Nematoda diverged from other animals between 600-1,200 million years ago and has become one of the most diverse animal phyla on earth. Most nematodes are free-living animals, but many are parasites of plants and animals including humans, posing major ecological and economical challenges around the world.

Transposable elements can be categorised into DNA and RNA elements based on their mechanism of transposition. Tyrosine recombinase elements (YREs) are relatively rare and poorly understood, despite sharing characteristics with both DNA and RNA elements. Previously, the Nematoda have been reported to have a substantially different diversity of YREs compared to other animal phyla: the Dirs1-like YRE retrotransposon was encountered in most animal phyla but not in Nematoda, and a unique Pat1-like YRE retrotransposon has only been recorded from Nematoda. We explored the diversity of YREs in Nematoda by sampling broadly across the phylum and including 34 genomes representing the three classes within Nematoda. We developed a method to isolate and classify YREs based on both feature organization and phylogenetic relationships in an open and reproducible workflow. We also ensured that our phylogenetic approach to YRE classification identified truncated and degenerate elements, informatively increasing the number of elements sampled. We identified Dirs1-like elements (thought to be absent from Nematoda) in the nematode classes Enoplia and Dorylaimia indicating that nematode model species do not adequately represent the diversity of transposable elements in the phylum. Nematode Pat1-like elements were found to be a derived form of another Pat1-like element that is present more widely in animals. Several sequence features used widely for the classification of YREs were found to be homoplasious, highlighting the need for a phylogenetically-based classification scheme. Nematode model species do not represent the diversity of transposable elements in the phylum.

Mitochondrial genes and whole mitochondrial genome sequences are widely used as molecular markers in studying population genetics and resolving both deep and shallow nodes in phylogenetics. In animals the mitochondrial genome is generally composed of a single chromosome, but mystifying exceptions sometimes occur. We determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the millipede-parasitic nematode Ruizia karukerae and found its mitochondrial genome consists of two circular chromosomes, which is highly unusual in bilateral animals. Chromosome I is 7,659 bp and includes six protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes and nine tRNA genes. Chromosome II comprises 7,647 bp, with seven protein-coding genes and 16 tRNA genes. Interestingly, both chromosomes share a 1,010 bp sequence containing duplicate copies of cox2 and three tRNA genes (trnD, trnG and trnH), and the nucleotide sequences between the duplicated homologous gene copies are nearly identical, suggesting a possible recent genesis for this bipartite mitochondrial genome. Given that little is known about the formation, maintenance or evolution of abnormal mitochondrial genome structures, R. karukerae mtDNA may provide an important early glimpse into this process.

Lysozymes are important model enzymes in biomedical research with a ubiquitous taxonomic distribution ranging from phages up to plants and animals. Their main function appears to be defence against pathogens, although some of them have also been implicated in digestion. Whereas most organisms have only few lysozyme genes, nematodes of the genus Caenorhabditis possess a surprisingly large repertoire of up to 15 genes.

Dagger and needle nematodes included in the family Longidoridae (viz. Longidorus, Paralongidorus, and Xiphinema) are highly polyphagous plant-parasitic nematodes in wild and cultivated plants and some of them are plant-virus vectors (nepovirus). The mitochondrial (mt) genomes of the dagger and needle nematodes, Xiphinema rivesi, Xiphinema pachtaicum, Longidorus vineacola and Paralongidorus litoralis were sequenced in this study. The four circular mt genomes have an estimated size of 12.6, 12.5, 13.5 and 12.7 kb, respectively. Up to date, the mt genome of X. pachtaicum is the smallest genome found in Nematoda. The four mt genomes contain 12 protein-coding genes (viz. cox1-3, nad1-6, nad4L, atp6 and cob) and two ribosomal RNA genes (rrnL and rrnS), but the atp8 gene was not detected. These mt genomes showed a gene arrangement very different within the Longidoridae species sequenced, with the exception of very closely related species (X. americanum and X. rivesi). The sizes of non-coding regions in the Longidoridae nematodes were very small and were present in a few places in the mt genome. Phylogenetic analysis of all coding genes showed a closer relationship between Longidorus and Paralongidorus and different phylogenetic possibilities for the three Xiphinema species.

In this study, molecular characterization of Paratylenchus nanus collected from the type locality in Four Mile Run, Fall Church, Virginia using COI, D2-D3 of 28 S rRNA and ITS rRNA gene sequences was provided. We molecularly also characterized, Paratylenchus specimens collected from grasses in Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota indicated as the type locality in the original description of P. nanus by Cobb (1923). These nematodes were identified as representatives of the species P. projectus. Populations of P. nanus belonging to the molecular types A and B, and previously designated by Van den Berg et al. (2014) should be now identified as P. nanus and P. projectus, respectively.

