Pholeter gastrophilus (Trematoda: Heterophyidae), a parasite of dolphins from Brazilian waters.

This is the first confirmed report of Pholeter gastrophilus infecting three delphinid species from Brazilian waters, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, and Feresa attenuata. The worms were identified based on morphological and molecular data using the 28S rDNA and COI mtDNA genes. The present study increases the distribution area of this trematode species and provides new molecular data to be used in future phylogenetic studies of the group, thus contributing to scientific knowledge on marine parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]