Polymorphism evidence in Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) lutzi Lucena, 1939 (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) isolated from brazilian wild birds

Publication date: Available online 3 February 2019Source: Parasitology InternationalAuthor(s): Luísa de Oliveira, Franciane Cedrola, Marcus Vinicius Xavier Senra, Kézia Katiani Gorza Scopel, Isabel Martinele, Raquel Tostes, Roberto Júnio Pedroso Dias, Marta D'AgostoAbstractPlasmodium parasites can infect great variety of bird species around the world inflicting the so called avian malaria, an illness that could be fatal in some cases and consequently, should be monitored and widely included into conservation programs. The aim of this study was to characterize two lineages of Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) lutzi found in some birds in the Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais - Brazil, that were morphologically identified after blood smears analyses under light microscopy and molecularly by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cyt b). Besides these two lineages could be clearly morphologically identified as P.(H.) lutzi, some variations in comparison with its original description were noticed: absence of meronts and gametocytes (early and fully grown) in polychromatic erythrocytes, the larger size of pigment granules in meronts and gametocytes, and the presence of small vacuoles between pigment accumulation in fully grow macrogametocytes. Moreover, a certain degree of genetic intraspecific diversity was also observed across the lineages of P. (H.) lutzi, indicating the existence of polymorphisms within this taxon, which is uncommon in Haemosporida. These results allow dis...
Source: Parasitology International - Category: Parasitology Source Type: research