significant differences in the attachment and reproductive organs when individuals from different Barbus species were compared. Two monophyletic groups were recognized from the molecular phylogenetic analyses: the first included D. carpathicus and D. crivellis which have large body size and anchors, with a weakly supported basal position of D. malleus from B. barbus; the second included D. dyki and D. petenyi which have small body and anchor sizes. The comparism of host and parasite phylogenies did not indicate the intrahost speciation. Intraspecific molecular variability was found between induviduals of D. dyki and D. carpathicus from different Barbus species, suggesting the need for a taxonomic revision for these species.