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Reichard, M.V.; Van Den Bussche, R.A.; Meinkoth, J.H.; Hoover, J.P.; Kocan, A.A.
A new species of _Cytauxzoon_ from Pallas' cats caught in Mongolia and comments on the systematics and taxonomy of piroplasmids
2005  Journal of Parasitology (91): 420-426

DNA was extracted and the 18S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified and sequenced from the blood of 2 Pallas' cats (_Otocolobus manul_) infected with small intraerythrocytic piroplasms. Sequences of the parasite were found to be identical with that of a previously reported _Cytauxzoon_-like piroplasm from a Pallas' cat. Phylogenetic analyses of the parasite DNA sequences obtained from the 3 Pallas' cats to other piroplasms revealed a sister group relationship to _C. felis_. The mean corrected percent sequence divergence between the Pallas' cat parasite and _C. felis _was 1.490%, which is greater than that for most other piroplasms in which species status has been accepted. On the basis of the sequence variation, we propose to name the Pallas' cat parasite _C. manul_. Phylogenetic analyses of _C. manul _also revealed a close relationship with the Spanish _Cytauxzoon_-like isolate because they exhibited only 0.389% sequence divergence, yet these sequences exhibit a mean of 1.690% sequence divergence from the New World isolate of _C. felis_. Our phylogenetic analyses also revealed several taxonomic problems that have impeded the development of a classification that accurately reflects evolutionary history of piroplasms. As currently arranged, _Babesia _and _Theileria _are paraphyletic taxa and are in need of reorganization.

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