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Úngari LP, Oceguera-Figueroa A, Torres-Carrera G, Netherlands EC, Santos ALQ, da Silva RJ, O Dwyer LH. Unoculubranchiobdella sp. (Hirudinea: Ozobranchidae) as a vector for Haemogregarina spp. in freshwater turtles from Brazil. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:249. [PMID: 38907803 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08271-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Species of Haemogregarina are blood parasites known to parasitise vertebrate hosts, including fishes (Haemogregarina sensu lato) and freshwater turtles (Haemogregarina sensu stricto). Their vectors, include gnathiid isopods and leeches, respectively. In turtles, Haemogregarina balli has the best-characterized life cycle in the genus. However, no studies in Brazil have suggested a possible vector for any species of Haemogregarina from freshwater turtles. Therefore, in the present study, we provide insights into a leech vector based on specimens found feeding on two species of freshwater turtles, Podocnemis unifilis and Podocnemis expansa, using morphological and molecular data. In 2017 and 2019, freshwater turtles were collected in Goiás State, Brazil. Hosts were inspected for ectoparasites and leeches were collected from two specimens of P. expansa and nine specimens of P. unifilis. Leeches were subsequently identified as members of the genus Unoculubranchiobdella. Leech histological slides revealed haemogregarine-like structures, similar to post-sporogonic merogony, found near the gills and within the posterior sucker. Molecular analysis of the haemeogregarines resulted in the identification of three species of Haemogregarina: Haemogregarina embaubali, Haemogregarina goianensis, and Haemogregarina brasiliana. Therefore, our findings, based on morphology and DNA data suggest leeches of the genus Unoculubranchiondella as vectors for at least three species of Haemogregarina from Brazilian turtles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Pereira Úngari
- Setor de Parasitologia, Departamento de Biodiversidade e Bioestatística, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP,, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.
- Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
| | - Alejandro Oceguera-Figueroa
- Laboratorio de Helmintología, Instituto de Biología, Universidade Nacional Autónoma de México -UNAM, Tercer Circuito s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de Mexico, Copilco, México
| | - Gerardo Torres-Carrera
- Laboratorio de Helmintología, Instituto de Biología, Universidade Nacional Autónoma de México -UNAM, Tercer Circuito s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de Mexico, Copilco, México
| | - Edward Charles Netherlands
- Department Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, PO Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa
| | - André Luiz Quagliatto Santos
- Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Animais Silvestres, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil
| | - Reinaldo José da Silva
- Setor de Parasitologia, Departamento de Biodiversidade e Bioestatística, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP,, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
| | - Lucia Helena O Dwyer
- Setor de Parasitologia, Departamento de Biodiversidade e Bioestatística, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista- UNESP,, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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Cavalcante MC, Chagas-de-Souza D, Coêlho TA, Viana LA, Adriano E, Corrêa LL. Hemoparasite Analysis and Hematological Parameters of Four Freshwater Turtle Species (Testudines: Podocnemididae) from the Brazilian Amazon. Acta Parasitol 2024; 69:1058-1066. [PMID: 38430293 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-024-00816-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
METHODS Sampling was performed at three sites in the Tapajós River mouth, Pará State, Brazil, and an aliquot of blood was collected from each turtle by post-occipital dorsal vein puncture. The aliquots were used for the determination of hematological parameters and for the study of hemoparasites in the blood samples. RESULTS A total of 37 turtles were sampled: 21 Podocnemis expansa, three P. sextuberculata, nine P. unifilis, and four P. erythrocephala. Parasitological analyses showed inclusions in erythrocytes compatible with Haemogregarina sp., representing an overall prevalence of parasitized animals of 64.8% with an average of 94,789 parasites/ml of blood. In this study, the evolutionary forms of Haemogregarina spp. from trophozoites, pre-meronts, meronts, and mature and immature gamonts were observed in three species of freshwater turtle species, and one morphotype of the parasite with high similarity to Haemogregarina podocnemis has been observed. CONCLUSION Despite recent research on freshwater turtles, this study provides new information on the intensity of blood parasite infection and hematological parameters of free-living animals, highlighting the need for studies on infected and uninfected animals from the same population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Costa Cavalcante
- Instituto de Ciências e Tecnologia das Águas-ICTA, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará-UFOPA, Santarém, PA, 68040‑255, Brazil
- Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá-UNIFAP, Macapá, AP, 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Darlison Chagas-de-Souza
- Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá-UNIFAP, Macapá, AP, 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Tássio Alves Coêlho
- Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá-UNIFAP, Macapá, AP, 68903-419, Brazil.
| | - Lúcio André Viana
- Laboratório de Estudos Morfofisiológicos e Parasitários, Universidade Federal do Amapá-UNIFAP, Macapá, AP, 68903-419, Brazil
| | - Edson Adriano
- Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Diadema, SP, 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Lincoln Lima Corrêa
- Instituto de Ciências e Tecnologia das Águas-ICTA, Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará-UFOPA, Santarém, PA, 68040‑255, Brazil
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Hemogregarine Diversity Infecting Brazilian Turtles with a Description of Six New Species of Haemogregarina (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae). DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Hemoparasites of the genus Haemogregarina (Haemogregarinidae) are commonly reported in freshwater turtles. However, in Brazil, only three species have currently been characterised using molecular methods. This study aimed to bring new insights on the diversity of species of Haemogregarina infecting Brazilian freshwater turtles from Mato Grosso and Goiás states using molecular and morphological tools. (2) Methods: In total, 2 mL of blood was collected, with between two to five blood smears prepared, fixed with absolute methanol, and stained with a 10% Giemsa solution. Blood was stored at −20 °C for molecular analysis targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Fragments of the organs (liver, spleen, heart, and kidney) were separated and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. (3) Results: A total of 40 turtles were screened and hemogregarines were observed in 34 (85%) individuals (3 Podocnemis expansa and 31 Podocnemis unifilis). Haemogregarina embaubali and six new species of Haemogregarina were observed and formally described as follows: H. unifila n. sp., H. rubra n. sp., H. goianensis n. sp., H. araguaiensis n. sp., H. tigrina n. sp., and H. brasiliana n. sp. (4) Conclusions: This study contributes to the diversity and knowledge of Brazilian fresh-water turtle blood parasites, using integrative approaches for diagnosing and characterizing hemoparasites, with the identification of six undescribed species.
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PREVALENCE AND PARASITE INTENSITY OF HAEMOGREGARINES IN AFRICAN BELL HINGE-BACK (KINIXYS BELLIANA) AND AFRICAN HOME'S HINGE-BACK (KINIXYS HOMEANA) TORTOISES IN IBADAN, NIGERIA. J Wildl Dis 2022; 58:825-835. [PMID: 36321922 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-21-00084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Haemogregarines are a group of intracellular blood parasites reported in reptiles, other vertebrate taxa including mammals and fish, and haematophagous invertebrates. Information on prevalence, biodiversity, and host-specificity of haemogregarines of tortoises in Nigeria are scarce. A total of 120 African hinge-back tortoises (Kinixys belliana, n=70, and K. homeana, n=50) were bought from the Wildlife and Herbal Market in Ibadan, Nigeria. Blood was withdrawn via the subcarapacial sinuses of each tortoise. The prevalence and parasite intensity of haemogregarine infection was determined using a light microscope, and parasite species were determined by PCR using HepF300 and HepR900 primers. A sequence of 654 base pairs (bp; Hepatozoon cf. fitzsimonsi) from the study aligned with published 18SrRNA and closely related with a similarity of 97.38% to Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi sequenced from Kinixys zobensis in South Africa. Overall prevalence of haemogregarines was 53.33% from light microcopy and 75.83% from PCR, which is considered very high. Higher prevalence and mean±SD parasite intensity were recorded for K. belliana (82.89%, 0.29%) than for K. homeana (66.00%, 0.26%). Prevalence rates and parasite intensities of haemogregarines were significantly higher in wet than in dry seasons. The differences in prevalence and intensity between and within species may be due to habitat characteristics, feeding habits of vectors and hosts, seasons, and vector abundance.
