GENETIC-POLYMORPHISM IN PROTEOCEPHALUS-EXIGUUS SHOWN BY ENZYME ELECTROPHORESIS

Enzyme electrophoresis has been used to examine genetic diversity in a population of Proteocephalus exiguus La Rue, 1911 (Cestoda: Proteocep halidae), parasitizing salmonid and coregonid fishes. Among 16 loci te sted, three polymorphic loci (Ada, Got, Pgm-2) were found. Six differe nt genotypes at the Got locus distributed in Hardy-Weinberg equilibriu m suggest remarkable genetic flexibility of P. exiguus. Balancing sele ction is proposed as the mechanism maintaining genetic variation withi n the species. Data of genetic variability parameters (H-o = 0.064; H- e = 0.07; P = 0.19) and outcrossing rate (t = 0.842) of P. exiguus pop ulation have been provided. Possible factors affecting these data are discussed.