High Morphological Variability Research Articles

Microsatellite polymorphism for molecular characterization of pomelo (Citrus maxima) accessions from Indonesia

Abstract. Susandarini R, Subandiyah S, Daryono BS, Rugayah. 2020. Microsatellite polymorphism for molecular characterization of pomelo (Citrus maxima) accessions from Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2390-2395. Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. (pomelo) as a minor fruit crop deserve attention on its phenotypic and genotypic variability to avoid the risk of extinction. Previous study showed that pomelo from Indonesia has high morphological variability, and thus it is interesting to explore its genotypic variability using molecular markers. Microsatellite is a molecular marker widely used in Citrus taxonomy studies. This study aimed at revealing microsatellite polymorphism and its potential application in cultivar characterization of C .maxima. Eighty accessions of C. maxima consisting of registered cultivars and landraces from Indonesia were used in this study. Analysis of microsatellite sequences from genomic DNA amplified using DY296883 primer showed that C. maxima microsatellite has high polymorphism in the form of repeat length variation of (GA)n, ranging from (GA)7 to (GA)19. This study proved the existence of high genotypic variability in C. maxima, and confirmed the role of microsatellite as a useful molecular marker for uncovering variability at intraspecific level. Observation of the microsatellite polymorphisms indicated that variability of (GA)n can be used to distinguish some pomelo cultivars.

Three-dimensional characterization of mandibular asymmetry in craniofacial microsomia

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) mandibular asymmetry in craniofacial microsomia (CFM) and its association with the Pruzansky–Kaban classification system.Materials and methodsCone-beam computed tomography images of 48 adult CFM cases were collected. The asymmetry of the mandibular body and ramus was analyzed with 3D landmarks. The mirrored mandibular model was registered on the original model, yielding a color-coded distance map and an average distance (i.e., asymmetry score) to quantify the overall mandibular asymmetry.ResultsThe lengths of the mandibular body and ramus were significantly shorter on the affected than the contralateral side (p < 0.001). The ANB (p = 0.009), body and ramal lengths (both p < 0.001), and body and ramal length asymmetry (both p < 0.05) were significantly different between mild (types I/IIA) and severe (types IIB/III) cases. The mandibular asymmetry score correlated with mandibular body length asymmetry (r = 0.296, p = 0.046). CFM mandibles showed high variability in shape asymmetry.ConclusionsCFM patients showed distinct body and ramal length asymmetries. In severe cases, mandibles were smaller, more retruded, and more asymmetric in length. The mandibular shape asymmetry was highly variable regardless of the Pruzansky–Kaban types, being a determinant in the extent of overall mandibular asymmetry.Clinical relevanceThe 3D morphologic analysis provides better insights into real mandibular asymmetry. Although the Pruzansky–Kaban classification was applied, high individual variability of the mandibular morphology still existed within the types. Therefore, individualized analyses and treatment plans for CFM patients are highly recommended.

DNA Barcoding of Simulium asakoae (Diptera: Simuliidae) From Northern Thailand.

Previous studies suggested the presence of species complex in the so-called Simulium asakoae Takaoka & Davies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Thailand due to its high morphological variability and genetic divergence. To investigate whether the true S. asakoae is present in Thailand, we performed a detailed morphological identification of S. asakoae and compared its DNA barcodes with the morphospecies S. asakoae from Myanmar and the typical S. asakoae from Malaysia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the Thai materials analyzed in this study were indeed genetically similar with those from Myanmar and Malaysia, though genetic distances 0-2.27% were observed. We tentatively regard this divergence as intraspecific variation, and the automatic barcode gap discovery analysis further supports them as a single species.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;High morphological diversity of &lt;em&gt;Amaranthus cruentus&lt;/em&gt; (Amaranthaceae) and its putative wild ancestor revealed by pistillate floral characterization in the proposed domestication center of origin&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae) is a widespread genus that includes noxious weeds, economically important species for food, forage, medicinals and ornamentals. Three species of Amaranthus have been cultivated for their grain in the world, i.e. A. hypochondriacus, A. caudatus, and A. cruentus. It has been postulated that A. cruentus was domesticated from the probable wild progenitor A. hybridus, and that the domestication event occurred between southern Mexico and Guatemala, the region where the Mayan civilization flourished. Morphological variation in this grain amaranth and its putative wild progenitor has been poorly documented, even though this area is a possible center of domestication of A. cruentus. Samples of A. cruentus, A. hybridus, hybrids between these two species and aberrant morphotypes collected were studied morphologically using multivariate statistical methods on pistillate floral characters to (1) assess the diversity of grain amaranth A. cruentus and its postulated wild progenitor A. hybridus in the proposed domestication center of origin, (2) test the hypothesis that some hybrids and aberrant morphotypes found in the region can be morphologically differentiated from A. hybridus and A. cruentus based on statistical analyses, and (3) test and review the diagnostic characters traditionally used for assessing species circumscription. Our results showed high morphological diversity for these two species in the study region, indicating differentiation of both species, apparently based primarily on hybridization. Morphological variants on flower, bract, sepal, seed, and fruit characters were significant for confirming and circumscribing species.

