Revisiting the genus Bolbosoma Porta, 1908 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae): host specificity, phylogeny, and species synonymization

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60077344%3A_____%2F25%3A00639695" target="_blank" >RIV/60077344:_____/25:00639695 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07015-3" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07015-3</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-07015-3" target="_blank" >10.1186/s13071-025-07015-3</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Revisiting the genus Bolbosoma Porta, 1908 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae): host specificity, phylogeny, and species synonymization

Original language description

BackgroundAcanthocephalans of the genus Bolbosoma Porta, 1908 are trophically transmitted parasites that infect marine mammals (mostly cetaceans and less frequently pinnipeds) worldwide. There are 12 species currently considered as valid, however, most records lack information on the maturity stage of the specimens. This, coupled with the scarce phylogenetic information available, hinders a correct understanding of their patterns of host specificity, evolutionary history, and taxonomy. A particularly intriguing case is that of Bolbosoma vasculosum (Rudolphi, 1819), which has been frequently reported in odontocetes but rarely as an adult, having been suggested to be synonymous with Bolbosoma capitatum (von Linstow, 1880).MethodsWe used a comprehensive approach to investigate the concept of Bolbosoma. First, we conducted a bibliographic review of records of Bolbosoma spp. to clarify which are the final hosts for each species. We paid particular attention to B. vasculosum, using morphological and molecular analyses to compare it with B. capitatum. Second, we characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of Bolbosoma balaenae (Gmelin, 1790), Bolbosoma turbinella (Diesing, 1851), B. capitatum, and B. vasculosum. Then, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Bolbosoma spp. and related taxa using full mitochondrial genomes (or only cox1 when full mitogenomes were unavailable) and nuclear ribosomal genes (18S and 28S).ResultsBolbosoma spp. exhibit high specificity for cetaceans, with no confirmed records of adult specimens in other host groups. Within this genus, B. vasculosum appears to be conspecific with B. capitatum based on both morphological and molecular evidence. This species shows high affinity to odontocetes, while the remaining species are specific to mysticetes. Phylogenetic analyses showed strong support for the monophyly of Bolbosoma spp., which appeared as sister taxa to Corynosoma spp. and Andracantha spp.. The resulting topology aligns with the patterns of specificity indicated by host records, revealing two distinct clades for species specific to odontocetes and mysticetes, respectively.ConclusionsThe phylogenetic relationships obtained support the hypothesis that the association of Bolbosoma spp. with cetaceans originated through a host-switching event from aquatic birds.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA23-05733S" target="_blank" >GA23-05733S: From the wheel to the thorn: Evolution and adaptations to parasitism in the Syndermata</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Parasites & Vectors

ISSN

1756-3305

e-ISSN

1756-3305

Volume of the periodical

18

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

21

Pages from-to

392

UT code for WoS article

001580452200006

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105016908625