Entamoeba chiangraiensisn. sp. (Amoebozoa: Entamoebidae) isolated from the gut of Asian swamp eel (Monopterus albus) in northern Thailand

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Abstract
The genusEntamoebacomprises mostly gut parasites and commensals of invertebrate and vertebrate animals including humans. Herein, we report a new species ofEntamoebaisolated from the gut of Asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus) in northern Thailand. Morphologically, the trophozoite is elongated and has a single prominent pseudopodium with no clear uroid. The trophozoite is actively motile, 30–50µm in length and 9–13µm in width. Observed cysts were uninucleate, ranging in size from 10 to 17.5µm in diameter. Chromatin forms a fine, even lining along the inner nuclear membrane. Fine radial spokes join the karyosome to peripheral chromatin. Size, host and nucleus morphology set our organism apart from other members of the genus reported from fish. The SSU rRNA gene sequences of the new isolates are the first molecular data of anEntamoebaspecies from fish. Phylogenetic analysis places the new organism as sister toEntamoeba invadens. Based on the distinct morphology and SSU rRNA gene sequence we describe it as a new species,Entamoeba chiangraiensis.

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