Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ultrastructure and identification of the predatory flagellateColpodella pugnax Cienkowski (Apicomplexa) with a description ofColpodella turpis n. sp. and a review of the genus

  • Published:
Systematic Parasitology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A flagellated predator of the chlorophyte algaDunaliella spp. was examined by light and electron microscopy. Although this predator had previously been identified as a species of the kinetoplastid genusBodo, the present study revealed the flagellate to be indistinguishable fromColpodella pugnax, the type-species for its genus. The flagellate lacks a kinetoplast, a microtubule supported cytopharynx and paraxial rods in the flagella — characters universally found in kinetoplastid flagellates. The cell has mitochondria with vesicular cristae. Multiple membranes surround the cell and are underlain by longitudinal microtubules not originating from the flagellar region. Most notably, the flagellate has micropores and an apical complex including a conoid, sacculate rhoptries and, apparently, a polar ring. This study hs confirmed thatColpodella is the genus with free-living species most closely related to the apicomplexan parasites (i.e. the “Euapicomplexa” andPerkinsus). No unambiguous synapomorphy supports an “apicomplexan parasites” clade: Inclusion ofColpodella is necessary to secure the Apicomplexa as a monophyletic (=holophyletic) taxon. A new family, the Colpodellidae, is erected for this genus.

Colpodella turpis, a previously undescribed species that also consumesDunaliella spp., was isolated from the same samples asC. pugnax. A diagnosis for this species is presented together with a brief review of the genus, in which we recognise seven species. The generic namesAlphamonas Aléxéieff,Nephromonas Droop andDingensia Patterson & Zölffel are rendered into synonomy withColpodella.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aléxéieff, A. (1918) Sur un flagellé coprozoiteAlphamonas coprocola n. g., n. sp.Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, 57, 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aléxéieff, A. (1924) Notes sur quelques protistes coprocoles.Archiv für Protistenkunde, 50, 27–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aléxéieff, A. (1929) Matériaux pour servir a l'etude des protistes coprozoites.Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, 68, 609–698.

