Haemocystidium spp., a species complex infecting ancient aquatic turtles of the family Podocnemididae: First report of these parasites in Podocnemis vogli from the Orinoquia

Abstract

The genus Haemocystidium was described in 1904 by Castellani and Willey. However, several studies considered it a synonym of the genera Plasmodium or Haemoproteus. Recently, molecular evidence has shown the existence of a monophyletic group that corresponds to the genus Haemocystidium. Here, we further explore the clade Haemocystidium spp. by studying parasites from Testudines. A total of 193 individuals belonging to six families of Testudines were analyzed. The samples were collected in five localities in Colombia: Casanare, Vichada, Arauca, Antioquia, and Córdoba. From each individual, a blood sample was taken for molecular analysis, and peripheral blood smears were made, which were fixed and subsequently stained with Giemsa. The prevalence of Haemocystidium spp. was 1.55% (n = 3/193); all infected individuals belonged to Podocnemis vogli (Savanna Side-necked turtle) from the department of Vichada. This is the first report of Haemocystidium spp. in Colombia and in this turtle species. The phylogenetic analysis of a mitochondrial cytb fragment revealed Haemocystidium spp. as a monophyletic group and as a sister taxon of Haemoproteus catharti and the genus Plasmodium. Haemocystidium spp. are difficult to identify by morphology only. As a result, it is possible that some of the taxa, such as Haemocystidium (Simondia) pacayae, represent a species complex. The parasite found in our study is morphologically indistinguishable from Haemocystidium (Simondia) pacayae reported in Peru. However, the new lineage found in P. vogli shows a genetic distance of 0.02 with Hae. pacayae and 0.04 with Hae. peltocephali. It is proposed that this divergent lineage might be a new species. Nevertheless, additional molecular markers and ecological features could support this hypothesis in the future.

Molecular characterization of haemosporidian and haemogregarine diversity in southwestern Iberian amphibians and reptiles

“…Thus, to our knowledge, it represented the first report of Haemocystidium in western Europe and the first in the species Tarentola mauritanica . The phylogenetic analysis was similar to those previously described by González et al ( 2019 ) and Austen et al ( 2020 ), with a clade formed by parasites found in chelonians and other clade formed by parasites found in lacertids and snakes. The new lineage ON458135 found from T. mauritanica could be placed together with this second clade with haplotypes from other gecko and a snake species.…”

Molecular and morphological description of the first Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Hepatozoidae) species infecting a neotropical turtle, with an approach to its phylogenetic relationships

“…Besides, new molecular markers would improve phylogenetic relationships. The mitochondrial genome has been seen as a good candidate given the evolution rate of the genes encoded there (Escalante et al ., 1998; Pacheco et al ., 2017) as well as their widespread use in other apicomplexa groups of parasites (Bensch et al ., 2000; Martinsen et al ., 2008; Perkins, 2008; Ogedengbe et al ., 2011; Witsenburg et al ., 2012; Borner et al ., 2016; González et al ., 2019 among others). In this regard, recent advances have been achieved for the mitochondrial genome sequencing of Hepatozoon catesbianae and Hepatozoon griseisciuri (Léveillé et al ., 2014, 2020), from which high genetic divergences have been found within the nominal taxa.…”

“…During the past decade, many studies have characterized the apicomplexan parasites that infect reptiles of tropical regions of South America (i.e. O'Dwyer et al ., 2013; Pineda-Catalan et al ., 2013; Borges-Nojosa et al ., 2017; Matta et al ., 2018; Úngari et al ., 2018; González et al ., 2019). Despite this, knowledge about Haemogregarines, particularly in Testudines, is still scarce.…”

Morphometric and molecular characterization of an unpigmented haemosporidian parasite in the Neotropical turnip-tailed gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda)

“…3 ). The phylogenies, overall, coincide with those previously reported that included other parasites from reptiles (González et al ., 2019 ; Pacheco et al ., 2020 ; Córdoba et al ., 2021 ). Both phylogenetic hypotheses showed that the parasite found in Turnip-tailed gecko shares a common ancestor with Plasmodium species found in lizards.…”