RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi (Dias, 1953) is a frequently found haemogregarine of southern African tortoises. At the time of this species' reassignment from the genus Haemogregarina to Hepatozoon, developmental stages such as sporocysts and sporozoites were observed in ticks associated with H. fitzsimonsi parasitised and non-parasitised tortoises. It was thus suggested that ticks may act as the potential vectors for this parasite. However, this earlier research was unable to confirm the identity of these sporogonic stages using molecular markers. In a separate study aimed at identifying tick species parasitising South African reptiles and molecularly screening these for the presence of Hepatozoon, that study identified H. fitzsimonsi in tortoise-associated ticks. Thus, the present study aimed to revisit the potential of ticks to act as vectors for H. fitzsimonsi in tortoises using a combined microscopy and molecular approach. METHODS: Specimens of Kinixys natalensis, Kinixys spekii, Kinixys zombensis and Stigmochelys pardalis were collected from Bonamanzi and Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa. Upon capture, animals were examined for ticks, and these were collected along with blood and other tissues. Adult ticks were dissected and visceral impression slides were prepared along with thin blood and tissue smears on clean microscope slides. Smears and impression slides were stained with Giemsa, screened and micrographs of parasites were captured. Two primer sets were employed to target fragments of the 18S rRNA gene of parasites found in both tortoises and ticks and the resulting sequences were then compared with other known H. fitzsimonsi and haemogregarine sequences from the GenBank database. RESULTS: Peripheral blood gamont and liver merogonic stages were observed in S. pardalis, while the sporogonic stages were observed in the haemocoel of Amblyomma ticks. Gamont and sporocyst stages compared morphologically with previous descriptions of H. fitzsimonsi, identifying them as this species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the blood and tick sequences obtained in this study clustered in a monophyletic clade comprising known H. fitzsimonsi. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides further support for ticks acting as the vectors of H. fitzsimonsi by molecularly identifying and linking observed developmental stages in tortoises (S. pardalis) with those in the invertebrate host (Amblyomma spp.).
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Amblyomma , Filogenia , Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Sudáfrica , Amblyomma/parasitología , Eucoccidiida/genética , Eucoccidiida/aislamiento & purificación , Eucoccidiida/clasificación , Coccidiosis/parasitología , Coccidiosis/veterinaria , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitología , ARN Ribosómico 18S/genéticaRESUMEN
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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Agua Dulce , Sanguijuelas , Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Brasil , Agua Dulce/parasitología , Sanguijuelas/clasificación , Sanguijuelas/anatomía & histología , Sanguijuelas/parasitología , Filogenia , Vectores de Enfermedades , Eucoccidiida/aislamiento & purificación , Eucoccidiida/genética , Eucoccidiida/clasificaciónRESUMEN
Blastocystis inhabits the digestive tracts of a diverse range of hosts. Transmission patterns, including host specificity, and the clinical and public health significance of Blastocystis in humans remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the distribution and genetic diversity of Blastocystis in herbivorous and carnivorous reptiles in Eastern Thailand. A total of 501 faecal samples were collected from 363 iguanas, 79 bearded dragons, 50 tortoises, and nine snakes in an animal breeding farm in Chonburi Province, Eastern Thailand. Detection and differentiation of Blastocystis was based on amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of specific small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA genes from faecal DNA extracted from the samples. Altogether 101/501 samples (20â¯%) were polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing-positive for Blastocystis, 90 (89â¯%) of which were from iguanas; the remaining positive samples were from African spurred tortoise (n=6), Bearded dragon (n=3), Leopard tortoise (n=1), and Red-footed tortoise (n=1). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the Blastocystis sequences from iguanas were largely similar, and they were distinct from those of the tortoises. Subtype 17 was found in the three bearded dragons and likely reflected Blastocystis from prey animals. This is the largest survey of Blastocystis in reptiles to date. Remarkable differences in Blastocystis colonization rates and genetic diversity were observed between iguanas and other reptile orders, and what was considered Blastocystis colonization was only observed in herbivorous reptiles.
