Abstract - Jirku et al. 2007
| Tracing the genus Sphaerospora: a case of the Sphaerospora ranae (Morelle, 1929) n. comb. (Myxosporea, Sphaerosporidae), renal myxosporean from the European frogs of the genus Rana rediscovery, redescription, phylogeny and emendation of the genus Sphaerospora Parasitology. 134:1727-1739 |
| Using a combination of morphological, life-history and molecular data, we redescribe Sphaerospora ranae (Morelle, 1929) n. comb. (previously Leptotheca ranae) and emend its taxonomic status. Renal infection was recorded in 2 spp. of frogs (out of 5 amphibian spp. examined), Rana dalmatina (proposed type host) and Rana temporaria, suggesting restricted host specifity of S. ranae.We provide a description of sporogonic stages of S. ranae for the first time and suggest possible modes of its developmental cycle. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from the small-subunit ribosomal DNA revealed a close relationship of S. ranae with piscine Sphaerospora elegans (type species of the genus) and Sphaerospora truttae, forming together with distantly related Leptotheca fugu a "Sphaerosporid clade", the basal branch to all myxosporean species. The close relationship of the 3 Sphaerospora spp. is further supported by the presence of 2 areas with extensive nucleotide insertions in the V4 region of the SSU rDNA (absent in L. fugu), morphology and life-history features. We conclude, that the spore morphology of Sphaerospora s.l., is very simple and probably represents a "primitive", basal morphotype retained in most myxosporean lineages. Based on presented data, we propose emendation of the genus Sphaerospora using morpological, life-history and molecular features. |
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