Molecular Phylogenetics of Rhabdias Nematodes
Summary
Molecular phylogenetics has transformed our understanding of Rhabdias nematodes, lung‐parasitic worms infecting amphibians and reptiles worldwide. By integrating sequence data from nuclear ribosomal regions and mitochondrial genes, researchers have reconstructed robust evolutionary trees that clarify species boundaries, host associations and biogeographic patterns. Complete mitochondrial genomes reveal novel gene arrangements that challenge traditional taxonomic groupings, while multilocus analyses of markers such as ITS, 28S rDNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) expose deep divergences and cryptic lineages. These insights not only refine classification within Rhabdiasidae but also illuminate the origins of host specificity and the mechanisms of host–parasite co-evolution. The global scope of these studies, spanning the Neotropics, Afrotropics and East Asia, underscores the importance of molecular data in guiding conservation strategies for vulnerable amphibian hosts, predicting potential range expansions and informing veterinary interventions against emerging parasitic infections.
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Molecular Phylogenetics of Rhabdias Nematodes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular phylogenetics of rhabdias nematodes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Monophyly: A grouping in which all members share a common ancestor not shared with any outside taxa.
Mitochondrial genome: The circular DNA within mitochondria encoding genes used in evolutionary studies.
Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1): A mitochondrial gene widely used as a standard DNA barcode for species identification.
Internal transcribed spacer (ITS): Non-coding regions between ribosomal RNA genes, employed as markers in phylogenetic reconstruction.
Phylogenetic analysis: Computational methods to infer evolutionary relationships among organisms based on genetic or morphological data.
DNA barcode: A short, standardised genetic sequence used to distinguish species across diverse taxa.
References
- Morphology, complete mitochondrial genome, and molecular phylogeny of Rhabdias macrocephalum n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Diploderma splendidum (Reptilia: Agamidae). Parasite (2024).
- Serpentirhabdias mexicanus n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae), a parasitic lungworm of the nauyaca viper Bothrops asper (Serpentes: Viperidae) in the Mexican Neotropics. Systematic Parasitology (2024).
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