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Infecciones por Blastocystis , Blastocystis , Heces , Variación Genética , Especificidad del Huésped , Filogenia , Animales , Blastocystis/genética , Blastocystis/clasificación , Tailandia/epidemiología , Infecciones por Blastocystis/veterinaria , Infecciones por Blastocystis/parasitología , Infecciones por Blastocystis/epidemiología , Infecciones por Blastocystis/transmisión , Heces/parasitología , Reptiles/parasitología , Tortugas/parasitología , Lagartos/parasitología , Serpientes/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Six species of freshwater turtles dominate the Chaco-Pampa Plain in southern South America and their parasites have been relatively understudied, with most records concentrated in Brazil. Particularly in Argentina, there are only scattered records of parasites for most of the turtles that inhabit the region, leaving a large knowledge gap. The purpose of the present contribution is to increase the knowledge of the internal parasites of six species of freshwater turtles from Argentina, after 15 years of fieldwork, by providing new hosts and additional geographic records for many host-parasite relationships. Some molecular sequences of the studied parasites were provided as a tool for better species identification. We processed 433 stomach and fecal samples from live individuals and visceral and soft tissue samples from 54 dissected turtles collected from a wide range and different ecoregions. We found 6230 helminths belonging to 18 taxa (one cestode, 11 digeneans and six nematodes). Fourteen new parasite-host associations are reported here, and for the first time parasites are recorded for Phrynops williamsi. This work contributes significantly to the knowledge of the parasitofauna in freshwater turtles in Argentina, providing a detailed list of parasites present in each turtle species and reporting molecular characters for future studies.
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Helmintos , Parásitos , Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Helmintos/genética , Agua Dulce , BrasilRESUMEN
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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Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Tortugas/sangre , Brasil/epidemiología , Agua Dulce , Eritrocitos/parasitología , Ríos , PrevalenciaRESUMEN
The big-headed Amazon River turtle, Peltocephalus dumerilianus, is endemic to the Orinoco and Amazon River basins. It is a food source for local communities, often unsustainably. Knowledge about P. dumerilianus' parasitological fauna and host-parasite relationships is limited. Thus, ecological aspects of gastrointestinal parasitism in this species were investigated. Helminths were found in the gastrointestinal tract of 21 turtles, morphologically identified, and infection descriptors calculated. All animals harbored helminths: nematodes Ancyracanthus pinnatifidus, Paratractis hystrix, Atractis trematophila, Klossinemella conciliatus indeterminate three Klossinemella species, and digeneans Nematophila grandis, Helicotrema spirale, and Telorchis hagmanni. The highest parasite load occurred in the large intestine, followed by the small intestine and stomach. Shell length directly correlated with parasite burden of heteroxenic helminths, with males having higher burden than females. This is the first record of A. trematophila, K. conciliatus, and T. hagmanni in P. dumerilianus, and new location record for A. trematophila, P. hystrix, N. grandis, H. spirale, and T. hagmanni. Three potentially new Klossinemella species are presented.
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Helmintos , Parasitosis Intestinales , Parásitos , Tortugas , Masculino , Femenino , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Brasil , Parques Recreativos , Parasitosis Intestinales/veterinariaRESUMEN
Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Schweigger) is a diurnal freshwater turtle widely distributed in the Orinoco and Amazon River basins in Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and French Guiana. During a helminthological survey of freshwater turtles from the Brazilian Amazon, numerous nematodes with characteristics of the genus Orientatractis Petter, 1966 were recovered from the stomach of Peltocephalus dumerilianus. These nematodes were different from all congeneric species, and we describe herein. Orientatractis bowseri n. sp. differs from all known species of the genus by having dorsal cuticular projections on the posterior region of the females, distribution of caudal papillae and by having papilla-like ornamentations on the cuticle distributed from the mid-esophagus to the mid portion of the body. This study represents the fourth specie of the genus Orientatractis reported in Brazil, the seventh species of Orientatractis in the Neotropical region, and the third found infecting freshwater turtles in Brazil.
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Ascarídidos , Nematodos , Parásitos , Tortugas , Femenino , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Brasil , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
Toxoplasmosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases, especially in warm and humid areas, and affects all mammals, including humans and many herbivores and carnivores. The present study investigated the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) parasite in tortoises for the first time in Iraq using PCR technology. A total of 28 tortoises/Testudo graeca (T. graeca) were collected between October 2018 and March 2019 from the study stations and then sent to the Animal House, which belongs to the Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, University of AL-Qadisiyah, Iraq, to perform the dissection. The body cavity was opened, and all organs were removed. The tortoises' liver, heart, and brain were removed and kept at -20ºC until use. Afterward, the samples were subjected to DNA extraction. The Nested-PCR technique was implemented using two pairs of primers, and then the PCR products were analyzed using 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis. The amplification of the gene during the first cycle indicated that 10 samples gave positive results with a total percentage of (11.9%), including five liver samples, three heart samples, and two brain samples (17.85%, 10.71%, and 7.14%, respectively). On the other hand, during the second cycle of the reaction, the amplification of the gene was obtained in seven samples (8.33%). The highest percentage of the presence of the gene was recorded in the tortoises' liver (14.28%) and the lowest in their brain (3.57%). This study is among the first to investigate the molecular detection of T. gondii in wild tortoises (T. graeca) in Iraq. The findings imply that tortoises have a role in transmitting T. gondii and are believed to acquire infection by feeding on small invertebrate animals or plants contaminated with the oocysts of the parasite.
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Toxoplasma , Tortugas , Animales , Humanos , Tortugas/parasitología , Toxoplasma/genética , Zoonosis , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Irak , MamíferosRESUMEN
Reptiles show a high occurrence of hemoparasites in the wild; however, little is known about the impact of such infections on their hosts' physiology and health status. Podocnemis vogli is an ancient turtle distributed in South America, frequently infected by blood parasites. Specifically, we analyzed the hematological and serum chemistry parameters of 78 wild turtles. We compared these values with those obtained from non-infected turtles of the same species in ex-situ conditions, considering factors such as sex and coinfections. Two orders of hemoparasites were detected under microscopic analyses: Adelorina, represented by Haemogregarina sp. (98.72 ± 0.28%), and Haemosporida, represented by Haemocystidium sp. (30.77 ± 1.16%), the latter genus being always in coinfection with Haemogregarina. Significant differences were observed in 20 parameters between infected (free living) and uninfected (living in captivity) turtles. The ALP, PCV, Hb, and MCV were significantly different by sex; albumin, cholesterol, creatinine, percentage of heterophils, lymphocytes, and basophils differed in coinfection. This is the first report of reference intervals of P. vogli in the wild and the first study comparing hematological and blood biochemistry values between hemoparasite-infected and uninfected P. vogli turtles. However, the limited knowledge of these parameters in wild reptiles and the wide range of interval values makes it difficult to determine any significant impact on turtle health. Nevertheless, this study highlights the need for more in-depth research to explore the potential effects of blood parasite infections on turtles, including immune response and coevolution studies.
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Coinfección , Haemosporida , Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Coinfección/veterinaria , Coinfección/parasitología , América del SurRESUMEN
Background: The growing contact between men and wild animals, caused by the increase in the population in urban centers and the destruction of the habitat of these animals, has been leading to a greater circulation of pathogens between humans and wildlife. Chelonoidis carbonaria, a tortoise found throughout South America, is one of the animals most rescued from animal trafficking and illegal breeding. Considering this situation, this study aimed to verify the occurrence of hemoparasites in C. carbonaria. Materials and Methods: Blood samples from 73 C. carbonaria were collected from animals located in (1) a rural commercial breeding unit, (2) an urban zoo, and (3) a center of rescued animal screening. Genomic DNA was extracted from these animals and used in PCRs to detect specific genomic fragments of haemogregarines (i.e., Hepatozoon and Hemolivia), and members of the Anaplasmataceae Family (i.e., Ehrlichia sp. and Anaplasma sp.). Blood samples were screened for hemopathogens by direct microscopy and were used for hematological assays, and serum samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of serum components. Results: It was found that 34.2% of the tortoises presented Sauroplasma sp. in their blood samples; these animals showed clinical biochemistry changes that indicate altered liver function. Two zoo animals were positive for Ehrlichia sp. in PCR, and also presented clinical biochemistry and hematological changes. Conclusion: The present project is pioneer in the detection of Ehrlichia sp. in C. carbonaria, and was able to identify changes in clinical biochemistry that can be a result of the infection by hemopathogens in this species.
