Multilocus sequencing of Hepatozoon cf. griseisciuri infections in Ontario eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) uncovers two genotypically distinct sympatric parasite species

Hepatozoon (Eucoccidiorida: Hepatozoidae) in wild mammals of the Americas: a systematic review

“…canis [ 128 ] and the mitogenome of Hepatozoon spp. associated with rodents were recently sequenced [ 125 , 126 ]. It was not unexpected that the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I ( cox1 ) locus had a higher nucleotide divergence (≥ 0.08) if compared with the 18S rRNA gene (≥ 0.012), becoming the marker of choice to distinguish Hepatozoon species [ 125 , 126 , 128 ].…”

“…associated with rodents were recently sequenced [ 125 , 126 ]. It was not unexpected that the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I ( cox1 ) locus had a higher nucleotide divergence (≥ 0.08) if compared with the 18S rRNA gene (≥ 0.012), becoming the marker of choice to distinguish Hepatozoon species [ 125 , 126 , 128 ]. Nevertheless, the paucity of mitochondrial and apicoplast sequences in online databases represents a significant gap that needs to be addressed in order to unravel the intricate diversity and systematics of the genus.…”

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

A new species,Dactylosoma piperisn. sp. (Apicomplexa, Dactylosomatidae), from the pepper frogLeptodactylus labyrinthicus(Anura, Leptodactylidae) from Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

“…Furthermore, Léveillé et al [55], shows the problematic designation of the genus Bartazoon based on the congenic and phylogenetic relationship of Hepatozoon griseisciuri and the type species of the genus Hepatozoon as described by Miller [63]. Léveillé et al [55] reporting complete molecular data on nuclear 18S rDNA and the mitochondrial genome from Hepatozoon spp., showed significant pairwise differences observed between 18S rDNA and mitochondrial genome sequences; the sequences observed in their study support the idea of superiority of COI sequences on nuclear genes to describe species, and the mitochondrial genomes sequenced to date display staggering diversity. The adeleorinid coccidian will require additional sequence data from mitochondrial genomes to better understand the taxonomy and phylogenetic classifications, and the authors suggested that the genus Hepatozoon is likely distributed into multiple genera that have yet to be defined.…”

“…Notwithstanding, until the scientific community has complete knowledge about the transmission structure and life cycle of haemogregarines, as well as the real phylogenetic and genomic diversity, the addition of a new genus to the group is precipitated. Thus, the phylogenetic analysis from this study was based on Léveillé et al [55] and Maia et al [58], within the old classification of Hepatozoon spp., covering different groups of animals and transmission pathways, considered valid so far.…”