Department of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
Parasitol Res. 2023 Aug;122(8):1759-1764. doi: 10.1007/s00436-023-07856-w. Epub 2023 May 24.
Lizards are hosts of several taxa of unicellular parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa, including Karyolysus, Schellackia, Lankesterella, and Hepatozoon. Parasite prevalence and the impact of infections on lizard biology remain largely unexplored. In this study, blood parasite infections were investigated in sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) from Berlin, Germany. Eighty-three individuals were investigated, and the detected blood parasites were identified as Schellackia sp. The combination of microscopic and molecular screening revealed a prevalence of 14.5%. Parasitemia values were low and most infections were subpatent. Phylogenetic analysis recovered a close relationship of the Schellackia parasites of this study with Schellackia sp. parasites of different Lacerta and Podarcis lizard species from Spain. Monitoring of Schellackia parasite infections in free-ranging lizards contributes to a better understanding of the distribution, diversity, and phylogenetic relationships of the neglected parasite taxon.
蜥蜴是顶复门单细胞寄生虫的几个分类群的宿主，包括 Karyolysus、Schellackia、Lankesterella 和 Hepatozoon。寄生虫的流行率以及感染对蜥蜴生物学的影响在很大程度上仍未得到探索。在这项研究中，研究了来自德国柏林的沙蜥蜴（Lacerta agilis）的血液寄生虫感染情况。共检查了 83 只个体，检测到的血液寄生虫被鉴定为 Schellackia sp.。显微镜和分子筛查相结合显示出 14.5%的流行率。寄生虫血症值较低，大多数感染呈亚显性。系统发育分析表明，本研究中的 Schellackia 寄生虫与来自西班牙的不同 Lacerta 和 Podarcis 蜥蜴物种的 Schellackia sp. 寄生虫密切相关。对自由放养蜥蜴中 Schellackia 寄生虫感染的监测有助于更好地了解被忽视的寄生虫分类群的分布、多样性和系统发育关系。