Comparative Plastome Analyses and Phylogenetic Applications of the Acer Section Platanoidea

The Acer L. (Sapindaceae) is one of the most diverse and widespread genera in the Northern Hemisphere. Section Platanoidea harbours high genetic and morphological diversity and shows the phylogenetic conflict between A. catalpifolium and A. amplum. Chloroplast (cp) genome sequencing is efficient for the enhancement of the understanding of phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic revision. Here, we report complete cp genomes of five species of Acer sect. Platanoidea. The length of Acer sect. Platanoidea cp genomes ranged from 156,262 bp to 157,349 bp and detected the structural variation in the inverted repeats (IRs) boundaries. By conducting a sliding window analysis, we found that five relatively high variable regions (trnH-psbA, psbN-trnD, psaA-ycf3, petA-psbJ and ndhA intron) had a high potential for developing effective genetic markers. Moreover, with an addition of eight plastomes collected from GenBank, we displayed a robust phylogenetic tree of the Acer sect. Platanoidea, with high resolutions for nearly all identified nodes, suggests a promising opportunity to resolve infrasectional relationships of the most species-rich section Platanoidea of Acer.

Quantifying the Geometric Shell Shape between Populations of True Limpets Lottia Mesoleuca (Mollusca: Lottidae) in Colombia.

Simple SummaryThe family Lottidae in the Colombian Pacific is made up by a number of species with diverse morphologies that are products of their specific habitats. Several tools for studying morphological diversity have been used to identify species groups, among them traditional morphometrics and lately geometric morphometrics. Different populations of the true limpet species Lottia mesoleuca were examined to determine their population variation in Colombia, evaluating aspects of geometric variation in their shells. The results achieved indicate that geometric morphometrics has enough potential to identify small differences between populations of the true limpets independently of their similar morphologies.The increasing activity in morphological studies has provided new tools to analyses the shape quantitatively, these quantitative measurements allow the researcher to examine the variation in shape and perform analysis to examine the quantitative differences among the species shapes, where geometric morphometrics has rendered great results in the last years. This study was focused on assessing the morphometric variation between populations of Lottia mesoleuca of the family Lottidae, an abundant group of gastropods in the rocky ecosystems of Bahía Málaga and Isla Gorgona (Colombian Pacific). This family has a high morphological diversity, making the identification of some morphotypes problematic work. Geometric morphometrics methods were applied on the shell using dorsal, lateral and ventral views. Different multivariate analyses were performed to differentiate the groups of species and populations (principal component analysis, morphological distances comparisons and grouping analysis by means of the Ward method). The results indicate that individuals of the species Lottia mesoleuca have key geometric characteristics associated to the different populations (depth intertidal zones) for classification, being the geometric shape of the shell enough to determine morphotypes between the different populations studied. Aspects associated with the combination of ecological variables with morphometric ones are necessary to be able to visualize with a higher resolution the structural complexity of populations and their adaptation processes. Furthermore, it is obvious that there is a strong need to conduct more explorations of environmental and ecological processes that provide some insight on why the morphological characteristics are so variable in the same species.

More than just the number of denticles: morphometric and limb variability in Neotropical cladoceran Alonella dadayi (Crustacea: Cladocera: Chydoridae).

The aim of this study is to describe the limb morphology of Alonella dadayi Birge (Cladocera: Chydorida) and this species' morphometric variability regarding the carapace and postabdomen. We report for the first time a population whose individuals do not have denticles on the posteroventral corner of the carapace. Although we have observed intra- and interpopulation variability of the limbs (especially the proportion of Inner Distal Lobe setae), Alonella dadayi can also be differentiated from closely related species by the morphology of the exopodite of the second limb. The morphometric analyses show high variability in the shape of the carapace, when regarding the ventral margin and posterodorsal corner. In the postabdomen, we observed a significant variation in the preanal, anal and postanal margins. Keeping in mind the wide range of the geographic distribution of Alonella dadayi and its high morphological variability, it is possible that this taxon comprises a species complex. Such a chance needs to be tested in future studies.

Taxonomic Notes on the 'Mahat' (Artocarpus lacucha and A. thailandicus, Moraceae) Species Complex in Thailand.

‘Mahat’ is a well-known medicinal plant utilized in Thailand. The Thai name ‘Mahat’ has been used in many scientific articles for years. However, it is, unpredictably, a homonym of two scientific names in Flora of Thailand, i.e., A. lacucha and A. thailandicus. Additionally, both species are complex due to their high morphological variation. This causes difficulties in species identification especially when this Thai name is referred to as the scientific name for research publication, quality control of pharmaceutical raw materials, and registration of pharmaceutical products. In this study, we scrutinized the taxonomy of ‘Mahat’ by detailed examination of its morphology and distribution, including molecular and qualitative phytochemical studies. Leaf surfaces were inspected using scanning electron microscopy. The phylogeny of both species was studied using DNA sequences of nuclear and plastid regions. Chromatographic fingerprints, focusing on the major active compound oxyresveratrol, were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography. According to our current study, phylogenetic evidence showed that some samples of both species were clustered together in the same clade and phytochemical fingerprints were almost identical. These results are valuable data for taxonomic revision in the near future and reveal the possible utilization of A. thailandicus as a new material source of oxyresveratrol in the pharmaceutical industry.

Akdeniz türleri üzerine bazı taksonomik notlarla birlikte, Türkiye kıyılarındaki Granulina (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Neogastropoda) genusunun durumu

In the present study four Granulina species we recognized from the Turkish coasts: G. marginata (Bivona, 1832), G. occulta (Monterosato, 1869), G. boucheti Gofas, 1992 and G. melitensis Smriglio, Mariottini &amp; Rufini, 1998. The high variability of the shell morphology is studied and «morphologic affinities» are comparatively analized, and two different complex of species are here recognised: the G. marginata/G. boucheti complex and the G. occulta/G. melitensis complex. Meanwhile, with our records the number of the species known from the research area has been increased to four with the addtion of G. boucheti and G. melitensis. The name Granulina guttula La Perna, 1999 is restored, being considered as not preoccuped by Erato guttula Sowerby, 1832. Granulina gubbiolii Smriglio &amp; Mariottini, 1999 is here recognised as a junior synonym of Granulina minusculina (Locard, 1897).

The low-copy nuclear gene Agt1 as a novel DNA barcoding marker for Bromeliaceae

BackgroundThe angiosperm family Bromeliaceae comprises over 3.500 species characterized by exceptionally high morphological and ecological diversity, but a very low genetic variation. In many genera, plants are vegetatively very similar which makes determination of non flowering bromeliads difficult. This is particularly problematic with living collections where plants are often cultivated over decades without flowering. DNA barcoding is therefore a very promising approach to provide reliable and convenient assistance in species determination. However, the observed low genetic variation of canonical barcoding markers in bromeliads causes problems.ResultIn this study the low-copy nuclear gene Agt1 is identified as a novel DNA barcoding marker suitable for molecular identification of closely related bromeliad species. Combining a comparatively slowly evolving exon sequence with an adjacent, genetically highly variable intron, correctly matching MegaBLAST based species identification rate was found to be approximately double the highest rate yet reported for bromeliads using other barcode markers.ConclusionIn the present work, we characterize Agt1 as a novel plant DNA barcoding marker to be used for barcoding of bromeliads, a plant group with low genetic variation. Moreover, we provide a comprehensive marker sequence dataset for further use in the bromeliad research community.

Proposal for a new classification of plantaris muscle origin and its potential effect on the knee joint

PurposeThe plantaris muscle (PM) is typically characterized by a short, slim and spindle-shaped muscle belly and long, thin tendon. It is situated posterior to the popliteal muscle, and anterior to the lateral head of the gastrocnemius muscle (GM). Little information exists regarding the high variability of origin of the PM. The main aim of the study was hence to characterize the morphology of the PM and its place of origin, classify it and evaluate its prevalence. MethodsClassical anatomical dissection was performed on 142 lower limbs (77 left, and 65 right) fixed in 10% formalin solution. The morphology of the origin of the PM and its prevalence was evaluated. ResultsThe PM was present in 128 lower limbs (90.1%). Six types of origin were observed, the most common being Type I (48.4%). This type was divided into two subtypes (A–B): subtype A attaching to the lateral head of the GM, lateral femoral condyle and to the capsule of the knee joint, and subtype B, attaching to the lateral head of the GM, the lateral femoral condyle, knee joint capsule and the popliteal surface of the femur. The second most common type was Type II (25%), attaching to the capsule of the knee joint and, indirectly, to the lateral head of the GM through the lateral femoral condyle. The third most common type was Type III (10.15%), attaching to the lateral femoral condyle and the knee joint capsule. Type IV (6.25%), the rarest type, attached to the lateral femoral condyle, knee joint capsule and to the iliotibial band. Type V (8.6%) originated only from the lateral condyle of the femur. Type VI (1.6%) contains only "rare cases". ConclusionThe PM presents high morphological variability, and its status as a residual muscle should be reconsidered. Our presented classification of its types of origin is a valuable addition for both clinicians and anatomists.Level of Evidence – II Basic Science Research

Morphological and pomological variability of a grape (Vitis vinifera L.) germplasm collection

Grape, represented by numerous table and raisin cultivars used in the production of juices, canned food, medicines, and various fermentation products, as well as grown for ornamental purposes, holds a special place in the world market. In the current study, morphological and pomological characterizations of 55 grape cultivars were investigated. Significant differences were observed among the studied cultivars for the measured characters. Bunch length ranged from 6.00–25.00 cm, while berry length ranged from 12.32 to 31.85 mm. In addition, 10 types of berry skin color were observed and light-green (14 cultivars) and yellowish-green (15 cultivars) colors were predominant. Furthermore, 20 cultivars formed seed as rudimentary, while seeds were well-developed in 34 cultivars and one cultivar was seedless. Bunch density showed negative correlations with berry length and berry width, indicating that larger berries were found in less dense bunches. The clustering dendrogram based on the obtained data showed three main clusters with several sub-clusters. The obtained data revealed high morphological variability within the studied collection of autochthonous grapevine cultivars which might be considered as characterizing the large gene pool and contributed to the breeding process of grape.

Phenotypic characterization of Prunus haussknechtii Bornm., P. elaeagnifolia Spach, and P. orientalis Mill.

Wild almond related species (subgenus Amygdalus in Prunus genus, Rosaceae family) are considered as valuable genetic resources which can be used to broaden the genetic background and to introduce new traits into commercial relatives. The current research was conducted to describe the phenotypic variability of three wild almond related species including Prunus haussknechtii Bornm., P. elaeagnifolia Spach, and P. orientalis Mill. from natural habitats. There were considerable variations among the accessions studied of each species. The range of nut weight was 0.44–1.80 g in P. haussknechtii, 0.24-0.78 g in P. elaeagnifolia, and 0.25-0.99 g in P. orientalis. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated 17 principal components (PCs) with explaining 79.58% of total variance in P. haussknechtii, 14 PCs with explaining 89.54% of total variance in P. elaeagnifolia, and also 14 PCs with explaining 89.45% of total variance in P. orientalis. The generated dendrogram based on the combined data obtained from the three species studied showed two different major clusters and indicated high morphological diversity among and within the studied species. Results showed that the studied wild species are suitable candidates for breeding objectives of almond, such as developing rootstocks with resistance to drought and also developing late-flowering cultivars. The current investigation provided basic genetic information and a reliable basis that should facilitate attempts to protect the species studied for in situ conservation.

Cell types and cell circuits in human and non-human primate retina.

This review summarizes our current knowledge of primate including human retina focusing on bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells and their connectivity. We have two main motivations in writing. Firstly, recent progress in non-invasive imaging methods to study retinal diseases mean that better understanding of the primate retina is becoming an important goal both for basic and for clinical sciences. Secondly, genetically modified mice are increasingly used as animal models for human retinal diseases. Thus, it is important to understand to which extent the retinas of primates and rodents are comparable. We first compare cell populations in primate and rodent retinas, with emphasis on how the fovea (despite its small size) dominates the neural landscape of primate retina. We next summarise what is known, and what is not known, about the postreceptoral neurone populations in primate retina. The inventories of bipolar and ganglion cells in primates are now nearing completion, comprising ~12 types of bipolar cell and at least 17 types of ganglion cell. Primate ganglion cells show clear differences in dendritic field size across the retina, and their morphology differs clearly from that of mouse retinal ganglion cells. Compared to bipolar and ganglion cells, amacrine cells show even higher morphological diversity: they could comprise over 40 types. Many amacrine types appear conserved between primates and mice, but functions of only a few types are understood in any primate or non-primate retina. Amacrine cells appear as the final frontier for retinal research in monkeys and mice alike.