    Google Scholar 

  • Azevedo, C. (1989) Fine structure ofPerkinsus atlanticus n. sp. (Apicomplexa, Perkinsea) parasite of the clamRuditapes decussatus from Portugal.Journal of Parasitology, 75, 627–635.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brooker, B.E. (1971) Fine structure ofBodo saltans andBodo caudatus (Zoomastigophora: Protozoa) and their affinities with the trypanosomatidae.Bulletin of the British Museum of Natural History [Zoology], 22, 89–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugerolle, G. (1985) Des trichocystes chez les bodonides un car actère phylogénétique supplémentaire entre Kinetoplastida et Euglenida.Protistologica, 21, 339–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugerolle, G., Lom, J., Nohynkova, E. & Joyon, L. (1979) Comparaison et évolution des structures cellulaires chez plusiers espèces de bodonidés et cryptobiidés appartenant aux genresBodo, Cryptobia etTrypanoplasma (Kinetoplastida: Mastigophora).Protistologica, 15, 197–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brugerolle, G. & Mignot, J-.P. (1979) Observations sur le cycle. l'ultrastructure et la position systématique deSpiromonas perforans (Bodo perforans Hollande 1938), flagellé parasite deChilomonas paramecium: Ses relations avec les dinoflagellés et sporozoaires.Protistologica, 15, 183–196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cienkowski, L. (1865) Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Monaden.Archiv für Mikroskopische Anatomie, 1, 203–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corliss, J.O. (1979) The impact of electron microscopy on ciliate systematics.American Zoologist, 19, 573–557.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dangeard, P.-A. (1900) L'organisation et le développement duColpodella pugnax.Le Botaniste, 7, 5–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Droop, M.R. (1953) On the eeology of flagellates from some brackish and fresh water rockpools of Finland.Acta Botanica Fennica, 51, 1–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dujardin, F. (1841)Histoire naturelle des zoophytes infusoires. Paris: Roret, 684 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foissner, W. & Foissner, I. (1984) First record of an ectoparasitic flagellate on ciliates: an ultrastructural investigation of the morphology ofSpiromonas gonderi nov. spec. (Zoomastigophora, Spiromonadidae) invading the pellicle of ciliates of the genusColpoda (Ciliophora, Colpodidae).Protistologica, 20, 635–648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonder, R. (1910) Ein Parasit vonColpoda cucullus.Archiv für Protistenkunde, 18, 275–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hänel, K. (1979) Systematik und Ökologie der farblosen Flagellaten des Abwassers.Archiv für Protistenkunde, 121, 73–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollande, A. (1938)Bodo perforans n. sp., flagellé noveau parasite externe duChilomonas paramecium Ehrenb.Archives de Zoologie Expérimentale et Générale, 7, 75–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent, W.S. (1880–1882)A manual of the Infusoria. London: Bogue, 3 vols, 913 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klebs, G. 1892. Flagellatenstudien.Zeitschrift für Wissenschaftliche Zoologie, 55, 265–445.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krylov, M.V. & Mylnikov, A.P. (1986) [New taxa in the Phylum Sporozoa, Spiromonadomorphina subcl. n., Spiromonadida ordo n.]Parazitologiya, 20, 425–430. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kühn, A. (1915) Über Bau, Teilung und Encystierung vonBodo edax Klebs.Archiv für Protistenkunde, 35, 213–255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen, J. & Patterson, D.J. (1990) Some flagellates (Protista) from tropical marine sediments.Journal of Natural History, 24, 801–937.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, N.D. (1987) Phylum II. Apicomplexa. In: Lee, J.J., Hutner, S.H. & Bovee, E.C. (Eds).An illustrated guide to the protozoa. Lawrence, Kansas: Society of Protozoologists, pp. 322–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, N.D., Corliss, J.O., Cox, F.E.G., Deroux, G., Grain, J., Honigberg, B.M., Leedale, G.F., Loeblich, A.R.III, Lom, J., Lynn, D., Merinfeld, E.G., Page, F.C., Poljansky, G., Sprague, V., Vavra, J. & Wallace, F.G. (1980) A newly revised classification of the protozoa.Journal of Protozoology, 27, 37–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, C.M. & Darbyshire, J.F. (1977) The morphology of a soil flagellate,Spiromonas angusta (Duj.) Aléxéieff (Mastigophorea: Protozoa)Protistologica, 13, 441–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylnikov, A.P. (1983) [Feeding of predatory zooflagellates].Information Bulletin Biologiya Vnutrennikh Vod, 62, 16–19. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylnikov, A.P. (1986) Ultrastructure of a colourless flagellate,Phyllomitus apiculatus Skuja 1948 (Kinetoplastida).Archiv für Protistenkunde, 132, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylnikov, A.P. (1988a) [The fine structure of a carnivorous flagellateBodo sp.]Tsitologiya 30, 240–244. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylnikov, A.P. (1988b) [The biology and life cycle ofBodo edax Klebs].Information Bulletin Biologiya Vnutrennikh Vod. 77, 28–31. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Mylnikov, A.P. (1991) [Ultrastructure and biology of certain representatives of the order Spiromonadida (Protozoa)].Zoologicheskiy Zhurnal, 7, 5–15. (In Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Palmer, J.D. (1992) Green ancestry of malarial parasites?Current Biology, 2, 318–320.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. (1982) Photomicrography using a dedicated electronic flash.Microscopy, 34, 437–442.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. (1993) The current status of the free living heterotrophic flagellates.Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 40, 606–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. (1994) Protozoa: evolution and systematics. In: Hausmann, K. & Hülsmann, N. (Eds).Progress in Protozoology. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer, pp. 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. & Brugerolle, G. (1988) The ultrastructural identity ofStephanopogon apogon and the relatedness of the genus to other kinds of protists.European Journal of Protistology, 23, 279–290.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. & Sogin, M.L. (1992) Eukaryote origins and protistan diversity. In: Hartman, H. & Matsuno, K. (Eds)The origin and evolution of the cell. New York: World Scientific Publishers, pp. 13–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. & Larsen, J. (1991) General introduction. In: Patterson, D.J. & Larsen, J. (Eds)The biology of free-living heterotrophic flagellates. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patterson, D.J. & Zölffel, M. (1991) Heterotrophic flagellates of uncertain taxonomic position. In: Patterson, D.J. & Larsen, J. (Eds).The biology of free-living heterotrophic flagellates. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 427–475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, F.O. (1976) Zoospores of the oyster pathogen.Dermocystidum marinum. I. Fine structure of the conoid and other sporozoan-likeorganelles.Journal of Parasitology, 62, 959–974.

    Google Scholar 

  • Post, F.J., Borowitzka, L.J., Borowitzka, M.A., Mackay, B. & Moulton, T. (1983) The protozoa of a Western Australian hypersaline lagoon.Hydrobiologia, 105, 95–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowley, J.C.III. & Moran, D.T. (1975) A simple procedure for mounting wrinkle free sections on formvar coated slot grids.Ultramicroscopy, 1, 151–144.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stein, F.R. (1878)Der Organismus der Infusionthiere. III. Der Organismus der Flagellaten I. Engelmann, 154 pp.

  • Vickerman, K. (1991) Organization of the bodonid flagellates. In: Patterson, D.J. & Larsen, J. (Eds).The biology of free-living heterotrophic flagellates. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 159–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, R.J.M., Williamson, D.H. & Preiser, P. (1994) Malaria and other apicomplexans: the plant connection.Infectious Agents and Disease, 3, 29–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhukov, B.F (1991) The diversity of bodonids. In: Patterson, D.J. & Larsen, J. (Eds).The biology of free-living heterotrophic flagellates. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 177–184.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney A08, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Alastair G. B. Simpson & David J. Patterson

Authors
  1. Alastair G. B. Simpson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David J. Patterson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Simpson, A.G.B., Patterson, D.J. Ultrastructure and identification of the predatory flagellateColpodella pugnax Cienkowski (Apicomplexa) with a description ofColpodella turpis n. sp. and a review of the genus. Syst Parasitol 33, 187–198 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531200

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01531200

Keywords

Search

Navigation