Coccidia of the genus Isospora, their origin, taxonomy, and host specificity have been discussed for many years. The crucial point in question being the division of the genus, based on distinct evolutionary history and the presence/absence of the Stieda body, into the genera Isospora (Eimeriidae) parasitizing mainly birds and reptiles, and Cystoisospora (Sarcocystidae) parasitizing mammals. The description of the majority of Isospora species from rodents is based solely on the oocysts found in their faeces. Some of them have been described with the presence of the Stieda body, some without it, and, simultaneously, for all the described species the molecular data are entirely lacking. This study reveals the origin of isosporan oocysts found in faeces of bank voles based on morphological analyses, phylogenetic analyses, and experimental infections. Morphological analyses showed the presence of the Stieda body complex on sporocysts. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated close phylogenetic relationships between Isospora from bank voles and avian isosporans. Experimental inoculations of bank voles with sporulated oocysts of Isospora did not result in the production of unsporulated oocysts. Hence, these organisms should be considered pseudoparasites of the bank voles/rodents (probably originating from avian Isospora species).
- MeSH
- Arvicolinae parasitology MeSH
- Feces parasitology MeSH
- Phylogeny MeSH
- Isospora cytology isolation & purification physiology MeSH
- Oocysts cytology isolation & purification physiology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
Using a combination of morphological and molecular data, we describe a new apicomplexan parasite, Isospora svecica sp. n., from the white-spotted bluethroat, Luscinia svecica cyanecula, from the Czech Republic. Oocysts were found in its intestinal tract. Sporulation was exogenous and took 1-3 days. The oocysts were slightly ellipsoidal, of average size 26.17 × 20.33 μm, with a smooth bilayered wall. Micropyle, oocyst residuum, and polar granules were absent. Sporocysts were bottle-shaped, of an average size of 18.82 × 8.82 μm, with a thin, colourless wall. A conspicuous knob-like Stieda body was present. Substieda body was barely visible. Sporocyst residuum was present in the form of granules of various sizes. Sporozoites were banana-shaped and contained large anterior and small posterior refractile bodies. Partial DNA sequences of three genes were obtained from oocysts of Isospora svecica sp. n., being most closely related to other isosporans described from passerines. Little is known about the parasites of the avian family Muscicapidae, including coccidia, a highly prevalent parasitic protist group in all vertebrate classes. Only six species of the genus Isospora have so far been described in Muscicapidae, together with several "Isospora sp." that in fact most likely represent Isospora lacazei. The newly described Isospora svecica sp. n. differs morphologically from other coccidia reported from muscicapid birds, and represents the first coccidian species described from Luscinia svecica.
- MeSH
- Isospora classification cytology genetics growth & development MeSH
- Isosporiasis parasitology veterinary MeSH
- Oocysts classification cytology genetics growth & development MeSH
- Passeriformes parasitology MeSH
- Genes, Protozoan genetics MeSH
- Sporozoites classification cytology genetics growth & development MeSH
- Intestines parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
To date, three species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 have been described from lizards of the genus Acanthodactylus Wiegmann. Two of these, although representing separate species parasitizing two different hosts, Acanthodactylus boskianus Daudin in Egypt and A. schmidti Haas in Saudi Arabia, were described under the name Isospora acanthodactyli. The third species is Isospora abdallahi Modrý, Koudela et Slapeta, 1998 from A. boskianus in Egypt. In the present study, Isospora alyousifi nom. n. is proposed to accommodate Isospora acanthodactyli Alyousif et Al-Shawa, 1997 (homonym of I. acanthodactyli Sakran, Fayed, El-Toukhy et Abdel-Gawad, 1994) and its redescription based on newly collected material is provided.
- MeSH
- Isospora classification cytology MeSH
- Lizards parasitology MeSH
- Protozoan Infections, Animal epidemiology parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Saudi Arabia MeSH
- MeSH
- Isospora isolation & purification classification MeSH
- Songbirds parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Geographicals
- Brazil MeSH
'Isospora' lieberkuehni, an unusual isosporoid renal coccidium that parasitizes the European water frog was isolated from the edible frog, Rana kl. esculenta, in the Czech Republic. Sequencing of the small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene showed that it belongs to the family Sarcocystidae, being closely related to a clade comprising members of the subfamily Toxoplasmatinae. The position within Sarcocystidae correlates with the mode of excystation via collapsible plates as postulated by previous authors. Phylogenetic, morphological and biological differences between 'Isospora' lieberkuehni and the other Stiedabody-lacking members of the genus Isospora justify separation of this coccidium on a generic level. Hyaloklossia Labbé, 1896 is the oldest available synonym and is herein re-erected. The original definition of the genus Hyaloklossia is emended based on recent observations.
- MeSH
- Eimeria cytology classification MeSH
- Isospora cytology classification MeSH
- Lizards parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- MeSH
- Immunity drug effects MeSH
- Isospora immunology MeSH
- Coccidiosis immunology veterinary MeSH
- Swine Diseases immunology parasitology MeSH
- Animals, Newborn immunology parasitology MeSH
- Cattle MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Cattle MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Comparative Study MeSH
Faecal samples of 56 common house crows (Corvus splendens Vieillot) were collected from the Petaling Jaya and Kelang districts of Selangor, peninsular Malaysia, and examined for coccidia. Intestinal tracts of 8 of the above crows wee histologically examined under light microscopy to determine the site of coccidial infection and the endogenous stages present. Fifty three (94.6%) crows had coccidial oocysts morphologically conforming to only one species of Isospora in their faeces at the time they were examined. The sporulated oocysts were found to be Isospora corviae (Ray et al. 1952) which has been emended to I. corvi. These oocysts are redescribed in greater detail. Corvus splendens is a new host record for I. corvi. Coccidial infection was observed in all the intestinal tracts and generally confined to the anterior two thirds of the intestine. The parasites occurred within intestinal epithelial cells, located usually above the host cell nucleus. Developmental stages of both the asexual and sexual phases were found in the epithelium, and are deemed to be the endogenous stages of I. corvi on the basis of the oocysts recovered from the same crows used for histological study. These stages are described here for the first time. The prevalence of I. corvi, its relationship with the host C. splendens, and its probable transmission from C. macrorhynchus are discussed.
- MeSH
- Feces parasitology MeSH
- Isospora classification growth & development isolation & purification MeSH
- Coccidiosis epidemiology parasitology veterinary MeSH
- Bird Diseases epidemiology parasitology MeSH
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic epidemiology parasitology veterinary MeSH
- Prevalence MeSH
- Birds MeSH
- Intestines parasitology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Geographicals
- Malaysia MeSH
The pathogenicity of the coccidium Isospora suis was studied in 42 conventional and 26 gnotobiotic piglets at 1-13 days post infection (DPI). The prepatent period of the coccidium I. suis was 4.5-5 days. Only in one experiment in conventional piglets the prepatent period of 3.5 days was recorded. At least 9 days pathogenesis of I. suis was recorded during which double alteration of the small intestine occurred. The first alteration was found at 3-4 DPI. The second phase of alterative changes was observed at 8-9 DPI. In comparison with gnotobiotic piglets in conventional piglets clinical signs and pathological changes used to appear one day sooner but reparation and regeneration of alterative changes was quicker. In the first phase of the infection (3-7 or 8 DPI) the heaviest pathological changes were in the posterior jejunum. In the second phase of the infection (8 or 9-12 DPI) the heaviest changes were in the middle jejunum. In short period repeated lesions of mucosal barrier of the small intestine multiply the pathogenicity of I. suis and rank I. suis in front place among other enteropathogens of nursing piglets.
- MeSH
- Germ-Free Life MeSH
- Isospora pathogenicity MeSH
- Coccidiosis parasitology pathology veterinary MeSH
- Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
- Swine Diseases parasitology pathology MeSH
- Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic parasitology pathology veterinary MeSH
- Swine MeSH
- Intestine, Small parasitology pathology ultrastructure MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