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Phylogenetic analysis of chelonian hemogregarines reveals shared species among the Amazonian freshwater turtle Podocnemis spp. and provides a description of two new species of Haemogregarina. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:691-701. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07405-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Gutierrez-Liberato GA, Lotta-Arévalo IA, González LP, Vargas-Ramírez M, Rodríguez-Fandiño O, Cepeda AS, Ortiz-Moreno ML, Matta NE. The genetic and morphological diversity of Haemogregarina infecting turtles in Colombia: Are mitochondrial markers useful as barcodes for these parasites? INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 95:105040. [PMID: 34403833 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Adeleorinid parasites commonly infect turtles and tortoises in nature. Currently, our knowledge about such parasites is extremely poor. Their characterization is based on morphological and molecular approaches using the 18S rDNA molecular marker. However, there is a limitation with the 18S rDNA due to its slow rate of evolution. For that reason, the goals of this study were to 1) design primers for new molecular mitochondrial markers to improve the phylogenetic reconstructions of adeleorinid parasites and 2) to determine the morphological and genetic diversity of Haemogregarina infecting turtles and tortoises in Colombia. Turtles from 16 species representing six families were examined for the presence of haemoparasites. We analyzed 457 samples using PCR, and 203 of them were also analyzed by microscopy. Using a mitochondrial genome of Haemogregarina sequenced in this study, we designed primers to amplify fragments of the cytochrome oxidase I (coxI), cytochrome oxidase III (coxIII), and cytochrome b (cytb) mitochondrial markers in adeleorinid parasites. Lineages obtained from nuclear and mitochondrial molecular markers clustered according to the turtle lineages from which they were isolated. It is noteworthy that we found different evolutionary lineages within the same morphotype, which may indicate heteroplasmy and/or cryptic diversity in Haemogregarina. Due to this situation, we could not make a species delimitation, even when integrating the different lines of evidence we had in this study. However, the primers presented here are useful for diagnosis and, moreover, according to the available information, all three genes retain phylogenetic signals; thereby fragments amplified can be used in reconstructing evolutionary relationships. This effort contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of these parasites infecting continental turtles from Colombia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Germán A Gutierrez-Liberato
- Departamento de Salud pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia; Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Ingrid A Lotta-Arévalo
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Leydy P González
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Mario Vargas-Ramírez
- Instituto de genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia; Estación Biológica Tropical Roberto Franco, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia.
| | - Oscar Rodríguez-Fandiño
- Dirección de investigación, Fundación Universitaria Internacional del Trópico Americano Unitrópico, Yopal, Casanare, Colombia.
| | - Axl S Cepeda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia; Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Martha Lucia Ortiz-Moreno
- Departamento de Biología y Química, Facultad de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad de los Llanos-UNILLANOS, Villavicencio, Meta, Colombia.
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, PO 11321, Bogotá, Colombia.
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Haemogregarines and Criteria for Identification. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11010170. [PMID: 33445814 PMCID: PMC7828249 DOI: 10.3390/ani11010170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Taxonomic classification of haemogregarines belonging to Apicomplexa can become difficult when the information about the life cycle stages is not available. Using a self-reporting, we record different haemogregarine species infecting various animal categories and exploring the most systematic features for each life cycle stage. The keystone in the classification of any species of haemogregarines is related to the sporogonic cycle more than other stages of schizogony and gamogony. Molecular approaches are excellent tools that enabled the identification of apicomplexan parasites by clarifying their evolutionary relationships. Abstract Apicomplexa is a phylum that includes all parasitic protozoa sharing unique ultrastructural features. Haemogregarines are sophisticated apicomplexan blood parasites with an obligatory heteroxenous life cycle and haplohomophasic alternation of generations. Haemogregarines are common blood parasites of fish, amphibians, lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, crocodilians, birds, and mammals. Haemogregarine ultrastructure has been so far examined only for stages from the vertebrate host. PCR-based assays and the sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene are helpful methods to further characterize this parasite group. The proper classification for the haemogregarine complex is available with the criteria of generic and unique diagnosis of these parasites.
