The taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationships of Cercaria pugnax and C. helvetica XII (Digenea: Lecitho-dendriidae) based on morphological and molecular data
Journal: Folia Parasitologica
Year: 2014

The present study analysed the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships of two species of xiphidiocercariae of the 'microcotylae' group, Cercaria pugnax La Valette St. George, 1855, from Viviparus viviparus (Linnaeus) in the Ukraine and Cercaria helvetica XII Dubois, 1928 from Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus) in Lithuania. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the ITS2 region and partial 28S gene of the nuclear rDNA revealed that both these xiphidiocercariae belong to the L