Evolutionary relationships of sibling tapeworm species (Cestoda) parasitizing teleost fishes

DNA/DNA hybridization and sequencing of rDNA (partial 18S rDNA and ITS1) were used to investigate phylogenetic relationships among seven host-specific Bothriocephalus parasites (Cestoda, Pseudophyllidae). The small nucleotide divergence between six of the seven bothriocephalids suggests that isolation and differentiation of Bothriocephalus lineages in the different host species probably occurred recently and over a short time span. Comparison of the molecular phylogeny of the parasite species to the phylogeny of their hosts (teleostean fishes) revealed little congruence between the branching patterns of hosts and parasites, suggesting that bothriocephalids have not cospeciated with their hosts.