TY - JOUR
T1 - A new species of Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa:Cryptosporidiidae) from eastern grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)
AU - Power, Michelle L.
AU - Ryan, Una M.
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - Cryptosporidium macropodum n. sp is described. Oocysts of C. macropodum from the feces of kangaroos (Macropus spp.) are morphologically indistinguishable from other mammalian Cryptosporidium species, including C. parvum, C. hominis, C. suis, and C. canis. The oocysts are fully sporulated on excretion, lack sporocysts, and have an average width of 4.9 μm (4.5-6.0), a length of 5.4 μm (5.0-6.0), and a length:width ratio of 1.1. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S ribosomal RNA, actin, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) loci demonstrate that C. macropodum is genetically distinct from all described Cryptosporidium species, including others found in marsupials. The parasite seems to be highly host-specific, because it has been found only in marsupials to date. Therefore, based on biological and molecular data, we consider C. macropodum a new species.
AB - Cryptosporidium macropodum n. sp is described. Oocysts of C. macropodum from the feces of kangaroos (Macropus spp.) are morphologically indistinguishable from other mammalian Cryptosporidium species, including C. parvum, C. hominis, C. suis, and C. canis. The oocysts are fully sporulated on excretion, lack sporocysts, and have an average width of 4.9 μm (4.5-6.0), a length of 5.4 μm (5.0-6.0), and a length:width ratio of 1.1. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S ribosomal RNA, actin, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) loci demonstrate that C. macropodum is genetically distinct from all described Cryptosporidium species, including others found in marsupials. The parasite seems to be highly host-specific, because it has been found only in marsupials to date. Therefore, based on biological and molecular data, we consider C. macropodum a new species.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=54349086042&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1645/GE-1508.1
DO - 10.1645/GE-1508.1
M3 - Article
C2 - 18973420
AN - SCOPUS:54349086042
SN - 0022-3395
VL - 94
SP - 1114
EP - 1117
JO - Journal of Parasitology
JF - Journal of Parasitology
IS - 5
ER -