Molecular description of Argulus foliaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) based on DNA sequences

In this study, 712-721 bp partially distinctive nucleotide sequences belonging to the 28S rRNA gene locus from 4 Argulus foliaceus samples were identified as identical and registered in GenBank (OM721927-30). No nucleotide variation was observed in the OM721927 and OM721928 isolates in the study. However, 0.2% variation was recorded in isolate OM721929 and 0.4% in isolate OM721930. Nucleotide values in 28S rRNA loci sequences of the Argulus foliaceus samples were defined: 20.9% T (U), 25.1% A, 29.3% G, 24.3% C. According to the 28S rRNA sequence dataset distance matrix obtained by the maximum similarity (ML) method, there was a complete agreement (0%) between the Argulus foliaceus isolates identified in this study (OM721927-30) and the Argulus foliaceus isolate registered in the GenBank (EU370442). These Argulus foliaceus isolates were collected in the same cluster in the UPGMA phylogram analysis. As a result, 28S rRNA gene sequences were defined for the first time in this study on 4 samples belonging to Argulus foliaceus species in Anatolia, and it contributed to the studies of determining the genetic characteristics of this species on a local and global scale. In addition, the 28S rRNA gene sequence results confirmed the taxonomic position of Argulus foliaceus, which was defined according to its anatomical and morphological features.