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Ehrlichiosis , Tortugas , Humanos , Animales , Masculino , Tortugas/genética , Tortugas/parasitología , Anaplasma/genética , Ehrlichia/genética , Animales Salvajes , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Ehrlichiosis/epidemiología , Ehrlichiosis/veterinariaRESUMEN
Trachemys dorbigni is the most abundant freshwater turtle species in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Chelonians are known to host a wide variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, hemoparasites and helminths. Among these, nine genera of polystomatid flatworms (Monogenoidea; Polystomatidae) infect freshwater turtles: Apaloneotrema, Aussietrema, Fornixtrema, Manotrema, Pleurodirotrema, Polystomoidella, Polystomoides, Uropolystomoides and Uteropolystomoides. However, little is known about the biology of these parasites in the Neotropical Realm. Through investigative cystoscopy, specimens of Polystomatidae were located inside the urinary bladder of the host T. dorbigni. Retrieved specimens were fixed and stained whole mounts prepared for taxonomic identification. In the present paper, a new species of Polystomoides (Monogenoidea: Polystomatidae) parasitizing the urinary bladder of a freshwater turtle of the species T. dorbigni in Brazil is described. Polystomoides santamariensis n. sp. differs from the congeneric species on the length of the genital spines, which are longer. Given the enormous diversity of freshwater turtles around the world, it is likely that a large number of chelonian polystomatids are still unknown.
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Trematodos , Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Vejiga Urinaria , Brasil , Agua Dulce/parasitologíaRESUMEN
While monogenean worms are mainly parasites of the gills and skin of fish, and to a lesser extent parasites of the oral cavity, urinary bladder, and/or conjunctival sacs of amphibians and freshwater turtles, Oculotrema hippopotamiStunkard, 1924 is the single monogenean polystome reported from a mammal, the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius Linnaeus). Several hypotheses have been suggested in the last decade to explain the origin of this enigmatic parasite which infects the conjunctival sacs of H. amphibius. Based on a molecular phylogeny inferred from nuclear (28S and 18S) and mitochondrial (12S and COI) sequences of O. hippopotami and chelonian polystomes, we found a sister group relationship between O. hippopotami and Apaloneotrema moleri (Du Preez & Morrison, 2012). This result suggests lateral parasite transfer between freshwater turtles and hippopotamuses, thus likely reflecting one of the most exceptional known examples of host-switching in the course of vertebrate evolution. It also demonstrates that the proximity in the ecological habitat of parasites within host species is an important feature for their speciation and diversification. Because A. moleri and its host, the Florida softshell turtle (Apalone ferox (Schneider)), are restricted to the USA, we suggest that an ancestral stock of parasites may have been isolated on primitive African trionychids after they diverged from their American relatives, and then switched to hippopotamuses or anthracotheres in Africa.
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Artiodáctilos , Parásitos , Platelmintos , Trematodos , Tortugas , Animales , Platelmintos/genética , Filogenia , Tortugas/parasitología , Trematodos/genética , Artiodáctilos/parasitología , MamíferosRESUMEN
The protistan genus Epistylis contains freshwater colonial species that attach to aquatic organisms in an epibiotic or parasitic relationship. They are known to attach to the epidermis and shells of aquatic turtles, but have not been reported to cause heavy infestations or morbidity in turtles. We documented heavy infestations of Epistylis spp. in several populations of Sonoran mud turtles (Kinosternon sonoriense) inhabiting livestock ponds in Arizona, USA, and rough-footed mud turtles (Kinosternon hirtipes) from livestock ponds in Texas, USA, over the course of several years. Severe Epistylis spp. infestations on mud turtles appeared to alter diving and swimming behavior when compared to uninfested conspecifics. Infestations were cleared in captivity using tap water or a 10% salt solution, and the turtles had no permanent damage to their shell or epidermis upon clearing. While several of the mud turtles we observed had poor body condition, it is possible that the severe infestations we observed were caused by a comorbidity associated with a pathogen, parasite, or poor habitat quality that made the turtles more susceptible to the Epistylis spp. infestation. Further research on causes for these severe infestations are warranted because they contribute to changes in behavior of the heavily infested turtles and may contribute to morbidity in Kinosternon spp. when mud turtles inhabit extremely warm, shallow, eutrophic aquatic habitats, such as livestock ponds.
