<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Blood smears stained with Diff Quick are the initial tool for cytological diagnosis of <italic>Haemogregarina</italic> spp. However, the development of sensitive and specific molecular methods enabled the detection and identification of parasites in the sample and to clarify the evolutionary relationships of adeleorinid parasites within the <italic>Apicomplexa</italic>.The current study was attempted in order to perform cytological investigation and molecular identification of the hemoparasites in thirty European pond turtles (<italic>Emys orbicularis)</italic> from the quarantine section at Belgrade Zoo, which have been found in poor health condition with massive skin hemorrhages, based on intraerythrocytic parasitic forms on hematological smears and 18S rDNA sequence, respectively.Different life cycle stages of the <italic>Haemogregarina</italic> sp. were noticed within the erythrocytes in the peripheral blood. Biochemical analysis indicated lower values of AST and iron in most of the infected turtles while hematological analysis showed a changed hematocrit value, a decrease in the number of red blood cells and low hemoglobin levels. Amplifications of the 18S rDNA sequence of <italic>Haemogregarina</italic> were detected in 30/30 (100%) turtles with clinical symptoms. The identity of PCR products was confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Future research concerning <italic>H. stepanowi</italic> in Serbia should be applied to its definitive host-the leech.</abstract>

Blood smears stained with Diff Quick are the initial tool for cytological diagnosis of Haemogregarina spp. However, the development of sensitive and specific molecular methods enabled the detection and identification of parasites in the sample and to clarify the evolutionary relationships of adeleorinid parasites within the Apicomplexa.The current study was attempted in order to perform cytological investigation and molecular identification of the hemoparasites in thirty European pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) from the quarantine section at Belgrade Zoo, which have been found in poor health condition with massive skin hemorrhages, based on intraerythrocytic parasitic forms on hematological smears and 18S rDNA sequence, respectively.Different life cycle stages of the Haemogregarina sp. were noticed within the erythrocytes in the peripheral blood. Biochemical analysis indicated lower values of AST and iron in most of the infected turtles while hematological analysis showed a changed hematocrit value, a decrease in the number of red blood cells and low hemoglobin levels. Amplifications of the 18S rDNA sequence of Haemogregarina were detected in 30/30 (100%) turtles with clinical symptoms. The identity of PCR products was confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. Future research concerning H. stepanowi in Serbia should be applied to its definitive host-the leech.

Cytological And Molecular Identification Of <italic>Haemogregarina Stepanowi</italic> In Blood Samples Of The European Pond Turtle (<italic>Emys Orbicularis</italic>) From Quarantine At Belgrade Zoo

Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Department of Equine, Small Animal, Poultry and Wild Animal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Acta Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cytological And Molecular Identification Of  In Blood Samples Of The European Pond Turtle () From Quarantine At Belgrade Zoo

Blood smears stained with Diff Quick are the initial tool for cytological diagnosis of Haemogregarina spp. However, the development of sensitive and specific...

Cytological And Molecular Identification Of Haemogregarina Stepanowi In Blood Samples Of The European Pond Turtle (Emys Orbicularis) From Quarantine At Belgrade Zoo

Published Online: Dec 22, 2015

Page range: 443 - 453

Received: Oct 31, 2015

Accepted: Nov 27, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/acve-2015-0037

Keywords
18S rDNA, Serbia, cytological investigation

© 2015 Özvegy Jòzsef et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Cytological And Molecular Identification Of Haemogregarina Stepanowi In Blood Samples Of The European Pond Turtle (Emys Orbicularis) From Quarantine At Belgrade Zoo

Published Online: Dec 22, 2015

Page range: 443 - 453

Received: Oct 31, 2015

Accepted: Nov 27, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/acve-2015-0037

Keywords18S rDNA, Serbia, cytological investigation

© 2015 Özvegy Jòzsef et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
18S rDNA, Serbia, cytological investigation