A new species of the genus Geocenamus was isolated from soil and root samples from the rhizosphere of Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. This species is characterized by a round-to-hexagonal labial disc, the presence of a labial region, which is continuous or slightly offset from the body with six sectors, lateral sectors of first labial annulus being smaller than the submedian sectors, the presence of six to seven labial annules; the absence of deirids; stylet length 24 to 28 μ m long, body length 776 to 979 μ m long; lateral field with six to eight lateral lines, without areolation at mid-body and with areolation in outer bands at the tail region and a pointed tail terminus. Geocenamus vietnamensis n. sp. most closely resembles G. boghiae in having a non-sclerotized head framework and lacking a bursa in the males. It can be clearly distinguished from all other species of the genus Geocenamus by these characteristics. The combination of morphology, morphometric features, and phylogenetic trees, based on D2-D3 of 28S and ITS rDNA sequences, showed that this new species can be clearly separated from all other sequenced species. This record is the first for Geocenamus in Vietnam. A new species of the genus Geocenamus was isolated from soil and root samples from the rhizosphere of Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinaceae) in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. This species is characterized by a round-to-hexagonal labial disc, the presence of a labial region, which is continuous or slightly offset from the body with six sectors, lateral sectors of first labial annulus being smaller than the submedian sectors, the presence of six to seven labial annules; the absence of deirids; stylet length 24 to 28 μ m long, body length 776 to 979 μ m long; lateral field with six to eight lateral lines, without areolation at mid-body and with areolation in outer bands at the tail region and a pointed tail terminus. Geocenamus vietnamensis n. sp. most closely resembles G. boghiae in having a non-sclerotized head framework and lacking a bursa in the males. It can be clearly distinguished from all other species of the genus Geocenamus by these characteristics. The combination of morphology, morphometric features, and phylogenetic trees, based on D2–D3 of 28S and ITS rDNA sequences, showed that this new species can be clearly separated from all other sequenced species. This record is the first for Geocenamus in Vietnam.

Longidorus chenisp. n., an amphimictic species recovered from the rhizosphere of Larix principis-rupprechtii and Pyracantha fortuneana in Shanxi and Beijing, China, is described and illustrated. The taxonomic position of L. chenisp. n. among other species within the genus was elucidated using morphometric and molecular data, and phylogenetic relationships were inferred using D2-D3 expansion domains of 28S and 18S rRNA genes by Bayesian Inference (BI) method. The new species is characterised by females with a medium body size (L = 4.9-6.6 mm), a lip region slightly expanded, broadly rounded frontally and laterally, the amphidial fovea broad and symmetrically bilobed at base, odontostyle long and slender (143-168 μm), odonthophore slightly swollen at the base, tail short bluntly conoid to rounded. Guide ring located far posterior from the oral aperture (70-93 μm). Males with two ad-cloacal pairs of supplements preceded by a row of 10-14 ventromedian supplements, with robust spicules measuring 111-126 μm along the median line. Three juvenile stages were present, tail shape of J1 elongate conoid while in J2 and J3 the tail gradually becomes bluntly rounded. Codes for identifying the new species are: A6-B3-C5-D2-E2-F3-G1-H1-I2-J2-K2. Longidorus chenisp. n. belongs to a group of species with a guide ring at the mid-odontostyle position that have a predominantly Asiatic origin. It differs from all of them by a combination of morphological characters and unique sequences of partial 18S and D2-D3 region of 28S rRNA genes. The percentage dissimilarities in partial 18S and D2-D3 28S rRNA genes of L. cheni to the closest species (L. litchii, L. fangi, L. jonesi and L. juglans) were 1.5 %-1.8 % and 16.8-18.3 %, respectively.

The potato cyst nematode (PCN) Globodera rostochiensis is a plant parasite of potato classified into a group of quarantine organisms causing high economic losses worldwide. Due to the long persistence of the parasite in soil, cysts harbor numerous bacteria whose presence can lead to cyst death and population decline. The cysts of G. rostochiensis found in two potato fields were used as a source of bacteria. The universal procedure was applied to extract DNA from bacteria which was then sequenced with 16S primers. The aims of the study were to identify bacterial microbiota associated with the PCN populations and to infer their phylogenetic relationships based on the maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogeny of the 16S sequences. In addition, the impact of the most significant climate and edaphic factors on bacterial diversity were evaluated. Regarding the higher taxonomy, our results indicate that the prevalent bacterial classes were Bacilli, Actinobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria. Phylogenetic analyses clustered Brevibacterium frigoritolerans within the family Bacillaceae, confirming its recent reclassification. Long-term climate factors, such as air temperature, insolation hours, humidity and precipitation, as well as the content of soil organic matter, affected the bacterial diversity. The ability of cyst nematodes to persist in soil for a long time qualifies them as a significant natural source to explore the soil bacterial microbiota.

