Abstract
A new species of coccidia (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) is described from the saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola, is reported from Brazil. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora bertoi n. sp. are spherical to subspherical; 23.6 (21.1-26.5) x 22.0 (19.4-24.6) µm; shape Index (L/W ratio) 1.1 (1.0-1.2) µm; with bilayer smooth walls, ~1.1 μm. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but polar granules are present. Sporocysts are elongated ellipsoidal, 16.2 (13.6-17.9) x 10.1 (8.9-12.4) µm. Stieda body is button-shaped and Sub-Stieda and Para-Stieda body are absent. Sporocyst residuum is compact and composed of hundreds of granules scattered among the sporozoites. The sporozoite is claviform with an elongated posterior refractile body and nucleus.
Keywords:
Isospora bertoi n. sp.; sporulated oocysts; saffron finch; coccidian
Resumo
Uma nova espécie de coccídio (Protozoa: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) do canário-da-terra, Sicalis flaveola, é relatada no Brasil. Oocistos esporulados de Isospora bertoi n. sp. são esféricos a subesféricos; 23,6 (21,1-26,5) x 22,0 (19,4-24,6) µm com índice morfométrico (L/W) de 1,1 (1,0-1,2); com parede lisa constituída por duas camadas com ~1,1 μm. Micrópila e resíduo de oocisto estão ausentes, mas grânulos polares estão presentes. Os esporocistos são elipsoidais alongados, 16,2 (13,6-17,9) x 10,1 (8,9-12,4) µm;. O corpo Stieda é em forma de botão, enquanto que os corpos de Sub-Stieda e Para-Stieda estão ausentes. O resíduo do esporocisto é compacto e constituido por centenas de grânulos espalhados entre os esporozoítos. O esporozoíto é claviforme com corpo e núcleo refráteis posteriores alongados.
Palavras-chave:
Isospora bertoi n. sp.; oocistos esporulados; canário-da-terra; coccidio
1. Introduction
The saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola (Linnaeus, 1766), is a bird belonging to the order Passeriformes. It has tiny dimensions and a more complex and developed syrinx, granting it greater song capacity and ability (Silveira and Méndez, 1999SILVEIRA, L.S. and MÉNDEZ, A.C., 1999. Caracterização das formas brasileiras do gênero Sicalis (Passeriformes, Emberizidae). Atualidades Ornitológicas, vol. 90, pp. 6-8.). Mainly a granivorous species, it also includes in its diet, fruits and insects that it obtains from the soil and herbaceous strata, branches and foliage up to five meters in height (Zotta, 1940ZOTTA, A., 1940. Lista sobre el contenido estomacal de las aves argentinas. El Hornero, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 402-411. http://dx.doi.org/10.56178/eh.v7i3.353.
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; La Peña and Pensiero, 2003LA PEÑA, M.R. and PENSIERO, J.F., 2003. Contribución de la flora en los hábitos alimentarios de las aves en un bosque del centro de la provincia de Santa Fé, Argentina. Ornitologia Neotropical, vol. 14, pp. 499-513.; La Peña, 2011LA PEÑA, M.R., 2011. Observaciones de campo en la alimentación de las aves. Revista de Conservación Biologica, vol. 13, pp. 1-88.). Its distribution extends from Central to South America, with introductions in Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Jamaica (Ridgely and Tudor, 1989RIDGELY, R.S. and TUDOR, G., 1989. The birds of South America: the suboscine passerines. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 814 p.).
Among the diseases that affect birds, coccidiosis is considered an important cause of enteritis and death of the species (Freitas et al., 2003FREITAS, M.F.L., OLIVEIRA, J.B., CAVALCANTI, M.D.B. and FREITAS, D.A., 2003. Occurrence of coccidiosis in canaries (Serinus canarius) being kept in private captivity in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Parasitología Latinoamericana, vol. 58, no. 1-2, pp. 86-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0717-77122003000100017.
