Some corrections in Haemogregarine (Apicomplexa: Protozoa) nomenclature

The nomenclature of three genera in the family Haemogregarinidae (Haemogregarina, Karyolysus, and Hepatozoon) has been reviewed and the following new names are introduced to replace homonyms or for previously unnamed species: haemogregarina carlosi n. nom., in the erythrocytes of the lizard Lacerta ocellata; Haemogregarina tincae n. nom., in the stomach and intestine of the tench Tinca tinca; Hepatozoon insectivorae n. sp., in the leucocytes of the shrews Sorex araneus and Crocidura leucodon; Hepatozoon krampitzi n. sp., in the leucocytes of the vole Microtus oeconomus; Hepatozoon peromysci n. sp., in the leucocytes of the deermice Peromyscus boylii and P. truei gilberti; and Hepatozoon pallida (Pessoa et al., 1971) n. comb., in the erythrocytes of the snake Thamnodynastes pallidus nattereri.     

The taxonomy of Sarcocystis (Protozoa, Apicomplexa) species

The taxonomy of the heteroxenous apicomplexan protozoan genus Sarcocystis was reviewed, and a list of 122 species with their synonyms and hosts given. Both definitive and intermediate hosts are known for only 56 species. The fine structure of the sarcocyst wall may change with age and is not considered necessarily satisfactory for separating species. Specificity for the intermediate host is not narrow for all species. Earlier work on transmission of the parasite from one intermediate host to another should be repeated in the light of present knowledge of the life cycle of species of Sarcocystis.     

Taxonomy and Review of the Coccidian Genus Cryptosporidium (Protozoa,Apicomplexa)1

Reports of Cryptosporidium in various hosts and cross-transmission experiments are reviewed. Cryptosporidium has been found in mammals (Primates, Artiodactyla, Perissodactyla, Carnivora, Lagomorpha, and Rodentia), birds, reptiles, and fish. The only cross-transmission attempts that have been made have been from mammals to other mammals and to a few birds. Names have been given to 19 “species,” but it is concluded that only four of these should be considered valid at present. These are: C. muris Tyzzer, 1907 in mammals, C. meleagridis Slavin, 1955 in birds, C. crotali Triffit, 1925 in reptiles, and C. nasorum Hoover, Hoerr, Carlton, Hinsman & Ferguson, 1981 in fish.     

In vitro development of Neospora caninum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) from dogs

The development of Neospora caninum isolated from naturally infected dogs was examined in mammalian cell cultures. Tachyzoites developed by endodyogeny when inoculated onto bovine monocyte or bovine cardiopulmonary artery endothelial cell cultures. Tachyzoites were 5.0 by 2.0 microns and had a posteriorly located nucleus. Cytopathogenic effects of parasite development consisted of the formation of holes in the cell monolayer associated with the rupture of infected host cells. Serial passage of tachyzoites was achieved by subinoculation of tachyzoites onto non-infected bovine monocyte cell cultures. It appears that N. caninum can be continuously grown in cell cultures.     

Redescription of Besnoitia tarandi (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) from the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Besnoitia tarandi tissue cysts were found in naturally-infected reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) from Finland. Infectivity of its tissue cysts, bradyzoites, and tachyzoites to animals and cell culture was studied. The bradyzoites and tissue cysts were not infectious to out-bred mice, rabbits or gerbils. When fed tissue cysts, neither cats nor dogs excreted oocysts. However, the parasite was lethal to interferon-gamma gene knock out mice irrespective of the route of inoculation. The parasite was grown successfully in African Green Monkey cells from tissues of two reindeer for the first time. Non-dividing, uninucleate tachyzoites from smears from cell cultures were 5.6 x 1.4 microm (4.5-7.4 x 1.0-1.9, n=50) in size. Longitudinally-cut bradyzoites in tissue sections measured 7.4 x 1.3 microm (6.5-7.8 x 1.0-1.6, n=30). Ultrastructurally, tachyzoites and bradyzoites were similar to those in other Besnoitia species, and in particular to parasites described from cattle (Besnoitia besnoiti) and equids (Besnoitia bennetti) in that their bradyzoites lacked enigmatic bodies. Based on comparative analysis of three portions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (the small and large subunits and the first internal transcribed spacer) B. tarandi was found to be more closely related to the other congeners described from ungulates. The parasite was formally redescribed and specimens deposited in the US National Parasite Collection.     

Redescription of Besnoitia bennetti (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) from the donkey (Equus asinus)

Besnoitia bennetti tissue cysts were found in four naturally-infected donkeys (Equus asinus) from the USA. Infectivity of its bradyzoites and tachyzoites to animals and cell culture was studied. The bradyzoites were not infectious to out-bred Swiss Webster mice, rabbits or gerbils. When fed tissue cysts, cats did not excrete oocysts. However, the parasite was infectious to interferon-gamma gene knock out mice. The parasite from tissues of two donkeys was grown successfully in bovine monocyte monolayers for the first time. Non-dividing, uninucleate tachyzoites were approximately 6 x 1.5 microm in size. Longitudinally-cut bradyzoites in tissue sections measured 8.7 x 1.9 microm. Ultrastructurally, tachyzoites and bradyzoites were similar to those in other Besnoitia species, and in particular to parasites described from cattle (Besnoitia besnoiti) and reindeer (Besnoitia tarandi), in that their bradyzoites lacked enigmatic bodies. Based on comparative analysis of three portions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (the small and large subunits and the first internal transcribed spacer) B. bennetti was found to be more closely related to the other congeners described from ungulates. The parasite was formally redescribed and specimens deposited in the US National Parasite Collections.     

Infections in mice with tachyzoites and bradyzoites of Neospora caninum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa)

Tachyzoites of 2 isolates of Neospora caninum (NC-1 and NC-2) were inoculated subcutaneously (s.c.), intraperitoneally (i.p.), or orally into mice to compare the effects of route of inoculation on pathogenicity. Mice developed more severe disease, and disease occurred sooner when inoculated with the NC-1 isolate compared to the NC-2 isolate. Deaths occurred earlier in mice inoculated i.p. with either isolate. Mice inoculated orally or s.c. with tachyzoites responded similarly to infection. Tissue cysts of the NC-2 isolate produced infections in mice following oral or s.c. inoculation. Lesions seen in mice inoculated with tachyzoites or bradyzoites were primarily acute pneumonia, myositis, encephalitis, ganglioradiculoneuritis, and pancreatitis. In vitro studies demonstrated that tachyzoites of both isolates were killed by incubation in pepsin-HCl solution but not 1% trypsin solution. Bradyzoites of the NC-2 isolate were able to withstand treatment with pepsin-HCl solution.     

Corrections in the Names of Rodent Coccidia (Apicomplexa,Coccidiasina)

The following new taxonomic combinations are introduced for coccidia whose names were previously given erroneously Dorisa bengalensis (Bandyopadhyay & Ray, 1982) n. comb, from the Indian palm squirrel Funambulus pennanti in India; Eimeria sicistae from the intestine of the birch mouse Sicista tianschanica in the USSR; E. hydrochaeri Carini. 1937 emend, from the capybara Hydrochaerus hydrochaerus in South America; Frenkelia sp. (Doby, Jeannes & Rault, 1965) from the brain of the water vole Arvicola sapidus in Europe; Frenkelia sp. (Karstad, 1963) from the brain of the muskrat Ondatra zibethica in North America; Frenkelia sp (Enemar, 1965) from the brain of the lemming Lemmus lemmus in Europe; Frenkelia sp. (?ebek, 1975) from the brain of the field mouse Apodemus flavicollis in Europe; and Sarcocystis sp. (Ryan, Wyand & Nielsen, 1982) from the skeletal muscles of the muskrat Ondatra zibethica in North America.     

Effects of sulfadiazine and amprolium on Neospora caninum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) infections in mice

An immunosuppressed mouse model was used to determine the effects of amprolium and sulfadiazine on experimental Neospora caninum infections. Both drugs were given in the drinking water. Neither drug was effective in treating infections when given 7 days after inoculation of tachyzoites, when clinical signs of disease had developed. Amprolium did not prevent deaths or development of clinical signs when given in the drinking water at 1 mg/ml or 5 mg/ml 3 days after inoculation of tachyzoites. Sulfadiazine in drinking water was not effective when given at 0.5 mg/ml but was effective in preventing deaths and clinical disease when given at 1 mg/ml 3 days after inoculation with tachyzoites. Most mice (6 of 10) treated for 3 days with 1 mg/ml sulfadiazine in drinking water developed encephalitis after drug treatment was stopped. Treatment for 14 days with 1 mg/ml sulfadiazine in drinking water was needed to protect 90% of inoculated mice.     

