title: Molecular survey of Hepatozoon species in lizards from North Africa.
abstract: The prevalence of Hepatozoon parasites in 460 lizards from North Africa was studied by amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. The phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rRNA gene provides new insights into the phylogeny of these parasites with multiple genetically distinct lineages recovered. Parasite prevalence differed significantly between lacertid lizards and geckos. Our results show that there is limited host specificity and no clear relation to the geographical distribution of Hepatozoon parasites.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos (CIBIO), Campus Agrário de Vairão, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal. jpmaiapt@gmail.com
authors.forename: João P M C
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: D James
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perera
mesh_terms: D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016384:Consensus Sequence; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D016783:Eucoccidiida / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D058507:Host Specificity; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics*; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S