High infestation and phylogenetic position of Epistylis sp. (Ciliophora, Peritrichia) on Aegla serrana Buckup & Rossi (Crustacea, Anomura) from southern Brazil.

High infestations of epibiont ciliates on vertebrates or invertebrates are normally related to aquaculture tanks or similar environments, and the importance of this relationship in natural habitats is often disregarded. Here, we describe the first record of high infestation of ciliates on Aegla serrana in South America and conduct a brief morphological and phylogenetic characterization of these ciliates. Our findings confirm that cases of high infestation of ciliates on metazoans can indeed occur in natural environments.

Insights on the taxonomy of Haemoproteus parasites infecting cracid birds.

The Haemosporida order is a well-supported clade of heteroxenous parasites transmitted by dipteran insects and frequently found parasitizing wild birds. These parasites have already been reported in all zoogeographic regions of the world, except for Antarctica. One of the potential hosts of haemosporidians is the Cracidae family, which includes approximately 50 species, 22 of which are present in Brazil, classified within nine genera.

Insights into the systematics of the family Ophryoscolecidae (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida).

The family Ophryoscolecidae currently comprises 225 species of trichostomatid ciliates, subdivided into three subfamilies (Entodiniinae, Diplodiniinae, and Ophryoscolecinae). The last taxonomic review of the family was performed 55 years ago, but recent morphological and molecular studies indicate the need for a profound review of the systematics of this taxon, since its current taxonomy is insufficient to organize the diversity of the group. Here, we briefly review the systematics of the family Ophryoscolecidae based on information recovered from the literature and new morphological and molecular data.

New Finds on the Systematics of Cycloposthiid Ciliates (Ciliophora: Entodiniomorphida: Cycloposthiidae) Based on New 18S-rDNA Sequences from a Brazilian Capybara.

The family Cycloposthiidae (Entodiniomorphida) comprises ciliated protists that are symbionts of the gastrointestinal tract of several herbivore mammals, such as rodents, elephants, equids, primates, hippopotamus, marsupials, rhinoceros and tapir, where they contribute to the digestion of their host's plant-based diet. Despite the significance of these ciliates to the evolution of their hosts, many characters used in the taxonomy of the group are homoplastic and most of the valid species do not have molecular data available. For these reasons the systematics of this family is poorly understood.

New morphological and molecular data for Haemoproteus (H.) paramultipigmentatus in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil.

Parasites of the genus Haemoproteus have been reported in almost all avian clades and zoogeographic regions, except Antarctica. However, despite the large number of reports worldwide, they are poorly studied in the Neotropical region, which includes the Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot with more than 890 bird species, of which 24% are endemic. Haemoproteus (Haemoproteus) paramultipigmentatus was described by morphological and molecular analyses in 2013 infecting Columbiform birds in Mexico.

Haemoproteus syrnii (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in owls from Brazil: morphological and molecular characterization, potential cryptic species, and exo-erythrocytic stages.

Haemoproteus syrnii is a haemosporidian parasite found in owls. Although morphological and molecular data on the species is available, its exo-erythrocytic development was never researched. In this study, we provide the morphological, morphometric, and molecular characterization of H.

Ciliates as bioindicators of water quality: A case study in the neotropical region and evidence of phylogenetic signals (18S-rDNA).

The aim of our study was to evaluate the water quality of an urban stream in southeastern Brazil by analyzing epibenthic ciliates, and to investigate the existence of phylogenetic signal for saprobity in ciliates. However, before conducting this type of phylogenetic study, it is necessary to evaluate if the saprobic classification used frequently in the northern Hemisphere is suitable for neotropical ecosystems. Sediment samples were collected from five sampling stations: two in rural areas and three in urban areas.

Checklist of Cycloposthiidae species (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida), with a brief review on taxonomy, morphology and hosts.

The family Cycloposthiidae include 69 species, distributed in 17 genera, all of them described in symbiotic association with various mammalian host species. The taxonomic classification of the family is confused because of its broad diagnosis and absence of synapomorphies. To validate taxa and eliminate synonyms, the present work performed a brief taxonomic review of Cycloposthiidae, compiling morphological characterization, host records, and geographic location data.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Haemoproteus coatneyi and Haemoproteus erythrogravidus (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) in Passeriformes in Brazil's Atlantic Forest.

