Intranuclear coccidiosis of testudines (known as TINC) is an emerging disease in chelonians. Although endogenous stages were repeatedly detected in various tissues, attempts to find the oocysts in faeces failed, leaving the question of the transmission and classification of the causative agent of TINC unresolved. We recorded small spherical oocysts (∼6-7 μm in diameter) of an eimeriid coccidium in faeces of a leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). Sporulated oocysts were used for the experimental oral inoculation of juvenile coccidia-free tortoises representing 5 species (S. pardalis, Testudo graeca, T. hermanni, T. horsfieldii, and Geochelone sulcata). The oocysts' association with TINC was confirmed based on clinical signs, histopathological findings of intranuclear endogenous stages of the coccidium in many organs (including intestine), and by the partial 18S rDNA sequence analysis of the DNA isolated from organs of the experimentally infected animals and from a single naturally infected as well as from all experimentally infected tortoises. Breeding colonies of chelonians should be screened for this pathogen in order to prevent its further spread and unwanted introduction into endangered free-ranging chelonian populations.

• Klíčová slova
• Eimeriid coccidium, TINC, Testudines,
• MeSH
• Eimeriidae klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   fyziologie   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• kokcidióza parazitologie   prevence a kontrola   přenos   veterinární   MeSH
• oocysty MeSH
• parazitární nemoci u zvířat parazitologie   prevence a kontrola   přenos   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S genetika   MeSH
• želvy parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA ribozomální 18S MeSH

To fill the knowledge gap on the biology of the fish coccidian Goussia janae, RNA extracted from exogenously sporulated oocysts was sequenced. Analysis by Trinity and Trinotate pipelines showed that 84.6% of assembled transcripts share the highest similarity with Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. Phylogenetic and interpretive analyses from RNA-seq data provide novel insight into the metabolic capabilities, composition of the invasive machinery and the phylogenetic relationships of this parasite of cold-blooded vertebrates with other coccidians. This allows re-evaluation of the phylogenetic position of G. janae and sheds light on the emergence of the highly successful obligatory intracellularity of apicomplexan parasites. G. janae possesses a partial glideosome and along with it, the metabolic capabilities and adaptions of G. janae might provide cues as to how apicomplexans adjusted to extra- or intra-cytoplasmic niches and also to become obligate intracellular parasites. Unlike the similarly localized epicellular Cryptosporidium spp., G. janae lacks the feeder organelle necessary for directly scavenging nutrients from the host. Transcriptome analysis indicates that G. janae possesses metabolic capabilities comparable to T. gondii. Additionally, this enteric coccidium might also access host cell nutrients given the presence of a recently identified gene encoding the molecular sieve at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane.

• Klíčová slova
• Apicomplexa, Coccidia, Goussia janae, central carbon metabolism., invasion, phylogeny, ultrastructure,
• MeSH
• Eimeriidae klasifikace   cytologie   fyziologie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• fylogeneze * MeSH
• oocysty MeSH
• RNA protozoální genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transkriptom MeSH
• transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA protozoální MeSH

Between September and November 1991, 12 Owen Stanley skinks, Papuascincus stanleyanus (Booulenger) were collected from various localities on Papua New Guinea and examined for coccidians. Six (50%) were found to harbour four eimerians that we describe here as new. Oocysts of Eimeria burseyi sp. n. were elongate to ellipsoidal with a bilayered wall and measured (length x width, L x W) 36.0 x 24.0 microm, with a L/W ratio of 1.5. Both micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent, but a polar granule was present. Oocysts of Eimeria goldbergi sp. n. were ellipsoidal, with a bilayered wall, and measured 21.4 x 16.1 microm; L/W ratio was 1.3. Both micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent, but a single or fragmented polar granule was present. Oocysts of Eimeria boulengeri sp. n. were spheroidal to slightly subspheroidal, with a thin, single-layered wall that readily collapses, and measured 16.0 microm, L/W ratio was 1.0. Both micropyle and oocyst residuum were absent, but usually one (sometimes two) polar granule(s) were present. Oocysts of Eimeria niuginiensis sp. n. were oblong to tapered with a bilayered wall, and measured 20.0 x 13.1 microm; L/W ratio was 1.5. A micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule were absent. To our knowledge, these represent the only coccidians ever described from P. stanleyanus.

• MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• Eimeriidae klasifikace   cytologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• ještěři parazitologie   MeSH
• kokcidióza epidemiologie   parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• oocysty MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Papua Nová Guinea epidemiologie   MeSH

Caryospora duszynskii Upton, Current et Barnard, 1984 was successfully transmitted to snakes of the genus Elaphe by feeding them previously infected mice. Fifty thousand oocysts were orally administered to two mouse strains, BALB/c and Crl:CD-1(ICR)BR, which were subsequently fed to captive-born coccidia-free Elaphe guttata (L.) in two respective independent experiments. Both E. guttata expelled C. duszynskii oocysts in their faeces, beginning on day 18 and 26 post infection (p.i.) and shed oocysts continuously through the end of the experiment, day 230 and 135 p.i., respectively. There were no parasitic stages or lesions in mice, as revealed by histological examination. Experiments proved that rodents serve as paratenic hosts for C. duszynskii. In summary we discuss the life-cycle strategies of Caryospora spp. in reptiles and present three general modes of their development.

• MeSH
• Eimeriidae fyziologie   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• hadi parazitologie   MeSH
• inbrední kmeny myší MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita MeSH
• kokcidióza přenos   veterinární   MeSH
• myši * MeSH
• nemoci hlodavců parazitologie   přenos   MeSH
• stadia vývoje fyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH