scholarly journals Pan-American Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) perronei sp. n. in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and its deer ked Lipoptena mazamae: morphological, developmental and phylogeographical characterisation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herakles Antonio Garcia ◽  
Pilar A. Blanco ◽  
Adriana C. Rodrigues ◽  
Carla M. F. Rodrigues ◽  
Carmen S. A. Takata ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The subgenus Megatrypanum comprises trypanosomes of cervids and bovids from around the world. Here, Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer = WTD) and its ectoparasite, the deer ked Lipoptena mazamae (hippoboscid fly), were surveyed for trypanosomes in Venezuela. Results Haemoculturing unveiled 20% infected WTD, while 47% (7/15) of blood samples and 38% (11/29) of ked guts tested positive for the Megatrypanum- specific TthCATL-PCR. CATL and SSU rRNA sequences uncovered a single species of trypanosome. Phylogeny based on SSU rRNA and gGAPDH sequences tightly cluster WTD trypanosomes from Venezuela and the USA, which were strongly supported as geographical variants of the herein described Trypanosoma ( Megatrypanum ) perronei sp. n. In our analyses, T. perronei was closest to T . sp. D30 of fallow deer (Germany), both nested into TthII alongside other trypanosomes of cervids (North American elks and European fallow, red and sika deer), and bovids (cattle, antelopes and sheep). Insights into T. perronei life cycle were obtained from early haemocultures of deer blood and co-culture with mammalian and insect cells showing flagellates resembling Megatrypanum trypanosomes previously reported in deer blood, and deer ked guts. For the first time, a trypanosome from a cervid was cultured and phylogenetically and morphologically (light and electron microscopy) characterised. Conclusions In the analyses based on SSU rRNA, gGAPDH, CATL and ITS rDNA sequences, neither cervids nor bovids trypanosomes were monophyletic but intertwined within TthI and TthII major phylogenetic lineages. One host species can harbour more than one species/genotype of trypanosomes, but each trypanosome species/genotype was found in a single host species or in phylogenetically related hosts. Molecular evidence that L. mazamae may transmit T. perronei suggests important evolutionary constraints making tight the tripartite T. perronei –WTD–deer ked association. In a plausible evolutionary scenario, T. perronei entered South America with North American WTD at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary following the closure of the Panama Isthmus.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herakles Antonio Garcia ◽  
Alexander P. Blanco ◽  
Adriana C. Rodrigues ◽  
Carla M. Rodrigues ◽  
Carmen S. A. Takata ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The subgenus Megatrypanum comprises trypanosomes of cervids and bovids from around the world. Here, Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer = WTD) and its ectoparasite, the deer ked Lipoptena mazamae (hippoboscid fly), were surveyed for trypanosomes in Venezuela. Results: Haemoculturing unveiled 20% infected WTD, while 47% (7/15) of blood samples and 38% (11/29) of ked guts tested positive for the Megatrypanum-specific TthCATL-PCR. CATL and SSU rRNA sequences uncovered a single species of trypanosome. Phylogeny based on SSU rRNA and gGAPDH sequences tightly cluster WTD trypanosomes from Venezuela and the USA, which were strongly supported as geographical variants of the herein described Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) perronei sp. n. In our analyses, T. perronei was closest to T. sp. D30 of fallow deer (Germany), both nested into TthII alongside other trypanosomes of cervids (North American elks and European fallow, red and sika deer), and bovids (cattle, antelopes and sheep). Insights into T. perronei life cycle were obtained from early haemocultures of deer blood and co-culture with mammalian and insect cells showing flagellates resembling Megatrypanum trypanosomes previously reported in deer blood, and deer ked guts. For the first time, a trypanosome from a cervid was cultured and phylogenetically and morphologically (light and electron microscopy) characterised. Conclusions: In the analyses based on SSU rRNA, gGAPDH, CATL and ITS rDNA sequences, neither cervids nor bovids trypanosomes were monophyletic but intertwined within TthI and TthII major phylogenetic lineages. One host species can harbour more than one species/genotype of trypanosomes, but each trypanosome species/genotype was found in a single host species or in phylogenetically related hosts. Molecular evidence that L. mazamae may transmit T. perronei suggests important evolutionary constraints making tight the tripartite T. perronei–WTD–deer ked association. In a plausible evolutionary scenario, T. perronei entered South America with North American WTD at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary following the closure of the Panama Isthmus.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2794
Author(s):  
Annalisa Andreani ◽  
Laura Stancampiano ◽  
Antonio Belcari ◽  
Patrizia Sacchetti ◽  
Riccardo Bozzi ◽  
...  