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Nordmeyer SC, Henry G, Guerra T, Rodriguez D, Forstner MR, Hahn D. Identification of Blood Parasites in Individuals from Six Families of Freshwater Turtles. CHELONIAN CONSERVATION AND BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2744/ccb-1411.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie C. Nordmeyer
- Texas State University, Department of Biology, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666 USA [; ; ; ; ; ]
| | - Gina Henry
- Texas State University, Department of Biology, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666 USA [; ; ; ; ; ]
| | - Trina Guerra
- Texas State University, Department of Biology, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666 USA [; ; ; ; ; ]
| | - David Rodriguez
- Texas State University, Department of Biology, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666 USA [; ; ; ; ; ]
| | - Michael R.J. Forstner
- Texas State University, Department of Biology, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666 USA [; ; ; ; ; ]
| | - Dittmar Hahn
- Texas State University, Department of Biology, 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas 78666 USA [; ; ; ; ; ]
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González LP, Pacheco MA, Escalante AA, Jiménez Maldonado AD, Cepeda AS, Rodríguez-Fandiño OA, Vargas-Ramírez M, Matta NE. Haemocystidium spp., a species complex infecting ancient aquatic turtles of the family Podocnemididae: First report of these parasites in Podocnemis vogli from the Orinoquia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2019; 10:299-309. [PMID: 31867209 PMCID: PMC6906830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The genus Haemocystidium was described in 1904 by Castellani and Willey. However, several studies considered it a synonym of the genera Plasmodium or Haemoproteus. Recently, molecular evidence has shown the existence of a monophyletic group that corresponds to the genus Haemocystidium. Here, we further explore the clade Haemocystidium spp. by studying parasites from Testudines. A total of 193 individuals belonging to six families of Testudines were analyzed. The samples were collected in five localities in Colombia: Casanare, Vichada, Arauca, Antioquia, and Córdoba. From each individual, a blood sample was taken for molecular analysis, and peripheral blood smears were made, which were fixed and subsequently stained with Giemsa. The prevalence of Haemocystidium spp. was 1.55% (n = 3/193); all infected individuals belonged to Podocnemis vogli (Savanna Side-necked turtle) from the department of Vichada. This is the first report of Haemocystidium spp. in Colombia and in this turtle species. The phylogenetic analysis of a mitochondrial cytb fragment revealed Haemocystidium spp. as a monophyletic group and as a sister taxon of Haemoproteus catharti and the genus Plasmodium. Haemocystidium spp. are difficult to identify by morphology only. As a result, it is possible that some of the taxa, such as Haemocystidium (Simondia) pacayae, represent a species complex. The parasite found in our study is morphologically indistinguishable from Haemocystidium (Simondia) pacayae reported in Peru. However, the new lineage found in P. vogli shows a genetic distance of 0.02 with Hae. pacayae and 0.04 with Hae. peltocephali. It is proposed that this divergent lineage might be a new species. Nevertheless, additional molecular markers and ecological features could support this hypothesis in the future. Haemocystidium spp. now reported in Podocnemis vogli in Colombia. Haemocystidium spp. are cryptic species in Podocnemididae. Our data support that Haemocystidium is a monophyletic group that shares a recent common ancestor with the genus Plasmodium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leydy P González
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia.,Instituto de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - M Andreína Pacheco
- Department of Biology/Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ananías A Escalante
- Department of Biology/Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrés David Jiménez Maldonado
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia.,Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Axl S Cepeda
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Oscar A Rodríguez-Fandiño
- Fundación Universitaria-Unitrópico, Dirección de Investigación, Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas de la Orinoquía (GINBIO), Colombia
| | - Mario Vargas-Ramírez
- Instituto de Genética, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Nubia E Matta
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Carrera 30 No 45-03, Bogotá, Colombia
