Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i>
Amphibians and reptiles represent a considerable proportion of the vertebrate fauna in Brazil. Different blood parasitic infections have been reported in these groups, such as <i>Haemogregarina</i>, <i>Hepatozoon</i>, <i>Trypanosoma</i> and microfilariae. However,...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/12/1192 |
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| author | Gabriella R. C. Clemente Germán A. Gutierrez-Liberato Carolina C. Anjos Pedro I. Simões Jessica R. Mudrek Alan Fecchio José H. A. Lima Patricia M. A. Oliveira João B. Pinho Bruno S. Mathias Lilian O. Guimarães Karin Kirchgatter |
| author_facet | Gabriella R. C. Clemente Germán A. Gutierrez-Liberato Carolina C. Anjos Pedro I. Simões Jessica R. Mudrek Alan Fecchio José H. A. Lima Patricia M. A. Oliveira João B. Pinho Bruno S. Mathias Lilian O. Guimarães Karin Kirchgatter |
| author_sort | Gabriella R. C. Clemente |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Amphibians and reptiles represent a considerable proportion of the vertebrate fauna in Brazil. Different blood parasitic infections have been reported in these groups, such as <i>Haemogregarina</i>, <i>Hepatozoon</i>, <i>Trypanosoma</i> and microfilariae. However, insufficient research on interactions between these parasites and their hosts has been carried out in some regions of the country. Samples were collected from populations of wild herpetofauna in different microhabitats throughout Brazil, totaling 111 samples of reptiles from the states of Mato Grosso and Pernambuco. We used an integrative approach, with classical microscopy, morphometry and molecular analysis, in order to identify hemoparasites present in the analyzed fauna. Genomic DNA was extracted for the PCR protocol based on the <i>18S</i> ribosomal RNA gene for <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. A total of 53 positives were obtained with molecular screening (47.7%), all confirmed as <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. using DNA sequencing. Among positive samples, 23 slides were examined, confirming the presence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. in 91.3% of the smears. The phylogenetic analysis performed with sequences from 43 samples resulted in a tree containing several distinct clades. Sequences were generally grouped according to the taxonomic order of the host. Co-infections with microfilariae and <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. were also found in microscopy analyses. This study describes the presence of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> in a new host species (<i>Paleosuchus palpebrosus</i>) that can be a paratenic host in the natural environment. The existence of parasitic co-infections in alligator species underscores the significance of recognizing the impact of infections by various parasitic taxa on the host populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:51:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d3066486d4b0488f82719f7d360c62db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:51:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-d3066486d4b0488f82719f7d360c62db2023-12-22T14:03:47ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-12-011512119210.3390/d15121192Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i>Gabriella R. C. Clemente0Germán A. Gutierrez-Liberato1Carolina C. Anjos2Pedro I. Simões3Jessica R. Mudrek4Alan Fecchio5José H. A. Lima6Patricia M. A. Oliveira7João B. Pinho8Bruno S. Mathias9Lilian O. Guimarães10Karin Kirchgatter11Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, BrazilNature Research Centre, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, BrazilDepartamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, PE, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, BrazilCentro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET—Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel U9200, CT, ArgentinaDepartamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, PE, BrazilDepartamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, PE, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso (UFMT), Cuiabá 78060-900, MT, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, BrazilLaboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Instituto Pasteur, São Paulo 01027-000, SP, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, BrazilAmphibians and reptiles represent a considerable proportion of the vertebrate fauna in Brazil. Different blood parasitic infections have been reported in these groups, such as <i>Haemogregarina</i>, <i>Hepatozoon</i>, <i>Trypanosoma</i> and microfilariae. However, insufficient research on interactions between these parasites and their hosts has been carried out in some regions of the country. Samples were collected from populations of wild herpetofauna in different microhabitats throughout Brazil, totaling 111 samples of reptiles from the states of Mato Grosso and Pernambuco. We used an integrative approach, with classical microscopy, morphometry and molecular analysis, in order to identify hemoparasites present in the analyzed fauna. Genomic DNA was extracted for the PCR protocol based on the <i>18S</i> ribosomal RNA gene for <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. A total of 53 positives were obtained with molecular screening (47.7%), all confirmed as <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. using DNA sequencing. Among positive samples, 23 slides were examined, confirming the presence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> spp. in 91.3% of the smears. The phylogenetic analysis performed with sequences from 43 samples resulted in a tree containing several distinct clades. Sequences were generally grouped according to the taxonomic order of the host. Co-infections with microfilariae and <i>Trypanosoma</i> spp. were also found in microscopy analyses. This study describes the presence of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> in a new host species (<i>Paleosuchus palpebrosus</i>) that can be a paratenic host in the natural environment. The existence of parasitic co-infections in alligator species underscores the significance of recognizing the impact of infections by various parasitic taxa on the host populations.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/12/1192<i>Hepatozoon</i>parasite diversityphylogenetic diversity |
| spellingShingle | Gabriella R. C. Clemente Germán A. Gutierrez-Liberato Carolina C. Anjos Pedro I. Simões Jessica R. Mudrek Alan Fecchio José H. A. Lima Patricia M. A. Oliveira João B. Pinho Bruno S. Mathias Lilian O. Guimarães Karin Kirchgatter Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> Diversity <i>Hepatozoon</i> parasite diversity phylogenetic diversity |
| title | Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> |
| title_full | Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> |
| title_fullStr | Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> |
| title_short | Occurrence of <i>Hepatozoon</i> in Some Reptiles from Brazilian Biomes with Molecular and Morphological Characterization of <i>Hepatozoon caimani</i> |
| title_sort | occurrence of i hepatozoon i in some reptiles from brazilian biomes with molecular and morphological characterization of i hepatozoon caimani i |
| topic | <i>Hepatozoon</i> parasite diversity phylogenetic diversity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/12/1192 |
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