Intestinal ciliates from the domestic horses (Equus ferus caballus) in South Africa, and microtubule cytoskeleton organization of the representatives of Spirodiniidae (Ciliophora, Litostomatea)

Summary The fauna of endobiotic ciliates from the gut of domestic horses in South Africa was investigated. Samples were collected from horses that were kept in stables, as well as free-grazing ones. Ciliates from 39 species belonging to 22 genera were found, most of them were common in the intestinal fauna of horses. In addition, Spirodinium nanum , suggested to be specific for zebras, and Blepharosphaera ceratotherii , previously found in rhinoceros and zebras, were found. Immunofluorescent staining was used to study the organization of the microtubule cytoskeleton in some endobiotic ciliates. The structure of the ciliature of Ditoxum funinucleum is described for the first time. Conclusions are made about peculiarities of the organization of microtubule cytoskeleton in spirodiniids in the context of the taxonomy of this group of trichostomatids.