title: Developing an Apicomplexan DNA Barcoding System to Detect Blood Parasites of Small Coral Reef Fishes.
abstract: Apicomplexan parasites are obligate parasites of many species of vertebrates. To date, there is very limited understanding of these parasites in the most-diverse group of vertebrates, actinopterygian fishes. While DNA barcoding targeting the eukaryotic 18S small subunit rRNA gene sequence has been useful in identifying apicomplexans in tetrapods, identification of apicomplexans infecting fishes has relied solely on morphological identification by microscopy. In this study, a DNA barcoding method was developed that targets the 18S rRNA gene primers for identifying apicomplexans parasitizing certain actinopterygian fishes. A lead primer set was selected showing no cross-reactivity to the overwhelming abundant host DNA and successfully confirmed 37 of the 41 (90.2%) microscopically verified parasitized fish blood samples analyzed in this study. Furthermore, this DNA barcoding method identified 4 additional samples that screened negative for parasitemia, suggesting this molecular method may provide improved sensitivity over morphological characterization by microscopy. In addition, this PCR screening method for fish apicomplexans, using Whatman FTA preserved DNA, was tested in efforts leading to a more simplified field collection, transport, and sample storage method as well as a streamlining sample processing important for DNA barcoding of large sample sets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Room 202-Lab Science East, P.O. Box 599, State University, Arkansas 72467.
authors.forename: Lance P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Renoux
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Room 202-Lab Science East, P.O. Box 599, State University, Arkansas 72467.
authors.forename: Maureen C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Nico J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Room 202-Lab Science East, P.O. Box 599, State University, Arkansas 72467.
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Sikkel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D057894:Coral Reefs; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000662:veterinary; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014767:United States Virgin Islands / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S