Systematic Position and Phylogenetic Relationships of the Cyclophyllidean Cestodes - An In-silico Study using ITS2 rDNA and Sequence-structure Alignment

The phylogenetic relationships and systematic position of cyclophyllidean cestodes have always been controversial and opinions of different authors on the systematic rank and content of this order have varied greatly. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ITS2 rDNA of 16 representatives spanning 6 different families (Mesocestoididae, Davaineidae, Anoplocephalidae, Taeniidae, Dipylidiidae and Hymenolepididae) of the Order Cyclophyllidea and one out group from the family Diphyllobothriidae of the Order Pseudophyllidea confirmed the monophyletic nature of the Order Cyclophyllidea. Further, the results were validated by bayesian analysis, primary sequence-structure alignment and subsequent molecular morphometrics analysis. At the major nodes all the trees from various analyses were similar. Mesocestoides was interestingly accommodated within Cyclophyllidea and served as a sister clade close to the families Taeniidae, Anoplocephalidae, Hymenolepididae and Dipylidiidae.

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