Morphological and genetic analysis of Ceratomyxa saurida Zhao et al. 2015 and Ceratomyxa mai sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) from the East China Sea.

We describe Ceratomyxa saurida Zhao et al. 2015 and Ceratomyxa mai sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) from the East China Sea. C. saurida was found in the gallbladders of 3/13 specimens of its type host, Saurida elongata Temminck and Schlegel 1846 (Aulopiformes). Myxospore characters were consistent with the original description to which we have added small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene data. C. mai sp. nov. was found in gallbladders of 3/13 specimens of S. elongata and 5/13 specimens of Neobythites sivicola Jordan and Snyder 1901 (Ophidiiformes). Mature myxospores of C. mai sp. nov. were crescentic in sutural view, with a deeply concave posterior angle 142.2±8.2° (125.8‒158.2°) and an arched anterior side. Shell valves were smooth and equal, 20.9±1.9 (17.3‒24.7) µm thick and 9.2±0.5 (8.1‒9.9) µm long, and joined at a straight, thin sutural plane passing between two nematocysts (polar capsules). The nematocysts were equal-sized, pyriform, 2.6±0.2 (2.4‒2.9) µm long and 2.7±0.2 (2.4‒3.3) µm wide, with their tapered ends pointed toward each other, located in the anterior third of the spore. Sequences of the SSU rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 showed that the isolates of C. mai sp. nov. obtained from S. elongata and N. sivicola were identical. The SSU rRNA gene sequence of C. mai sp. nov. was distinct from all known myxosporeans and clustered with C. saurida, and then with Ceratomyxa filamentosi Kalatzis, Kokkari and Katharios 2013, both of which also infect Aulopiformes fishes.

High salinity gradients and intermediate spatial scales shaped similar biogeographical and co-occurrence patterns of microeukaryotes in a tropical freshwater-saltwater ecosystem.

Microeukaryotes play key ecological roles in the microbial web of aquatic ecosystems. However, large knowledge gaps urgently need to be filled regarding the biogeography with associated shaping mechanisms and co-occurrence patterns of microeukaryotes under freshwater-saltwater gradients, especially true in tropical regions. Here, we investigated microeukaryotes of six mixed freshwater-saltwater regions in the Pearl River Estuary and surrounding coasts in southern China, with salinity ranging 0.1-32.0% and distances spanned up to 500 km, using molecular ecological methods. Results indicate that the biogeography of abundant and rare microeukaryotic communities was similar, both their co-occurrence patterns and biogeographical patterns were driven by deterministic and stochastic processes. The environmental factors with higher selective pressure than dispersal limitation meant that the role of deterministic process in structuring communities was more significant than that of stochastic process, and salinity played important role in structuring both microeukaryotic communities and networks. The abundant communities had stronger influence on entire microeukaryotic communities and seemed to be more sensitive to environmental changes than their rare counterparts, while rare ones had stronger interspecific relationships. Finally, the geographic scale and environmental gradients of study regions should firstly be clarified in future research on the ecological processes of microeukaryotes before conclusions are drawn.

Beyond the "Code": A Guide to the Description and Documentation of Biodiversity in Ciliated Protists (Alveolata, Ciliophora).

Recent advances in molecular technology have revolutionized research on all aspects of the biology of organisms, including ciliates, and created unprecedented opportunities for pursuing a more integrative approach to investigations of biodiversity. However, this goal is complicated by large gaps and inconsistencies that still exist in the foundation of basic information about biodiversity of ciliates. The present paper reviews issues relating to the taxonomy of ciliates and presents specific recommendations for best practice in the observation and documentation of their biodiversity. This effort stems from a workshop that explored ways to implement six Grand Challenges proposed by the International Research Coordination Network for Biodiversity of Ciliates (IRCN-BC). As part of its commitment to strengthening the knowledge base that supports research on biodiversity of ciliates, the IRCN-BC proposes to populate The Ciliate Guide, an online database, with biodiversity-related data and metadata to create a resource that will facilitate accurate taxonomic identifications and promote sharing of data.

Morphology, ontogeny, and phylogeny of two brackish urostylid ciliates (Protist, Ciliophora, Hypotricha).

The diversity of hypotrichous ciliates has encouraged numerous researchers to use a combination of morphological, morphogenetic, and phylogenetic data to provide a better understanding of the evolutionary relationships within this complex group. In this study, we investigate the morphology and morphogenesis of Pseudourostyla subtropica sp. nov., isolated from mangrove wetland. The new species can be distinguished from its congeners by the huge body size, many more adoral membranelles and marginal cirral rows, and numerous macronuclear nodules. In addition, we provide a morphological characterization of a population of Pseudourostyla nova Wiackowski 1988 from an estuarine habitat. The main events during binary fission of P. subtropica sp. nov. and the Chinese population of P. nova are also revealed to be conservative. The morphological, ontogenetic, and phylogenetic analyses based on the SSU rDNA sequences corroborate the monophyly of Pseudourostyla Borror, 1972, which corresponds well with previous research. The phylogenetic analyses also show that Pseudourostyla and Hemicycliostyla Stokes, 1886, both of which are assigned to the family Pseudourostylidae based on morphological and morphogenetic data, in fact fall into separated clades. The approximately unbiased tests, however, do not reject the possibility that the family Pseudourostylidae is a monophyletic lineage.

Can baseline serum calcium levels predict outcomes of intracerebral hemorrhage? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The prognostic role of baseline calcium levels in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is conflicting. We aimed to conduct the first meta-analysis in the literature to examine if baseline calcium levels can predict outcomes after ICH. METHODS: English-language studies listed on the databases of Embase, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science were searched up to 20th November 2023. Meta-analysis was conducted for baseline hematoma volume, hematoma expansion, unfavorable functional outcome, and mortality. RESULTS: Ten studies were included. Meta-analysis showed that patients with hypocalcemia have significantly higher baseline hematoma volume (MD: 8.6 95 % CI: 3.30, 13.90 I2 = 88 %) but did not have a higher risk of hematoma expansion (OR: 1.82 95 % CI: 0.89, 3.73 I2 = 82 %). Meta-analysis of crude (OR: 1.86 95 % CI: 1.25, 2.78 I2 = 63 %) and adjusted data (OR: 2.05 95 % CI: 1.27, 3.28 I2 = 64 %) showed those with hypocalcemia had a significantly higher risk of unfavorable functional outcomes. Meta-analysis of both crude (OR: 2.09 95 % CI: 1.51, 2.88 I2 = 80 %) and adjusted data (OR: 1.38 95 % CI: 1.14, 1.69 I2 = 70 %) also demonstrated a significantly higher risk of mortality in patients with hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Baseline serum calcium may have a prognostic role in ICH. Hypocalcemia at baseline may lead to large hematoma volume and poor functional and survival outcomes. However, there seems to be no relation between hypocalcemia and the risk of hematoma expansion. Further studies examining the role of calcium on ICH prognosis are needed.

Morphology and morphogenesis of a soil ciliate, Rigidohymena candens (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2011 (Ciliophora, Hypotricha, Oxytrichidae), with notes on its molecular phylogeny based on small-subunit rDNA sequence data.

The morphology and morphogenesis of the stylonychine hypotrich Rigidohymena candens (Kahl, 1932) Berger, 2011, isolated from garden soil in Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation methods. The Qingdao isolate possesses all diagnostic morphological characters of R. candens. The main events during binary fission are as follows: (i) the proter retains the parental adoral zone of membranelles entirely, whereas the old undulating membranes dedifferentiate into an anlage that gives rise to the leftmost frontal cirrus and the new undulating membranes of the proter; (ii) five streaks of fronto-ventral-transverse cirral anlagen are segmented in the pattern 3 : 3 : 3 : 4 : 4 from left to right, which form two frontal, four frontoventral, one buccal, five ventral and five transverse cirri, respectively; (iii) dorsal morphogenesis is in the typical Oxytricha pattern; (iv) three caudal cirri are formed, one at the posterior end of each of dorsal kineties 1, 2 and 4; and (v) the postoral ventral cirrus V/3 is not involved in primordia formation. The morphological and morphogenetic observations and phylogenetic analyses based on the small-subunit rDNA sequence data support the validity of Rigidohymena Berger, 2011 and its systematic position in the subfamily Stylonychinae.

Morphology, morphogenesis and small-subunit rRNA gene sequence of the novel brackish-water ciliate Strongylidium orientale sp. nov. (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia).

A novel stichotrich ciliate, Strongylidium orientale sp. nov., was discovered from a mangrove river in Hong Kong, southern China, and its morphology was investigated through observations in vivo and after protargol impregnation. Cells are 80-120 × 35-50 µm in vivo and fusiform in shape, with rounded anterior and tapered posterior ends. It is characterized by its brackish habitat and by the presence of two types of cortical granules arranged irregularly throughout the cortex. Morphogenetic events of cell division and physiological reorganization are described. The main ontogenetic features were: (i) only the posterior portion of the parental adoral zone of membranelles was renewed by dedifferentiation of the old structures; (ii) the oral primordium in the opisthe occurred apokinetally; (iii) the left and right ventral rows originated intrakinetally and the final left ventral row was spliced from two cirri from the frontoventral cirral anlage, a short cirral row from the anlage for the right ventral row and a long cirral row which was formed from the whole anlage of the left ventral row; (iv) the marginal rows developed intrakinetally; (v) the dorsal kineties replicated entirely de novo and did not fragment; and (vi) the two macronuclear nodules fused into a mass and then divided. Based on small-subunit rRNA gene sequences, phylogenetic analyses showed a close relationship with its congener Strongylidium pseudocrassum and with the genus Pseudouroleptus.

Morphology and small-subunit rRNA gene sequences of two novel marine ciliates, Metanophrys orientalis spec. nov. and Uronemella sinensis spec. nov. (Protista, Ciliophora, Scuticociliatia), with an improved diagnosis of the genus Uronemella.

The morphology and infraciliature of two novel marine scuticociliates, Metanophrys orientalis spec. nov. and Uronemella sinensis spec. nov., collected from sandy beaches at Qingdao, China, were investigated using live observation and protargol-staining methods. Metanophrys orientalis spec. nov. is distinguished by the following characteristics: marine habitat and a slender to elongate oval body with pointed anterior end and rounded caudal end, in vivo about 25-50 µm long; buccal field about a quarter to a third of body length; nine or ten somatic kineties with dikinetids approximately in anterior half of body, monokinetids in posterior half; membranelles 1 and 2 almost equal in length and composed of two and three longitudinal rows of kinetids respectively; paroral membrane with zigzag structure extending anteriorly to middle portion of membranelle 2; contractile vacuole pore located at posterior end of somatic kinety 1. The genus Uronemella is redefined as follows: marine form with an elongate-elliptical or inverted pear-shaped body; apical plate conspicuous; buccal field about two-thirds of body length, cytostome subequatorially located; oral apparatus Uronema-like; somatic kineties comprising a mixture of dikinetids and monokinetids. Uronemella sinensis spec. nov. is recognized by having an elongate-elliptical body with truncated apical frontal plate, size in vivo about 25-35 × 15-20 µm, nine or ten somatic kineties, membranelle 1 consisting of two or three basal bodies, contractile vacuole pore at posterior end of somatic kinety 1. This study also compared the small-subunit rRNA gene sequences of these two species with other closely related species to show the sequence divergence, which ranged from 3.53 to 9.60%. Phylogenetic analyses support the contention that the genus Uronemella is monophyletic, while Metanophrys is non-monophyletic.

Ultrastructure of Diophrys appendiculata and new systematic consideration of the euplotid family Uronychiidae (Protista, Ciliophora).

The ultrastructure of ciliates carries important cytological, taxonomical, and evolutionary signals for these single-celled eukaryotic organisms. However, little ultrastructural data have been accumulated for most ciliate groups with systematic problems. In the present work, a well-known marine uronychiid, Diophrys appendiculata, was investigated using electron microscopy and a comparison with, and a discussion considering, phylogenetic analyses were made. The new findings primarily show that: (i) this species lacks the typical alveolar plate, bears cortical ampule-like extrusomes, and has microtubular triads in the dorsal pellicle, and thus exhibits some ultrastructural features in common with most of its previously studied congeners; (ii) each adoral membranelle before the level of frontal cirrus II/2 contains three rows of kinetosomes and each membranelle after the level of frontal cirrus II/2 contains four rows, which might be related with morphogenesis and could be considered as a distinctive character of Diophrys; (iii) some structural details of the buccal field, such as the extra-pellicular fibrils, pellicle, pharyngeal disks and microtubular sheet, were documented. In addition, based on the ultrastructural comparison of representatives, we discuss the differentiation between the subfamilies Diophryinae and Uronychiinae. A hypothetical systematic relationship of members in the order Euplotida based on a wide range of data is also provided.

Hypotrichidium tisiae (Gelei, 1929) Gelei, 1954: a unique hypotrichid ciliate having a highly specialized developmental pattern during binary division.

In sharp contrast to their pelagic relatives, the oligotrichs, the overwhelming majority of hypotrich ciliates inhabit the benthos. Only a few species, including those of the genus Hypotrichidium Ilowaisky, 1921, have adapted to a planktonic lifestyle. The ontogenetic mode of the highly differentiated ciliate, Hypotrichidium tisiae (Gelei, 1929) Gelei, 1954, is unknown. In this study, the interphase morphology and the ontogenetic process of this species are investigated. Accordingly, the previously unidentified ciliary pattern of Hypotrichidium is redefined. The main morphogenetic features are as follows: (1) The parental adoral zone of membranelles is inherited completely by the proter and the oral primordium of the opisthe arises in a deep pouch. (2) Five frontoventral cirral anlagen (FVA) are formed: FVA I contributes to the single frontal cirrus, FVA II-IV generate three frontoventral cirral rows, FVA V migrates and forms postoral ventral cirri. (3) All marginal cirral row anlagen develop de novo: each of the two left anlagen forms a single cirral row, while the single right anlage fragments into anterior and posterior parts. (4) Two dorsal kinety anlagen occur de novo, with the right one fragmenting to form kineties 2 and 3. (5) Two long caudal cirral rows are formed at the ends of dorsal kineties 1 and 3. On the basis of the morphogenetic features and phylogenetic analyses, the assignment of Hypotrichidium to the family Spirofilidae Gelei, 1929 within Postoralida is supported. The establishment of separate families for the slender "tubicolous" spirofilids and the highly helical spirofilids is also validated. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-022-00148-9.

Taxonomy and molecular phylogeny of two poorly known ciliate genera, Balantidion and Acropisthium (Protista: Ciliophora: Litostomatea), including a new species of Balantidion.

The class Litostomatea Small & Lynn, 1981 is a morphologically diverse ciliate group including hundreds of free-living and endocommensal species. The genera Acropisthium Perty, 1852 and Balantidion Eberhard, 1862 previously consisted of one free-living freshwater species each. Here, we not only highlight additional morphological features of the two type species, but also investigate a new species, Balantidion foissneri sp. nov., isolated from a river flowing through Lake Weishan, China, based on complementary methods, i.e., living morphology, stained preparations, and 18S rRNA gene sequence data. Balantidion foissneri sp. nov. can be distinguished from the type species, B. pellucidum Eberhard, 1862, by the body size (115-170 × 50-80 µm vs. 70-100 × 25-45 µm in B. pellucidum), oral bulge (distinct vs. indistinct), extrusome shape (filiform vs. rod-shaped), and the number of somatic kineties (46-60 vs. 25-40). In Balantidion species, pre-encystment trophonts show similarly-shaped polymorphic cytoplasmic lepidosomes destined to adorn the outer surface of the resting cyst. Based on the current knowledge, assignment of Balantidion to the family Acropisthiidae Foissner & Foissner, 1988 is proposed. In addition, phylogenetic analyses based on molecular data show that the two Balantidion species form a fully-supported clade to which Acropisthium mutabile has a sister relationship.

Biodiversity of freshwater ciliates (Protista, Ciliophora) in the Lake Weishan Wetland, China: the state of the art.

Ciliates are core components of the structure of and function of aquatic microbial food webs. They play an essential role in the energy flow and material circulation within aquatic ecosystems. However, studies on the taxonomy and biodiversity of freshwater ciliates, especially those in wetlands in China are limited. To address this issue, a project to investigate the freshwater ciliates of the Lake Weishan Wetland, Shandong Province, commenced in 2019. Here, we summarize our findings to date on the diversity of ciliates. A total of 187 ciliate species have been found, 94 of which are identified to species-level, 87 to genus-level, and six to family-level. These species show a high morphological diversity and represent five classes, i.e., Heterotrichea, Litostomatea, Prostomatea, Oligohymenophorea, and Spirotrichea. The largest number of species documented are oligohymenophoreans. A comprehensive database of these ciliates, including morphological data, gene sequences, microscope slide specimens and a DNA bank, has been established. In the present study, we provide an annotated checklist of retrieved ciliates as well as information on the sequences of published species. Most of these species are recorded in China for the first time and more than 20% are tentatively identified as new to science. Additionally, an investigation of environmental DNA revealed that the ciliate species diversity in Lake Weishan Wetland is higher than previously supposed. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42995-022-00154-x.

Pulmonary multifocal arteriovenous malformations lead to ischemic stroke in young adults: a case report and literature review.

In recent years, the incidence of ischemic stroke in young people has gradually increased. The etiology and risk factors of young patients with ischemic stroke are complex, including migraine with aura, inherited thrombophilias, hyperhomocysteinemia, cardiovascular risk factors and malignancy. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation (PAVM) is a rare cause of ischemic stroke in young people, which can easily be misdiagnosed and missed due to the lack of specific biomarkers. In this case report, we described a 17-year-old stroke patient who was admitted to hospital due to sudden speech failure accompanied by weakness of the right limb, and was diagnosed with cerebral embolism in the emergency department. After mechanical thrombectomy, the blood vessels were completely recanalized and the symptoms of nerve defects disappeared. Subsequent chest CT examination revealed pulmonary vascular malformations and further pulmonary angiography revealed multiple PAVMs in the lungs. Furthermore, spring coil embolization treatment was performed on 2 PAVMs with an inflow greater than 2 mm. Three months later, enhanced chest CT reexamination showed no recanalization of the malformed vessels at the pulmonary embolism site. Therefore, PAVM should be further not excluded for young stroke patients with unknown causes to avoid misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis, interventional embolization is the best treatment method after diagnosis.

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Dileptid Ciliate Genus Paradileptus (Protista: Ciliophora), With a Brief Review and Redescriptions of Two Species Isolated From a Wetland in Northern China.

Members of the genus Paradileptus are apex predators in microbial food webs. They are often encountered in freshwater biotopes and have been used in research on water quality monitoring and ecology. Nevertheless, our understanding of the biodiversity of Paradileptus, especially its ecological and genetic diversities, is very poor which hinders our ability to understand the ecosystem services it provides. The present study gives a detailed account of two Chinese populations of Paradileptus elephantinus and P. conicus including their living morphology, infraciliature, and molecular phylogenies based on 18S, 5.8S, and ITS ribosomal DNA sequences. The phylogenetic relationships between these two species and other rhynchostomatians are investigated. We also explore the potential contribution of differentiation of the proboscis (e.g., extrusomes, dorsal brush, and differentiated kineties) to niche partitioning and speciation in Paradileptus. The global distribution of Paradileptus is summarized based on published data. Finally, a key to the identification of the valid species of Paradileptus is provided.

LncRNA FENDRR Inhibits ox-LDL Induced Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism Disorder in Aortic Endothelial Cells via miR-18a-5p/PGC-1α Signaling Pathway.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely related to AS. At present, several signaling pathways related to mitochondrial dysfunction have been found, one of which is around PGC-1α. PGC-1α is a transcription activator, which is related to mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant defense. In this study, we explored the effect of miR-18a-5p/PGC-1α signaling pathway on mitochondrial energy metabolism in HAECs with ox-LDL treatment. The results showed that the mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder in HAECs treated by ox-LDL was related to the downregulation of LncRNA FENDRR and PGC-1α. FENDRR could reverse ox-LDL induced mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder and upregulate the PGC-1α expression. FENDRR could be used as ceRNA to inhibit the miR-18a-5p expression and reduce the negative regulation of miR-18a-5p on PGC-1α. Downregulation of miR-18a-5p expression or upregulation of PGC-1α in ox-LDL treated HAECs could reverse mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder. In conclusion, these findings suggested that FENDRR/miR-18a-5p/PGC-1α signaling pathway regulated mitochondrial energy metabolism in HAECs; ox-LDL downregulated the expression of PGC-1α and cause mitochondrial energy metabolism disorder by inhibiting this signal pathway.

New Data Define the Molecular Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Four Freshwater Suctorian Ciliates With Redefinition of Two Families Heliophryidae and Cyclophryidae (Ciliophora, Phyllopharyngea, Suctoria).

Four suctorian ciliates, Cyclophrya magna Gönnert, 1935, Peridiscophrya florea (Kormos & Kormos, 1958) Dovgal, 2002, Heliophrya rotunda (Hentschel, 1916) Matthes, 1954 and Dendrosoma radians Ehrenberg, 1838, were collected from a freshwater lake in Ningbo, China. The morphological redescription and molecular phylogenetic analyses of these ciliates were investigated. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from SSU rDNA sequences show that all three suctorian orders, Endogenida, Evaginogenida, and Exogenida, are monophyletic and that the latter two clusters as sister clades. The newly sequenced P. florea forms sister branches with C. magna, while sequences of D. radians group with those from H. rotunda within Endogenida. The family Heliophryidae, which is comprised of only two genera, Heliophrya and Cyclophrya, was previously assigned to Evaginogenida. There is now sufficient evidence, however, that the type genus Heliophrya reproduces by endogenous budding, which corresponds to the definitive feature of Endogenida. In line with this and with the support of molecular phylogenetic analyses, we therefore transfer the family Heliophryidae with the type genus Heliophrya to Endogenida. The other genus, Cyclophrya, still remains in Evaginogenida because of its evaginative budding. Therefore, combined with morphological and phylogenetic analysis, Cyclophyidae are reactivated, and it belongs to Evaginogenida.

Two Urosoma species (Ciliophora, Hypotrichia): A multidisciplinary approach provides new insights into their ultrastructure and systematics.

The general morphology and ultrastructure of two soil hypotrichous ciliates, Urosoma emarginata and U. salmastra, were investigated using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Phylogenetic analyses, based on the newly sequenced small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA genes, were conducted on three U. emarginata populations and one U. salmastra population. Our findings support for the validity of Perilemmaphora Berger, 2008, a rankless taxon comprising spirotrich ciliates having a perilemma. The cortical granules of both species are extrusomes representing a new type of mucocyst in U. emarginata and possibly a new type of pigmentocyst in U. salmastra. Additionally, the lithosomes were revealed as subglobose structures composed of a low electron-dense, homogeneous inner part and an electron-dense outer part. The ultrastructural features of the cortical granules, together with ontogenetic and molecular phylogenetic data, suggest that the genus Urosoma might need to be divided. It is posited that ultrastructural features of hypotrichous ciliates in general may have important taxonomic value warranting further investigation.

Taxonomic studies on Aegyria apoliva sp. nov. and Trithigmostoma cucullulus (Müller, 1786) Jankowski, 1967 (Ciliophora, Cyrtophoria) with phylogenetic analyses.

The morphology, including the ciliary pattern, of two cyrtophorid ciliates, namely Aegyria apoliva sp. nov. and Trithigmostoma cucullulus (Müller, 1786) Jankowski, 1967, were investigated. They were isolated from coastal water off Qingdao and from an estuarine habitat in south China, respectively. Aegyria apoliva sp. nov. is characterized as following: body size 100-120 × 50-70 µm in vivo with dark pigment spot on anterior left part of cell; 48-69 somatic kineties; one preoral and four or five circumoral kineties; 9-13 transpodial segments; 26-40 nematodesmal rods; 6-10 contractile vacuoles. The Guangzhou population of Trithigmostoma cucullulus corresponds well with previously described populations, therefore only a brief morphological description is presented. Phylogenetic analysis based on small-subunit rRNA gene sequences data supports the establishment of the new species as well as the monophyly of both genera.