Crithidia ricardoi sp. n. a new species of trypanosomatidae isolated from Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928 (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

A flagellte trypanosomatid was isolated in culture from the digestive tract of the mosquito Culex saltanensis Dyar, 1928. It grows exuberantly in liver infusion in the form of epimastigotes and choanomastigotes typical of the genus Crithidia. The trypanosomatid was compared to C. deanei, C. fasciculata, C. luciliae, C. oncopelti and C. guilhermei. The techniques used for comparison were electron transmission microscopy, isoenzymes and kDNA restriction profiles. No endosymbionts were found at electron microscopy. Results for the biochemical methods employd indicate that the trypanosomatid isolated from C. saltanensis is a new species of Crithidia. The name C. ricardoi sp. n. is proposed for thes new species

Analysing ambiguities in trypanosomatids taxonomy by barcoding

“…In addition, as previously published, Crithidia luciliae (COLPROT053) should be synonymised to C. fasciculata [ Figure and Supplementary data (Table I)]. (39) Notwithstanding, Crithidia guilhermei (COLPROT051) (39) and Crithidia ricardoi (COLPROT184) (40) also present very low sequence divergence and should all be considered isolates of a single species [Figure and Supplementary data (Table I)]. Furthermore, COLPROT213, isolated from a plant, and COLPROT606, isolated from a human patient, were also identified as isolates of C. fasciculata [ Figure and Supplementary data (Table I)].…”