title: A new species of Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) from Python regius (Serpentes: Pythonidae) and its experimental transmission by a mosquito vector.
abstract: Hepatozoon ayorgbor n. sp. is described from specimens of Python regius imported from Ghana. Gametocytes were found in the peripheral blood of 43 of 55 snakes examined. Localization of gametocytes was mainly inside the erythrocytes; free gametocytes were found in 15 (34.9%) positive specimens. Infections of laboratory-reared Culex quinquefasciatus feeding on infected snakes, as well as experimental infection of juvenile Python regius by ingestion of infected mosquitoes, were performed to complete the life cycle. Similarly, transmission to different snake species (Boa constrictor and Lamprophis fuliginosus) and lizards (Lepidodactylus lugubris) was performed to assess the host specificity. Isolates were compared with Hepatozoon species from sub-Saharan reptiles and described as a new species based on the morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and a complete life cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. slobodam@vfu.cz
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sloboda
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamler
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bulantová
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Votýpka
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Modrý
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017821:Boidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D003044:Coccidia / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D003465:Culex / Q000469:parasitology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan