Phylogenetic diversity of bat trypanosomes of subgenus Schizotrypanum based on multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, random amplified polymorphic DNA, and cytochrome b XXXX sequence analyses.

@entity1526 @entity377 @entity1527
Trypanosome stocks isolated from bats (Chiroptera) and belonging to the subgenus Schizotrypanum were analyzed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) at 22 loci, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) with 14 primers and/or cytochrome b @entity377 sequence. Bat trypanosomes belonged to the species @entity1527 marinkellei (10 stocks), @entity1527 dionisii (four stocks) and @entity1527 vespertilionis (three stocks). One T. rangeli stock and seven stocks of @entity1527 sensu stricto, the agent of @entity1526 , were included for comparison. The homology of several RAPD fragments shared by distinct species was verified by hybridization. The sequence of a 516- @entity377 portion of the maxicircle-encoded cytochrome b (CYb) coding region was determined in representative stocks of the species under study. Phylogenetic analysis of the data confirmed the previous taxonomic attribution of these bat trypanosomes based on biological, epidemiological and ecological features. However, a new finding was that within @entity1527 marinkellei two major subdivisions could be distinguished, T.c.m. I, found in the spear-nose bats Phyllostomus discolor and Phyllostomus hastatus, and T.c.m. II, from P. discolor. In addition, the T. c. marinkellei 'Z' stock from a short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata) was distantly related to these two subdivisions, and the monophyly of T. c. marinkellei is unclear based on the present data. Based on the present sample, the European species T. dionisii and T. vespertilionis appeared to be more homogeneous. RAPD and CYb data both suggested the monophyly of a group composed of @entity1527 and the two major subdivisions of @entity1527 marinkellei. This study shows that MLEE, RAPD and CYb can be used for taxonomic assignment and provide valuable phylogenetic information for strains and taxa within the subgenus Schizotrypanum. An evolutionary scenario in which the broad host-range parasite @entity1527 would be derived from a bat-restricted trypanosome ancestor is discussed.
