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Zechmeisterová K, Gardner MG, Široký P. Unresolved haemosporidia of the Australian skink, Egernia stokesii. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:206. [PMID: 38713306 PMCID: PMC11076340 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08230-0] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The Australian skink Egernia stokesii had been recognised as a host of two species of Plasmodium, Plasmodium mackerrasae and P. circularis; nevertheless, molecular data are available for only a single haemosporidian species of this host. Its sequences are labelled as "Plasmodium sp." or "Plasmodium mackerrasae", but morphological characteristics of this isolate are unavailable. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences placed them into the clade of the genus Haemocystidium. In this study, blood samples of six E. stokesii were analysed by both, molecular and microscopic methods to clarify the haemosporidia of this lizard. Application of these approaches offered discordant results. Whereas sequence analysis clustered our isolates with lizard species of Haemocystidium, morphology of blood stages is more akin to Plasmodium than Haemocystidium. However, limited sampling, indistinguishable nuclei/merozoites and risk of possible hidden presence of mixed infection prevent reliable species identification of detected parasites or their description as new species of Haemocystidium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristína Zechmeisterová
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého 1946/1, Brno, 612 42, Czech Republic
| | - Michael George Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
| | - Pavel Široký
- Department of Biology and Wildlife Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého 1946/1, Brno, 612 42, Czech Republic.
- CEITEC-Central European Institute of Technology, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Palackého 1946/1, 612 42, Brno, Czech Republic.
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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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Aleksić-Kovačević S, Vučićević M, Özvegy J, Jelisić S, Djurdjević B, Prodanov-Radulović J, Došenović M, Marinković D. Eight-Year Study of Haemogregarina stepanowi Infection in Poached European Pond Turtles ( Emys orbicularis) Held in Belgrade Zoo Quarantine. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2429. [PMID: 37570238 PMCID: PMC10416920 DOI: 10.3390/ani13152429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The eight-year study (2015-2023) was performed on a large sample of poached European pond turtles infected with Haemogregarina stepanowi and held in a pond that belongs to a quarantine section of Belgrade Zoo. The protected species of European pond turtles have been found in poor health, with general weakness, anorexia, and low motility. Comprehensive cytological, hematological, molecular, and postmortem evaluations have been performed. Initially, Diff Quick staining of the blood smears revealed rounded or elongated erythrocytes, often bearing premeront or U-shaped gamont of the hemogregarines inside. The reduced erythrocyte numbers, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values found in the examined population of infected turtles indicated anemia. Macroscopically, shell necrosis and massive skin hemorrhages were the most prominent findings observed in diseased turtles. Microscopically, the lungs, liver, kidneys, and spleen revealed hyperemia, hemorrhages, and the presence of parasitic stages in tissue samples in 31 of 40 necropsied turtles. Cytological and microscopic examination of the samples proved to be sufficient for establishing the infection, but molecular analyses of the 18S sequence were used for phylogenetic studies. Over the years, the number of diseased and dead turtles has decreased, which could be hypothetically attributed to the elimination of leeches as the definitive host.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Miloš Vučićević
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (S.A.-K.)
| | | | - Stefan Jelisić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (S.A.-K.)
| | - Biljana Djurdjević
- Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, Department of Epizootiology, Clinical Diagnostics and DDD, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (B.D.); (J.P.-R.)
| | - Jasna Prodanov-Radulović
- Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad”, Department of Epizootiology, Clinical Diagnostics and DDD, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; (B.D.); (J.P.-R.)
| | - Milan Došenović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (S.A.-K.)
| | - Darko Marinković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (S.A.-K.)
