Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe
Haemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) are the most common and widespread reptilian blood parasites. <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> was the first haemogregarine described from a reptile, the European pond turtle <i>Emys orbicularis</i>, and initial assessments indicated i...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-04-01
|
| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/1063 |
| _version_ | 1827744279018078208 |
|---|---|
| author | Marko Maričić Gorana Danon J. Filipe Faria D. James Harris |
| author_facet | Marko Maričić Gorana Danon J. Filipe Faria D. James Harris |
| author_sort | Marko Maričić |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Haemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) are the most common and widespread reptilian blood parasites. <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> was the first haemogregarine described from a reptile, the European pond turtle <i>Emys orbicularis</i>, and initial assessments indicated it was widespread across different pond turtle host species across much of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. However, recent molecular assessments have indicated the presence of multiple genetically distinct forms in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, and extensive mixed infections which may be associated with a negative impact on the hosts. Here, we screened two native species, <i>E. orbicularis</i> and <i>Mauremys rivulata</i>, and the introduced <i>Trachemys scripta</i> from Serbia and North Macedonia for haemogregarines by amplifying and sequencing part of the 18S rRNA gene of these parasites, and used a standard DNA barcoding approach to identify leeches, the final host, attached to pond turtles. Our results again demonstrate the occurrence of considerable diversity of parasites in the analysed pond turtle species, and that <i>T. scripta</i> are likely infected by local haemogregarine parasites, and not those that are found in its native range. Leeches were identified as <i>Placobdella costata,</i> part of a lineage from Northern Europe. Mixed infections within pond turtles were again common. Current haemogregarine taxonomy does not reflect the genetic diversity identified, and a full taxonomic reassessment is needed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:42:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-53d3a171fdf94170b2ee1822fd4b9873 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:42:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-53d3a171fdf94170b2ee1822fd4b98732023-11-17T20:34:29ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-04-01114106310.3390/microorganisms11041063Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern EuropeMarko Maričić0Gorana Danon1J. Filipe Faria2D. James Harris3Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInstitute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaBIOPOLIS Program, CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, PortugalBIOPOLIS Program, CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, PortugalHaemogregarines (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) are the most common and widespread reptilian blood parasites. <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> was the first haemogregarine described from a reptile, the European pond turtle <i>Emys orbicularis</i>, and initial assessments indicated it was widespread across different pond turtle host species across much of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. However, recent molecular assessments have indicated the presence of multiple genetically distinct forms in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula, and extensive mixed infections which may be associated with a negative impact on the hosts. Here, we screened two native species, <i>E. orbicularis</i> and <i>Mauremys rivulata</i>, and the introduced <i>Trachemys scripta</i> from Serbia and North Macedonia for haemogregarines by amplifying and sequencing part of the 18S rRNA gene of these parasites, and used a standard DNA barcoding approach to identify leeches, the final host, attached to pond turtles. Our results again demonstrate the occurrence of considerable diversity of parasites in the analysed pond turtle species, and that <i>T. scripta</i> are likely infected by local haemogregarine parasites, and not those that are found in its native range. Leeches were identified as <i>Placobdella costata,</i> part of a lineage from Northern Europe. Mixed infections within pond turtles were again common. Current haemogregarine taxonomy does not reflect the genetic diversity identified, and a full taxonomic reassessment is needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/1063<i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i><i>Emys orbicularis</i><i>Mauremys rivulata</i><i>Trachemys scripta</i>SerbiaNorth Macedonia |
| spellingShingle | Marko Maričić Gorana Danon J. Filipe Faria D. James Harris Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe Microorganisms <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> <i>Emys orbicularis</i> <i>Mauremys rivulata</i> <i>Trachemys scripta</i> Serbia North Macedonia |
| title | Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe |
| title_full | Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe |
| title_short | Molecular Screening of Haemogregarine Hemoparasites (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) in Populations of Native and Introduced Pond Turtles in Eastern Europe |
| title_sort | molecular screening of haemogregarine hemoparasites apicomplexa adeleorina haemogregarinidae in populations of native and introduced pond turtles in eastern europe |
| topic | <i>Haemogregarina stepanowi</i> <i>Emys orbicularis</i> <i>Mauremys rivulata</i> <i>Trachemys scripta</i> Serbia North Macedonia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/4/1063 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT markomaricic molecularscreeningofhaemogregarinehemoparasitesapicomplexaadeleorinahaemogregarinidaeinpopulationsofnativeandintroducedpondturtlesineasterneurope AT goranadanon molecularscreeningofhaemogregarinehemoparasitesapicomplexaadeleorinahaemogregarinidaeinpopulationsofnativeandintroducedpondturtlesineasterneurope AT jfilipefaria molecularscreeningofhaemogregarinehemoparasitesapicomplexaadeleorinahaemogregarinidaeinpopulationsofnativeandintroducedpondturtlesineasterneurope AT djamesharris molecularscreeningofhaemogregarinehemoparasitesapicomplexaadeleorinahaemogregarinidaeinpopulationsofnativeandintroducedpondturtlesineasterneurope |