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Phylogenetic relationships of Hepatozoon (Haemogregarina) boigae, Hepatozoon sp., Haemogregarina clelandi and Haemoproteus chelodina from Australian reptiles to other Apicomplexa based on cladistic analyses of ultrastructural and life-cycle characters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 August 2003

K. JAKES
Affiliation:
Forensic Science Service Tasmania, 20 St Johns Ave, New Town, Tasmania 7088, Australia
P. J. O'DONOGHUE
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4073, Australia
S. L. CAMERON
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4073, Australia

Abstract

The phylogeny of representative haemozoan species of the phylum Apicomplexa was reconstructed by cladistic analyses of ultrastructural and life-cycle characteristics. The analysis incorporated 4 apicomplexans previously not included in phylogenetic reconstructions: Haemogregarina clelandi from the Brisbane River tortoise (Emydura signata), Hepatozoon sp. from the slaty grey snake (Stegonotus cucullatus), Hepatozoon (Haemogregarina) boigae from the brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), and Haemoproteus chelodina from the saw-shelled tortoise (Elseya latisternum). There was no apparent correlation between parasite phylogeny and that of their vertebrate hosts, but there appeared to be some relationship between parasites and their intermediate hosts, suggestive of parasite/vector co-evolution.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2003 Cambridge University Press

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