Angiostrongylus costaricensis is a zoonotic parasitic nematode that causes abdominal or intestinal angiostrongyliasis in humans. It is endemic to the Americas. Although the mitochondrial genome of the Brazil taxon has been published, there is no available mitochondrial genome data on the Costa Rica taxon. We report here the complete mitochondrial genome of the Costa Rica taxon and its genetic differentiation from the Brazil taxon. The whole mitochondrial genome was obtained from next-generation sequencing of genomic DNA. It had a total length of 13,652 bp, comprising 36 genes (12 protein-coding genes-PCGs, 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA genes) and a control region (A + T rich non-coding region). It is longer than that of the Brazil taxon (13,585 bp). The larger mitogenome size of the Costa Rica taxon is due to the size of the control region as the Brazil taxon has a shorter length (265 bp) than the Costa Rica taxon (318 bp). The size of 6 PCGs and the start codon for ATP6, CYTB and NAD5 genes are different between the Costa Rica and Brazil taxa. Additionally, the two taxa differ in the stop codon of 6 PCGs. Molecular phylogeny based on 12 PCGs was concordant with two rRNA, 22 tRNA and 36 mitochondrial genes. The two taxa have a genetic distance of p = 16.2% based on 12 PCGs, p = 15.3% based on 36 mitochondrial genes, p = 13.1% based on 2 rRNA genes and p = 10.7% based on 22 tRNA genes, indicating status of sibling species. The Costa Rica and Brazil taxa of A. costaricensis are proposed to be accorded specific status as members of a species complex.

Anguillicolidae Yamaguti, 1935 is a family of parasitic nematode infecting fresh-water eels of the genus Anguilla, comprising five species in the genera Anguillicola and Anguillicoloides. Anguillicoloides crassus is of particular importance, as it has recently spread from its endemic range in the Eastern Pacific to Europe and North America, where it poses a significant threat to new, naïve hosts such as the economic important eel species Anguilla anguilla and Anguilla rostrata. The Anguillicolidae are therefore all potentially invasive taxa, but the relationships of the described species remain unclear. Anguillicolidae is part of Spirurina, a diverse clade made up of only animal parasites, but placement of the family within Spirurina is based on limited data.

In previous studies, fifteen species of Paratylenchus, commonly known as pin nematodes, have been reported in Spain. These plant-parasitic nematodes are ectoparasites with a wide host range and global distribution. In this research, 27 populations from twelve Paratylenchus species from 18 municipalities in Spain were studied using morphological, morphometrical and molecular data. This integrative taxonomic approach allowed the identification of twelve species, four of them were considered new undescribed species and eight were already known described. The new species described here are P. caravaquenus sp. nov., P. indalus sp. nov., P. pedrami sp. nov. and P. zurgenerus sp. nov. As for the already known described species, five were considered as first reports for the country, specifically P.enigmaticus, P. hamatus, P. holdemani, P. israelensis, and P. veruculatus, while P. baldaccii, P. goodeyi and P. tenuicaudatus had already been recorded in Spain. This study provides detail morphological and molecular data, including the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA, and partial mitochondrial COI regions for the identification of different Paratylenchus species found in Spain. These results confirm the extraordinary cryptic diversity in Spain and with examples of morphostatic speciation within the genus Paratylenchus.

During a survey on the biodiversity of plant-parasitic nematodes in Khuzestan province (southwest Iran), Bitylenchus hispaniensis was discovered around the rhizosphere of the euphrates poplar tree. The morphological and morphometric data were provided for the recovered species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of B. hispaniensis from Iran and for the first time in association with euphrates poplar worldwide. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of the Iranian population of B. hispaniensis using the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS rDNA) sequences using Bayesian inference (BI), showed a maximally supported clade with other sequences of the species.

The genus Boehmiella was initially described as a member of the family Trichostrongylidae. Subsequently, it was assigned to the subfamily Haemonchinae in the family Haemonchidae. We analyzed parasites of spiny tree-rats, Mesomys hispidus, collected in the Amazon rainforest, which were identified as B. wilsoni based on integrative taxonomy. Using morphology, morphometry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we added new data to the original description of the species. We also inferred phylogenetic hypotheses for its relationships within the Trichostrongylina, based on partial nuclear 18S and 28S rRNA genes, through Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses. In conclusion, B. wilsoni does not belong to the family Haemonchidae, nor is it closely related to any other trichostrongylin family, and therefore, we propose the establishment of a new family, Boehmiellidae fam. nov., to which the genus Boehmiella is allocated.