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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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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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Pinho SRC, Rodríguez-Málaga S, Lozano-Osorio R, Correa FS, Silva IB, Santos-Costa MC. Effects of the habitat on anuran blood parasites in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20201703. [PMID: 34909821 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120201703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological interactions play an important role in regulating and maintaining natural populations. Like most interactions, parasitism may be influenced by environmental conditions. Therefore, changes caused by human activity may drastically affect the equilibrium of the assemblages of parasitized organisms (hosts). Herein, we described the composition of hemoparasites of anurans from two distinct environments: forest and oil palm plantations. We identified the most frequent groups of blood parasites, and whether infections differ between habitats (forest and plantation) and between microhabitats (arboreal or terrestrial). We collected 128 anurans, of which 46 (36%) were parasitized by hemoparasites. The genus Trypanosoma spp. was found in 30% (n = 37/128) of the infected anurans in both habitats, recorded mostly in terrestrial anurans in oil palm plantations. Apicomplexa hemoprotozoans were also found in 13% (n=17/128) of the anurans, which mainly were terrestrial species collected in oil palm plantations. There was no difference in parasitism between the two assemblies and between the studied microhabitats. This is the first study that has analyzed the ecological relationship between anurans as hosts and their blood parasites, in a region under intense anthropic pressure, in the Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia R C Pinho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Rodríguez-Málaga
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Parasitologia, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Lozano-Osorio
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Fabrício S Correa
- Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente e Sustentabilidade, Av. Magalhães Barata, 130, 66040-170 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Iago B Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
| | - Maria C Santos-Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Pará e Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Ecologia e Zoologia de Vertebrados, Augusto Correia, 1, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil
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Attia El Hili R, Achouri MS, Verneau O. Cytochrome c oxydase I phylogenetic analysis of Haemogregarina parasites (Apicomplexa, Coccidia, Eucoccidiorida, Haemogregarinidae) confirms the presence of three distinct species within the freshwater turtles of Tunisia. Parasitol Int 2021; 82:102306. [PMID: 33610828 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Species of Haemogregarina are apicomplexan blood parasites that use vertebrates as intermediate hosts. Due to limited interspecific morphological characters within the genus during the last decade, 18S rRNA gene sequences were widely used for species identification. As coinfection patterns were recently reported from nuclear molecular data for two sympatric freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis from Tunisia, our objectives were to design COI specific primers to confirm the presence of three distinct species in both host species. Blood samples were collected from 22 turtles, from which DNAs were extracted and used as templates for amplification. Following different rounds of PCR and nested PCR, we designed specific Haemogregarina COI primers that allowed the sequencing of nine distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic Bayesian analysis revealed the occurrence of three well-differentiated sublineages that clustered together into a single clade. Based on pairwise genetic distances (p-distance), we confirmed the occurrence of three distinct but phylogenetically closely related species coinfecting M. leprosa and E. orbicularis in the same aquatic environments. Our results demonstrate that the use of fast evolving genes within Haemogregarina will help to investigate the parasite diversity within both intermediate vertebrate and definitive invertebrate hosts, and to assess the evolution, historical biogeography and specificity of haemogregarines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahma Attia El Hili
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06 Tunis, Tunisia; Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France
| | - Mohamed Sghaier Achouri
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Olivier Verneau
- Université Perpignan Via Domitia, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; CNRS, Centre de Formation et de Recherche sur les Environnements Méditerranéens, Perpignan, France; Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
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The genetic diversity of blood parasites within the freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis in Tunisia reveals coinfection with Haemogregarina spp. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3315-3326. [PMID: 32699938 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06821-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Haemogregarina species are apicomplexan blood parasites infecting vertebrates such as fish, lizards, and turtles. Due to the high morphological similarity of the erythrocytic stages infecting host species, it has always been a challenge to identify the true diversity of these parasites. Therefore, taxonomic studies are presently based on the combination of morphological and molecular data. In Tunisia, two species of Haemogregarina have been reported within the freshwater turtle Mauremys leprosa (Geoemydidae) for more than 40 years. Since M. leprosa occurs in the same aquatic environments as Emys orbicularis (Emydidae) in Tunisia, our objectives were to assess parasite diversity and specificity on the basis of both morphological and molecular approaches. The turtles were surveyed and sampled across six aquatic areas of Tunisia. Among the 39 specimens of M. leprosa and seven of E. orbicularis that were trapped and investigated, the presence of haemogregarines was detected in the blood of turtles only at sites where leeches were observed. Three 18S variants were identified, which corresponded to three distinct Haemogregarina species, among which one was identified as Haemogregarina stepanowi. The two other species that were detected are likely new to science. Because we show the occurrence of more than one blood parasite species within a single host specimen, our study provides the first report of coinfection with molecularly distinct Haemogregarina spp.
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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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