Work

Leech mitochondrial genomes: phylogeny, evolutionary implication, and medicinal species identification via DNA barcoding

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Despite their ecological and medicinal importance, comprehensive studies on leech mitochondrial genome evolution remain scarce. This study provides novel insights into the evolutionary dynamics of leech mitogenomes through comprehensive sequencing and comparative genomic analyses. We present mitochondrial genomes of 11 Chinese leech species (including Barbronia weberi, Dinobdella ferox, Mooreobdella quaternaria, and Batracobdella cancricola for the first time), significantly expanding the mitogenomic resources for Hirudinea. High-throughput sequencing and systematic annotation revealed seven distinct gene rearrangement patterns, which did not fully correspond to the established leech phylogeny, suggesting potential evolutionary constraints or adaptive significance. The mitochondrial heavy strand (H-strand) coding phenomenon was found in all those species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed clear relationships among the three orders, resulting in a topology of ([Rhynchobdellida + Arhynchobdellida] + Acanthobdellida). Haemadipsidae, Glossiphoniidae, and Piscicolidae were found to be monophyletic. Notably, we present a fully resolved and robustly supported phylogenetic tree for Rhynchobdellida, significantly consolidating the current consensus on its internal relationships. Furthermore, species identification using cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) sequences, based on a total of 190 sequences (including 60 newly obtained in this study across 19 regions in China), demonstrated its potential discriminating power in authenticating medicinal leech resources. This work not only enriches the mitogenome resources for studying leech evolution but also offers practical tools for biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal leeches.

Source: Journal of Zoological Systematics & Evolutionary Research

DOI: 10.48130/jzser-0026-0006