Stephanoprora chasanensis n. sp. (Digenea: Echinochasmidae): Morphology, life cycle, and molecular data

Echinostomatoidea is a large, globally distributed and heterogeneous group of hermaphroditic digeneans that parasite, as adults, vertebrate hosts of all classes. Species of this group have received attention from researchers as they can cause diseases in wildlife and humans. Here we describe the biological and molecular phylogenetic characteristics of Stephanoprora chasanensis n. sp. (Digenea: Echinochasmidae). The life cycle of this fluke was experimentally completed by the use of hosts, i.e. Stenothyra recondite Lindholm, 1929 snail (the 1st intermediate), Rhynchocypris percnurus mantschuricus (Berg, 1907) freshwater fish (the 2nd intermediate) and Gallus gallus chicken (the definitive host). In the adult worms, vitelline follicles were distributed anteriorly to the mid-level of the ventral sucker in our specimens whereas they did not reach the level of anterior testis in other species of Stephanoprora previously reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on 28S rDNA revealed that Stephanoprora and Echinochasmus with 20-22 collar spines grouped together in a single cluster. In addition, we showed that Stephanoprora chasanensis n. sp. was closely related to Echinochasmus milvi Yamaguti, 1939. Cercariae of these two echinostomes commonly have a long tail.