Rotylenchus wimbii n. sp. was found associated with finger millet in Kenya and is described based on light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and molecular information. Sequence analysis was performed on ITS, 18S, and D2-D3 of 28S of ribosomal DNA and COI of mitochondrial DNA. This new species is characterized by a moderate female body size of 0.6 to 0.8 mm, a continuous hemispherical lip region with four annuli, 3 to 4 irregular blocks on the basal lip annule, absence of longitudinal cuticular striations in anterior region, four lateral lines forming three equal bands which are areolated mainly at pharynx level, a robust stylet of 23 to 27 µm of which 45 to 53% is cone part, and with rounded to sometimes indented knobs, a secretory-excretory pore around level of pharyngo-intestinal junction, didelphic-amphidelphic reproductive system, vulva without distinct epiptygma, indistinct to empty spermatheca, tail usually truncated with 5 to 9 annuli, phasmids located at 7 to 17 annuli anterior to anus, and absence of males. Molecular phylogenies, in combination with species delimitation, supported the distinctiveness of Rotylenchus wimbii n. sp. and revealed some mislabeled Rotylenchus brevicaudatus sequences in GenBank.

The Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) is a critically endangered marsupial in south-eastern Australia. Among other conservation efforts, free-ranging animals in the two remaining geographically separate populations (highland and lowland) have been extensively studied; however, little is known about their health and mortality. Although some wild populations are frequently monitored, cadavers are rarely recovered for post mortem examination. In June 2019, a recently deceased, wild, adult male lowland Leadbeater's possum was collected from a nest box and a comprehensive post mortem examination was conducted. Microfilariae of a filarioid nematode were observed in testes, liver, lung and skin samples in tissue impression smears and upon histopathological examination. No gross or histological changes were seen associated with the parasites, except for a focal area of tissue damage in the skin, suggesting that the possum is a natural host. Using a PCR-coupled sequencing method the filarioid was identified as a species of Breinlia. Species of Breinlia occur in other Australian marsupials and rodents.

The phylum Nematoda is biologically diverse, including parasites of plants and animals as well as free-living taxa. Underpinning this diversity will be commensurate diversity in expressed genes, including gene sets associated specifically with evolution of parasitism.

Anisakis simplex is the only fishery-product associated parasite causing clinical allergic responses in humans so far. However, other anisakids, due to the presence of shared or own allergens, could also lead to allergic reactions after sensitization. The aim of this study was to determine if Pseudoterranova decipiens belonging to the family Anisakidae has allergenic activity and is able to induce sensitization after oral administration in a murine (BALB/c mice) model.

The genus Marshallagia (Family Haemonchidae, subfamily Ostertagiinae) contains multiple species of nematodes parasitising the abomasum (or duodenum) of ruminants, in particular of Caprinae. Male specimens have been described to be polymorphic with the frequent/major morphotype initially described in the genus Marshallagia while the minor/rare morphotype was initially often placed in the genus Grossospicularia. Due to common morphological features, certain pairs of morphotypes were suggested to belong to the same species such as Marshallagia marshalli/M. occidentalis. However, molecular evidence to confirm these pairs of morphotypes belonging to the same species is missing.

During a survey of intertidal zones at beaches on Jeju Island, two species belonging to the family Thoracostomopsidae were discovered. One new species, Enoploides koreanus sp. nov. and one known species, Epacanthion hirsutum Shi & Xu, 2016 are reported. Along with morphological analysis, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (mtCOI) sequences and 18S rRNA sequences of the species were also obtained and used to check relative p-distance and phylogenetic positions. While most species of Enoploides have long spicules, the new species belongs to a group of Enoploides with short spicules < 150 µm). Of the seven species with short spicules, the new species is most closely related to E. disparilis Sergeeva, 1974. They both have similar body length, fairly similar sized and shaped spicules with small gubernaculum running parallel to distal end of spicule, and an index value of b. The new species can be distinguished from E. disparilis by having pre-anal supplementary organ with short conical tail, while E. disparilis lacks pre-anal supplementary organ and has a long conico-cylindrical tail. Along with the description of the new species, the genus Enoploides Ssaweljev, 1912 is bibliographically reviewed and revised. Of 45 species described to date, 27 are now considered valid, 16 species inquirendae due to inadequate descriptions and ambiguity of the material examined, along with two cases of nomen nudum. With this review, we provide an updated diagnosis and list of valid species, a tabular key comparing diagnostic characters of all valid species, and a new complete key to species. One known species, Epacanthion hirsutum Shi & Xu, 2016, is reported in Korea for the first time. The morphology agrees well with the original description provided by Shi & Xu, 2016. As they had already reviewed the genus at the time of reporting four Epacanthion species, we provide only a description, depiction, and measurements for comparison purposes.