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Abstract
The morphological, biological, and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium piscine
genotype 7 from red-eye tetras (Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae) are described, and the
species name Cryptosporidium abrahamseni n. sp. is proposed. Histological analysis
of intestinal tissue identified large numbers of Cryptosporidium organisms along the
epithelial lining of the intestine. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis at 18S rRNA
(18S) and actin loci conducted on intestinal scrapings revealed that C. abrahamseni
n. sp. was genetically distinct from other Cryptosporidium species. At the 18S locus,
it was most closely related to C. huwi (3.2% genetic distance) and exhibited genetic
distances ranging from 5.9 to 6.5% (C. molnari) to 14.9% (C. scolpthalmi) from all
other Cryptosporidium species. At the actin locus, the genetic distances were larger
and C. abrahamseni n. sp. exhibited 10.3% genetic distance from C. huwi, and 17.6%
(C. molnari) to 28% (C. canis) genetic distance from other Cryptosporidium spp. Phylogenetic
analysis of concatenated 18S and actin sequences confirmed that C. abrahamseni n.
sp. shares the closest genetic relationship with C. huwi (6.7% genetic distance),
while the genetic distance between C. abrahamseni n. sp. and other Cryptosporidium
spp. ranged from 12.1% (C. molnari) to 20.4% (C. canis). Based on genetic and histological
data, C. abrahamseni n. sp. is validated as a separate species.