Molecular and morphological characterization of Pristionchus pacificus (Nematoda: Rhabditida: Neodiplogastridae), a new record of an entomophilic nematode from Iran

Abstract

During a survey of entomopathogenic nematodes from the Mashhad region, in northeastern Iran, an entomophilic<br><br>nematode was isolated using the Galleria trap method. Morphological characterization showed that this isolate belongs to<br><br>the family Neodiplogastridae. Detailed morphological and morphometric characterization including SEM data fit with<br><br>Pristionchus pacificus Sommer, Carta, Kim et Sternberg, 1996, representing the first record of this genus and species from<br><br>Iran. Iranian specimens of P. pacificus FUM 5 are characterized by the body length (0.69–0.83 mm), the stoma (6–10 μm)<br><br>bearing a dorsal tooth and a conical elongated tail (146–220 μm). Molecular analyses using 18S and ITS rDNA genes further<br><br>support this identification. Measurements, illustrations, and SEM photographs of the Iranian isolate are provided and the<br><br>phylogenetic position of the species is discussed.