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Protists of the genus Cytauxzoon infect a wide variety of wild and domestic felids worldwide. While the American Cytauxzoon felis has been well described, data on the European isolates of Cytauxzoon are still scant. The aim of the current study was to determine the genetic diversity of European Cytauxzoon spp. in wild felids across Europe by analyzing one nuclear and two mitochondrial genes, along with representative complete mitochondrial genomes. Overall, 106 biological samples from wild felids (92 from Felis silvestris and 14 from Lynx lynx) from Germany, Romania, Czech Republic, and Luxembourg were collected and screened for the presence of Cytauxzoon spp. using nested PCR protocols, targeting the highly conserved 18S rDNA, mitochondrial cytochrome b (CytB) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes. Furthermore, 18 previously confirmed wild felid biological samples from Europe, and comparative material from USA positive for C. felis, were included in the study. In 18S rDNA sequences analyses, Cytauxzoon spp. from felids formed two separate clades of New World and Old World isolates, with a low inner diversity of the European clade. In contrast to 18S rDNA, the phylogenetic analyses of CytB and COI genes affirmatively revealed three highly supported clades, resulting in three defined genotypes. Similar intra- and interspecific variability of CytB and COI genes was observed in the case of different Babesia spp. Considering geography, host species and analyses of three genes, we conclude that the three detected genotypes of Cytauxzoon in European wild felids represent three new species, which we herein describe.

Se reporta una extension de en la distribucion de la especie Atractus boettgeri, una serpiente endemica de Bolivia. Esta especie se diferencia de A. taeniatus por tener un numero segmental muy por encima del intervalo descrito para A. taeniatus y por tener solo 6 dientes maxilares, en vez de 8-9 en A. taeniatus. Ademas, A. boettgeri se diferencia de A. emmeli por tener escamas supralabiales en patron 6-6 (en vez de 7-7) y tener un conteo de escamas ventrales menor en hembras (175-177 versus 181-189). Incluyendo este, todos los registros conocidos para A. boettgeri parecen estar asociados con la vegetacion del Cerrado en Bolivia. El ejemplar se encontro en el estomago del tatu comun (Dasypus novemcinctus).

Herein, we describe Litomosoides salazari n. sp. collected from the body cavity of the yellow bat, Lasiurus ega, from Bolivia. This new species of filarioid nematode is most closely related to the carinii group and is characterized by its relatively small size with the vulva located slightly posterior to the esophago-intestinal junction; an arrow-shaped buccal capsule; and a short, rounded tail. New host and locality records for both Litomosoides hamletti and L. chandleri in phyllostomid bats, and L. brasiliensis occurring in both phyllostomid and vespertilionid bats, are provided. The morphological variability of the specimens is documented by providing comparative measurements of 3 known species. Litomosoides brasiliensis occurs in 6 species of bats from Bolivia and was the most common species of filarioid nematode encountered. All 4 species of nematodes, including the new species, were found in sympatry at Chijchijpa, a locality in the Yungas of Bolivia. Bolivia is a country of great biological diversity (Anderson, 1997), with more than 300 species of mammals occurring there. Of these, approximately 5% are endemic, occurring nowhere else (Anderson, 1997). More than 100 species of bats have been identified from within the country (Anderson, 1997; Simmons, 2005). This great diversity is a result of a confluence of several biomes conjoining in the area, including high-altitude Andes and Puna-Altiplano, the Yungas in the eastern foothills of the Andes, Amazon tropical forest in the northeast, and a mixture of grassland and chaco thorn forest coming in from the southern and eastern lowlands (Unzueta, 1975). Filarioid nematodes of Litomosoides Chandler, 1931 occur in the body cavities of bats, marsupials, and sigmodontine and hystricognath rodents throughout the Neotropical and southern Nearctic regions. Showing relatively high taxonomic diversity with approximately 30 described species, these nemas exhibit an indirect pattern of transmission between mammalian hosts, with all known life cycles requiring an arthropod vector or interme- diate host to transfer microfilariae between and among definitive hosts (Bain et al., 1980). As a result of the continuing work on the biodiversity of mammals of Bolivia as part of the Bolivian Parasite Biodiversity Project, we report herein the results of our work on the filarioid nematodes of bats from Bolivia. This work, funded by the National Science Foundation, was undertaken as a collaborative

Xenarthra (armadillos, sloths, and anteaters) constitutes one of the four major clades of placental mammals. Despite their phylogenetic distinctiveness in mammals, a reference phylogeny is still lacking for the 31 described species. Here we used Illumina shotgun sequencing to assemble 33 new complete mitochondrial genomes, establishing Xenarthra as the first major placental clade to be fully sequenced at the species level for mitogenomes. The resulting data set allowed the reconstruction of a robust phylogenetic framework and timescale that are consistent with previous studies conducted at the genus level using nuclear genes. Incorporating the full species diversity of extant xenarthrans points to a number of inconsistencies in xenarthran systematics and species definition. We propose to split armadillos in two distinct families Dasypodidae (dasypodines) and Chlamyphoridae (euphractines, chlamyphorines, and tolypeutines) to better reflect their ancient divergence, estimated around 42 million years ago. Species delimitation within long-nosed armadillos (genus Dasypus) appeared more complex than anticipated, with the discovery of a divergent lineage in French Guiana. Diversification analyses showed Xenarthra to be an ancient clade with a constant diversification rate through time with a species turnover driven by high but constant extinction. We also detected a significant negative correlation between speciation rate and past temperature fluctuations with an increase in speciation rate corresponding to the general cooling observed during the last 15 million years. Biogeographic reconstructions identified the tropical rainforest biome of Amazonia and the Guianan shield as the cradle of xenarthran evolutionary history with subsequent dispersions into more open and dry habitats. Fil: Gibb, Gillian C.. Universite de Montpellier; Francia. Massey Universit; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Condamine, Fabien L.. University of Gothenburg; Suecia. Universite de Montpellier; Francia. University of Alberta; Canadá Fil: Kuch, Melanie. McMaster University; Canadá Fil: Enk, Jacob. McMaster University; Canadá Fil: Moraes Barros, Nadia. Universidade Do Porto; Portugal. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Superina, Mariella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina Fil: Poinar, Hendrik N.. McMaster University; Canadá Fil: Delsuc, Frederic. Universite de Montpellier; Francia