Haemoproteus spp. are protozoan parasites found in birds around the world. These parasites are identified through the morphology of gametocytes, phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial cytb gene, and the parasite's geographic distribution.

Molecular diversity and coalescent species delimitation of avian haemosporidian parasites in an endemic bird species of South America.

Haemoproteus spp. and Plasmodium spp. are blood parasites that occur in birds worldwide.

Trichostomatid Ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora, Trichostomatia) Systematics and Diversity: Past, Present, and Future.

The gastrointestinal tracts of most herbivorous mammals are colonized by symbiotic ciliates of the subclass Trichostomatia, which form a well-supported monophyletic group, currently composed by ∼1,000 species, 129 genera, and 21 families, distributed into three orders, Entodiniomorphida, Macropodiniida, and Vestibuliferida. In recent years, trichostomatid ciliates have been playing a part in many relevant functional studies, such as those focusing in host feeding efficiency optimization and those investigating their role in the gastrointestinal methanogenesis, as many trichostomatids are known to establish endosymbiotic associations with methanogenic Archaea. However, the systematics of trichostomatids presents many inconsistencies.

Intestinal ciliates (Alveolata, Ciliophora) in Brazilian domestic horses (Equus caballus L.) and a review on the ciliate communities associated with horses around the world.

The aims of this study were to identify and quantify the gastrointestinal ciliates from Brazilian domestic horses, to compare the data obtained with previous studies and to review data on ciliate communities associated with horses around the world. We used eight domestic horses, kept under extensive management. Fecal samples were obtained immediately after defecation of animals and fixed in 18.

Helmet-shaped Body of Entodiniomorphid Ciliates (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida), a Synapomorphy or a Homoplasy?

Triadinium was created to include Triadinium caudatum. Further, four other species were included, T. minimum, T.

Polymorphism evidence in Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) lutzi Lucena, 1939 (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) isolated from Brazilian wild birds.

Plasmodium parasites can infect great variety of bird species around the world inflicting the so called avian malaria, an illness that could be fatal in some cases and consequently, should be monitored and widely included into conservation programs. The aim of this study was to characterize two lineages of Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) lutzi found in some birds in the Atlantic Forest of Minas Gerais - Brazil, that were morphologically identified after blood smears analyses under light microscopy and molecularly by sequencing the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (cyt b). Besides these two lineages could be clearly morphologically identified as P.

Rhabdostylid Ciliates (Ciliophora, Peritrichia, Epistylididae) as Epibionts on Chironomid Larvae: Evidence of High Specificity and Association with Organic Pollution.

Although epibiont ciliates make up a significant part of the biomass in aquatic ecosystems and may cause perceptible alterations in the population dynamics of their hosts, studies on the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that control the abundance of these microorganisms are scarce in literature. In the present study, we investigated the colonization site and intensity of rhabdostylid epibiont upon chironomid larvae and assessed the influence of organic pollution and chironomid communities on the prevalence and abundance of epibiont ciliates at five sampling stations (two in rural areas and three in urban areas) along a neotropical urban stream over a period of 12 months. Among the 24 genera of chironomids found and the 31,976 larvae analyzed, 96.

Morphology and description of infraciliary bands pattern in four Metadinium Awerinzew Mutafowa, 1914 species (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae) with taxonomic notes on the genus.

The genus Metadinium includes ophryoscolecid ciliates, with two retractile ciliary zones in the anterior body portion, two broad skeletal plates, a lobed macronucleus and two contractile vacuoles. Species belonging to this genus were recorded in several geographical locations and in different host species. However, they were mostly described based on a single ciliatological technique, and until now, there is only one description of the infraciliary pattern in Metadinium ciliates (Metadinium medium).

Diversity and Distribution of Peritrich Ciliates on the Snail Draparnaud, 1805 (Gastropoda: Physidae) in a Eutrophic Lotic System.