Haemogregarine specificity in two communities of Florida snakes, with descriptions of six new species of Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) and a possible species of Haemogregarina (Apicomplexa: Haemogregarinidae)

Five species of snakes in Florida, from Palm Beach County in the south and Alachua County 450 km to the north, occur in similar habitat but have distinctive Hepatozoon species characteristic of each host species. In Palm Beach County, Diadophis punctatus is host to Hepatozoon punctatus n. sp., Thamnophis sauritus sackenii to Hepatozoon sauritus n. sp., and Nerodia fasciata pictiventris to Hepatozoon pictiventris n. sp. In Alachua County, N. fasciata pictiventris is parasitized by Hepatozoon fasciatae n. sp., Seminatrix p. pygaea by Hepatozoon seminatrici n. sp., and Thamnophis s. sirtalis by Hepatozoon sirtalis n. sp. Each Hepatozoon sp. has distinctive gamonts and sporogonic characters and, in the 4 species where known, meronts. Nerodia floridana is host to Haemogregarina floridana n. sp. in both localities, with generic identification tentative, based upon presence of erythrocytic meronts. The presence of sporocysts in the proboscis of 31% of Aedes aegypti infected by H. pictiventris is the first report of infective stages of a reptilian Hepatozoon species within the mouthparts of a dipteran vector. This study suggests that in Florida, at least, the diversity of the Hepatozoon community not only equals but probably exceeds the diversity of the snake communities present, and that host specificity in nature may be much greater than that postulated from previous studies.     

Cross-transmission of Eimeria spp. (Protozoa, Apicomplexa) of rodents--a review

A total of 169 cross-transmission attempts has been made with 44 (11.8%) of the 372 named species of Eimeria of rodents. Of these, 161 were rodent-to-rodent, 6 rodent-to-lagomorph, and 1 each rodent-to-carnivore and rodent-to-bird. None of the last three categories was successful. In the rodent-to-rodent combinations, 39 (80%) of the 49 attempts to transmit a coccidian species from one rodent species to another of the same genus were successful, and only 14 (12.5%) of the 112 attempts to transmit a coccidium to a rodent of a different genus were successful. Eight of the successful attempts were with E. chinchillae, which was the only truly euryxenous species of Eimeria in the group. Two successful attempts were between between the closely related rodent genera Spermophilus and Cynomys, and two were both of E. separata from Rattus norvegicus to some genetic strains but not to others of Mus musculus. One attempt with E. vermiformis from Mus musculus to Rattus norvegicus required treatment of the rat with the immunosuppressant dexamethasone to succeed. More cross-transmission studies are needed to determine the host spectra of the species of Eimeria and other coccidian genera, and to determine the roles of genetics and immunosuppression in their transmission.     

Occurrence of Haemogregarina bigemina (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in Blennius pholis (Pisces: Blenniidae) along the Portuguese west coast

The occurrence of Haemogregarina bigemina in Blennius pholis was studied at four localities on the Portuguese west coast. Prevalence ranged from 2.9 to 78.6% and was significantly different ( P < 0.01) at the various localities. Intensity of infection in individual fish was usually low (< 0.01 % of erythrocytes infected) but one specimen was heavily parasitized (2.8% erythrocytes infected). The smallest infected fish was 3.2 cm long; all 7.0 cm and longer fish were infected. Development was not seen outside erythrocytes or within leucocytes. Some erythrocytes (< 0.01%) in one fish were unusual in containing four mature gametocytes. Circumstantial evidence indicates that prevalence was higher in polluted waters. Possible transmission routes for the parasite are discussed.     

Taxonomy of the Archigregarinorida and Selenidiidae (Protozoa,Apicomplexa)*

SYNOPSIS. The gregarine order Archigregarinorida is redefined. The new family Selenidioididae is established in it, containing the genera Selenidioides n. g. with 11 species, Meroselenidium with 1 and Merogregarina with 1. The new family Exoschizonidae is also established in it, with 1 genus, Exoschizon, containing 1 species. The family Selenidiidae is transferred to the order Eugregarinorida in a new superfamily, Lecudinicae, and redefined to exclude the presence of merogony. As redefined, the family Selenidiidae contains the genera Selenidium with 33 species, Selenocystis with 1 and Ditrypanocystis with 2. The following new species are named: Selenidioides fanthami, S. hawesi, Selenidium mackinnonae, S. martinensis, S. rayi, Ditrypanocystis coxi. The following new combinations are introduced: Selenidioides axiferens, S. caulleryi, S. giganteum, S. hollandei, S. intraepitheliale, S. mesnili, S. metchnikovi, S. potamillae, S. sipunculi, Selenidium synaptae. In addition, the septate form from Cirratulus cirratus that was named Polyrhabdina cirratulus by Bogolepova (2) is renamed P. bogolepovae n. sp.     

