title: A Blastocystis species from the sea-snake, Lapemis hardwickii (Serpentes: Hydrophiidae).
abstract: Observations were made on Blastocystis isolated from the sea-snake, Lapemis hardwickii. Exponential growth of the organism was observed between 2 and 4 days of culture. Vacuolated, amoeboid and granular forms were observed in cultures, similar to B. hominis. The optimal growth temperature for the sea-snake Blastocystis was 24 degrees C compared with 37 degrees C for B. hominis. The karyotypic patterns of B. hominis and the sea-snake Blastocystis were studied in the clamped homogeneous electric field (CHEF) technique and found to be different. Based on the above differences, the sea-snake Blastocystis was designated as Blastocystis lapemi sp. nov.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Kent Ridge.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Teow
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Y C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Howe
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishnakone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016844:Blastocystis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016776:Blastocystis Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D007621:Karyotyping; D012911:Snakes / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan