Morphospesies And Phylogenetic Tree Analyses Of Leucocytozoon Caulleryi From Chicken Leucocytozoonosis Cases In Pasuruan, East Java

The current taxonomy of leucocytozoids is based on the morphology of blood stages of the parasites and on limited information about their speci ficity. Recent molecular studies have revealed a remarkable genetic diversity ofleucocytozoids, indicating that their taxonomic diversity may be greater than in the current classifications. We addressed this issue using morphological data and phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome b gene of 4 positively identified species of Chickens Leucocytozoonosis in Pasuruan, East Java. Based on the current taxonomy, Leucocytozoon caulleryi is the sole species of leucocytozoids parasitizing chicken. We inves.tigated the morphology of blood stages ofleucocytozoids of 4 haplotypes and concluded that these parasites can be readily distinguished due to length of the cytoplasmic processes of their host cells; therefore, they do represent distinct morphospecies. Morphology of the cytoplasmic processes of host cells warrants more attention in the taxon.omy of Leucocytozoon species. Leucocytozoon caulleryi indeed is a species group that currently can be separated from other Leucocytozoon by morphospesies analysis. It is can be concluded by phylogenetic tree analysis that 4 Leucocytozoon caul leryi from Pasuruan closely related strain. Keywords: Leucocytozoon caulleryi, morphospesies, phylogenetic tree, cytoch rome b gen