Abstract There is a marked disparity in the state of knowledge of Holartic x Neotropical species of the freshwater snail family Physidae; the incipiency of data on Neotropical physids reflecting the lower number of dedicated specialists. The gaps in the knowledge on Neotropical physids have led to historical uncertainty about species validity. Revisiting the species is essential to reduce taxonomic impediment and delineating their probable distribution is the first step to attain this purpose. We aimed at critically analyze occurrence records of South American physids, compiled through an intensive search in the literature, biodiversity and molecular databases. We present a provisional characterization of the distribution of this family in South America, considering the probable versus the poorly documented distribution of the species. The critical underrepresentation of South American physids in collections, molecular databases and literature reinforces the role of taxonomic impediment in delaying the advance of the knowledge on species diversity. Malacological collections represented the main source of records, evidencing the relevance of unpublished data associated to specimens to assess distributional information on neglected groups. As most of the species are represented by shells, the reassessment of species identity and distribution must be done, using molecular and anatomical criteria for species delimitation. Physidae specialists validity purpose America diversity groups shells done delimitation

Abstract High infestations of epibiont ciliates on vertebrates or invertebrates are normally related to aquaculture tanks or similar environments, and the importance of this relationship in natural habitats is often disregarded. Here, we describe the first record of high infestation of ciliates on Aegla serrana in South America and conduct a brief morphological and phylogenetic characterization of these ciliates. Our findings confirm that cases of high infestation of ciliates on metazoans can indeed occur in natural environments. environments disregarded Here

Abstract The current study proposes to investigate the diversity and phylogeny of trypanosomes parasitizing wild birds from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Cytological examination was carried out by light microscopy of blood smears and positive birds were selected for amplification of the 18S rDNA sequence through PCR. The resulting amplicons were subjected to purification, cloning, and sequencing analysis. Phylogenetic reconstruction was conducted, including all avian trypanosomes representative’s lineages. A total of ten bird samples from species of Turdus flavipes (N=1/12), T. albicollis (N=1/8), Tachyphonus coronatus (N=6/121), Thamnophilus caerulescens (N=1/22) and Synallaxis spixi (N=1/8) were positive for Trypanosoma spp. In the six specimens of T. coronatus, five distinct lineages of Trypanosoma spp. 18S-rRNA were observed in ninety sequences obtained, and using the strategy of cloning independent PCR, it was possible to observe that two of them were related to T. avium (JB01/JB02), and three were closed related to T. bennetti (JB03/ JB04/JB05). Addionaly, all fifteen sequences obtained from T. caerulescens/ S. spixi/T. flavipes/T. albicollis were identical. The present research is the first study to access molecular diversity and polyparasitism by avian trypanosomes in Brazil. The current research exhibits the wide genetic variability in avian trypanosomes and its non-specific relationship with its avian hosts. Forest S PCR purification analysis conducted representatives representative s N=1/12, N112 N N=1/12 , 1 12 (N=1/12) T N=1/8, N18 N=1/8 8 N=6/121, N6121 N=6/121 6 121 (N=6/121) N=1/22 N122 22 (N=1/22 (N=1/8 spp 18SrRNA SrRNA rRNA JB01/JB02, JB01JB02 JBJB JB01/JB02 JB01 JB02 JB (JB01/JB02) JB03/ JB03 (JB03 JB04/JB05. JB04JB05 JB04/JB05 . JB04 JB05 JB04/JB05) Addionaly spixiT spixi/T flavipesT flavipes/T identical Brazil nonspecific non specific hosts N11 N=1/1 (N=1/12 N1 N=1/ N612 N=6/12 (N=6/121 N=1/2 N12 2 (N=1/2 (N=1/ JB01JB0 JB01/JB0 JB0 (JB01/JB02 (JB0 JB04JB0 JB04/JB0 (N=1/1 N=1 N61 N=6/1 (N=6/12 (N=1 JB01JB JB01/JB (JB01/JB0 (JB JB04JB JB04/JB N= N6 N=6/ (N=6/1 (N= (JB01/JB N=6 (N=6/ (N (N=6