A new Myxidium species (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infecting the gallbladder of the turtle Podocnemis unifilis (Testudines: Podocnemididae) from Peruvian Amazon

Autor(es)

Espinoza, Luis L. ; Mertins, Omar ; Gama, Gabriella S. ; Fernandes Patta, Ana C. M. ; Mathews, Patrick D.

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Acta Tropica; v. 172, p. 75-79, AUG 2017.
• Citações Web of Science: 4

Resumo

A new myxosporean species, Myxidium peruviensis n. sp., is described parasitizing the gall bladder of the yellow spotted river turtle Podocnemis unifilis kept in captivity in an Amazonian Peruvian turtle rescue unit in the city of Iquitos, State of Loreto, Peru. The parasite was found in four of ten (40%) P. unifilis examined. The new species was characterized based on morphological and molecular phylogeny analyses. SSU rDNA sequence of the spores of M. peruviensis n. sp. resulted in 1876 nucleotides and this sequence did no match any of the Myxozoa available in the GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis identified the new species as a sister species of Myxidium turturibus, the unique Myxidium species described in a Neotropical turtle. Nevertheless, the SSU rDNA sequences of the new species and M. turturibus have only a 91.5% similarity. This is the first description and molecular study of a Myxozoa in a reptile from Peru. Considering the status of P. unifilis as vulnerable species, the infection by Myxidium parasites is emphasized as possible disease impeller, representing menace to the turtle conservation. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/23948-5 - Aperfeiçoamento das propriedades do polissacarídeo quitosana para aplicação em lipossomas e vesículas gigantes
• Beneficiário: Omar Mertins
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 16/25919-5 - Estudos físico-químicos e aplicativos de partículas compósitas de alginato e quitosana carreadoras de medicamentos antiparasitários
• Beneficiário: Ana Carolina Monge Fernandes Patta
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica