title: Morphological and molecular characterization of Choleoeimeria pogonae n. sp. coccidian parasite (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae, 1989, Paperna and Landsberg) in a western bearded dragon (Pogona minor minor).
abstract: A new species, Choleoeimeria pogonae n. sp. is described from a Western bearded dragon (Pogona minor minor) in Western Australia. Sporulated oocysts (n = 48) were cylindroidal in shape. Oocyst length, 27.0 (26.0-28.3) μm, oocyst width, 15.2 (14.0-16.5) μm, oocyst length/width ratio (L/W) 1.8 (1.6-1.9), each with 4 sporocysts (Eimeria-like) and a polar granule, but lacking a micropyle and oocyst residuum. Sporocysts are ovoidal in shape, sporocyst length, 10.0 (9.0-11.0) μm, sporocyst width 8.5 (7.0-9.5) μm, sporocyst L/W ratio, 1.2 (1.1-1.3). Stieda, substieda and parasubstieda bodies were all absent. Molecular analysis was conducted at the 18S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) loci. Phylogenetic analysis of 18S sequences revealed that C. pogonae n. sp. grouped together with another four Choleoeimeria spp. and exhibited 99.1%-99.4% genetic similarity. At the COI locus, C. pogonae n. sp. was in an independent clade and had the highest similarity (80.4%) to Eimeria cf. mivati from a chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). According to the morphological and molecular data, this isolate is a new species of coccidian parasite. This study further supports the taxonomy of Choleoeimeria spp. as a new genus based on molecular phylogenetic analysis.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia. Electronic address: R.Yang@murdoch.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rongchang
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, 120 Gilchrist Road, Lesmurdie, Western Australia 6076, Australia.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brice
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
authors.forename: Una
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021743:Eimeriidae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D008116:Lizards / Q000469:parasitology*; D033661:Oocysts / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010802:Phylogeny; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: 18S rRNA; Choleoeimeria pogonae n. sp; Cytochrome c oxidase I; Molecular characterization; Morphology