The Genera Barrouxia,Defretinella, and Goussia of the Coccidian Family Barrouxiidae (Protozoa,Apicomplexa)1

The apicomplexan family Barrouxiidae Léger, 1911 is reviewed and revised on the basis of present information. It includes the genera Barrouxia Schneider, 1885 with ten named species, Defretinella Henneré, 1966 with one named species, and Goussia Labbé, 1896 with 25 named species. The family is characterized by having bivalved sporocysts with a longitudinal suture line. Available information, admittedly spotty, is given for each species on oocyst, sporocyst and sporozoite structure, and on locus of sporulation. The following seven new combinations are made: Goussia flaviviridis (Setna & Bana, 1935) n. comb. in the gecko Hemidactylus flaviviridis; G. hyalina (Léger, 1898) n. comb. in an unidentified aquatic beetle; G. lacazei (Labbé, 1895) n. comb. in the centipedes Lithobius forficatus and L. martini; G. metchnikovi (Laveran, 1897) n. comb. in the gobies Gobio gobio and G. albipinnatus; G. schaudinniana (Pinto, 1928) n. comb. in the centipede Lithobius forficatus; G. stankovitchi (Pinto, 1928) n. comb. in the small bleak Alburnus alburnus, the bream Abramis brama, and the red roach Scardinius erythrophthalmus; Goussia sp. (Dogel' Akhmerov, 1959) nov. comb. in the freshwater fish Gnathopogon chankaensis.     

Gregarines of the Genus Lecudina (Protozoa,Apicomplexa) from Pacific Ocean Polychaetes*

The gregarine Lecudina longissima Hoshide, 1944 is described from the intestine of the marine polychaete Lumbrineris zonata (Johnson, 1901) from Santa Catalina Island, Calif. L. catalinensis n. sp. is described from the intestine of L. inflata Moore, 1911 from the same island. L. pherusae sp. n. and L. zimmeri sp. n. are described from the intestine of the marine polychaete Pherusa capulata (Moore, 1909) off Santa Catalina Island.     

First molecular identification of Sarcocystis miescheriana (Protozoa, Apicomplexa) from wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Iran

Sarcocystis isolate obtained from the thigh muscle of a wild boar (Sus scrofa), captured from Gilan Province, northern Iran, was subjected to molecular analysis. Genomic DNA was obtained using a DNA extraction tissue kit and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification of the 18S ribosomal DNA region yielded an 842 bp DNA band on agarose gel. Analysis of DNA sequencing by BLAST confirmed the isolate as Sarcocystis miescheriana and the sequence was deposited in GenBank by Accession No. GU395554. This is the first molecular identification of an isolate of S. miescheriana in Iran.     

Ultrastructure of Sarcocystis spp. (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in rodents from North Sulawesi and West Java, Indonesia

Tissue cysts of the protozoan genus Sarcocystis were detected in the skeletal muscles of 16 (40%) of 40 wild rodents captured in North Sulawesi and West Java, Indonesia. Two types of cysts were found to differ in their morphological characteristics. Macroscopic and microscopic cysts bounded by thick radially-striated cyst walls were detected at both locations in a total of 13 rodents belonging to seven different species (Bunomys chrysocomus, B. fratrorum, Maxomys bartelsii, M. musschenbroekii, Paruromys dominator, Rattus xanthurus and R. exulans). The primary cyst walls contained numerous broad spatula-like protrusions and the cysts were identified as S. singaporensis Zaman and Colley, 1976. In contrast, microscopic cysts bounded by thin smooth cyst walls were detected in seven rodents belonging to three different species captured at Toraut in North Sulawesi (B. chrysocomus, B. fratrorum and P. dominator). Ultrastructural examination revealed numerous slender hair-like protrusions of their primary cyst walls. It is proposed that these cysts be named S. sulawesiensis sp. n. on the basis of their unique morphological characteristics, their intermediate host range and their limited geographic distribution. Mixed infections by both species were found in three rodent species (B. chrysocomus, B. fratrorum and P. dominator).