Phylogenetic analyses reveal that Schellackia parasites (Apicomplexa) detected in American lizards are closely related to the genus Lankesterella: is the range of Schellackia restricted to the Old World?

BACKGROUND: Species of Schellackia Reichenow, 1919 have been described from the blood of reptiles distributed worldwide. Recently, Schellackia spp. detected in European and Asian lizards have been molecularly characterised. However, parasites detected in American lizard hosts remain uncharacterised. Thus, phylogenetic affinities between the Old and New World parasite species are unknown. METHODS: In the present study, we characterised morphologically and molecularly the hemococcidian parasites (sporozoites) that infect three lizard hosts from North America and two from South America. RESULTS: In total, we generated 12 new 18S rRNA gene sequences of hemococcidian parasites infecting New World lizard hosts. By the microscopic examination of the smears we identified Schellackia golvani Rogier & Landau, 1975 (ex Anolis carolinensis Voigt) and Schellackia occidentalis Bonorris & Ball, 1955 (ex Uta stansburiana Baird & Girard and Sceloporus occidentalis Baird & Girard) in some samples, but the phylogenetic analysis indicated that all 18S rDNA sequences are distant from Schellackia species found in Old World lizards. In fact, the hemococcidian parasites detected in the New World lizards (including S. occidentalis and S. golvani) were closely related to the genus Lankesterella Labbé, 1899. Consequently, we suggest these two species to be included within the genus Lankesterella. CONCLUSIONS: Life history traits of hemococcidian parasites such as the type of host blood cells infected, host species or number of refractile bodies are not valid diagnostic characteristics to differentiate the parasites between the genera Schellackia and Lankesterella. Indeed, lankesterellid parasites with a different number of refractile bodies had a close phylogenetic origin. Based on the phylogenetic results we provide a systematic revision of the North American hemococcidians. Our recommendation is to include the species formerly described in the genus Schellackia that infect American lizards into Lankesterella (Lankesterellidae) as Lankesterella golvani (Rogier & Landau, 1975) n. comb and L. occidentalis (Bonorris & Ball, 1955) n. comb.

Occurrence of hemogregarine in two species of Brazilian freshwater turtles / Ocorrência de hemogregarina em duas espécies de cágados brasileiros

Background: Hemogregarines are the most common intraerythrocytic parasites found in reptiles. The genus Haemogregarina has aquatic vertebrates as intermediate hosts, and as definitive hosts the leeches. The genus Hepatozoon can be found parasitizing amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and its main vectors invertebrates are mosquitoes, tsetse flies, lice, fleas and mites. The diagnosis of these parasites is done by the technique of blood smear, but modern diagnoses include evaluation of blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim this study was to determine the occurrence of infection by hemogregarine in freshwater turtles, through PCR. Materials, Methods & Results: Samples from 99 freshwater turtles of species P. expansa and P. geoffroanus of Fundação Zoológico de Brasília,Distrito Federal, Brazil, were used. The animals was captured using a hand net, and were immediately individually identified. The blood samples was collected by puncture of the occipital sinus, and placed into tubes containing sodium heparin anticoagulant for hematologic and molecular analysis. Two different sets of oligonucleotides were used, one to detect hemogregarines and other to detect Hepatozoon sp. infection. The presence of hemogregarine was detected in 20 samples analyzed (n = 99), these eleven samples were positive for hemogregarine, 5 were Hepatozoon sp. and 4 were positive for both [...]

