Review of tapeworms of rodents in the Republic of Buryatia, with emphasis on anoplocephalid cestodes

Abstract

Examination of ca. 500 rodents [Microtus spp., Myodes spp., Cricetulus barabensis (Pallas), Apodemus pe-ninsulae Th omas] from 14 localities in the Republic of Buryatia (Russian Federation) revealed a minimum of 11 cestode species representing Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 s. str. (1 species), Paranoplocephala Lühe, 1910 s.l. (5 species), Catenotaenia Janicki, 1904 (2 species), Arostrilepis Mas-Coma & Tenora, 1997 (at least 2 species) and Rodentolepis Spasskii, 1954 (1 species). At least 5 of these species are previously un-known from the region. Th e taxonomic and phylogenetic position of Buryatian Paranoplocephala species was defi ned by cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences (mtDNA). Th e phylogenetic analysis also con-fi rmed the status of Parandrya Gulyaev & Chechulin, 1996 as a junior synonym of Paranoplocephala s.l. Th e species diversity of anoplocephalid cestodes was signifi cantly lower in Buryatia and North-East Siberia (6-7 species) than in Europe (17 species). Th e connections of the anoplocephalid fauna of Buryatia seem to be closer with Beringia (North-East Siberia and Alaska) than with Europe. Th e present study demon-strated high spatial variation (patchiness) among study sites in cestodes of Buryatian rodents, with the exception of the ubiquitous Arostrilepis horrida (von Linstow, 1901)-complex.