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; Coelho et al., 2011COELHO, C.D., BERTO, B.P., NEVES, D.M., OLIVEIRA, V.M., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2011. Two new Isospora species from the saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola in Brazil. Acta Parasitologica, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 239-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11686-011-0051-9.
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). According to Gallo et al. (2014)GALLO, S.S.M., EDERLI, N.B., BERTO, B.P. and OLIVEIRA, F.C.R., 2014. A new coccidian, Isospora rheae sp. nov. (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae), from Rhea americana (Aves, Rheidae) from South America. International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 236-238. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.07.002. PMid:25426418.
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several species of Coccidia occur in the same species of bird, and most of these species are not pathogenic, demonstrating the importance of not only quantitatively assessing its diagnosis, but also qualitatively assessing it (Teixeira et al., 2014TEIXEIRA, C.S., GALLO, S.S.M., EDERLI, N.B., BERTO, B.P. and OLIVEIRA, F.C.R., 2014. Isospora dromaii n. sp. (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) isolated from emus, Dromaius novaehollandiae (Casuariiformes, Casuariidae). Parasitology Research, vol. 113, no. 11, pp. 3953-3955. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00436-014-4059-6. PMid:25195056.
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).
To date, two species of Isospora have been described in S. flaveola in captivity in the Municipality of Seropedica in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and identified as Isospora cetasiensis (Coelho et al., 2011COELHO, C.D., BERTO, B.P., NEVES, D.M., OLIVEIRA, V.M., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2011. Two new Isospora species from the saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola in Brazil. Acta Parasitologica, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 239-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11686-011-0051-9.
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) and Isospora sicalisi (Coelho et al., 2011COELHO, C.D., BERTO, B.P., NEVES, D.M., OLIVEIRA, V.M., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2011. Two new Isospora species from the saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola in Brazil. Acta Parasitologica, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 239-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11686-011-0051-9.
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). The present study describes a new species of Isospora found in free-ranging S. flaveola with habitat in the Municipality of Eugenopolis in the State of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil.
2. Materials and Methods
Fecal samples were collected from 30 birds captured in a mist net in the Municipality of Eugenopolis (MG) Brazil. After capture, the birds were individually housed for 24 h in cages with water and food ad libitum. Feces found at the bottom of the cage were placed in 15 mL tubes, identified, placed in an isothermal box with ice and immediately transported to the Núcleo de Pesquisas Avançadas em Parasitologia (NUPAP) at the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF) in the Municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Fecal samples were filtered through double gauze, mixed with 2.5% potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), placed in each Petri dish and incubated at 23-28 °C until 70% of the oocysts were sporulated. Oocysts were retrieved by the flotation method with Sheather’s sugar solution and examined microscopically using the method described by Duszynski and Wilber (1997)DUSZYNSKI, D.W. and WILBER, P.G., 1997. A guideline for the preparation of species descriptions in the Eimeriidae. The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 333-336. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3284470. PMid:9105325.
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.
Morphological observations and measurements obtained in micrometers were made by using an Eclipse i80 optical microscope (Nikon, Japan). Photomicrographs were taken using a Coolpix 5700 digital camera (Nikon, Japan) and drawings were made by superimposing images at different focuses using CorelDRAW software version 2020. Size ranges are given in parentheses, followed by the mean and Shape Index (SI) = Length/Width ratio.
3. Results
Thirty free-ranging saffron finches were captured, and oocysts with different morphological characteristics of I. sicalisi and I. cetasiensis were observed in the fecal samples of two (7%) of 30 birds. After the fourth day, more than 70% of these oocysts were fully sporulated under the conditions recommended in this study.
3.1. Isospora bertoi n. sp.
3.1.1. Host type: Sicalis flaveola (Aves: Passeriformes: Emberizidae)
Type material: Photosyntypes and linear drawings of sporulated oocysts are deposited and available in the Parasitology Collection at the Laboratório de Biologia de Coccídios in the Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photographs of the host specimens (symbiotypes) are deposited in the same collection. The repository number is P-126/2021.