Genome size and cytomolecular diversification in two species of the South African endemic genus Tulbaghia L. (Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae)

Tulbaghia L. is a South African genus of Allioideae, Amaryllidaceae, which includes circa 25 species with similar karyotypes, all of them with 2n = 12 large chromosomes, predominantly metacentric to submetacentric. This karyotype stability contrasts with the high variability in chromosome number and morphology reported for its South American sister group, the tribe Gilliesieae. Aiming to understand the chromosome evolution in Tulbaghia, we did a karyotype analysis of T. violacea Harv. and T. simmleri Beauverd, looking for a precise characterization of chromosomal length, distribution of heterochromatin, rDNA sites, telomeric DNA sites, and genome size. The two species displayed similar chromosome morphology and size, but the genome size was smaller in T. simmleri (2C = 38.88 pg) than in T. violacea (2C = 43.48 pg). Both species had the Arabidopsis-type (T3AG3)n and the vertebrate-type (T2AG3)n telomeric motifs in all chromosome termini, a single pair of CMA+ bands colocalized with 35S rDNA sites and one pair of 5S rDNA sites neutrally stained with CMA. Additionally, T. simmleri had 12 large CMA+ bands colocalized with 5S rDNA sites and an extra pair of small CMA+ bands. In spite of the morphological karyotype similarity among Tulbaghia species, our data indicate that small chromosomal and genomic changes are actively acting on the karyotype differentiation of these species. Features such as chromosome size and morphology, genome size, number/distribution of rDNA sites and telomeric DNA resemble Tulbaghia karyotypes to those of other genera of tribes Allieae and Gilliesieae, reinforcing the relationship among the three tribes of the subfamily Allioideae.

Characterization of ornamental pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. var. ovifera (L.) Alef.) genotypes: molecular, morphological and nutritional properties

In this study, 36 different ornamental pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L. var. ovifera (L.) Alef.) genotypes were analyzed in terms of detailed morphological parameters, molecular properties, and some nutritional features. In this regard, high morphological diversity among the genotypes was observed in terms of plant, leaf and fruit characteristics. Molecular results showed that the genotype which is farthest from the other genotypes of 55% of the difference was determined and fourteen ISSR primers produced, on average, 121 bands in the accessions examined, of which 88 (73%) were polymorphic and Jaccard’s similarity coefficient ranged from 0.45 to 0.96. Nutritional analysis showed that C. pepo var. ovifera seeds are rich in potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) with the concentrations of 8490–21,798 mg/kg and 13,902–28,686 mg/kg, respectively. It was also determined that the pumpkin seed oils had alpha and gamma tocopherols and no β-tocopherols. All samples had β-carotene with the range of 19.63–150.88 mg/kg oil.

Fossils from South China redefine the ancestral euarthropod body plan

BackgroundEarly Cambrian Lagerstätten from China have greatly enriched our perspective on the early evolution of animals, particularly arthropods. However, recent studies have shown that many of these early fossil arthropods were more derived than previously thought, casting uncertainty on the ancestral euarthropod body plan. In addition, evidence from fossilized neural tissues conflicts with external morphology, in particular regarding the homology of the frontalmost appendage.ResultsHere we redescribe the multisegmented megacheirans Fortiforceps and Jianfengia and describe Sklerolibyon maomima gen. et sp. nov., which we place in Jianfengiidae, fam. nov. (in Megacheira, emended). We find that jianfengiids show high morphological diversity among megacheirans, both in trunk ornamentation and head anatomy, which encompasses from 2 to 4 post-frontal appendage pairs. These taxa are also characterized by elongate podomeres likely forming seven-segmented endopods, which were misinterpreted in their original descriptions. Plesiomorphic traits also clarify their connection with more ancestral taxa. The structure and position of the “great appendages” relative to likely sensory antero-medial protrusions, as well as the presence of optic peduncles and sclerites, point to an overall homology with the anterior head of radiodontans. This is confirmed by our Bayesian phylogeny, which places jianfengiids as the basalmost euarthropods, paraphyletic with other megacheirans, and in contiguity with isoxyids and radiodontans.ConclusionsSklerolibyon and other jianfengiids expand the disparity of megacheirans and suggest that the common euarthropod ancestor possessed a remarkable phenotypic variability associated with the externalized cephalon, as well as endopods that were already heptopodomerous, which differs from previous hypotheses and observations. These animals also demonstrate that the frontalmost pair of arthrodized appendage is homologous between radiodontans and megacheirans, refuting the claim that the radiodontan frontal appendages evolved into the euarthropod labrum, and questioning its protocerebral identity. This evidence based on external anatomy now constitutes a solid benchmark upon which we should address issues of homology, with the help of carefully examined palaeoneurological data.

