Phylogenetic position of <i>Nyctotherus teleacus</i> isolated from a tortoise (<i>Astrochelys radiata</i>) and its electron microscopic features

2020/01/01 by Jun Suzuki, Jun SUZUKI, Seiki Kobayashi +12
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Environmental Science · #Identification and Quantification in Food #Parasite Biology and Host Interactions #Turtle Biology and Conservation

paper · doi:10.1292/jvms.20-0004

openalex publication_date 2020/01/01 · openalex created_date 2020/05/01 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

A commensal ciliate was isolated from the stool of a tortoise (Astrochelys radiata). The ciliate was classified as Nyctotherus teleacus, according to its basic morphological features. Electron microscopic observations using cultured N. teleacus (NictoT1 strain) revealed many spherical hydrogenosomes and methanogen-suspected bacteria, together with a characteristic triangular macronucleus containing many spherical chromosomes in the cytoplasm of NictoT1. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that NictoT1 was included in the cluster of Nyctotheroides spp. (family Nyctotheridae). Nyctotheroides spp. commonly infest amphibians, which are taxonomically closely related to reptiles, including the tortoises evaluated in the present study.

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