Molecular Identification of Larvae of a Tetraphyllidean Tapeworm (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda) in a Razor Clam as an Alternative Intermediate Host in the Life Cycle of Acanthobothrium brevissime

2009/10/01 by Nicholas D. Holland, Nerida G. Wilson · 24 citations
Environmental Science · Immunology and Microbiology · #Biology #Ecology #Host (biology) #Larva #Marine Ecology and Invasive Species #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions #Parasites and Host Interactions #Zoology

paper · doi:10.1645/ge-1946.1

published in Journal of Parasitology 95(5), 1215-1217 (American Society of Parasitologists)

openalex publication_date 2009/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/27

Abstract

Dwarf razor clams (Ensis minor) in the Gulf of Mexico are known to be infected with plerocercoid larvae of a tetraphyllidean tapeworm. Here, we show that these larvae live unencysted in the intestinal lumen of the clam. Morphologically, the larvae are similar to (although significantly larger than) tapeworm larvae previously described living in the gut of amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae) from the same habitat. Sequence data from the D2 region of the 28S rDNA from clam-infecting larvae were identical to the sequence of Acanthobothrium brevissime isolated as larvae from amphioxus and as adults from a stingray (Dasyatis say). The sequence data leave little doubt that the dwarf razor clam and the amphioxus are alternative intermediate hosts in the life cycle of A. brevissime.

Cited by

• A New Species of Acanthobothrium (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea), Parasite of the Giant Electric Ray Narcine entemedor Jordan and Starks, 1895 (Batoidea: Torpediniformes) from Mexico
• A New Species of Acanthobothrium (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea) from the Smalleye Pygmy Shark, Squaliolus aliae (Chondrichthyes: Squaliformes: Dalatiidae), from Taiwan
• Experimental Elucidation of the life Cycle of Acanthobothrium parviuncinatum Young, 1954 (Cestoda: Onchobothriidae) from the Round Stingray, Urobatis halleri (Myliobatoidea), in Southern California, with a Redescription of the Adult Worm
• Host relationships and geographic distribution of species of Acanthobothrium Blanchard, 1848 (Onchoproteocephalidea, Onchobothriidae) in elasmobranchs: a metadata analysis. [europepmc]
• Metacestodes of Elasmobranch Tapeworms in Octopus vulgaris (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) from Central Mediterranean-SEM and Molecular Data. [europepmc]
• Morphological and molecular identification of metacestodes infecting teleost fishes of Moreton Bay, Australia. [europepmc]

Related

• The Florida amphioxus (Cephalochordata) hosts larvae of the tapeworm Acanthobothrium brevissime: natural history, anatomy and taxonomic identification of the parasite
• Experimental Elucidation of the life Cycle of Acanthobothrium parviuncinatum Young, 1954 (Cestoda: Onchobothriidae) from the Round Stingray, Urobatis halleri (Myliobatoidea), in Southern California, with a Redescription of the Adult Worm
• A New Genus of Tapeworm (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea) from Sawfish (Elasmobranchii: Pristidae)
• Emerging global novelty in phyllobothriidean tapeworms (Cestoda: Phyllobothriidea) from sharks and skates (Elasmobranchii)
• Monsters of the Sea Serpent: Parasites of an Oarfish,Regalecus russellii