Phylogenetic analysis of microphalloid digeneans (Platyhelminthes: Trematoda: Microphalloidea) from Scotophilus kuhlii Leach, 1821 (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in the Philippines

Microphalloid digeneans (flukes) are the most taxonomically diverse group of endoparasites of bats. The phylogeny of these helminths, especially species from tropical regions, remains poorly documented. In this study, we report the finding of Anchitrema sp., Caprimolgorchis сf. molenkampi (Lie-Kian-Joe, 1951), Papillatrium parvouterus (Bhalerao, 1926) and Paralecithodendrium ovimagnosum (Bhalerao, 1926) in Scotophilus kuhlii Leach, 1821 in the Philippines. We made morphological descriptions of these parasites and obtained molecular data on 28S rRNA gene, ITS2 region and cox1 gene. Anchitrema sp. differed from all valid species of the genus Anchitrema in the sucker width ratio. Caprimolgorchis сf. molenkampi was very similar to C. molenkampi but, unlike the latter species, had a distinct pseudogonotyl. In phylogenetic analysis based on the 28S rRNA gene dataset, Anchitrema sp. clustered with other species of Anchitrema available in GenBank NCBI. The clade formed by these digeneans was resolved as a sister group to the Lecithodendriidae. The newly collected Pap. parvouterus specimens clustered in the same group as an isolate from Europe available in GenBank NCBI under the synonymous name Paralecithodendrium parvouterus, but both isolates were resolved as separate species. Caprimolgorchis сf. molenkampi and Par. ovimagnosum were members of the same small group of lecithodendriids but did not have any direct phylogenetic relationship. Other genetic markers used in this work poorly resolved the phylogenetic relationships of the digenean species under study.