Abstract
Background
The gnateaters Conopophaga spp. are insectivorous passerines commonly observed in high and humid forests, where they remain lodged in thin branches and, sometimes, they fly to the ground to catch insects. The insectivorous feeding habit is related to low prevalence and density of coccidians in passerines; however, several coccidian species are recorded for families of insectivorous passerines.
Purpose
This study aimed to examine the feces from gnateaters Conopophaga spp. captured in the municipality of Barra Mansa and in the Itatiaia National Park, State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil, to determine what coccidian parasites were present.
Methods
Nine gnateaters were captured with mist nets. Coccidian oocysts were recovered from the fecal samples by flotation in Sheather’s saturated solution. Morphological observations, line drawings, photomicrographs and measurements were made in optical microscopy and digitally edited. The molecular analysis included the study of the sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, with phylogenetic reconstructions based on the neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood analysis.
Results
Four Conopophaga spp. were positive for oocysts. An Isospora sp. considered as new to science is described and identified from Conopophaga melanops (Vieillot, 1818) and Conopophaga lineata (Wied, 1831). Isospora borbai n. sp. has oocysts that are subspheroidal, 17–22 × 15–22 (20.2 × 19.1) µm, with rough, bilayered wall, c.1.7 μm thick. Micropyle present, but without micropyle cap. Oocyst residuum absent, but one or two polar granules are present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 12–15 × 8–11 (14.1 × 9.1) µm. The Stieda body is knob-like to half-moon-shaped and sub-Stieda body is rounded. Sporocyst residuum is present, composed of scattered spherules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with refractile body and nucleus. Molecular analysis at the cox1 gene exhibited similarity greater than 99% with Isospora spp. isolates from other Neotropical passerine birds.
Conclusion
Based on the morphological and molecular features, I. borbai is considered as new to science and the first coccidian species recorded from Conopophagidae.
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Acknowledgements
We are thankful to staff at the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, mainly to the research coordinator Dr. Léo Nascimento, and the landowner at Santa Rita de Cássia in the Municipality of Barra Mansa, RJ, that allowed us to access and use some facilities during the expeditions. This study was supported by Grants from the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Field-collecting permits were issued by SISBIO/ICMBio (licenses 42798; 45200; 49605; 54951) and CEUA/UFRRJ (protocols IV-036/2014; ICBS-008/2015; IV-6606250616). All applicable institutional, national and international guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.
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da Silva-Carvalho, L.M., Genovez-Oliveira, J., de Souza Oliveira, M. et al. Isospora borbai n. sp. (Chromista: Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from gnateaters Conopophaga spp. (Passeriformes: Tyranni: Conopophagidae) in South America. Acta Parasit. 64, 617–624 (2019). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-019-00079-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11686-019-00079-z