Freshwater gastropods represent good models for the investigation of epibiotic relationships because their shells act as hard substrates, offering a range of microhabitats that peritrich ciliates can occupy. In the present study we analyzed the community composition and structure of peritrich epibionts on the basibiont freshwater gastropod . We also investigated the spatial distribution of these ciliates on the shells of the basibionts, assuming the premise that the shell is a topologically complex substrate.

Phalangeal morphology of Shanghuang fossil primates.

Here, we describe hundreds of isolated phalanges attributed to middle Eocene fossil primates from the Shanghuang fissure-fillings from southern Jiangsu Province, China. Extending knowledge based on previous descriptions of postcranial material from Shanghuang, this sample of primate finger and toe bones includes proximal phalanges, middle phalanges, and over three hundred nail-bearing distal phalanges. Most of the isolated proximal and middle phalanges fall within the range of small-bodied individuals, suggesting an allocation to the smaller haplorhine primates identified at Shanghuang, including eosimiids.

Molecular and Morphological Characterization of a Brazilian Lineage of Plasmodium ( Novyella) Unalis in Turdus Spp. (Passeriformes) of the Atlantic Forest, with Remarks on New Hosts and High Genetic Variation.

Plasmodium spp. are haemosporidian protozoans that alternate their live cycles between bloodsucking Culicidae dipterans and vertebrate hosts (mammals, reptiles, and birds). In birds, these parasites are the causative agents of the so-called avian malaria, a disease associated with considerable declines and extinctions in the avifauna in different geographical regions.

Description of Diploplastron dehorityi sp. nov. (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae), a new rumen ciliate from Brazilian sheep (Ovis aries).

To date the genus Diploplastron comprised only one species of ophryoscolecid ciliate, Diploplastron affine, which is characterized by having two retractable ciliary zones in the anterior end of the body, two slender and juxtaposed skeletal plates on the right side, a rod shape macronucleus, and two contractile vacuoles. During study on the characterization of rumen ciliate community composition in Brazilian domestic sheep, we observed ciliates with atypical morphology but with diagnostic features of genus Diploplastron. This study describes Diploplastron dehorityi, a new species of ophryoscolecid ciliate, that differs from D.

Multidisciplinary re-description of Plasmodium (Novyella) paranucleophilum in Brazilian wild birds of the Atlantic Forest kept in captivity.

Haemosporidian blood parasites of the Plasmodium genus are the causative agents of avian malaria in many parts of the world. Despite the great diversity of Brazilian avifauna, few studies have been conducted to examine the haemosporidians of wild birds found in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, especially those kept in captivity. This study aimed to re-examine and further characterize the South American avian parasite Plasmodium paranucleophilum using a multidisciplinary approach.

Estimating body size in early primates: The case of Archicebus and Teilhardina.

Obtaining accurate estimations of the body mass of fossil primates has always been a subject of interest in paleoanthropology because mass is an important determinant for so many other aspects of biology, ecology, and life history. This paper focuses on the issues involved in attempting to reconstruct the mass of two early Eocene haplorhine primates, Teilhardina and Archicebus, which pose particular problems due to their small size and temporal and phylogenetic distance from extant primates. In addition to a ranking of variables from more to less useful, the effect of using models of varying taxonomic and size compositions is examined.

Sheep fed with banana leaf hay reduce ruminal protozoa population.

A ciliate protozoa suppression can reduce methane production increasing the energy efficiency utilization by ruminants. The physicochemical characteristics of rumen fluid and the profile of the rumen protozoa populations were evaluated for sheep fed banana leaf hay in replacement of the Cynodon dactylon cv. vaqueiro hay.

Phylogenetic Analyses Support Validity of Genus Eodinium (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae).

The validity of genus Eodinium has been historically disputed due to morphological similarities with Diplodinium (absence of skeletal plates as well as adoral and dorsal ciliary zones at the same body level). To address this issue, the 18S rDNA of four Eodinium posterovesiculatum morphotypes and four Diplodinium anisacanthum morphotypes were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. The different inference methods suggest the existence of a last common ancestor of Eodinium and Ostracodinium that is not shared with Diplodinium, strongly supporting the validity of genus Eodinium.