Nova associação críptica entre Nematopsis sp. (APICOMPLEXA, ALVEOLATA) e populações de anfíbios (VERTEBRATA)

Abstract

Amphibians are known to be particularly susceptible to abiotic factors such as pollution and climate changes. In addition, a variety of diseases is also contributing to amphibians’ populations decline. A single work concerning an infection to tadpoles’ mac rophages caused by Nematopsis temporaria (Gregarina, Apicomplexa) is available so far. As gregarines are not described as vertebrates’ pathogens, a deeper investigation of this association was performed. To detect this association, microscopic analysis was performed, showing many Gregarina individuals inside tadpoles’ macrophages. In addition, PCR reactions successfully amplified a region between 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA from Nematopsis sp., which has been shown to contain regions that helps to discriminate cl ose related protozoans. Phylogenetic trees were constructed to show the topology of the sequences from the Nematopsis sp. found in each host and from other apicomplexan pathogens. The results showed evidences of an association between Nematopsis sp. with t adpoles’ macrophages from Rana temporaria and Hyla arborea , indicating a new threat to amphibians’