title: The phylogeny of Neospora caninum.
abstract: Morphological studies by electron microscopy on the protozoan Neospora caninum have shown that this organism possesses a subcellular structure typical of parasites classified in the family Sarcocystidae, subclass Coccidiasina of the phylum Apicomplexa. Using a strategy based on DNA sequence analysis of products derived by asymmetric PCR to determine the nucleotide sequences, we have tested the validity of this classification by comparing the small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene sequences of N. caninum with those of other parasitic protozoa classified in the phylum Apicomplexa. The results of this analysis confirm the placing of N. caninum in the family Sarcocystidae and place it as a sister group to Toxoplasma gondii in the phylum Apicomplexa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luton
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Baverstock
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Brindley
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Nimmo
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018688:Neospora / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012522:Sarcocystis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S