Abstract:
Patterns of genetic variation among populations can reveal the evolutionary history of species.
Pinworm parasites are highly host specific and form strong co-evolutionary associations with
their primate hosts. Here, we describe the genetic variation observed in four Trypanoxyuris
species infecting different howler and spider monkey subspecies in Central America to deter-
mine if historical dispersal processes and speciation in the host could explain the genetic pat-
terns observed in the parasites. Mitochondrial (cox1) and ribosomal (28S) DNA were analysed
to assess genetic divergence and phylogenetic history of these parasites. Sequences of the 28S
gene were identical within pinworms species regardless of host subspecies. However, phylo-
genetic analyses, haplotype relationships and genetic divergence with cox1 showed differenti-
ation between pinworm populations according to host subspecies in three of the four
Trypanoxyuris species analysed. Haplotype separation between host subspecies was not
observed in Trypanoxyuris minutus, nor in Trypanoxyuris atelis from Ateles geoffoyi vellerosus
and Ateles geoffoyi yucatanensis. Levels of genetic diversity and divergence in these parasites
relate with such estimates reported for their hosts. This study shows how genetic patterns
uncovered in parasitic organisms can reflect the host phylogenetic and biogeographic
histories.
