Morphological and molecular description of Dictyocaulus xanthopygus sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) from the Manchurian wapiti Cervus elaphus xanthopygus.

Dictyocaulus xanthopygus sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) was isolated from the lungs of the Manchurian wapiti in Primorsky kray, Russia. The newly described species exhibits morphological characteristics of Dictyocaulus but is distinct from congeneric species based on morphological (lengths of body and esophagus, distances from the anterior end to nerve ring and to excretory pore, the thickness of the buccal capsule, etc.) and molecular features. High levels of genetic divergence as well as Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA nuclear and cox1 mitochondrial genes supported the independence of Dictyocaulus xanthopygus sp. nov. Secondary structures of helix 39 of 18S rRNA were identical, while ES9 adjacent to the helix has a unique conformation for newly described worms. Energy-efficient conformational rearrangements of rRNA secondary structures can be applicable in studies on the pathogenesis, epidemiology, taxonomy and evolutionary biology of parasites. Additionally, bracketed dichotomous keys to six valid species of Dictyocaulus were prepared.