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Goes VC, Brito ES, Valadao RM, Gutierrez CO, Picelli AM, Viana LA. Haemogregarine (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) infection in Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle, Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Chelidae), from a Brazilian Neotropical savanna region. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2018; 65. [PMID: 30275346 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2018.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of blood parasites in Brazilian chelonians is limited, since they have been recorded in only six species. Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei (Bour) is a freshwater turtle with a wide geographic distribution in Brazil, but there is little information about its natural history. This paper reports on a study of the prevalence and infection intensity of a haemogregarine in two subpopulations of M. vanderhaegei. The study was conducted in two areas of Cerrado in the Upper Paraguay River basin in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, between November 2010 and August 2013. Ninety-five (53%) of the 179 turtles captured were positive for haemogregarine parasites. The parasitic forms observed were two morphotypes of intraerythrocytic gametocytes. The prevalence differed between size classes, increasing significantly according to the animals' body size. There was no significant difference between prevalence and sex, or between sampling periods. The mean parasite intensity was 9 parasites/2,000 erythrocytes (0.45%) and the parasite population presented an aggregated distribution, with an aggregation index of 19 and discrepancy of 0.772. This is the first record of a hemoparasite in the freshwater turtle M. vanderhaegei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius C Goes
- Laboratorio de Parasitologia Animal, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Elizangela S Brito
- Programa de Pos-graduacao em Ciencias Veterinarias, Faculdade de Agronomia, Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiaba, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Valadao
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservacao da Biodiversidade, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservacao de Repteis e Anfibios, Goiania, Brazil
| | - Camila O Gutierrez
- Laboratorio de Parasitologia Animal, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Amanda M Picelli
- Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Lucio A Viana
- Departamento de Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude, Universidade Federal do Amapa, Macapa, Brazil
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Prevalence of Haemoproteus spp. (Apicomplexa: Haemoproteidae) in tortoises in Brazil and its molecular phylogeny. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:249-54. [PMID: 26358101 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4741-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Captive terrestrial tortoises of the species Chelonoidis carbonaria (n = 17) and Chelonoidis denticulata (n = 37) in the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, were examined for hematozoans by using a combination of microscopic and molecular methods. Microscopic examination revealed young intra-erythrocytic forms in blood smears from both species of tortoises. The results of PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that these parasites belonged to the Haemoproteus spp., whose observed prevalence was 17.6 % in C. carbonaria and 13.5 % in C. denticulata. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these sequences formed a clade that was grouped with other sequences of Haemoproteus spp. parasites in birds, separate from the clade formed by Haemoproteus spp. of reptiles. This study expands the information regarding the occurrence and distribution of hemosporidia in turtles and is the first study of blood parasites in C. carbonaria.
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Picelli AM, Carvalho AVD, Viana LA, Malvasio A. Prevalence and parasitemia of Haemogregarina sp. in Podocnemis expansa (Testudines: Podocnemididae) from the Brazilian Amazon. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE PARASITOLOGIA VETERINARIA 2015; 24:191-7. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-29612015033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Seventy-five turtles Podocnemis expansa in the Brazilian Amazon were examined for the presence of ectoparasites and hemoparasites. Samplings were performed in three study areas in the state of Tocantins, Brazil. Twenty-five specimens were sampled per study area (a commercial breeding facility, an indigenous subsistence breeding facility and a wild population of the Javaés River). Hemoparasites of the genus Haemogregarina were found in 66% (50/75) of the turtle specimens, and the infections were restricted to the commercial breeding facility and to the wild population of the Javaés River. The mean level of parasitemia was 54/2,000 erythrocytes (2%). There was no correlation between the body condition index of the chelonians and the level of parasitemia, with no significant difference between genders. No leeches were observed during the physical exams in any of the study areas, but the specimens from the commercial breeding facility were in poor physical condition with shell deformities and the presence of a relatively high amount of skin ulcerations, most likely caused by fungi and bacteria. This was the first study to record the occurrence of hemogregarines on a population scale in P. expansa and helps to increase knowledge about hemoparasites in chelonians in Brazil.
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