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Molecular characterization and identification of Hepatozoon species Miller, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Adeleina: Hepatozoidae) in captive snakes from Brazil

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Abstract

Species of Hepatozoon are parasites frequently recorded in snakes. The species identification of this genus was based mostly on the gametocyte morphology and morphometric calculations. For more reliable results, molecular characterization, an initial step for the correct identification of Hepatozoon species, has been used. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and identification of Hepatozoon species in captive snakes from Brazil. To that end, morphological, morphometric, and molecular data were obtained. A total of 157 snakes; 128 venomous (Crotalus durissus) and 29 non-venomous (Epicrates crassus and Boa constrictor) were screened for Hepatozoon blood parasites. Using light microscopy, 20 (12.78%) snakes were found positive for Hepatozoon spp., of which 6/29 (20.7%) were non-venomous and 14/128 (10.9%) were venomous; all with low parasitemia. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), performed with the primers HepF300/Hep900, confirmed all 20 (100%) samples positive for hemogregarines. Species of Hepatozoon were identified from eight sequenced samples. Two previously described species, Hepatozoon cuestensis and Hepatozoon musa, were identified. The present study is the first to report H. musa within the snake hosts E. crassus and C. durrisus. In addition, a potentially new Hepatozoon species from B. constrictor was identified.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Vera Lúcia Brites and the team of Reptile sector, as well as the team of LAPAS, for the help provided in blood collection of snakes. We thank Guilherme Carrara Moreira Paiva and Daniela Ferreira Benevides for the help provided with examination of the blood extensions.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the CAPES (Improvement Coordination of Higher Education Personnel) and FAPEMIG (Foundation Research of Minas Gerais).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Sorologia e Biologia Molecular de Parasitos, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-ICBIM, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia-UFU, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Letícia Pereira Úngari, Maria Júlia Rodrigues da Cunha & Márcia Cristina Cury

  2. Instituto de Biociências, Campus de Botucatu, Departamento de Parasitologia, UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista, Distrito de Rubião Junior, Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil

    Letícia Pereira Úngari, Lucia Helena O’Dwyer & Maria Regina Lucas da Silva

  3. Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Animais Silvestres-LAPAS, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia-UFU, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    André Luiz Quagliatto Santos & Thais Carneiro Rodrigues Santos

  4. Faculdade de Matemática-FAMAT, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia—UFU, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Rogério de Melo Costa Pinto

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  1. Letícia Pereira Úngari
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  2. André Luiz Quagliatto Santos
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  3. Lucia Helena O’Dwyer
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  4. Maria Regina Lucas da Silva
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  5. Thais Carneiro Rodrigues Santos
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  6. Maria Júlia Rodrigues da Cunha
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  7. Rogério de Melo Costa Pinto
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  8. Márcia Cristina Cury
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Correspondence to Letícia Pereira Úngari.

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Úngari, L.P., Santos, A.L.Q., O’Dwyer, L.H. et al. Molecular characterization and identification of Hepatozoon species Miller, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Adeleina: Hepatozoidae) in captive snakes from Brazil. Parasitol Res 117, 3857–3865 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-6092-3

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