BACKGROUND: Fascioloides magna (Trematoda: Fasciolidae) is an important liver parasite of a wide range of free-living and domestic ruminants; it represents a remarkable species due to its large spatial distribution, invasive character, and potential to colonize new territories. The present study provides patterns of population genetic structure and admixture in F. magna across all enzootic regions in North America and natural foci in Europe, and infers migratory routes of the parasite on both continents. METHODS: In total, 432 individuals from five North American enzootic regions and three European foci were analysed by 11 microsatellite loci. Genetic data were evaluated by several statistical approaches: (i) the population genetic structure of F. magna was inferred using program STRUCTURE; (ii) the genetic interrelationships between populations were analysed by PRINCIPAL COORDINATES ANALYSIS; and (iii) historical dispersal routes in North America and recent invasion routes in Europe were explored using MIGRATE. RESULTS: The analysis of dispersal routes of the parasite in North America revealed west-east and south-north lineages that partially overlapped in the central part of the continent, where different host populations historically met. The exact origin of European populations of F. magna and their potential translocation routes were determined. Flukes from the first European focus, Italy, were related to F. magna from northern Pacific coast, while parasites from the Czech focus originated from south-eastern USA, particularly South Carolina. The Danube floodplain forests (third and still expanding focus) did not display relationship with any North American population; instead the Czech origin of the Danube population was indicated. A serial dilution of genetic diversity along the dispersion route across central and eastern Europe was observed. The results of microsatellite analyses were compared to previously acquired outputs from mitochondrial haplotype data and correlated with past human-directed translocations and natural migration of the final cervid hosts of F. magna. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed a complex picture of the population genetic structure and interrelationships of North American and European populations, global distribution and migratory routes of F. magna and an origin of European foci.

Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division and Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta 6909 116 St Edmonton AB T6H 4P2 Canada

Biology Centre CAS Institute of Parasitology and Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branišovská 31 370 05 České Budějovice Czech Republic

Department of Molecular Biology Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University in Bratislava Ilkovičova 6 Mlynská dolina 842 15 Bratislava Slovakia Institute of Molecular Biomedicine Faculty of Medicine Comenius University Sasinkova 4 811 08 Bratislava Slovakia Geneton Ltd Ilkovičova 3 841 04 Bratislava Slovakia

Department of Zoology Faculty of Natural Sciences Comenius University in Bratislava Ilkovičova 6 Mlynská dolina 842 15 Bratislava Slovakia

Institute of Molecular Biomedicine Faculty of Medicine Comenius University Sasinkova 4 811 08 Bratislava Slovakia

Institute of Parasitology Slovak Academy of Sciences Hlinkova 3 040 01 Košice Slovakia

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