Molecular characterization of the unique Mesostephanus appendiculatus (Trematoda: Cyathocotylidae) by small ribosomal RNA from Egypt

M esostephanus appendiculatus (Family: Cyathocotylidae) is one of the unique trematodes that complete their cycles in human and animal intestines in many countries of the world. The main source of its transmission is eating raw or undercooked infected fish muscle. Earliest analyses of genes to different parasites supported the analysis of helminthes either biological or morphological. This paper detected M. appendiculatus sequence with GenBank accession number gb (KY026782). Comparison of M. appendiculatus with other helminthes using BioEdit 7 and MEGA7 program shows some similarity in different points along its sequence. The phylogenetic analysis clarifies that it was closely related to both trematodes ( Clinostomum complanatum and Echinochasmus japonicus ) and some cestodes of fish origin such as Polyonchobothrium polypteri , Bothriocephalus sp., and Haplobothrium globuliforme . The obtained results provide a good source for genome analysis of M. appendiculatus in relation to other Platyhelminthes.