Reevaluation of Hemoparasites in the Black Spiny-Tailed Iguana () with the First Pathological and Molecular Characterizations of n. sp. and Redescription of .

Hemoprotozoa are microorganisms that parasitize the blood and possess intricate life cycles. Despite the complexity of their nature, little is known about the biology of hemoprotozoa in reptilian hosts. In this study, we conducted disease surveillance on blood samples collected from six black spiny-tailed iguanas () exhibiting clinical signs. We found two different types of hemoparasites in the blood films and further confirmed they belong to the genera and through molecular methods. In the tissue section from a dead iguana infected only with sp., parasites were also found in melanomacrophages of the liver and kidney. Since sp. infection has not been reported in , we propose this hemococcidian as a new species, n. sp. The parasites discovered in this study were classified as based on their morphological characteristics, particularly the notable deformation of all infected erythrocytes, and this classification was further corroborated through molecular biological and phylogenetic analyses. This is the first hemoprotozoa investigation in with pathological and molecular characterization of these pathogens. We suggest that more studies are needed to understand the epidemiology, transmission, and impact of these parasites on their hosts and ecosystems.