3.1.2. Type locality: Eugenópolis (21°05'56” S and 42°11'13” W), Minas Gerais, Brazil
Prevalence: 2/30 (6.7%)
Sporulation time: 3 to 4 days at a temperature of 23 to 28 °C.
Site of infection: Unknown. Oocysts collected from fecal samples.
Etymology: The specific name is derived from the last name of Professor Bruno Pereira Berto, eminent protozoologist of the Departamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Campus Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, granted in his honor for describing the two species of Isospora of S. flaveola and several other species of coccidia in birds.
3.2. Description
3.2.1. Sporulated oocyst
Subspherical to ellipsoid oocysts (n=32), 23.6 (21.1-26.5) x 22.0 (19.4-24.5), with a SI of 1.1 (1.0-1.2). Bi-layered wall, 1.1 (0.9-1.3) thick (n=18), smooth outer surface representing 2/3 of the total thickness; Micropyle and oocyst residuum absent; 1-2 polar granules of different shapes and sizes and can be bilobed (n=24), 2.9 (1.9-4.1) x 2.2 (1.1-3.6) (Figures 1 and 2).
Photomicrographs of Isospora bertoi n. sp. of free-living saffron finch Sicalis flaveola. a, sporozoite (arrow) and bi-layered wall (arrowhead); b, polar granule (arrow) and Stieda body (arrowhead); c, sporocyst residuum (arrow) and polar granule (arrowhead); d, sporocyst (arrow). Scales: 10 µm.
Schematic drawing of Isospora bertoi n. sp. of free-living saffron finch Sicalis flaveola. Bar: 10 µm.
3.2.2. Sporocyst and sporozoites
Sporocysts in elongated ellipsoid shape, tapering at both ends (n=37), 16.2 (13.6-17.9) x 10.1 (8.9-12.4) with SI 1.6 (1.3-1.9); Button-shaped Stieda body present, Sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies absent. Compact sporocyst residuum, composed of hundreds of granules scattered among the sporozoites. Claviform sporozoite with an elongated posterior refractile body and nucleus (Figures 1 and 2).
4. Discussion
Coccidia found in the present study were compared in detail with species reported in S. flaveola and other birds as suggested by Duszynski and Wilber (1997)DUSZYNSKI, D.W. and WILBER, P.G., 1997. A guideline for the preparation of species descriptions in the Eimeriidae. The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 83, no. 2, pp. 333-336. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3284470. PMid:9105325.
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for the description of a new species. In addition, they were compared with coccidia of New World passerine birds also belonging to the Emberizidae family, since there is a higher probability of transmission of this parasite among sympatric birds (Carvalho Filho et al., 2005; Berto et al., 2009BERTO, B.P., BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux, 1869 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 65-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-9180-z. PMid:19337860.
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).
Two species of Isospora have been described in S. flaveola in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil previously (Coelho et al., 2011COELHO, C.D., BERTO, B.P., NEVES, D.M., OLIVEIRA, V.M., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2011. Two new Isospora species from the saffron finch, Sicalis flaveola in Brazil. Acta Parasitologica, vol. 56, no. 3, pp. 239-244. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/s11686-011-0051-9.
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). Isospora cetasiensis differs from I. bertoi n. sp.; it does not possess a polar granule, its sporocyst is ovoidal with a rounded Sub-Stieda body and a diffuse residual body (Table 1). The oocyst of I. sicalisi has the largest size (27.5 x 25.2 µm) among the species described in S. flaveola and does not have a polar granule (Table 1). It has a trapezoidal Sub-Stieda body (Table 1), which was not observed in the new species described in this study, and the sporocyst residuum is diffuse, in contrast to the compact oocyst of I. bertoi n. sp.
Comparative morphology and morphometry of Isospora spp. of American birds of the order Passeriformes, family Emberizidae.
