Can DNA barcoding be employed to determine the order of an unidentified haematophagous parasite?

Question

Given: a specimen of an unidentified, highly adapted, haematophagous parasite, perhaps a species nova, contaminated with mammal blood and tissue.

DNA barcoding is readily used to identify cryptic species complexes and superspecies, in diet analysis and for food safety.

However, can DNA barcoding also be employed in a broader sense, up the taxonomic ladder, simply to identify the insect order of a parasitic specimen contaminated with mammal host material?

Answer 1

Yes--this is possible and has been done, e.g.:

• DNA barcoding identifies Eimeria species and contributes to the phylogenetics of coccidian parasites (Eimeriorina, Apicomplexa, Alveolata) (doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2011.03.007)
• Developing an Apicomplexan DNA Barcoding System to Detect Blood Parasites of Small Coral Reef Fishes (doi: 10.1645/16-93)
• DNA barcoding and molecular identification of field-collected Culicoides larvae in the Niayes area of Senegal (doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3176-y)

There's also a review on the subject:

• DNA barcoding of parasites and invertebrate disease vectors: what you don't know can hurt you (doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2003.09.015)