The heterogeneity of choanomastigote-shaped trypanosomatids as analyzed bytheir kDNA minicircle size: taxonomic implications

The kDNA minicircle size was analyzed in 15 species of choanomastigote-shap ed trypanosomatids and four main groups of species were identified: (1) "Cr ithidia" deanei, "C." desouzai and "Herpetomonas" roitmani, which presented the largest molecules (greater than or equal to 3,800 bp), (2) "C." oncope lti with minicircles of at least four different sizes within 1,300-2,650 bp , (3) C. fasciculata, C. guilhermei and C. luciliae, having at least two si zes of minicircle (2,650 bp and 3,000 bp) and (4) a heterogeneous group of species presenting minicircles of a single size, including several Crithidi a spp. (having 1,600 bp or 1,700 bp minicircles) and two Proteomonas spp. p resenting the smallest minicircles (about 1,500 bp). These results were com pared with other observations and discussed from a taxonomic point of view.