In 1985, Upton et al. (1985)UPTON, S.J., CURRENT, W.L. and CLUBB, S.L., 1985. Two new species of Isospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from passeriform birds of South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 227-229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00011453.
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described Isospora paroariae (Upton et al., 1985UPTON, S.J., CURRENT, W.L. and CLUBB, S.L., 1985. Two new species of Isospora (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from passeriform birds of South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 227-229. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00011453.
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) found in Paroaria coronata (Miller, 1776) (Red-crested cardinal) in Argentina. This species, in addition to having a much thicker oocyst wall than the species described in the present study, does not have a polar granule, and its sporocyst is ovoid with a prominent Sub-Stieda body.
In the Galapagos Islands in 1988, McQuistion and Wilson (1988) described four species of Isospora in Camarhynchus parvulus Gould, 1837 (Small tree finch) named Isospora rotunda (McQuiston and Wilson, 1988), Isospora fragmenta (McQuiston and Wilson, 1988), Isospora exigua (McQuiston and Wilson, 1988) and Isospora temeraria (McQuiston and Wilson, 1988). All the described species have simple walls and sub-Stieda bodies, thus distinguishing them from I. bertoi n. sp. Isospora exigua has no polar granules, and its average size (20.4 x 20.1 µm) is smaller than that of I. bertoi n. sp. Isospora fragmenta and I. temeraria have polar granules of different shapes and in greater quantities when compared to the new species Isospora found in S. flaveola and described in this study.
The following year, the same authors described Isospora geospizae (McQuiston and Wilson, 1989) in Geospiza fuliginosa Gould, 1837 (Small ground finch) and Geospiza fortis Gould, 1837 (Medium ground finch) in the Galapagos Islands too. The oocyst (15.5 x 14.5 µm) and sporocyst (10 x 7.5 µm) of this species have a much smaller average size than I. bertoi n. sp., in addition to the oocyst having a simple wall and the sporocyst having a sub-Stieda body.
In 1990, in the Galapagos Islands, McQuistion (1990)MCQUISTION, T.E., 1990. Isospora daphnensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis) from the Galapagos Island. The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 30-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3282623. PMid:2299524.
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described oocysts of the species Isospora daphnensis (McQuistion, 1990MCQUISTION, T.E., 1990. Isospora daphnensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the medium ground finch (Geospiza fortis) from the Galapagos Island. The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 76, no. 1, pp. 30-32. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3282623. PMid:2299524.
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) in G. fortis. These oocysts, in addition to having average measurements (27.3 x 23.6 µm) larger than I. bertoi n. sp. also have the thickest wall (~1.5 µm). The sporocyst is ovoid with a mamiliform Stieda body and a small Sub-Stieda body.
In 1997, in Venezuela, Ball and Daszak (1997)BALL, J. and DASZAK, P., 1997. Isospora tiaris n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the sooty grassquit (Tiaris fuliginosa), a passeriform bird of South America. The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 83, no. 3, pp. 465-466. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3284411. PMid:9194828.
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described Isospora tiaris (Ball and Daszak, 1997BALL, J. and DASZAK, P., 1997. Isospora tiaris n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the sooty grassquit (Tiaris fuliginosa), a passeriform bird of South America. The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 83, no. 3, pp. 465-466. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3284411. PMid:9194828.
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) oocysts in Asemospiza fuliginosa (Sooty grassquit) with mean measurements (27.1 x 23.8 µm) larger than I. bertoi n. sp. The sporocysts are ovoid with a prominent Sub-Stieda body and diffuse residuum, characteristics that differ from the oocysts described in the present study.
Three new species of Isospora were described in Sporophila caerulescens (Vieillot, 1823) (double-collared seedeater) by Carvalho Filho et al. (2005)CARVALHO FILHO, P.R., MEIRELES, G.S., RIBEIRO, C.T. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2005. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the double-collared seedeater, Sporophila caerulescens (Passeriformes: Emberizidae), from eastern Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 100, no. 2, pp. 151-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762005000200007. PMid:16021301.
