Archives of Biological Sciences 2015 Volume 67, Issue 4, Pages: 1405-1410
https://doi.org/10.2298/ABS1412205119K
Full text ( 1001 KB)
Karyotype characterization of the endemic piscine leech from Lake Baikal with vindication of Baicalobdella cottidarum Dogiel, 1957 (Piscicolidae, Hirudinea)
Kaygorodova Irina A. (Limnological Institute, Irkutsk, Russia)
Natyaganova Antonina V. (Limnological Institute, Irkutsk, Russia)
In this paper, we present for the first time data on karyotype analysis of
leeches of the genus Baicalobdella (Piscicolidae) parasitizing Lake Baikal
endemic cottoid fishes. Both mitotic and meiotic chromosomes are described.
Leech testisacs were processed by a “shaking-blotting” technique, and
chromosomal preparations were stained with water-based fuchsine. Diploid and
haploid chromosome sets demonstrated 2n=34 and n=17, respectively, with
maximal chromosome length of 1.5-3.0 μm. Comparative karyotype analysis of
two ecological forms of Baicalobdella leeches revealed differences in
chromosome numbers and its morphology. Previously studied Baicalobdella
torquata (Grube, 1871) parasitizing Baikal amphipods had smaller diploid and
haploid sets (2n=32, n=16). In addition to numerical superiority, differing
patterns of chromosome size gradation and presence of satellite elements were
found in the karyotype of piscine Baicalobdella leeches. This confirms the
systematic position of the Baikal cottoid leech parasite as a separate
species, validating the original name Baicalobdella cottidarum sensu Dogiel,
1957.
Keywords: Karyotype, chromosomes, piscine leech, Baicalobdella cottidarum, Lake Baikal