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Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Agua Dulce/parasitología , Arizona , TexasRESUMEN
Polystomatids are platyhelminth parasites that infect mainly amphibians and freshwater turtles. For more than seven decades, chelonian polystomes were classified into three genera according to the number of hamuli, i.e. absent for Neopolystoma, one pair for Polystomoidella and two pairs for Polystomoides. Following re-examination of morphological characters, seven new genera were erected the past six years, namely Apaloneotrema, Aussietrema, Fornixtrema, Manotrema, Pleurodirotrema, Uropolystomoides and Uteropolystomoides. However, the polyphyly of Neopolystoma and Polystomoides on the one hand, and the nested position of Uteropolystomoides within a clade encompassing all Neopolystoma and Polystomoides spp. on the other, still raised questions about the validity of these genera. We therefore re-examined several types, paratypes and voucher specimens, and investigated the molecular phylogeny of polystomes sampled from the oral cavity of North American turtles to re-evaluate their systematic status. We show that all Polystomoides Ward, 1917, sensu Du Preez et al., 2022, Neopolystoma Price, 1939, sensu Du Preez et al., 2022 and Uteropolystomoides Tinsley, 2017 species, display vaginae that are peripheral and extend well beyond the intestine. We thus reassign all species of the clade to Polystomoides and propose nine new combinations; however, although Uteropolystomoides is nested within this clade, based on its unique morphological features, we propose to keep it as a valid taxon. Polystomoides as redefined herein groups all polystome species infecting either the oral cavity or the urinary bladder of cryptodires, with peripheral vaginae and with or without two pairs of small hamuli. Uteropolystomoides nelsoni (Du Preez & Van Rooyen 2015), originally described from Pseudemys nelsoni Carr is now regarded as Uteropolystomoides multifalx (Stunkard, 1924) n. comb. infecting three distinct Pseudemys species of North America.
Title: Révision de la systématique des Polystomoidinae (Plathelminthes, Monogenea, Polystomatidae) avec redéfinition des genres Polystomoides Ward, 1917 et Uteropolystomoides Tinsley, 2017. Abstract: Les Polystomatidés sont des plathelminthes parasites qui infestent principalement les amphibiens et les tortues d'eau douce. Pendant plus de sept décennies, les polystomes de chéloniens ont été classés en trois genres selon le nombre d'hamuli, absents pour Neopolystoma, une paire pour Polystomoidella et deux paires pour Polystomoides. Suite au réexamen des caractères morphologiques, sept nouveaux genres ont été érigés ces six dernières années, à savoir Apaloneotrema, Aussietrema, Fornixtrema, Manotrema, Pleurodirotrema, Uropolystomoides et Uteropolystomoides. Cependant, la polyphylie de Neopolystoma et Polystomoides d'une part, et la position imbriquée d'Uteropolystomoides au sein d'un clade englobant toutes les espèces de Neopolystoma et Polystomoides d'autre part, soulèvent encore des questions sur la validité de ces trois genres. Nous avons donc réexaminé plusieurs types, paratypes et vouchers et étudié la phylogénie moléculaire de polystomes prélevés dans la cavité buccale de tortues d'Amérique du Nord pour réévaluer leur statut systématique. Nous montrons que toutes les espèces de Polystomoides Ward, 1917, sensu Du Preez et al., 2022, Neopolystoma Price, 1939, sensu Du Preez et al., 2022 et Uteropolystomoides Tinsley, 2017, présentent des vagins périphériques qui s'étendent bien au-delà de l'intestin. Nous réattribuons ainsi toutes les espèces du clade à Polystomoides et proposons neuf nouvelles combinaisons; cependant, nous proposons de conserver Uteropolystomoides sur la base de ses caractéristiques morphologiques exceptionnelles, bien que son espèce soit imbriquée au sein de ce clade. Polystomoides tel que redéfini ici regroupe toutes les espèces de polystomes infectant soit la cavité buccale, soit la vessie des cryptodires, avec des vagins périphériques, et deux paires de petits hamuli ou sans hamuli. Uteropolystomoides nelsoni (Du Preez & Van Rooyen 2015), l'unique espèce décrite à l'origine à partir de Pseudemys nelsoni Carr est maintenant considérée comme Uteropolystomoides multifalx (Stunkard, 1924) n. comb., qui infecte trois espèces distinctes de Pseudemys d'Amérique du Nord.
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Parásitos , Platelmintos , Trematodos , Tortugas , Animales , Platelmintos/genética , Filogenia , Vejiga Urinaria/parasitología , Tortugas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Pentastomes are crustacean endoparasites in the lungs of herpetofauna and rarely mammals and birds. To date, the only pentastomes reported in chelonians, all aquatic turtles, are Diesingia megastomum from Brazil and Pelonia africana from South Africa. In March 2021, 185 juvenile tortoises (Chelonoidis niger) were confiscated after an attempted illegal exportation from the Galápagos. It is believed the tortoises were removed from nests on Santa Cruz Island. The young tortoises were individually wrapped in plastic and at seizure ten were dead and another 25 tortoises subsequently died. One of the tortoises, estimated to be 3 months old, had 11 pentastomes in the lungs. The pentastomes were identified as a Raillietiella sp. based on morphology. The specimens had a claviform body that tapers into a bifid tail, a 165.3 µm × 92.1 µm buccal cadre, and sharp tipped anterior and posterior hooks with the posterior hooks being larger than the anterior. The males have smooth copulatory spicules with a rounded, smooth base. All females were gravid. Molecular analysis confirmed that the parasites were a Raillietiella sp. Based on the COI gene, it was most similar (82.7% identical) to an undescribed Raillietiella species from a Caribbean anole (Anolis cristatellus) found in Florida followed by R. hebitihamata (81%), R. indica (80.7%), and R. orientalis (78.8-80.7%). Based on the 18S rRNA gene sequence (1799 bp), it was most similar (99.3% identical) to two undescribed Raillietiella species followed by R. aegypti from a berber skink (Eumeces schneideri) from Saudia Arabia. Phylogenetically, with both molecular targets, the Raillietiella sp. from the Galápagos tortoise grouped with other Raillietiella spp. and was basal within the group. Currently, the origin of this parasite (native to Galápagos or introduced) and the life cycle are unknown. Because some pentastome species, especially when in aberrant hosts, can be pathogenic, additional studies of parasites in native and introduced reptile and amphibian species in the Galápagos are needed to better understand the risk this parasite poses to Galápagos tortoises.
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Artrópodos , Lagartos , Pentastomida , Tortugas , Animales , Femenino , Masculino , Mamíferos , Niger , Plásticos , Tortugas/genética , Tortugas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
The occurrence of protozoan parasites Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. such as the pathogenic bacteria Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli was molecularly investigated in the following free ranging species of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), Risso's dolphins (Grampus griseus) as well as loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles living in the Gulf of Taranto (Mediterranean Sea). Out of forty-one investigated individuals belonging to the 4 species, 13 (31.7%) were positive to one or more pathogens and zoonotic G. duodenalis assemblage A, Cryptosporidium parvum and S. enterica were identified in striped dolphins, loggerhead and green sea turtles. In this work, the presence of these opportunistic pathogens has been investigated in fecal samples of free ranging dolphin and sea turtle species for the first time. Moreover, this is the first record of C. parvum in loggerhead sea turtles. These results may provide baseline data for the potential role of cetaceans and sea turtles as potential sentinel species for zoonotic and terrestrial pathogens in the marine environment.
