An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia

ABSTRACT We describe and characterize a new Isospora species from the black‐faced cuckoo‐shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) in Western Australia, using both morphological and molecular approaches. Microscopic analysis of a fecal sample revealed 20 ellipsoidal oocysts, which are subspheroidal to ovoid...

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Main Authors: Yinhua Chen, Belinda Brice, Bruno P. Berto, Qiong Li, Rongchang Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-04-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71298
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author Yinhua Chen
Belinda Brice
Bruno P. Berto
Qiong Li
Rongchang Yang
author_facet Yinhua Chen
Belinda Brice
Bruno P. Berto
Qiong Li
Rongchang Yang
author_sort Yinhua Chen
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT We describe and characterize a new Isospora species from the black‐faced cuckoo‐shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) in Western Australia, using both morphological and molecular approaches. Microscopic analysis of a fecal sample revealed 20 ellipsoidal oocysts, which are subspheroidal to ovoid, measuring 40–43 × 39–41 μm (mean 41.4 × 39.6 μm) with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.0–1.1 (mean 1.04). The oocyst wall is bi‐layered (~1.5 μm thick), with a smooth outer layer constituting approximately two thirds of the total thickness. A micropyle is present, characterized by a slight invagination of the inner layer (~6.0 μm wide), but no micropyle cap is observed. Both the oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts (n = 20) are ellipsoidal, measuring 23–24 × 13–14 μm (mean 23.3 × 13.4 μm) with an L/W ratio of 1.7–1.8 (mean 1.74). A flattened to knob‐like Stieda body (~1.5 × 3.0 μm) is present, while sub‐Stieda and para‐Stieda bodies are absent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of granules clustered by a membrane, forming an irregular shape (~12.0 × 8.0 μm). Sporozoites exhibit anterior and posterior refractile bodies and a nucleus. Molecular analyses of the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI gene loci demonstrated that this species forms a distinct clade with Isospora serinuse in phylogenetic trees based on all three loci. It shares genetic similarities with I. serinuse of 98.8%, 93.7%, and 98.9% for the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI loci, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that this new species is closely related to I. serinuse. Based on these findings, we propose this isolate as a new species, Isospora coracinae n. sp. This is the first coccidian species identified from the Campephagidae family in Australia.
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spelling doaj-art-97a8ed9327da446282ce2e8a7ca794862025-08-20T02:35:33ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-04-01154n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71298An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western AustraliaYinhua Chen0Belinda Brice1Bruno P. Berto2Qiong Li3Rongchang Yang4Maotai Institute Renhuai ChinaKanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Lesmurdie Western Australia AustraliaDepartamento de Biologia Animal, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde Universidade Federal Rural Do Rio de Janeiro Seropédica BrazilMaotai Institute Renhuai ChinaSchool of Agricultural Sciences Murdoch University Murdoch Western Australia AustraliaABSTRACT We describe and characterize a new Isospora species from the black‐faced cuckoo‐shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) in Western Australia, using both morphological and molecular approaches. Microscopic analysis of a fecal sample revealed 20 ellipsoidal oocysts, which are subspheroidal to ovoid, measuring 40–43 × 39–41 μm (mean 41.4 × 39.6 μm) with a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.0–1.1 (mean 1.04). The oocyst wall is bi‐layered (~1.5 μm thick), with a smooth outer layer constituting approximately two thirds of the total thickness. A micropyle is present, characterized by a slight invagination of the inner layer (~6.0 μm wide), but no micropyle cap is observed. Both the oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts (n = 20) are ellipsoidal, measuring 23–24 × 13–14 μm (mean 23.3 × 13.4 μm) with an L/W ratio of 1.7–1.8 (mean 1.74). A flattened to knob‐like Stieda body (~1.5 × 3.0 μm) is present, while sub‐Stieda and para‐Stieda bodies are absent. The sporocyst residuum is composed of granules clustered by a membrane, forming an irregular shape (~12.0 × 8.0 μm). Sporozoites exhibit anterior and posterior refractile bodies and a nucleus. Molecular analyses of the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI gene loci demonstrated that this species forms a distinct clade with Isospora serinuse in phylogenetic trees based on all three loci. It shares genetic similarities with I. serinuse of 98.8%, 93.7%, and 98.9% for the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI loci, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis confirms that this new species is closely related to I. serinuse. Based on these findings, we propose this isolate as a new species, Isospora coracinae n. sp. This is the first coccidian species identified from the Campephagidae family in Australia.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7129818S rRNA28S rRNAblack‐faced cuckoo‐shrikeCoccidiaCOI geneIsospora
spellingShingle Yinhua Chen
Belinda Brice
Bruno P. Berto
Qiong Li
Rongchang Yang
An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia
Ecology and Evolution
18S rRNA
28S rRNA
black‐faced cuckoo‐shrike
Coccidia
COI gene
Isospora
title An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia
title_full An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia
title_fullStr An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia
title_full_unstemmed An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia
title_short An Isospora Species (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) Identified From a Black‐Faced Cuckoo‐Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae) (Gmelin, 1789) (Passeriformes: Campephagidae) in Western Australia
title_sort isospora species apicomplexa eimeriidae identified from a black faced cuckoo shrike coracina novaehollandiae gmelin 1789 passeriformes campephagidae in western australia
topic 18S rRNA
28S rRNA
black‐faced cuckoo‐shrike
Coccidia
COI gene
Isospora
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71298
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