Prevalence and molecular characterization of novel species of the Diplomonad genus Octomitus (Diplomonadida: Giardiinae) from wildlife in a New York watershed

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2021.03.008
• Publication Date: 2021-03-25T16:01:35Z
• Authors: Matthew H. Seabolt; Kerri A. Alderisio; Lihua Xiao; Dawn M. Roellig
• Keywords: Giardia; Lineage (genetic)

Octomitus is a diplomonad genus known to inhabit the intestinal tracts of rodents. Ultrastructural morphology and 18S rDNA gene sequence analysis support placement as closest sister lineage Giardia, parasite which causes diarrheal disease in humans animals worldwide. However, further information on ecology diversity currently scarce. Expanding available database characterized sequences for this organism would therefore be helpful studies Diplomonad ecology, evolution, epidemiology, particularly related evolution parasitism Giardia Spironucleus, another common commercial fish farming. In order study prevalence genotypic Octomitus, we developed nested PCR assay specific optimized detect genotypes fecal samples collected from wildlife New York watershed, sequenced portion small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) identify species level. Molecular evidence suggested that display similar Cryptosporidium microsporidian pathogens well strong host preference rodent opossum hosts. Phylogenetic showed 14 genotypes, 13 these novel, patterns host-parasite co-evolution.