Molecular footprint of parasite co-introduction with Nile tilapia in the Congo Basin

Nile tilapia, one of the most popular aquaculture species worldwide, has been introduced into Congo Basin several times for purposes. Previous studies based on morphological features showed that some monogenean gill parasites were co-introduced with tilapia and spilled over to native Congolese cichlids. In this study, we genetically investigated monogeneans from three major parts Basin: Upper, Middle Lower Congo. We sequenced 214 specimens belonging 16 Monogenea, collected Congo, Madagascar Burundi. evaluate their position in a phylogeny including 38 total. Our results confirm co-introductions suggest unreported parasite transmission Mweru Upper which was undetectable study alone. Shared COI haplotypes between illustrate how anthropogenic introduction events homogenize communities across large geographical distances thereby disrupt isolation by distance patterns. Contrary our expectation, populations reveal high diversity, probably resulting multiple introductions different geographic origins. Additionally, tested barcoding gap performance mitochondrial nuclear ribosomal ITS-1, 28S 18S markers. found significant 15% COI, but none other molecular Cichlidogyrus halli, C. papernastrema, tiberianus, cirratus zambezensis are need taxonomic revision.