Cryptosporidium sciurinum n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) in Eurasian Red Squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)

Cryptosporidium spp. are common protozoan pathogens in mammals. The diversity and biology of Cryptosporidium in tree squirrels are not well studied. A total of 258 Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from 25 and 15 locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, respectively, were examined for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and specific DNA at the SSU, actin, HSP70, TRAP-C1, COWP, and gp60 loci. Out of 26 positive animals, only juveniles (9/12) were microscopically positive (18,000 to 72,000 OPG), and molecular analyses revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype in all specimens. Oocysts obtained from naturally-infected squirrels measured 5.54–5.22 μm and were not infectious for laboratory mice (BALB/c and SCID), Mongolian gerbils, Guinea pigs, Southern multimammate mice, chickens, or budgerigars. None of naturally infected squirrels showed clinical signs of disease. The frequency of occurrence of the ferret genotype in squirrels did not vary statistically based on host age, gender or country of capture. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences from six loci revealed that Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype is genetically distinct from the currently accepted Cryptosporidium species. Morphological and biological data from this and previous studies support the establishment of Cryptosporidium sp. ferret genotype as a new species, Cryptosporidium sciurinum n. sp.

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Cryptosporidium myocastoris n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae), the Species Adapted to the Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040813 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 813

Author(s):

Jana Ježková ◽

Zlata Limpouchová ◽

Jitka Prediger ◽

Nikola Holubová ◽

Bohumil Sak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Prepatent Period ◽

Cryptosporidium Species ◽

The Novel ◽

Myocastor Coypus ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Molecular Analyses ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp ◽

Faecal Samples

Cryptosporidium spp., common parasites of vertebrates, remain poorly studied in wildlife. This study describes the novel Cryptosporidium species adapted to nutrias (Myocastor coypus). A total of 150 faecal samples of feral nutria were collected from locations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and examined for Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts and specific DNA at the SSU, actin, HSP70, and gp60 loci. Molecular analyses revealed the presence of C. parvum (n = 1), C. ubiquitum subtype family XIId (n = 5) and Cryptosporidium myocastoris n. sp. XXIIa (n = 2), and XXIIb (n = 3). Only nutrias positive for C. myocastoris shed microscopically detectable oocysts, which measured 4.8–5.2 × 4.7–5.0 µm, and oocysts were infectious for experimentally infected nutrias with a prepatent period of 5–6 days, although not for mice, gerbils, or chickens. The infection was localised in jejunum and ileum without observable macroscopic changes. The microvilli adjacent to attached stages responded by elongating. Clinical signs were not observed in naturally or experimentally infected nutrias. Phylogenetic analyses at SSU, actin, and HSP70 loci demonstrated that C. myocastoris n. sp. is distinct from other valid Cryptosporidium species.

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Occurrence and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in pet red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in China

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-57896-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lei Deng ◽

Yijun Chai ◽

Run Luo ◽

Leli Yang ◽

Jingxin Yao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Enterocytozoon Bieneusi ◽

Sciurus Vulgaris ◽

Red Squirrels ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Cryptosporidium Spp

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Cryptosporidium ratti n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) in the Czech Republic

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182020001833 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Jana Ježková ◽

Jitka Prediger ◽

Nikola Holubová ◽

Bohumil Sak ◽

Roman Konečný ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Rattus Norvegicus ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Meriones Unguiculatus ◽

Biological Data ◽

Mongolian Gerbils ◽

Genotype I ◽

Laboratory Rats ◽

Small Subunit Rdna

Abstract The diversity and biology of Cryptosporidium that is specific for rats (Rattus spp.) are not well studied. We examined the occurrence and genetic diversity of Cryptosporidium spp. in wild brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/sequencing targeting the small subunit rDNA (SSU), actin and HSP70 genes. Out of 343 faecal samples tested, none were positive by microscopy and 55 were positive by PCR. Sequence analysis of SSU gene revealed the presence of Cryptosporidium muris (n = 4), C. andersoni (n = 3), C. ryanae (n = 1), C. occultus (n = 3), Cryptosporidium rat genotype I (n = 23), Cryptosporidium rat genotype IV (n = 16) and novel Cryptosporidium rat genotype V (n = 5). Spherical oocysts of Cryptosporidium rat genotype I obtained from naturally-infected rats, measuring 4.4–5.4 μm × 4.3–5.1 μm, were infectious to the laboratory rats, but not to the BALB/c mice (Mus musculus) nor Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The prepatent period was 3 days post infection and the patent period was longer than 30 days. Naturally- and experimentally-infected rats showed no clinical signs of disease. Percentage of nucleotide similarities at the SSU, actin, HSP70 loci between C. ratti n. sp. and the rat derived C. occultus and Cryptosporidium rat genotype II, III, IV, and V ranged from 91.0 to 98.1%. These genetic variations were similar or greater than that observed between closely related species, i.e. C. parvum and C. erinacei (93.2–99.5%). Our morphological, genetic and biological data support the establishment of Cryptosporidium rat genotype I as a new species, Cryptosporidium ratti n. sp.

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Trichoderma fassatiae, a new species from the section Pachybasium isolated from soil in the Czech Republic.

Czech Mycology ◽

10.33585/cmy.67205 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 227-231

Author(s):

Alena Nováková ◽

Alena Kubátová ◽

Šárka Valinová ◽

Vít Hubka ◽

Miroslav Kolařík

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

New Species ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

A New Species

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Sistotrema dennisii (Basidiomycetes, Sistotremataceae) - a new species for the Czech Republic.

Czech Mycology ◽

10.33585/cmy.60108 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 60 (1) ◽

pp. 105-111

Author(s):

Jiří Kout

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

New Species ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

A New Species

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Hepatozoon in Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris, its taxonomic identity, and phylogenetic placement

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-021-07229-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

David Modrý ◽

Lada Hofmannová ◽

Petr Papežík ◽

Karolina Majerová ◽

Jan Votýpka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sciurus Vulgaris ◽

Red Squirrels ◽

Phylogenetic Placement

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Trichuris spp. in Animals, with Specific Reference to Neo-Tropical Rodents

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci8020015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Kegan Romelle Jones

Keyword(s):

Guinea Pig ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Meat Production ◽

Specific Reference ◽

Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris ◽

Present Information ◽

Low Prevalence ◽

A New Species

Trichuriasis is the clinical disease of animals infected with the parasite of the genus Trichuris. This review attempts to present information on Trichuris spp. infestation in neo-tropical rodents that are utilized for meat consumption by humans. Neo-tropical rodents utilized for meat production can be divided into two categories: those that have been domesticated, which include the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus), and those that are on the verge of domestication, such as the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), lappe (Cuniculus paca/Agouti paca), and agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). This document reviews the literature on the species of Trichuris that affects the rodents mentioned above, as well as the clinical signs observed. The literature obtained spans over sixty years, from 1951 to 2020. Trichuris spp. was found in these neo-tropical rodents mentioned. However, there is a dearth of information on the species of Trichuris that parasitize these animals. The capybara was the only rodent where some molecular techniques were used to identify a new species named T. cutillasae. In most cases, Trichuris spp. was found in combination with other endoparasites, and was found at a low prevalence in the lappe and guinea pig. The presence of Trichuris spp. ranged from 4.62–53.85% in the agouti, 4.21–10.00% in the lappe, 50% in the capybaras, and 1–31% in guinea pigs. Further work must be done towards molecular identification of various Trichuris spp. present in these rodents, as well as the clinical effect of infection on the performance of agouti, lappe, capybara, and guinea pigs.

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