Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Two Clinostomum (Digenea: Clinostomidae) Species with the First Case of Clinostomum tilapiae from Turkey.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Clinostomum species in wild birds in Turkey using morphological and molecular methods. METHODS: 51 birds of 18 species from seven orders previously reported as definitive hosts of the Clinostomum spp. were collected. Identification of the species was made by morphological characteristics and partial sequence of the cox1 gene. RESULTS: This study concludes that Ardea alba and Ardea cinerea were infected with Clinostomum complanatum, while Ardea purpurea was infected with Clinostomum tilapiae. CONCLUSION: Clinostomum complanatum has been reported for the first time in the definitive hosts in Turkey. This study is the first molecular report of C. tilapiae in definitive hosts and the first report in Turkey. The present work indicates that Clinostomum species in the Afrotropic and Palearctic regions can also be found in Turkey.