Phylogenetic analysis of haemosporinid parasites (apicomplexa: Haemosporina) and their coevolution with vectors and intermediate hosts

Abstract

The phylogeny of representative species of the apicomplexan order Haemosporina Danilewsky, 1885 was reconstructed by cladistic analysis. Life cycle and ultrastructural characters for members of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, Hepatocystis, and Polychromophilus were assessed using Eimeria tenella as an outgroup. Each of these genera was monophyletic and a clade containing Haemoproteus, Hepatocystis, and Polychromophilus was the sister group to Plasmodium. There was no obvious correlation between the parasite phylogeny and that of the vertebrate hosts. There was however, a general agreement between the parasite phylogeny and that of the dipteran hosts. There was no pattern of strict cospeciation between parasites and these overall host groups, but there appears to be more evidence of coevolution of parasites with their vectors than with their vertebrate hosts. This correspondence is indicative of a more ancient parasite-vector association.