Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity
<i>Colpodella</i> species are free-living predatory protists that prey on algae, ciliates and bodonids using myzocytosis. <i>Colpodella</i> species have been reported in human and animal infections. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting 18S rRNA genes of <...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Tobili Y. Sam-Yellowe Trinity Nims Sona Qaderi Mary M. Asraf |
| author_facet | Tobili Y. Sam-Yellowe Trinity Nims Sona Qaderi Mary M. Asraf |
| author_sort | Tobili Y. Sam-Yellowe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Colpodella</i> species are free-living predatory protists that prey on algae, ciliates and bodonids using myzocytosis. <i>Colpodella</i> species have been reported in human and animal infections. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting 18S rRNA genes of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> and piroplasms have identified <i>Colpodella</i> species in arthropods, host blood and feces, demonstrating the phylogenetic closeness of <i>Colpodella</i> species to the apicomplexa. However, in human, animal and arthropod hosts, the life cycle stages of <i>Colpodella</i> are unknown. In this literature review, we provide an overview of the widespread occurrence of <i>Colpodella</i> species in ticks, and pathogenicity in humans and animals. We discuss methods for culture and microscopy that can aid diagnosis. Phylogenetic tree analysis of <i>Colpodella</i> species identified using 18S rRNA demonstrates that the <i>Colpodella</i> species identified in different geographic regions represent different species and strains that may impact virulence and zoonotic transmission. There is a pressing need to culture <i>Colpodella</i> species, and to stain cells for morphological identification. This will aid molecular investigations aimed at identifying molecular markers of <i>Colpodella</i> spp. facilitating transmission, survival and pathogenesis in hosts, and will determine which species and strains to prioritize for the risk of zoonotic infections to humans and for infections in animals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4676cb24ea2c40e7ba098c24bb38c0b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-0227 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Zoonotic Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-4676cb24ea2c40e7ba098c24bb38c0b32025-08-20T03:29:48ZengMDPI AGZoonotic Diseases2813-02272025-05-01521410.3390/zoonoticdis5020014Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and PathogenicityTobili Y. Sam-Yellowe0Trinity Nims1Sona Qaderi2Mary M. Asraf3Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USADepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USADepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USADepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA<i>Colpodella</i> species are free-living predatory protists that prey on algae, ciliates and bodonids using myzocytosis. <i>Colpodella</i> species have been reported in human and animal infections. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers targeting 18S rRNA genes of <i>Cryptosporidium</i> and piroplasms have identified <i>Colpodella</i> species in arthropods, host blood and feces, demonstrating the phylogenetic closeness of <i>Colpodella</i> species to the apicomplexa. However, in human, animal and arthropod hosts, the life cycle stages of <i>Colpodella</i> are unknown. In this literature review, we provide an overview of the widespread occurrence of <i>Colpodella</i> species in ticks, and pathogenicity in humans and animals. We discuss methods for culture and microscopy that can aid diagnosis. Phylogenetic tree analysis of <i>Colpodella</i> species identified using 18S rRNA demonstrates that the <i>Colpodella</i> species identified in different geographic regions represent different species and strains that may impact virulence and zoonotic transmission. There is a pressing need to culture <i>Colpodella</i> species, and to stain cells for morphological identification. This will aid molecular investigations aimed at identifying molecular markers of <i>Colpodella</i> spp. facilitating transmission, survival and pathogenesis in hosts, and will determine which species and strains to prioritize for the risk of zoonotic infections to humans and for infections in animals.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/2/14apicomplexa<i>Babesia</i> species<i>Colpodella</i> species<i>Colpodella</i> life cycle<i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp.myzocytosis |
| spellingShingle | Tobili Y. Sam-Yellowe Trinity Nims Sona Qaderi Mary M. Asraf Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity Zoonotic Diseases apicomplexa <i>Babesia</i> species <i>Colpodella</i> species <i>Colpodella</i> life cycle <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. myzocytosis |
| title | Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity |
| title_full | Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity |
| title_fullStr | Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity |
| title_short | Tickborne <i>Colpodella</i> Species Infections: Time for a New Integrated Approach to Understand Transmission and Pathogenicity |
| title_sort | tickborne i colpodella i species infections time for a new integrated approach to understand transmission and pathogenicity |
| topic | apicomplexa <i>Babesia</i> species <i>Colpodella</i> species <i>Colpodella</i> life cycle <i>Cryptosporidium</i> spp. myzocytosis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/2/14 |
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