Cytochrome c oxydase I phylogenetic analysis of Haemogregarina parasites (Apicomplexa, Coccidia, Eucoccidiorida, Haemogregarinidae) confirms the presence of three distinct species within the freshwater turtles of Tunisia

Species of Haemogregarina are apicomplexan blood parasites that use vertebrates as intermediate hosts. Due to limited interspecific morphological characters within the genus during last decade, 18S rRNA gene sequences were widely used for species identification. As coinfection patterns recently reported from nuclear molecular data two sympatric freshwater turtles Mauremys leprosa and Emys orbicularis Tunisia, our objectives design COI specific primers confirm presence three distinct in both host species. Blood samples collected 22 turtles, which DNAs extracted templates amplification. Following different rounds PCR nested PCR, we designed allowed sequencing nine haplotypes. Phylogenetic Bayesian analysis revealed occurrence well-differentiated sublineages clustered together into a single clade. Based on pairwise genetic distances (p-distance), confirmed but phylogenetically closely related coinfecting M. E. same aquatic environments. Our results demonstrate fast evolving genes will help investigate parasite diversity vertebrate definitive invertebrate hosts, assess evolution, historical biogeography specificity haemogregarines.