Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia
Malaria and other haemosporidian parasites are common in reptiles. During baseline health surveys of sea turtles in Western Australia (WA), haemosporidian parasites were detected in flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) turtle erythrocytes duri...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Erina J. Young Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins Kristin S. Warren Scott D. Whiting Gabriele Rossi Nahiid S. Stephens Lian Yeap Jill M. Austen |
| author_facet | Erina J. Young Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins Kristin S. Warren Scott D. Whiting Gabriele Rossi Nahiid S. Stephens Lian Yeap Jill M. Austen |
| author_sort | Erina J. Young |
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| description | Malaria and other haemosporidian parasites are common in reptiles. During baseline health surveys of sea turtles in Western Australia (WA), haemosporidian parasites were detected in flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) turtle erythrocytes during routine blood film examination. 130 blood samples were screened via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including 105 <i>N. depressus,</i> 20 <i>C. mydas,</i> and 5 olive ridley turtles (<i>Lepidochelys olivacea</i>). A novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. was identified, detected exclusively in foraging turtles and not in nesting turtles. The combined prevalence by microscopic and molecular methods was 16.9% (22/130), primarily affecting immature <i>C. mydas</i> (77.3%; 17/22). Mature <i>N. depressus</i> were also affected (22.7%; 5/22). DNA sequencing of a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome <i>b</i> (<i>cytb</i>) gene together with phylogenetic analysis identified two different <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. genotypes, A and B, with genotype A being most prevalent. The phylogenetic analysis showed close genetic relationships to <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. in freshwater and terrestrial turtles, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage despite ecological differences. Preliminary analysis indicates that this parasite is incidental, as no association between health and parasite presence or grade was detected. This study provides the first formal detection of haemosporidian parasites in sea turtles, contributing essential baseline data while highlighting their evolutionary significance and host–parasite ecological relationships. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8950c3bcbe5b47a49f0bba999be652f6 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-8950c3bcbe5b47a49f0bba999be652f62025-08-20T02:43:46ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172024-12-011312111210.3390/pathogens13121112Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western AustraliaErina J. Young0Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins1Kristin S. Warren2Scott D. Whiting3Gabriele Rossi4Nahiid S. Stephens5Lian Yeap6Jill M. Austen7Conservation Medicine Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaConservation Medicine Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaConservation Medicine Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaMarine Science Program, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, AustraliaCentre for Animal Production and Health, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaCentre for Animal Production and Health, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaConservation Medicine Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaSchool of Agriculture Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, AustraliaMalaria and other haemosporidian parasites are common in reptiles. During baseline health surveys of sea turtles in Western Australia (WA), haemosporidian parasites were detected in flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) turtle erythrocytes during routine blood film examination. 130 blood samples were screened via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including 105 <i>N. depressus,</i> 20 <i>C. mydas,</i> and 5 olive ridley turtles (<i>Lepidochelys olivacea</i>). A novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. was identified, detected exclusively in foraging turtles and not in nesting turtles. The combined prevalence by microscopic and molecular methods was 16.9% (22/130), primarily affecting immature <i>C. mydas</i> (77.3%; 17/22). Mature <i>N. depressus</i> were also affected (22.7%; 5/22). DNA sequencing of a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome <i>b</i> (<i>cytb</i>) gene together with phylogenetic analysis identified two different <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. genotypes, A and B, with genotype A being most prevalent. The phylogenetic analysis showed close genetic relationships to <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. in freshwater and terrestrial turtles, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage despite ecological differences. Preliminary analysis indicates that this parasite is incidental, as no association between health and parasite presence or grade was detected. This study provides the first formal detection of haemosporidian parasites in sea turtles, contributing essential baseline data while highlighting their evolutionary significance and host–parasite ecological relationships.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1112flatback turtlegreen turtle<i>Haemocystidium</i> sp.haemosporidian parasitehaematologyphylogenetic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Erina J. Young Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins Kristin S. Warren Scott D. Whiting Gabriele Rossi Nahiid S. Stephens Lian Yeap Jill M. Austen Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia Pathogens flatback turtle green turtle <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. haemosporidian parasite haematology phylogenetic analysis |
| title | Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia |
| title_full | Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia |
| title_fullStr | Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia |
| title_short | Novel <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. Intraerythrocytic Parasite in the Flatback (<i>Natator depressus</i>) and Green (<i>Chelonia mydas</i>) Turtle in Western Australia |
| title_sort | novel i haemocystidium i sp intraerythrocytic parasite in the flatback i natator depressus i and green i chelonia mydas i turtle in western australia |
| topic | flatback turtle green turtle <i>Haemocystidium</i> sp. haemosporidian parasite haematology phylogenetic analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/13/12/1112 |
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