Morphological and Molecular Characterization of <i>Trichuris</i> sp. (Nematoda: Trichuridae) in Crested Porcupines (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>; Rodentia: Hystricidae) from Italy

oleh: Serena Cavallero, Margherita Montalbano Di Filippo, Emiliano Mori, Andrea Viviano, Claudio De Liberato, Andrea Sforzi, Stefano D’Amelio, Federica Berrilli

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-11-01

Deskripsi

Adult specimens of <i>Trichuris</i> sp. collected from crested porcupines (<i>Hystrix cristata</i>) from Italy were characterized using an integrative taxonomic approach involving morphological and molecular tools. The morphological features of this <i>Trichuris</i> sp. were compared to data already available for <i>Trichuris</i> spp. from <i>Hystrix</i> sp., revealing diagnostic traits, such as spicule length in males or vulva shape in females, which distinguish this <i>Trichuris</i> sp. from the other species. Evidence from sequences analysis of the partial mitochondrial COX1 region indicated that the taxon under study is a distinct lineage. Biometrical and genetic data suggested this <i>Trichuris</i> sp. to be a valid and separated taxon. However, since molecular data from other <i>Trichuris</i> spp. infecting <i>Hystrix</i>, such as <i>T. infundibulus</i>, <i>T. hystricis</i>, <i>T. javanica</i>, <i>T.</i><i>landak</i> and <i>T. lenkorani</i>, are missing in public repositories, the number and identity of distinct lineages able to infect porcupines remain only partially defined.