Monophyly of marsupial intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasites from South America and Australia

Abstract

Intraerythrocytic parasites (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae) of the South American mouse opossum (Thylamys elegans) from Chile, South America, and of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) from Australia were found to be monophyletic using SSU rDNA and partial LSU rDNA sequences. Phylogenetic reconstruction placed both species within the family Sarcocystidae. These intraerythrocytic parasites of marsupials represent an as yet unnamed genus predicted to have bisporocystic oocysts and tetrazoic sporocysts, which is a characteristic feature of all members of the family Sarcocystidae. These results show that erythrocytic parasites share a common ancestor and suggest co-evolution with their vertebrate host.