Morphology, Anatomy, Palynology and Seed Micromorphology of Turkish Endemic Verbascum exuberans Hub.-Mor. (Scrophulariaceae)

ABSTRACT: Verbascum L. is the largest genus of the family Scrophulariceae and includes several species are of medicinal importance. The high morphological diversity among the species of the genus Verbascum causes problems in the delimitation of the species. In this study, morphological, anatomical, palynological and seed properties of Verbascum exuberans were investigated. It is a local endemic restricted to the provinces of Manisa and Izmir in West Anatolia. In the root cross-section, the xylem elements occupy a considerable area. The upper part of the epidermis cells in the stem cross-section is covered a distinct cuticle layer. The main vein of the leaf is shapped as bicollateral bundle. Idioblasts were not observed in the epidermis of the leaves of V. exuberans. Seeds of V. exuberans are dark brown and oblong to prismatic and alveolate. Hilum is short and orbicular. The seed coat ornamentation is reticulate-rugose. Pollen grains usually radially symmetrical, isopolar, prolate, tricolpate. Tectum is reticulate.

Morphological and molecular characterization of a hybrid zone between Prosopis alba and P. nigra in the Chaco region of northwestern Argentina

Abstract The Gran Chaco is the largest dry forest in South America. One of the key taxa of this biome is the genus Prosopis (Fabaceae) which contains several economically important species. One of the characteristics of this genus is its natural capacity to exchange genetic information among congeneric species, generating zones of high morphological and genetic variability at contact points. The study and management of these contact areas can contribute to the dynamic conservation of these native genetic resources. In this study, we analysed three sites within a gradient of land aridity, where P. nigra and P. alba grow in sympatry and apparently hybridize. This is the first study performed in both, Prosopis pure sites and hybrid swarm, which includes a spatially explicit approach and simultaneously analyses fruit and leaf morphological variation, together with molecular information (microsatellites markers). We performed a multivariate morphological analysis, Bayesian genetic clustering and multivariate associations between genetic and morphological variability in the pure parental populations and in the hybrid swarm, considering possible spatial autocorrelation. Bayesian cluster analysis revealed two distinct groups corresponding to each species, differentiating the pure morphotypes from sites 1 and 2. Site 3, corresponding to the hybrid swarm, was composed of pure P. alba and P. nigra trees and hybrid individuals. We found morphological and molecular evidence of hybridization between P. alba and P. nigra, and detected novel phenotypes in the hybrid site.

Blastocystis isolates from a dog and their owners presenting with chronic diarrhoea. Dogs as reservoirs of Blastocystis: research in Poland and worldwide

Blastocystis cf. hominis is an unicellular protozoan parasite commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Blastocystis is characterized by high morphological and genetic diversity. Studies based on the analysis of Blastocystis spp. small subunit ribosomal RNA genes (SSU rDNA) have identified 26 subtypes (ST) so far, including at least 10 isolated from humans (STs 1-9 and ST12). In 2017, stool samples from a dog and its two owners living in Gdynia, Poland were examined; all three were suffering from chronic diarrhoea. In addition, 30 faecal samples were also examined from 30 dogs kept in one of Warsaw's hotels for animals. Stool specimens were analyzed using anaerobic cultivation at 37°C with a modified Jones' medium and molecular methods (PCR). Phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference was performed. Vacuolar forms of Blastocystis were identified in the stool samples of the dog and its owners; Blastocystis were not detected in any sample from the dogs living in the animal hotel. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the obtained isolates were classified as subtype ST3 (for Owner 1) and subtype ST7 (for Owner 2 and the dog). To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to evaluate the presence of Blastocystis in canines in Poland, including domestic dogs.