Harmless parasites? Infections with Hemolivia mauritanica (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina: Karyolysidae) and Haemocystidium spp. (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) have a negligible impact on white cell counts in tortoise hosts.

IF 2 4区医学 Q3 PARASITOLOGY

Folia Parasitologica Pub Date : 2025-11-28 DOI:10.14411/fp.2025.031

Zaneta Zivcicova, Jan Skrabal, Pavlina Hajkova, David Jandzik, Hossein Javanbakht, Peter Mikulicek, Pavel Siroky

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Abstract

The pathogenicity of haemogregarines and their effects on the health status of ectothermic hosts remain largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the impact of Hemolivia mauritanica (Sergent et Sergent, 1904) infection on the differential leukocyte count (DLC) as a measurable indicator of health in tortoise hosts. A total of 206 blood smears were analysed, including 181 from spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca Linnaeus) and 25 from marginated tortoises (Testudo marginata Schoepff). Light microscopy was used to identify infected individuals, determine DLC, and quantify parasitaemia levels. Overall, H. mauritanica was detected in 125 of 181 (69%) T. graeca samples and 21 of 25 (84%) T. marginata samples. To assess whether infection influenced DLC, we statistically compared leukocyte profiles between infected and uninfected individuals. Additionally, we evaluated the effects of other factors, including host species, parasitaemia intensity, sex, age, and the month and year of blood collection. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests revealed that parasitaemia and age had a statistically significant effect on DLC in T. graeca. Further analysis using linear models showed a significant association between parasitaemia and DLC, specifically affecting azurophils in T. graeca and basophils in T. marginata. Nine T. graeca tortoises positive for H. mauritanica were co-infected with haemosporidian parasites of the genus Haemocystidium Castellani et Willey, 1904, specifically three with Haemocystidium anatolicum (Orkun et Güven, 2013) and six with Haemocystidium caucasicum (Krasilnikov, 1965). Although co-infection itself was not statistically significant, a separate analysis of Haemocystidium parasitaemia revealed a significant effect on lymphocyte DLC. Furthermore, the frequent presence of mitotic and polychromatophilous erythrocytes in H. mauritanica-infected tortoises suggests a potential increase in erythrocyte regeneration.

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无害的寄生虫?毛里塔尼亚血奥利维亚感染（顶复合体：Adeleorina：核心菌科）和血囊虫（顶复合体：血孢子虫：血红蛋白科）对龟宿主白细胞计数的影响可以忽略不计。

血红素的致病性及其对恒温宿主健康状况的影响在很大程度上仍未被探索。在这项研究中，我们研究了毛里塔尼亚血奥利维亚（Sergent et Sergent, 1904）感染对作为龟宿主健康可测量指标的差异白细胞计数（DLC）的影响。共分析了206份血液涂片，其中181份来自刺腿象（Testudo graeca Linnaeus）， 25份来自边缘象（Testudo marginata Schoepff）。使用光镜鉴定受感染个体，确定DLC，并量化寄生虫血症水平。总体而言，181份葡萄绦虫样本中有125份（69%）和25份边缘绦虫样本中有21份（84%）检出毛里塔尼亚孢子虫。为了评估感染是否影响DLC，我们在统计学上比较了感染和未感染个体之间的白细胞谱。此外，我们还评估了其他因素的影响，包括宿主种类、寄生虫病强度、性别、年龄和采血月份和年份。Wilcoxon秩和检验结果显示，寄生血症和年龄对葡萄小蠊DLC有显著的影响。进一步的线性模型分析表明，寄生血症与DLC之间存在显著关联，特别是影响到白桦尺蠖的嗜氮粒细胞和毛桦尺蠖的嗜碱性粒细胞。9只毛利塔尼弓形虫阳性的格莱卡弓形虫龟同时感染了1904年Castellani和Willey Haemocystidium Haemocystidium，其中3只感染了anatolicum Haemocystidium (Orkun et g ven, 2013)， 6只感染了caucasicum Haemocystidium （Krasilnikov, 1965）。虽然合并感染本身没有统计学意义，但对寄生血囊虫的单独分析显示对淋巴细胞DLC有显著影响。此外，毛利塔尼察毛利塔尼察象龟中有丝分裂红细胞和多色红细胞的频繁存在表明红细胞再生的潜在增加。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Folia Parasitologica 医学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

2.70

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： FOLIA PARASITOLOGICA, issued in online versions, is an international journal that covers the whole field of general, systematic, ecological and experimental parasitology. It publishes original research papers, research notes and review articles. Contributions from all branches of animal parasitology, such as morphology, taxonomy, biology, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, molecular biology and evolution of parasites, and host-parasite relationships, are eligible. Novelty and importance in the international (not local or regional) context are required. New geographical records of parasites, records of new hosts, regional parasite and/or host surveys (if they constitute the principal substance of manuscript), local/regional prevalence surveys of diseases, local/regional studies on epidemiology of well known diseases and of parasite impact on human/animal health, case reports, routine clinical studies and testing of established diagnostic or treatment procedures, will not be considered. One species description will also not be considered unless they include more general information, such as new diagnostic characters, host-parasite associations, phylogenetic implications, etc. Manuscripts found suitable on submission will be reviewed by at least two reviewers.