Morphological and molecular characterization of Isospora amphiboluri (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a coccidian parasite, in a central netted dragon (Ctenophorus nuchalis) (De Vis, 1884) in Australia. (October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Dandan; Brice, Belinda; Elliot, Aileen; Yang, Rongchang
• Is Part Of: Parasitology international. Volume 84(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-10
• Subjects: Isospora -- Central netted dragon -- Morphology -- Phylogeny -- 18S rRNA -- mtCOI; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Parasitic Diseases -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; 571.99905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2021.102386
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1383-5769

Abstract

Abstract: An Isospora species, Isospora amphiboluri, originally described by Canon in 1967 and later by McAllister et al. (1995), was isolated from a central netted dragon ( Ctenophorus nuchalis ) housed at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Perth, Western Australia. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora amphiboluri ( n = 30) are spherical, 24.2 (26.5–23.0) μm in length and 23.9 (22.4–25.9) μm in width, with a shape index of 1.01. The bilayered oocyst wall is smooth and light-yellow in color. Polar granule, oocyst residuum and micropyle are absent. The sporocysts are lemon-shaped, 15.7 (15.2–18.0) × 10.2 (8.9–11.2) μm, with a shape index (length/width) of 1.53. Stieda and substieda bodies are present, the Stieda body being small and hemidome-shaped and the substieda half-moon-shaped. Each sporocyst contains four vermiform sporozoites arranged head to tail. The sporozoites are 11.7 (9.9–16.2) × 3.0 (2.4–3.5) μm, with a shape index (length/width) of 3.87. A sporocyst residuum is present. Sporozoites contain a central nucleus with a finely distributed granular residuum. Comparison of oocyst measurements and their features with other valid Isospora species from hosts in the Agamid family confirmed that this Isospora species is Isospora amphiboluri . Molecular characterization of I. amphiboluri at the 18S rRNA and MTCOI loci showed the highest similarity with I. amphiboluri from the central bearded dragon, 99.8% and 99.7% respectively. This is the first report of I. amphiboluri from a central netted dragon in Australia. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: Description of I. amphiboluri in a new host - central netted dragon. Morphology study: With the same features of I. amphiboluri reported before. Genetic study: 99.8% and 99.7% similar to I. amphiboluri at 18S and mtCOI locus, respectively. First time identified I. amphiboluri in Australia.