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in 2005 in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Oocysts of these species, named Isospora sporophilae, Isospora flausinoi and Isospora teixeirafilhoi (Carvalho Filho et al., 2005CARVALHO FILHO, P.R., MEIRELES, G.S., RIBEIRO, C.T. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2005. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the double-collared seedeater, Sporophila caerulescens (Passeriformes: Emberizidae), from eastern Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 100, no. 2, pp. 151-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762005000200007. PMid:16021301.
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), are smaller than those of I. bertoi n. sp. The sporocysts of these species have different shapes from those reported in the new species Isospora described here. Similar to oocysts, sporocysts also have lower mean values, especially I. teixeirafilhoi, which has very small sporocysts (11.7 x 8.1 µm).
Silva et al. (2006)SILVA, E.A.T., LITERÁK, I. and KOUDELA, B., 2006. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the lesser seed-finch, Oryzoborus angolensis (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 101, no. 5, pp. 573-576. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762006000500016. PMid:17072465.
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, described three new species of Isospora found in Oryzoborus angolensis (Chestnut-bellied seed finch) in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The oocyst wall of Isospora curio (Silva et al., 2006SILVA, E.A.T., LITERÁK, I. and KOUDELA, B., 2006. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the lesser seed-finch, Oryzoborus angolensis (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 101, no. 5, pp. 573-576. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762006000500016. PMid:17072465.
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) is thicker than that of I. bertoi n. sp. and it does not have polar granules. The sporocysts are ovoid and have much smaller average sizes (13.2 x 10.9 µm) than those described in S. flaveola in the present research, and the sporocyst residuum is diffuse. The oocysts of Isospora braziliensis (Silva et al., 2006SILVA, E.A.T., LITERÁK, I. and KOUDELA, B., 2006. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the lesser seed-finch, Oryzoborus angolensis (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 101, no. 5, pp. 573-576. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762006000500016. PMid:17072465.
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) are smaller (17.8 x 16.9 µm) than those of I. bertoi n. sp., as well as sporocysts (13.2 x 10.8 µm). The oocyst wall is simple, polar granules are absent, and sporocyst residuum is diffuse. Isospora paranaensis (Silva et al., 2006SILVA, E.A.T., LITERÁK, I. and KOUDELA, B., 2006. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the lesser seed-finch, Oryzoborus angolensis (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from Brazil. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, vol. 101, no. 5, pp. 573-576. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762006000500016. PMid:17072465.
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) oocysts also have a single wall, and their average thickness is approximately 1.5 µm. The sporocysts are ovoid and have a Sub-Stieda body.
In 2009, Berto et al. (2009)BERTO, B.P., BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux, 1869 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 65-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-9180-z. PMid:19337860.
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, described three new species of Isospora in Sporophila frontalis (Berto et al., 2009BERTO, B.P., BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux, 1869 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 65-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-9180-z. PMid:19337860.
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) (Buffy-fronted seedeater) from Teresopolis in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The oocysts (27.9 x 26.9 µm) and sporocysts (19.6 x 11.1 µm) of Isospora frontalis have larger mean sizes than those found in I. bertoi n. sp. The oocyst wall differs from that of I. bertoi n. sp. because it is thicker (~1.4 µm) and the polar granules are comma-shaped. Other features, such as the presence of a Sub-Stieda body and diffuse sporocyst residuum differentiate these species. The species Isospora teresopoliensis (Berto et al., 2009BERTO, B.P., BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux, 1869 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 65-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-9180-z. PMid:19337860.
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) differs from I. bertoi n. sp. by the lack of polar granules and by the presence of a Sub-Stieda body and diffuse sporocyst residuum. The oocysts of Isospora chanchaoi (Berto et al., 2009BERTO, B.P., BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux, 1869 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 65-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-9180-z. PMid:19337860.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-918...
