Amphidiniopsis is one of the most specious genera of sand-dwelling dinoflagellates. However, its systematic position and the affinities to other genera remain unresolved. We obtained the first SSU rDNA sequences of two species of Amphidiniopsis, A. hirsuta and A. swedmarkii collected from the French coasts of the English Channel. In the corresponding SSU rDNA phylogeny, the sand-dwelling Amphidiniopsis spp., Thecadinium dragescoi, Herdmania litoralis and the planktonic Archaeperidinium (= Protoperidinium) minutum formed a strongly supported clade (100% bootstrap support), with a Scrippsiella-like species occupying a basal position. This clade branched close to families of Peridiniales such as Calciodinellaceae (Scripssiella), Podolampadaceae (Podolampas, Roscoffia), Heterocapsaceae (Heterocapsa) and other peridinioids. The members of the clade of Amphidiniopsis are placed in the family Amphidiniopsidaceae, within
the Peridiniales.

The objective of this study is to draw attention to Apicomplexa-caused diseases transmitted by ticks. We present ultimate and intermediate hosts of Apicomplexa, including man, as well as vectors transmitting these unicellular Protista. We describe symptoms of Apicomplexa-caused diseases and contemporary methods of diagnostics and therapy. It is noteworthy that the ticks and tick-transmitted pathogenes are distinctly increasing their distribution ranges. Besides, it is important that the ticks are adapted to use many different hosts, including birds, which increases the ticks’ expansion abilities.
 

The morphology and morphogenesis of the hypotrich ciliate Urosoma macrostyla (Wrześniowski, 1866) Berger, 1999, collected from a puddle in Harbin, China, were investigated using live observation and protargol impregnation. Based on previous and present studies, an improved diagnosis of U. macrostyla is supplied. It differs from its congeners mainly by the body shape, no cortical granules and number of macronuclear nodules. The ontogenesis of U. macrostyla is typical for species with such a somatic ciliary pattern: the oral primordium develops hypoapokinetally and FVT-anlagen develop in 5-streaks and primary mode. However, a unique characteristic in morphogenetic process is reported: anlagen for both the left and right marginal cirri occur de novo to the right of the parental structure which has never been seen in other oxytrichids. This characteristic was considered an apomorphy (Berger 1999). This indicates that U. macrostyla possibly has a high phylogenetic position within the genus Urosoma, or perhaps it represents a distinct subgenus.

In 1988, we found a large (250–400 × 80–150 μm in protargol preparations) Uroleptus-like hypotrich in a freshwater pond in Harbin, China. We studied the morphology of non-dividers and the cell division using protargol impregnation. Since we disregarded live observations and due to the lack of a modern revision of the uroleptids, a final identification was not possible. A detailed comparison with the most similar limnetic Uroleptus-like hypotrichs and with Rigidothrix goiseri revealed that the Chinese population is very likely identical with Uroleptus magnificus [basionym Holosticha (Paruroleptus) magnificus Kahl, 1932], a very rare species possibly confined to limnetic, stagnant water bodies of the holarctic region. Besides the large size, main features of U. cf. magnificus are: (i) about 80 adoral membranelles; (ii) three or four inconspicuous transverse cirri; (iii) 5–8 dorsomarginal kineties; (iv) the oral primordium originates de novo left of the postoral midventral cirri; (v) the frontal-ventral-transverse cirri anlagen of the proter and the opisthe originate via primary primordia; (vi) the left frontal cirrus of the proter originates from the middle portion of the disorganizing parental paroral; (vii) the parental endoral becomes the undulating membrane anlage for the proter; and (viii) the frontoterminal cirri originate in the plesiomorphic manner, that is, from the rearmost anlage. A compilation reveals that 59 species, subspecies, etc. have been described in or assigned to Uroleptus and Paruroleptus, but only about 50% of them seem to be true uroleptids. Many species of this predominantly limnetic group are little known.

