title: Methods for taxonomic studies of rumen ciliates (alveolata: ciliophora): a brief review.
abstract: This review presents the principal methods used in taxonomic studies of rumen ciliates: live observation, Lugol staining, fixation and staining with methyl-green formalin saline (MFS) solution, protargol staining, silver carbonate impregnation, scanning electron microscopy and molecular techniques. Mastering these techniques is essential for successful research on the taxonomy of rumen ciliates. No single technique reveals all of the characteristics required for a complete description of a rumen ciliate; therefore, it is necessary to combine the use of these techniques as appropriate to the rumen ciliate group under study. Tables are provided to summarize: 1) morphological methods more appropriate for revealing morphological structures of interest, 2) morphological methods indicated for each group of rumen ciliates, and 3) main primers used for PCR amplification of the 18S rDNA of rumen ciliates.
authors: Laboratório de Protozoologia, Programa de Pós-graduação em Comportamento e Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Campus Universitário, CEP 36036-900, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil.
authors: Franciane
authors: F
authors: Cedrola
authors: Mariana
authors: M
authors: Rossi
authors: Roberto Júnio Pedroso
authors: RJ
authors: Dias
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Martinele
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: D'Agosto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000145:classification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002965:Classification; D012417:Rumen / Q000469:parasitology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
keywords: Lugol's solution; SEM; methyl green; molecular techniques; protargol; rumen protozoa; silver carbonate