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Criptosporidiosis , Cryptosporidium , Delfines , Parásitos , Stenella , Tortugas , Animales , Tortugas/parasitología , Mar Mediterráneo , BacteriasRESUMEN
Nematodes collected from the stomach and large intestine of Rhinoclemmys punctularia (Daudin) from the eastern Amazon, Brazil, are assigned to a new genus, Vogtnema n. gen., allocated in the family Atractidae (Cosmocerdoidea). Vogtnema n. gen. differs from all other genera of Atractidae based on the combination of the following morphological characters: four lips V-shaped (two subdorsal and two subventral) without sclerotized structures associated, absence of sclerotized formations and/or pieces surrounding the oral opening, oral aperture surrounded by flange internal membranous structures; in males the larger spicule is alate. The type species Vogtnema asymmetrica n. gen., n. sp. has the five precloacal pairs of papillae situated on the right side of the body that are more prominent than those on the left side. We also provide an identification key to the genera of the family Atractidae.
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Ascarídidos , Nematodos , Parásitos , Tortugas , Animales , Brasil , Masculino , Especificidad de la Especie , Tortugas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle) is classified as a critically endangered species at world level; in Brazil, it is listed among the threatened species. Spirorchiids are parasites of the circulatory system of chelonians which may cause serious lesions in the various tissues of the host due to deposition of eggs in the bloodstream. In this context, the aim of the present study was to describe the pathology caused by spirorchiid eggs in E. imbricata from the Brazilian over a five year period. A total of 29 animals were analyzed, of which nine (31%) presented lesions associated to spirorchiids eggs. The lesions were: granulomatous enteritis in six (66.66%), granulomatous splenitis in five (55.55%), granulomatous hepatitis in three (33.33%), granulomatous pneumonia in three (33.33%), granulomatous pancreatitis in two (22.22%), and granulomatous adrenalitis in one specimen (11.11%). Concluded the main lesion in Eretmochelys imbricata was giant-cell granulomatous inflammatory reaction to the parasite's eggs. Animals exhibiting poor physical health were more susceptible to presenting such lesions.
Asunto(s)
Tortugas , Animales , Brasil , Tortugas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Molecular tools have revolutionized assessments of blood parasites in freshwater turtles. In the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa, two native species of terrapins occur, Emys orbicularis (Linnaeus) and Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger). Both have been identified as hosts for the blood parasite Haemogregarina stepanowi Danilewsky, 1885, which has also been found in related species. However, recent assessments of M. leprosa have identified several distinct genetic lineages of these parasites in this host, while only three haemogregarine lineages were identified in E. orbicularis in Tunisia. Here, we screened 215 individuals of E. orbicularis from the Iberian Peninsula, Menorca Island and Morocco for haemogregarine parasites using partial 18S rRNA gene sequences to estimate relationships. Three unrelated lineages of parasites were detected, one presumed H. stepanowi and two lineages previously known from M. leprosa. A considerable undescribed diversity of parasites exists within these vertebrate host species, while mixed infection and host-sharing is also widespread. Considering that E. orbicularis is near threatened in this region, it is of great importance to identify the parasites infecting it, and to further assess the potential deleterious impact of these diverse parasites on their hosts.
Asunto(s)
Apicomplexa , Eucoccidiida , Parásitos , Tortugas , Animales , Especificidad de la Especie , Tortugas/parasitologíaRESUMEN
Tortoise ticks, Hyalomma aegyptium, are considered so strongly associated with their hosts that they are even used as indirect indicators for them. In such a case, a robust pattern of congruence between host and parasite could be expected, with phylogeographic breaks within the host being reflected in their parasites. We sequenced two mitochondrial partial gene regions (12S rRNA and Cytochrome Oxidase 1) from ticks across northern Africa and Anatolia, and compared patterns of variation with those identified in its main host, Testudo graeca. Two distinct haplogroups were identified, both of which were found distributed across much of northern Africa. This pattern does not reflect the known variation within the host, which has multiple, geographically disjunct subspecies in this region, but rather the major climatic zones. This relationship can be explained by adaptive processes to environmental conditions influenced by the climate, as well as by the spatial structure of the communities of tick potential hosts in larval and nymphal stages. Extensive anthropogenic movement of tortoises may also obscure congruence patterns between H. aegyptium ticks and their hosts.