MOLECULAR DIFFERENTIATION OF 2 NEW-WORLD SAURIAN PLASMODIUM SPECIES IN DIFFERENT HOST SPECIES USING THE POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Several isolates of Plasmodium floridense obtained from naturally infe cted Anolis carolinensis and Anolis sagrei, and 2 isolates of Plasmodi um chiricahuae obtained from Sceloporus jarrovi were characterized at the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) locus using the polymerase chain reaction and agarose gel electrophoresis. Enzymatic amplification of the rDNA locu s from both Plasmodium species resulted in the generation of a 590-bas e pair (bp) DNA fragment. The results obtained with all isolates of P. floridense appeared as a doublet, with the second fragment being appr oximately 630 bp in size. Isolates of P. floridense obtained from A. c arolinensis from ecologically different northern and southeastern Flor ida, and from A. sagrei at the same southeastern Florida site, were de monstrated to be molecularly similar. Plasmodium floridense and P. chi ricahuae were molecularly distinct at the 18s rDNA locus, thus confirm ing their morphological and morphometrical distinction as taxonomic sp ecies. Anolis sagrei is a third natural host species for P. floridense in Florida.