Lankesterella (protozoa)

Lankesterella is a genus in the phylum Apicomplexa. Species in this genus infect amphibians.

The type species is Lankesterella minima.

History

This genus was created by Labbe in 1899.

This genus was also known as Atoxoplasma. This latter name was coined by Garnham in 1950 for a group of parasites resembling Toxoplasma but not transmissible by syringe.

These genera were united by Lainson in 1959. They were separated again by Levin in 1982.

Description

Criteria for the specific differentiation of Lankesterella are limited. The most commonly described stages the sporozoites found in the peripheral blood erythrocytes. Despite considerable structural divergences that have been observed among the sporozoite shapes, a system for taxonomic differentiation has not been developed. Descriptions of the stages developing in the viscera are less available as they require necropsy of the host.

The oocysts usually contain more than 32 sporozoites. There are no sporocysts.

Life cycle

In the species that infect amphibians the vectors are leeches.

The sporozoites invade macrophages or endothelial cells. After development there they invade circulating erythrocytes. The sporozoites may also invade liver parenchyma or tissue macrophages.

Host records

Vertebrate

• L. hylae - European gree tree frog (Hyla caerula)
• L. minima - African common toad (Bufo regularis), cane toad (Bufo marinus), blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), rice field frogs (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus), frog (Rana esculenta), leopard frogs, (Rana pipiens)
• L. poeppigii - frog (Bufo poeppigii)
• L. tritonis - newt (Triton cristatus)

Parasite species unknown

• White's tree frogs (Litoria caerulea)
• Oregon spotted frogs (Rana pretiosa)

Vector

• L. garnhami - mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)
• L. minima - leech (Hemiclepsis marginata)

Synonyms

• L. garnhami - L. serini

References