The morphology and infraciliature of five trachelocercid ciliates: Tracheloraphis huangi spec. nov., T. colubis (Kahl, 1933) comb. nov., T. phoenicopterus (Cohn, 1866) Dragesco, 1960, T. oligostriata (Raikov, 1962) Foissner and Dragesco, 1996 and Trachelocerca incaudata Kahl, 1933, isolated from the intertidal zone of a beach at Qingdao, China, were studied in live and protargol impregnated specimens. Tracheloraphis huangi spec. nov. was distinguished from its congeners mainly by its single nuclear group composed of 25–30 round macronuclei and 29–37 somatic kineties. The poorly known T. colubis is redescribed including for the first time information on its infraciliature. An improved diagnosis is also provided. In light of its infraciliature, T. colubis is transferred to Tracheloraphis from the genus Trachelocerca. Additional data on other three species is supplied based on the Qingdao populations.

Eight marine scuticociliates, Pseudoplatynematum denticulatum (Kahl, 1933) nov. comb., Protocyclidium sinica nov. spec., Histiobalantium marinum Kahl, 1933, Porpostoma notata Möbius, 1888, Philaster hiatti Thompson, 1969, Parauronema longum Song, 1995, Uronemella parafilificum Gong et al., 2007, and Paranophrys magna Borror, 1972, collected from Chinese coastal waters, were investigated using live observations and silver impregnation methods. Investigations of a Chinese population of Platynematum denticulatum (Kahl, 1933) reveal that it has a highly strengthened pellicle and distinct spines and thus corresponds well with the definition of Pseudoplatynematum Bock, 1952. A new combination, Pseudoplatynematum denticulatum (Kahl, 1933) nov. comb., is therefore proposed and an improved species diagnosis is supplied. Protocyclidium sinica nov. spec. is characterized by: small body size with buccal field approximately 60% of body length; extrusomes present; 13 or 14 somatic kineties; somatic kinety 1 comprising approximately 24 densely arranged kinetids; somatic kinety n shortened posteriorly; single macronucleus. Additional information is documented on the morphology of six other species of scuticociliates based on the China populations.

The representatives of the genus Paramecium are well-studied ciliates and can be used in water quality assessment and the determinations of saprobic levels. For these applications, a clear and unambiguous identification of ciliate assemblages is essential, which is typically based on morphological characters requiring a sound taxonomic knowledge and experience in species determination including microscopic identification of both living and stained specimens. Therefore, we developed and applied specific PCR primers for the detection of species belonging to the genus Paramecium and the Paramecium aurelia complex. These primers were successfully tested with different Paramecium species including representatives of the P. aurelia complex as well as closely related species like Frontonia sp. and Tetrahymena sp. in both experimental and environmental samples. These primers can be used in a simultaneous approach achieving fast and reliable results with regard to determination of ciliate community and water assessment.

A strain of marine amoeba has been isolated and studied from the bottom sediments of the Great Meteor Seamount (Atlantic Ocean, 29°36.29′N; 28°59.12′W; 267.4 m deep). This amoeba has a typical dactylopodiid morphotype, a coat of delicate, boat-shaped scales, and a Perkinsela-like organism (PLO), an obligatory, deeply-specialized kinetoplastid symbiont near the nucleus. These characters allow us to include this species into the genus Paramoeba. However, it differs from its only described species, P. eilhardi, in the structure of scales. P. atlantica n. sp. is established therefore to accommodate the studied strain. SSU rRNA gene sequence analysis suggests that P. atlantica belongs to the Dactylopodida, and is sister to a monophyletic clade of P. eilhardi and all Neoparamoeba spp., branching separately from P. eilhardi. Therefore, the genera Paramoeba and Neoparamoeba, currently defined based on the cell surface ultrastructure, might be paraphyletic and probably should be synonymized, as further evidence is accumulated. Based on the data available we emend the families Vexilliferidae and Paramoebidae to make them more consistent with the current phylogenetic schemes.