Partial (D1-D3) 28S rRNA gene sequences from 16 isolates of digenean parasites of the family Dicrocoeliidae recovered from 16 bird species from the Czech Republic were used for phylogenetic reconstruction. Comparison with sequences available from GenBank suggests that the genus Brachylecithum is paraphyletic, requiring further validation and possible systematic revision. Although partial 28S rDNA is relatively conserved, analyses suggest that the following taxa are synonymous: Lutztrema attenuatum = L. monenteron = L. microstomum, Brachylecithum lobatum = B. glareoli. Zonorchis petiolatus is reassigned back to the genus Lyperosomum with L. collurionis as a junior synonym. The study revealed how complicated the systematics of the family Dicrocoeliidae is currently. The morphology of the group is variable, and the current distinguishing characters at species and even generic level are not sufficiently distinctive; it is difficult to identify the specimens correctly and identification of GenBank isolates is not reliable. Extensive sampling of isolates for both molecular and morphological studies is necessary to resolve the relationships within the family.
Neorickettsia (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae) is a genus of obligate intracellular bacterial endosymbionts of digeneans (Platyhelminthes, Digenea). Some Neorickettsia are able to invade cells of the digenean's vertebrate host and are known to cause diseases of domestic animals, wildlife, and humans. In this study we report the results of screening digenean samples for Neorickettsia collected from bats in Egypt and Mindoro Island, Philippines, snails and fishes from Thailand, and fishes from Vietnam and the USA. Neorickettsiae were detected using a real-time PCR protocol targeting a 152 bp fragment of the heat shock protein coding gene, GroEL, and verified with nested PCR and sequencing of a 1853 bp long region of the GroESL operon and a 1371 bp long region of 16S rRNA. Eight unique genotypes of Neorickettsia were obtained from digenean samples. Neorickettsia sp. 8 obtained from Lecithodendrium sp. from Egypt; Neorickettsia sp. 9 and 10 obtained from two species of Paralecithodendrium from Mindoro, Philippines; Neorickettsia sp. 11 from Lecithodendrium sp. and Neorickettsia sp. 4 (previously identified from Saccocoelioides lizae, from China) from Thailand; Neorickettsia sp. 12 from Dicrogaster sp. Florida, USA; Neorickettsia sp. 13 and SF agent from Vietnam. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the forms, provisionally named Neorickettsia sp. 8-13, represent new genotypes. We have for the first time detected Neorickettsia in a digenean from Egypt (and the African continent as a whole), the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam based on PCR and sequencing evidence. Our findings suggest that further surveys from the African continent, SE Asia, and the Island countries are likely to reveal new Neorickettsia lineages as well as new digenean host associations.
Background: Despite the fact that Egypt contains a large number of lizard species, yet there is little knowledge recorded regarding the helminth fauna infecting this group of hosts. A parasitological study on gastrointestinal helminths of lizards was carried out during Summer (August) and Autumn (September and October), 2014 and 2015, respectively. Objective: This study aims to update information on helminth parasites that infect lizards in Egypt. Material and Methods: Seven species of lizards,
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