Diversity ofspp. (Digenea: Diplostomidae) metacercariae in parrs ofLinnaeus, 1758 andLinnaeus, 1758 from the European Russian Far North.

Abstract

Metacercariae ofspp. are globally distributed pathogens that infect the eyes and brains of fish and lampreys, including populations in northern latitudes. This study investigated the species diversity and distribution ofin juvenile Atlantic salmonand brown troutfrom 11 rivers in northwestern Russia. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two diplostomid species: '' Lineage 3 andIt is the first record of these species in the Russian part of the Arctic. These species, previously recorded in Western/Central Europe and Russian Karelia, likely spread via major migratory flyways of their avian definitive hosts. The species composition ofmetacercariae in riverine salmonids of the studied region was notably poorer than in lacustrine salmonids from other Arctic localities. The haplotype distributions of recordedspecies showed no spatial structuring, consistent with broad-scale dispersal processes.