Phylogenies based on combined mitochondrial and nuclear sequences conflict with morphologically defined genera in the eimeriid coccidia (Apicomplexa)

Partial mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and near-complete nuclear (nu) 18S rDNA sequences were obtained from various eimeriid coccidia infecting vertebrates. New and published sequences were used in phylogenetic reconstructions based on nu 18S rDNA, mt COI and concatenated sequence datasets. Bayesian analyses of nu 18S rDNA sequences used secondary structure-based alignments with a doublet nucleotide substitution model; the codon nucleotide substitution model was applied to COI sequences. Although alignment of the mt COI sequences was unambiguous, substitution saturation was evident for comparisons of COI sequences between ingroup (eimeriid) and outgroup (sarcocystid) taxa. Consequently, a combined dataset applying partition-specific analytical and alignment improvements was used to generate a robust molecular phylogeny. Most eimeriid parasites that infect closely related definitive hosts were found in close proximity on the resulting tree, frequently in a single clade. Whether this represents coevolution or co-accommodation or a combination remains an open point. Unlike host associations, basic oocyst configuration (number of sporocysts per oocyst and sporozoites per sporocyst) was not correlated with phylogeny. Neither ‘Eimeria-type’ nor ‘Isospora-type’ oocyst morphotypes formed monophyletic groups. In the combined dataset tree (representing only a tiny fraction of described eimeriid coccidia), at least 10 clades of Eimeria spp. would need to be re-assigned to nine distinct genera to resolve their paraphyly. The apparent lack of congruence between morphotype and genotype will require taxonomists to balance nomenclatural stability and diagnostic ease against the ideal of monophyletic genera. For now, recognition of paraphyletic eimeriid genera defined by basic oocyst configuration may be necessary for reasons of taxonomic stability and diagnostic utility. Future taxonomic revisions to produce monophyletic eimeriid genera will ultimately require the identification of reliable phenotypic characters that agree with the molecular phylogeny of these parasites or, less optimally, acceptance that genotyping may be needed to support monophyletic supraspecific taxonomic groups.