Molecular characterization of Hepatozoon species in reptiles from the Seychelles

J Parasitol. 2011 Feb;97(1):106-10. doi: 10.1645/GE-2470.1. Epub 2010 Sep 28.

Abstract

Hepatozoon parasites were examined for the first time in reptiles from the Seychelles Islands. Although both prevalence and intensity were low, Hepatozoon species were detected in individuals from 2 endemic species, the lizard Mabuya wrightii and the snake Lycognathophis seychellensis. This was confirmed using visual identification and through sequencing part of the 18s rRNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the Hepatozoon on the Seychelles form a monophyletic lineage, although more data are clearly needed to stabilize estimates of relationships based on this marker.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bayes Theorem
  • Coccidiosis / parasitology
  • Coccidiosis / veterinary*
  • Colubridae / parasitology*
  • Consensus Sequence
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Eucoccidiida / classification
  • Eucoccidiida / genetics*
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Lizards / parasitology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment / veterinary
  • Seychelles

Substances

  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S

Associated data

  • GENBANK/DQ292771
  • GENBANK/DQ292772
  • GENBANK/DQ292773
  • GENBANK/DQ292774
  • GENBANK/DQ292775