Morphological and molecular characterization of Karyolysus - a neglected but common parasite infecting some European lizards.

BACKGROUND Blood parasites of the genus Karyolysus Labbé, 1894 (Apicomplexa: Adeleida: Karyolysidae) represent the protozoan haemogregarines found in various genera of lizards, including Lacerta, Podarcis, Darevskia (Lacertidae) and Mabouia (Scincidae). The vectors of parasites are gamasid mites from the genus Ophionyssus. METHODS A total of 557 individuals of lacertid lizards were captured in four different localities in Europe (Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia) and blood was collected. Samples were examined using both microscopic and molecular methods, and phylogenetic relationships of all isolates of Karyolysus sp. were assessed for the first time. Karyolysus sp. 18S rRNA isolates were evaluated using Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses. RESULTS A total of 520 blood smears were examined microscopically and unicellular protozoan parasites were found in 116 samples (22.3% prevalence). The presence of two Karyolysus species, K. latus and K. lacazei was identified. In total, of 210 samples tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the presence of parasites was observed in 64 individuals (prevalence 30.5%). Results of phylogenetic analyses revealed the existence of four haplotypes, all part of the same lineage, with other parasites identified as belonging to the genus Hepatozoon. CONCLUSIONS Classification of these parasites using current taxonomy is complex - they were identified in both mites and ticks that typically are considered to host Karyolysus and Hepatozoon respectively. Furthermore although distortions to the intermediate host erythrocyte nuclei were observed, the defining characteristic of Karyolysus, the haplotypes were nearly identical to those reported from lizards in the Iberian Peninsula, where such distortions were not reported and which were thus identified as Hepatozoon. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, neither vertebrate host, nor geographical patterns of the studied blood parasites could be established

The Genetic Analysis of Potential New HEV-3 Subtype Identified on Pig Farm in Slovakia

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents the causative agent of acute viral hepatitis in the world. The virus belongs to the genus Paslahepevirus, species Paslahepevirus balayani, which contains 8 different genotypes and at least 14 reference HEV-3 subtypes. Recently we have identified three isolates in a Slovakian pig farm as a new unclassified HEV-3 subtype. The aim of this study was to sequence and analyze additional regions of HEV genome for PER5 isolate, a representative isolate of potential new HEV-3 subtype. The phylogenetic analyses of 749 bp and 828 bp DNA fragments amplified from ORF1 revealed that both sequences fall outside two major clades (3abchij and 3efg) of the HEV-3 genotype as well as the other HEV-3 subtypes. The nucleotide identity with other HEV-3 subtypes indicated low values within the range 79.2–84.1 % as well. The results provide further support for the circulation of a new HEV-3 subtype in the pig farm in Slovakia

Candidatus Cryptoplasma Associated with Green Lizards and Ixodes ricinus Ticks, Slovakia, 2004–2011

During 2004–2011, we collected green lizards and Ixodes ricinus ticks in Slovak Karst National Park in Slovakia; 90% (36/40) of lizards and 37% of ticks removed from lizards were infected with family Anaplasmataceae bacteria. Only Candidatus Cryptoplasma sp. REP (reptile) was identified in these samples. Green lizards transmit this bacterium