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Abstract Morphological traits from blood stages have been the gold standard for determining haemosporidian parasite species. However, the status of some taxa and the value of such traits in parasites from reptiles remain contentious. The scarce sampling of these species worsens the situation, and several taxa lack molecular data. A survey was performed in the Magdalena Department in Colombia, where 16 species of reptiles were captured. A peculiar haemosporidian parasite was found in the Turnip-tailed gecko Thecadactylus rapicauda . This haemosporidian does not show malarial pigment in blood stages under light microscopy; thus, it fits the Garnia genus's characters belonging to the Garniidae . However, the phylogenetic analyses using a partial sequence of cytochrome b and the mitochondrial DNA placed it within the Plasmodium clade. Our findings suggest that many putative Garnia species belong to the genus Plasmodium , like the one reported here. This study either shows that visible malarial pigment in blood stages is not a diagnostic trait of the genus Plasmodium or malarial pigment might be present in an undetectable form under a light microscope. In any case, the current taxonomy of haemosporidian parasites in reptiles requires revision. This study highlights the importance of using molecular and morphological traits to address taxonomic questions at the species and genus levels in haemosporidian parasites from reptiles.
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This content will become publicly available on March 28, 2026
Phylogenetic assessment of Plasmodium ( Saurocytozoon ) tupinambi comb. nov. (Haemosporida, Plasmodiidae) in golden tegu lizards: shedding light on a long-standing Haemosporida taxonomic puzzle
Abstract Haemosporidians constitute a monophyletic group of vector-borne parasites that infect a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including Neotropical lizards. The remarkable diversity of these host-parasite associations and inadequate research on certain parasite groups have resulted in controversial haemosporidian taxonomy. Herein, we rediscover erythrocytic and non-erythrocytic haemosporidians infecting golden tegus (Tupinambis teguixin) from Brazil and Colombia. The erythrocyte-inhabiting parasite belongs toPlasmodiumsp., and the non-erythrocytic form was identified asSaurocytozoon tupinambi, previously attributed to the Family Leucocytozoidae. These non-pigmented haemosporidian parasites do not multiply in the blood. The relationships between theSaurocytozoonand Leucocytozoidae species were discussed for many years, especially during the 1970s. However, cytochrome b (cytb) sequences and the mitochondrial genomes recovered for this species strongly support classifying this parasite as aPlasmodiumtaxon. Therefore, we proposed a new combination for this parasite,Plasmodium(Saurocytozoon)tupinambicomb. nov., whereSaurocytozoonis retained as a subgenus due to its distinct morphology. These results reinforce that a broader definition of Plasmodiidae must include saurian parasites that develop non-pigmented leucocytozoid-like gametocytes.
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- PAR ID:
- 10588579
- Publisher / Repository:
- Cambridge University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Parasitology
- ISSN:
- 0031-1820
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1 to 19
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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