Lipoptena fortisetosa and L. cervi are hematophagous ectoparasites belonging to the Hippoboscidae family and preferentially living on cervids. In recent years, they have received specific attention due to the great increase in the abundance of their host species, and to their medical and veterinary importance as possible vectors of pathogens harmful to humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the parasitism level of both of these flies on their main hosts in Italy, which are red deer, fallow deer, and roe deer, and to highlight a possible preference for a species, sex, or age class among the hosts. Deer keds were collected by examining 326 cervids hunted in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines. Outcomes showed that L. fortisetosa has greatly spread throughout the study area, where it competes with the autochthonous L. cervi. Moreover, red deer was the favored host species of both ectoparasites, while different preferences for host sex and age classes were observed in the two hippoboscids. The regular monitoring of deer ked populations, especially the allochthonous L. fortisetosa, which is continuously spreading in Europe, is recommended to expand the knowledge on these parasitic species that are potentially dangerous to public health.


Zootaxa ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4394 (1) ◽  
pp. 105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. WEBB ◽  
LUKE M. JACOBUS ◽  
S.P. SULLIVAN

The North American species of Baetis Leach (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) are reviewed. Nearly one-third of species are either unknown or inadequately described in the larval stage, a fact not reflected in most keys or standard taxonomic efforts for bioassessment, which typically recommend species-level identifications of larvae. Furthermore, our new observations indicate that some previously published stage associations should be viewed as only tentative, and molecular evidence suggests that current species taxonomy does not reflect biological species. In order to acknowledge these deficiencies, but at the same time provide a degree of higher taxonomic resolution beyond the genus level, we recommend a scheme for identifications incorporating previously established species groups and the species complexes and species included within them. Species complexes are proposed for instances when there are either multiple species that cannot be differentiated in the larval stage or when multiple lines of evidence indicate more than one actual species is included in a single species concept. Complexes include B. flavistriga complex (B. flavistriga McDunnough + B. phoebus McDunnough + B. rusticans McDunnough), B. intercalaris complex (B. intercalaris McDunnough), B. vernus complex (B. brunneicolor McDunnough + B. vernus Curtis), B. bicaudatus complex (B. bicaudatus Dodds), B. tricaudatus complex (B. tricaudatus Dodds), and B. piscatoris complex (B. piscatoris Traver + B. palisadi Mayo + B. persecutus McDunnough [=B. persecutor McCafferty n. obj. syn]). A new larval identification key incorporating the B. piscatoris complex is provided. 


Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 433
Author(s):  
Anastasia Borodina ◽  
Alexander Mylnikov ◽  
Jan Janouškovec ◽  
Patrick Keeling ◽  
Denis Tikhonenkov

Heterolobose amoebae are important members of marine, freshwater, and soil microbial communities, but their diversity remains under-explored. We studied the diversity of Vahlkampfiidae to improve our understanding of heterolobosean relationships and their representation in aquatic benthos. Using light and electron microscopy, and molecular phylogenies based on the SSU rRNA and ITS loci, we describe the fine morphology and evolutionary relationships of a new heterolobosean Parafumarolamoeba stagnalis n. sp. from a small pond in European Russia. Cells of P. stagnalis possess a clearly distinguishable anterior hyaline pseudopodium, eruptive movement, several thin and sometimes branched uroidal filaments, spherical cysts without pores and plugs, and mitochondria that have discoid cristae and are surrounded by cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. The genus Parafumarolamoeba has so far included a single species, Parafumarolamoeba alta from high-altitude soil in Tibet, which is morphologically distinct from P. stagnalis. Taxonomic description for a new Parafumarolamoeba species is therefore provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1656
Author(s):  
Simona Gabrielli ◽  
Marialetizia Palomba ◽  
Federica Furzi ◽  
Emanuele Brianti ◽  
Gabriella Gaglio ◽  
...  

Blastocystis is a common intestinal protist distributed worldwide, infecting humans and a wide range of domestic and wild animals. It exhibits an extensive genetic diversity and, so far, 25 distinct small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) lineages termed subtypes (STs)) have been characterized; among them, 12 have thus far been reported in humans. The aims of the present study were to detect and genetically characterize Blastocystis sp. in synantropic animals to improve our current knowledge on the distribution and zoonotic transmission of Blastocystis STs in Italy. Samples were collected from N = 193 farmed animals and submitted to DNA extraction and PCR amplification of the SSU rRNA. Blastocystis was detected in 60 samples (31.08%) and successfully subtyped. Phylogenetic analysis evidenced that the isolates from fallow deer, goats, and pigs (N = 9) clustered within the ST5; those from pheasants (N = 2) in the ST6; those from chickens (N = 8) in the ST7; those from sheep (N = 6) in the ST10; and those from water buffaloes (N = 9) in the ST14 clade. The comparison between the present isolates from animals and those previously detected in humans in Italy suggested the animal-to-human spillover for ST6 and ST7. The present study represents the widest Blastocystis survey performed thus far in farmed animals in Italy. Further epidemiological studies using molecular approaches are required to determine the occurrence and distribution of Blastocystis STs in other potential animal reservoirs in Italy and to define the pathways of zoonotic transmission.


PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e2930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Temir A. Britayev ◽  
Elena Mekhova ◽  
Yury Deart ◽  
Daniel Martin

To assess whether closely related host species harbour similar symbiotic communities, we studied two polychaetes,Chaetopterussp. (n = 11) andChaetopteruscf.appendiculatus(n = 83) living in soft sediments of Nhatrang Bay (South China Sea, Vietnam). The former harboured the porcellanid crabsPolyonyxcf.heokandPolyonyxsp., the pinnotherid crabTetriassp. and the tergipedid nudibranchPhestillasp. The latter harboured the polynoid polychaeteOphthalmonoe pettiboneae, the carapid fishOnuxodon fowleriand the porcellanid crabEulenaios cometes, all of which, exceptO. fowleri, seemed to be specialized symbionts. The species richness and mean intensity of the symbionts were higher inChaetopterussp. than inC.cf.appendiculatus(1.8 and 1.02 species and 3.0 and 1.05 individuals per host respectively). We suggest that the lower density ofChaetopterussp. may explain the higher number of associated symbionts observed, as well as the 100% prevalence (69.5% inC.cf.appenciculatus). MostChaetopterussp. harboured two symbiotic species, which was extremely rare inC.cf.appendiculatus, suggesting lower interspecific interactions in the former. The crab and nudibranch symbionts ofChaetopterussp. often shared a host and lived in pairs, thus partitioning resources. This led to the species coexisting in the tubes ofChaetopterussp., establishing a tightly packed community, indicating high species richness and mean intensity, together with a low species dominance. In contrast, the aggressive, strictly territorial species associated withC.cf.appendiculatusestablished a symbiotic community strongly dominated by single species and, thus, low species richness and mean intensity. Therefore, we suggest that interspecific interactions are determining species richness, intensity and dominance, while intraspecific interactions are influencing only intensity and abundance. It is possible that species composition may have influenced the differences in community structure observed. We hypothesize that both host species could originally be allopatric. The evolutionary specialization of the symbiotic communities would occur in separated geographical areas, while the posterior disappearance of the existing geographical barriers would lead to the overlapped distribution.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Doña ◽  
Carolina Osuna-Mascaró ◽  
Kevin P. Johnson ◽  
David Serrano ◽  
Raül Aymí ◽  
...  

AbstractSome symbiont species are highly host-specific, inhabiting only one or a very few host species, and typically have limited dispersal abilities. When they do occur on multiple host species, populations of such symbionts are expected to become genetically structured across these different host species, and this may eventually lead to new symbiont species over evolutionary timescales. However, a low number of dispersal events of symbionts between host species across time might be enough to prevent population structure and species divergence. Overall, processes of evolutionary divergence and the species status of most putative multi-host symbiont systems are yet to be investigated. Here, we used DNA metabarcoding data of 6,023 feather mites (a total of 2,225 OTU representative sequences) from 147 infracommunities (i.e., the assemblage consisting of all mites of different species collected from the same bird host individual) to investigate patterns of population genetic structure and species status of three different putative multi-host feather mite species Proctophyllodes macedo Vitzthum, 1922, Proctophyllodes motacillae Gaud, 1953, and Trouessartia jedliczkai (Zimmerman, 1894), each of which inhabits a variable number of different closely related wagtail host species (genus Motacilla). We show that mite populations from different host species represent a single species. This pattern was found in all the mite species, suggesting that each of these species is a multi-host species in which dispersal of mites among host species prevents species divergence. Also, we found evidence of limited evolutionary divergence manifested by a low but significant level of population genetic structure among symbiont populations inhabiting different host species. Our study agrees with previous studies showing a higher than expected colonization opportunities in host-specific symbionts. Indeed, our results support that these dispersal events would allow the persistence of multi-host species even in symbionts with limited dispersal capabilities, though additional factors such as the geographical structure of some bird populations may also play a role.


Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Y. Beliavskaia ◽  
Alexander V. Predeus ◽  
Sofya K. Garushyants ◽  
Maria D. Logacheva ◽  
Jun Gong ◽  
...  

Holospora-like bacteria (HLB) are obligate intracellular Alphaproteobacteria, inhabiting nuclei of Paramecium and other ciliates such as “Candidatus Hafkinia” is in Frontonia. The HLB clade is comprised of four genera, Holospora, Preeria, “Candidatus Gortzia”, and “Candidatus Hafkinia”. These bacteria have a peculiar life cycle with two morphological forms and some degree of specificity to the host species and the type of nucleus they inhabit. Here we describe a novel species of HLB—“Candidatus Gortzia yakutica” sp. nov.—a symbiont from the macronucleus of Paramecium putrinum, the first described HLB for this Paramecium species. The new endosymbiont shows morphological similarities with other HLB. The phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene places it into the “Candidatus Gortzia” clade.


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