) differ morphologically from the species described in the present study, with the presence of a Sub-Stieda body, a sporocyst different in shape and compact sporocyst residuum, but with granules of a different shape, size and distribution.
Balthazar et al. (2009)BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., BERTO, B.P., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Isospora ticoticoi n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the rufous-collared sparrow Zonotrichia capensis in South America. Acta Protozoologica, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 345-349. described the species Isospora ticoticoi in Zonotrichia capensis (Berto et al., 2009BERTO, B.P., BALTHAZAR, L.M.C., FLAUSINO, W. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2009. Three new species of Isospora Schneider, 1881 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the buffy-fronted seedeater Sporophila frontalis Verreaux, 1869 (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) from South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 73, no. 1, pp. 65-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-9180-z. PMid:19337860.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-009-918...
) (Rufous-collared sparrow) also in the Municipality of Teresópolis in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It has a compartmentalized Sub-Stieda body and diffuse oocyst residuum, which was not observed in I. bertoi n. sp.
Oocysts of Isospora bocamontensis were described in Gubernatrix cristata (Pereira et al., 2011PEREIRA, L.Q., BERTO, B.P., FLAUSINO, W., LOVATO, M. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2011. Isospora bocamontensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the yellow cardinal Gubernatrix cristata (Vieillot) (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 73-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-010-9278-3. PMid:21161493.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-010-927...
) (Yellow Cardinal) by Pereira et al. (2011)PEREIRA, L.Q., BERTO, B.P., FLAUSINO, W., LOVATO, M. and LOPES, C.W.G., 2011. Isospora bocamontensis n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the yellow cardinal Gubernatrix cristata (Vieillot) (Passeriformes: Emberizidae) in South America. Systematic Parasitology, vol. 78, no. 1, pp. 73-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-010-9278-3. PMid:21161493.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11230-010-927...
at the Municipality of Santa Maria in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The oocysts of this species are considerably larger (32.1 x 28.9 µm) than those described in I. bertoi n. sp. in addition to having a thicker wall (~1.5 µm). The sporocysts have a different shape from that observed in I. bertoi n. sp. and a prominent Sub-Stieda body, which was not observed in the species described in this study.
In 2014, the oocysts of Isospora nigricollis (Barreto, 2014BARRETO, C., 2014. Ocorrência e identificação de coccídeos em amostras fecais de passeriformes silvestres (Aves: Passeriformes) no Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres do IBAMA em Belo Horizonte. Belo Horizonte: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 57 p. Dissertação.) were described in Sporophila nigricollis (Yellow-bellied Seedeater) at the Municipality of Belo Horizonte in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil by Barreto (2014)BARRETO, C., 2014. Ocorrência e identificação de coccídeos em amostras fecais de passeriformes silvestres (Aves: Passeriformes) no Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres do IBAMA em Belo Horizonte. Belo Horizonte: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 57 p. Dissertação.. Both oocysts (18 x 17 µm) and sporocysts (12 x 8 µm) have much smaller dimensions than those observed in I. bertoi n. sp. In addition, the oocysts do not have a polar granule, and the sporocyst is not composed of residuum.
Based on morphological and morphometric characteristics, Isospora bertoi is considered a new species not previously described. It is the third species of Isospora described in S. flaveola.
MCQUISTION, T.E. and WILSON, M. , 1988 Four new species of Isospora from the small tree finch (Camarhynchus parvulus) from the Galapagos Island The Journal of Parasitology, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 98-99 PMid:3367322
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank CAPES (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel) for granting the scholarship to T.K.S., Elizeu during the development of this research. This research was supported by FAPERJ (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro) [grant number 232568].
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1
This study was approved by the Biodiversity Authorization and Information System (SISBIO) under protocol number 78016-1.
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Publication Dates
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Publication in this collection
22 May 2023 -
Date of issue
2023
History
-
Received
23 Dec 2022 -
Accepted
18 Apr 2023