Phenotypic Plasticity in a Gregarine Parasite (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinordia) Infecting Grasshoppers

Hussain, K. Jahir; Krishnan, S. Muthu; Johny, Shajahan; Whitman, Douglas W.

doi:10.1654/4602.1

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…For many years, observed differences in the morphology of trophozoites have been considered adequate characters for gregarine diagnosis and description. However, given that some morphological features may vary during their life cycle, due for example to the host species stage [13] or diet [14] and considering that there are not sufficient descriptions for many species, the morphology-based taxonomy alone may be unreliable. For this reason, molecular phylogenetic analyses represent now the most important tool applied for the taxonomy of the group and to reconstruct gregarine evolutionary relationships.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut

et al. 2018

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Protozoa, of the taxon Gregarinasina, are a heterogeneous group of Apicomplexa that includes ~1600 species. They are parasites of a large variety of both marine and terrestrial invertebrates, mainly annelids, arthropods and mollusks. Unlike coccidians and heamosporidians, gregarines have not proven to have a negative effect on human welfare; thus, they have been poorly investigated. This study focuses on the molecular identification and phylogeny of the gregarine species found in the midgut of two insect species that are considered as an alternative source of animal proteins for the human diet: the mealworm Tenebrio molitor, and the super-worm Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Gregarine specimens were isolated from the gut of both larval and adult stages of T. molitor specimens, as well as from Z. atratus larvae. The morphological analyses were restricted to the identification of the different parasite morpho-types, likely corresponding either to different life-cycle stages or to alternative gregarine species. The samples were also used for the DNA extraction necessary for their genetic characterization. Finally, the efficiency of different molecular markers (i.e., 18S rDNA gene alone or combined with the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1) was assessed when applied either to gregarine species identification and to phylogenetic inference.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut

et al. 2018

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“…Variations in the presence/absence, form, number and type, arrangement, and measurements of different structures have been studied in numerous groups of organism. These variations have been well documented for different groups of parasites as protozoans (Reece et al 2009, Mideo and Reece 2012, Hussain et al 2013, microsporidians (Vizoso and Ebert 2005), monogeneans (Matejusová et al 2002, Mladineo et al 2013, Brazenor et al 2018, digeneans of invertebrates (Poulin 2003) and of vertebrates (Blankespoor 1974, Kohn et al 1997, Hildebrant et al 2015), cestodes (Barčák et al 2014, Hanzelová et al 2015, Benesh and Kalbe 2016), pentastomids (Kelehear et al 2011, and mites (Downes 1990, Korallo-Vinarskaya et al 2015, among others.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Morphological variation of Aplectana hylambatis (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from different anuran hosts and localities in Argentina

González

Gómez

Hamann

2019

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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Aplectana hylambatis is a nematode with a wide geographic distribution and low host specificity. In spite of numerous reports, until this moment, the morphological variations between different hosts and localities have not been studied. We studied 401 specimens collected from five host species from seven localities in Argentina, and examined the following morphological characters: mamelon-like cuticular protuberances anterior to the vulva, structure of the gubernaculum and the spicules, number and arrangement of caudal papillae, and the measurements of twelve characters in females and eleven characters in males. The results showed that mamelon-like protuberances and caudal papillae varied in number and arrangement between different hosts and localities. The metrical study revealed that five characters in males and six in females contributed to variability; nine characters showed significant differences between host species and localities. Specimens of A. hylambatis collected from R. arenarum formed a group clearly differentiated from the rest of the specimens. The results from this study highlight the importance of examining as many specimens as possible from different host samples and from several localities to cover the intraspecific variations.

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“…intestine or coelom), descriptions of life-cycle development stages (morphological measurements, duration of the stages, scanning and transmission electron microscopy), gamont pairing (frontal, lateral, caudo-frontal), and modes of gametocyst dehiscence [ 11 , 17 , 26 ]. The increasing use of molecular data in recent decades has led to the confirmation, but also sometimes to the revision of the taxonomic and phylogenetic view we have of gregarines, and has revealed that some species that were once considered distinct are in fact the same [ 19 ] or, the reverse, novel cryptic species, i.e. morphologically indistinguishable but clearly distinct at the molecular level [ 30 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrative taxonomy confirms that Gregarina garnhami and G. acridiorum (Apicomplexa, Gregarinidae), parasites of Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria (Insecta, Orthoptera), are distinct species

et al. 2021

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Orthoptera are infected by about 60 species of gregarines assigned to the genus Gregarina Dufour, 1828. Among these species, Gregarina garnhami Canning, 1956 from Schistocerca gregaria (Forsskål, 1775) was considered by Lipa et al. in 1996 to be synonymous with Gregarina acridiorum (Léger 1893), a parasite of several orthopteran species including Locusta migratoria (Linné, 1758). Here, a morphological study and molecular analyses of the SSU rDNA marker demonstrate that specimens of S. gregaria and specimens of L. migratoria are infected by two distinct Gregarina species, G. garnhami and G. acridiorum, respectively. Validation of the species confirms that molecular analyses provide useful taxonomical information. Phenotypic plasticity was clearly observed in the case of G. garnhami: the morphology of its trophozoites, gamonts and syzygies varied according to the geographical location of S. gregaria and the subspecies infected.

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Phenotypic Plasticity in a Gregarine Parasite (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinordia) Infecting Grasshoppers

Cited by 7 publications

References 54 publications

Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut

Assessing the Efficiency of Molecular Markers for the Species Identification of Gregarines Isolated from the Mealworm and Super Worm Midgut

Morphological variation of Aplectana hylambatis (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from different anuran hosts and localities in Argentina

Integrative taxonomy confirms that Gregarina garnhami and G. acridiorum (Apicomplexa, Gregarinidae), parasites of Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria (Insecta, Orthoptera), are distinct species

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