Fossilized Mammalian Erythrocytes Associated With a Tick Reveal Ancient Piroplasms.
J Med Entomol
; 54(4): 895-900, 2017 07 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28399212
Ticks transmit a variety of pathogenic organisms to vertebrates, especially mammals. The fossil record of such associations is extremely rare. An engorged nymphal tick of the genus Ambylomma in Dominican amber was surrounded by erythrocytes from its mammalian host. Some of the exposed erythrocytes contained developmental stages of a hemoprotozoan resembling members of the Order Piroplasmida. The fossil piroplasm is described, its stages compared with those of extant piroplasms, and reasons provided why the mammalian host could have been a primate. The parasites were also found in the gut epithelial cells and body cavity of the fossil tick. Aside from providing the first fossil mammalian red blood cells and the first fossil intraerythrocytic hemoparasites, the present discovery shows that tick-piroplasm associations were already well established in the Tertiary. This discovery provides a timescale that can be used in future studies on the evolution of the Piroplasmida.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Piroplasmida
/
Ixodidae
/
Platirrinos
/
Fósseis
Tipo de estudo:
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Republica dominicana
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Med Entomol
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
Reino Unido