Occurrence of hemogregarine in two species of Brazilian freshwater turtles / Ocorrência de hemogregarina em duas espécies de cágados brasileiros

Background: Hemogregarines are the most common intraerythrocytic parasites found in reptiles. The genus Haemogregarina has aquatic vertebrates as intermediate hosts, and as definitive hosts the leeches. The genus Hepatozoon can be found parasitizing amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals and its main vectors invertebrates are mosquitoes, tsetse flies, lice, fleas and mites. The diagnosis of these parasites is done by the technique of blood smear, but modern diagnoses include evaluation of blood by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The aim this study was to determine the occurrence of infection by hemogregarine in freshwater turtles, through PCR. Materials, Methods & Results: Samples from 99 freshwater turtles of species P. expansa and P. geoffroanus of Fundação Zoológico de Brasília,Distrito Federal, Brazil, were used. The animals was captured using a hand net, and were immediately individually identified. The blood samples was collected by puncture of the occipital sinus, and placed into tubes containing sodium heparin anticoagulant for hematologic and molecular analysis. Two different sets of oligonucleotides were used, one to detect hemogregarines and other to detect Hepatozoon sp. infection. The presence of hemogregarine was detected in 20 samples analyzed (n = 99), these eleven samples were positive for hemogregarine, 5 were Hepatozoon sp. and 4 were positive for both [...](AU)

Primeiro relato de Hepatozoon spp. em jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) em Mato Grosso do Sul / First report Hepatozoon spp. in ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Mato Grosso do Sul

A hepatozoonose é uma doença transmitida por carrapatos, causada pelo protozoário Hepatozoonspp. que acomete uma grande variedade de animais. No Brasil, existem poucos relatos da doença em jaguatiricas(Leopardus pardalis) assim como dados sobre sua epidemiologia, patogenicidade, vetores e caracterizaçãogenética. Este trabalho tem por objetivo a ocorrência de Hepatozoon spp em uma jaguatirica de vida livreatendida em um Hospital Veterinário Escola, em Mato Grosso do Sul. No hemograma, durante a pesquisa dehemoparasitas, foi observado gametócito de Hepatozoon spp. em neutrófilo e monócito. Na análise hematológicaconstatou-se anemia microcítica normocrômica e leucocitose com neutrofilia, monocitose e linfopenia

The hepatozoonosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan Hepatozoon spp. affecting awide range of animals. In Brazil, there are few reports of the disease in ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) as well asdata on its epidemiology, pathogenicity, vectors and genetic characterization. This work aims the occurrence ofHepatozoon spp in a free ocelot life treated at a Veterinary School Hospital in Mato Grosso do Sul. In the CBC,when searching for hemoparasites was observed gametocyte of Hepatozoon spp. on neutrophils and monocytes.In hematological analysis it was found microcytic normochromic anemia and leukocytosis with neutrophilia,monocytosis and lymphopenia

Primeiro relato de Hepatozoon spp. em jaguatirica (Leopardus pardalis) em Mato Grosso do Sul / First report Hepatozoon spp. in ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) in Mato Grosso do Sul

A hepatozoonose é uma doença transmitida por carrapatos, causada pelo protozoário Hepatozoonspp. que acomete uma grande variedade de animais. No Brasil, existem poucos relatos da doença em jaguatiricas(Leopardus pardalis) assim como dados sobre sua epidemiologia, patogenicidade, vetores e caracterizaçãogenética. Este trabalho tem por objetivo a ocorrência de Hepatozoon spp em uma jaguatirica de vida livreatendida em um Hospital Veterinário Escola, em Mato Grosso do Sul. No hemograma, durante a pesquisa dehemoparasitas, foi observado gametócito de Hepatozoon spp. em neutrófilo e monócito. Na análise hematológicaconstatou-se anemia microcítica normocrômica e leucocitose com neutrofilia, monocitose e linfopenia(AU)

The hepatozoonosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan Hepatozoon spp. affecting awide range of animals. In Brazil, there are few reports of the disease in ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) as well asdata on its epidemiology, pathogenicity, vectors and genetic characterization. This work aims the occurrence ofHepatozoon spp in a free ocelot life treated at a Veterinary School Hospital in Mato Grosso do Sul. In the CBC,when searching for hemoparasites was observed gametocyte of Hepatozoon spp. on neutrophils and monocytes.In hematological analysis it was found microcytic normochromic anemia and leukocytosis with neutrophilia,monocytosis and lymphopenia(AU)