Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species
Crayfish are common hosts of microsporidian parasites, prominently from the genus <i>Thelohania</i>. <i>Thelohania</i> is a polyphyletic genus, with multiple genetically distinct lineages found from freshwater and marine environments. Researchers have been calling for a revis...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/3/636 |
| _version_ | 1797444640516866048 |
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| author | Cheyenne E. Stratton Lindsey S. Reisinger Donald C. Behringer Jamie Bojko |
| author_facet | Cheyenne E. Stratton Lindsey S. Reisinger Donald C. Behringer Jamie Bojko |
| author_sort | Cheyenne E. Stratton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crayfish are common hosts of microsporidian parasites, prominently from the genus <i>Thelohania</i>. <i>Thelohania</i> is a polyphyletic genus, with multiple genetically distinct lineages found from freshwater and marine environments. Researchers have been calling for a revision of this group for over a decade. We provide evidence that crayfish-infecting freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> are genetically and phylogenetically distinct from the marine <i>Thelohania</i> (Clade V/Glugeida), whilst also describing two new species that give further support to the taxonomic revision. We propose that the freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> should be transferred to their own genus, <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., in a new family (Astathelohaniidae n. fam.). This results in the revision of <i>Thelohania contejeani</i> (<i>Astathelohania contejeani</i>), <i>Thelohania montirivulorum</i> (<i>Astathelohania montirivulorum</i>), and <i>Thelohania parastaci</i> (<i>Astathelohania parastaci</i>). We also describe two novel muscle-infecting <i>Astathelohania</i> species, <i>A. virili</i> n. sp. and <i>A. rusti</i> n. sp., from North American crayfishes (<i>Faxonius</i> sp.). We used histological, molecular, and ultrastructural data to formally describe the novel isolates. Our data suggest that the <i>Astathelohania</i> are genetically distinct from other known microsporidian genera, outside any described family, and that their SSU rRNA gene sequence diversity follows their host species and native geographic location. The range of this genus currently includes North America, Europe, and Australia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:14:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-62c21f0f064346a4a2c713110591313d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:14:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-62c21f0f064346a4a2c713110591313d2023-11-30T21:37:20ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-03-0110363610.3390/microorganisms10030636Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New SpeciesCheyenne E. Stratton0Lindsey S. Reisinger1Donald C. Behringer2Jamie Bojko3Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USAFisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USAFisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USASchool of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough TS1 3BA, UKCrayfish are common hosts of microsporidian parasites, prominently from the genus <i>Thelohania</i>. <i>Thelohania</i> is a polyphyletic genus, with multiple genetically distinct lineages found from freshwater and marine environments. Researchers have been calling for a revision of this group for over a decade. We provide evidence that crayfish-infecting freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> are genetically and phylogenetically distinct from the marine <i>Thelohania</i> (Clade V/Glugeida), whilst also describing two new species that give further support to the taxonomic revision. We propose that the freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> should be transferred to their own genus, <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., in a new family (Astathelohaniidae n. fam.). This results in the revision of <i>Thelohania contejeani</i> (<i>Astathelohania contejeani</i>), <i>Thelohania montirivulorum</i> (<i>Astathelohania montirivulorum</i>), and <i>Thelohania parastaci</i> (<i>Astathelohania parastaci</i>). We also describe two novel muscle-infecting <i>Astathelohania</i> species, <i>A. virili</i> n. sp. and <i>A. rusti</i> n. sp., from North American crayfishes (<i>Faxonius</i> sp.). We used histological, molecular, and ultrastructural data to formally describe the novel isolates. Our data suggest that the <i>Astathelohania</i> are genetically distinct from other known microsporidian genera, outside any described family, and that their SSU rRNA gene sequence diversity follows their host species and native geographic location. The range of this genus currently includes North America, Europe, and Australia.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/3/636Microsporidiacrayfishdisease ecologyparasitetaxonomy<i>Thelohania</i> |
| spellingShingle | Cheyenne E. Stratton Lindsey S. Reisinger Donald C. Behringer Jamie Bojko Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species Microorganisms Microsporidia crayfish disease ecology parasite taxonomy <i>Thelohania</i> |
| title | Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species |
| title_full | Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species |
| title_fullStr | Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species |
| title_short | Revising the Freshwater <i>Thelohania</i> to <i>Astathelohania</i> gen. et comb. nov., and Description of Two New Species |
| title_sort | revising the freshwater i thelohania i to i astathelohania i gen et comb nov and description of two new species |
| topic | Microsporidia crayfish disease ecology parasite taxonomy <i>Thelohania</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/3/636 |
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