Unraveling the Population Structure of Temnocephala iheringi Across Host Associations and Geographic Regions

Commensalism, a frequent type of interaction among freshwater invertebrates, remains poorly studied. Some turbellarians (Platyhelminthes: Temnocephalidae) are specialized obligate commensals of crustaceans, mollusks, insects, and turtles. In the Neotropics, Temnocephala iheringi inhabits the mantle cavity of snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from Pantanal (Brazil) to the Pampean region of Argentina, where several species serve as hosts. This study aimed to molecularly characterize several populations of T. iheringi and to analyze their genetic and morphological variability across different host species and geographic areas. Using the mitochondrial COI marker, we assessed populations associated with five of its seven known host species through phylogenetic reconstructions, species delimitation approaches, and haplotype network analyses. Combined with morphological data, results support COI as an effective identification tool for Temnocephalidae. Several genetic lineages were identified and were largely congruent with collection localities. However, specimens associated with hosts displaying high dispersal capabilities (i.e., Pomacea canaliculata and P. maculata) showed low mitochondrial genetic differentiation and minimal phylogenetic structure across large distances, which may be consistent with recent dispersal and/or ongoing connectivity among populations. These findings provide new insights into the evolutionary dynamics of this specific temnocephalid-snail association. Given that some hosts are highly invasive and even considered pests in several countries, the data and genetic sequences generated in this study may prove valuable for future research on symbiont diversity and dispersal.