The Sea Cucumber-Infecting Parasite Apostichocystis gudetama gen. nov. sp. nov. Expands Marine-Host-Specific Clade of Apicomplexans

Abstract

Unknown ellipsoid bodies, later classified as apicomplexan cysts, are prevalent in the ovaries of Japanese sea cucumbers (Apostichopus japonicus), where they can lead to lower fecundity in infected individuals and adverse effects on wild populations as well as aquaculture efforts for this endangered species. Apicomplexans are widespread and essential to marine environments, where they can affect the health and fitness of host populations. We performed genomic sequencing of recovered cysts to gain more ecological and evolutionary information on this parasite. We recovered this apicomplexan's complete nuclear ribosomal RNA (rrn) operon, the entire mitochondrial genome, and a partial apicoplast (relic chloroplast) genome. The rrn operon phylogeny revealed this parasite as being closely related to coccidian-like parasites of marine fish (ichthyocolids) and cnidarians (corallicolids), while organelle phylogenomics hint at a closer relation to the protococcidian Eleutheroschizon. Using this new phylogenetic context and previous morphological descriptions, we describe this parasite as Apostichocystis gudetama gen. nov. sp. nov. Mining available microbiomes reveal the presence of Apostichocystis spp. beyond its host range, alluding to other potential hosts or cryptic, closely related lineages. Its phylogenetic placement has important implications concerning the evolution of parasitism within Apicomplexa and the divergence of a marine-host-specific clade of coccidian-like parasites.