Hurdle in Taxonomy: a Case of Malaria Parasites and Other Haemosporidia
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Open Vets. 2021; 2: 40–54 Communication Fatik Baran Mandal, Ph.D. Hurdle in taxonomy: A case of malaria parasites and other Haemosporidia https://10.1515/ovs-2020-0110 are: morphological, cytological, biochemical, ecological, Received Mar 29, 2021; accepted Jul 13, 2021 and ethological. Morpho taxonomy is called the traditional taxonomy. Each approach of taxonomy has Abstract: A crucial progress in taxonomy matches own advantages and drawbacks. However, there is a with the growth of various branches of biological conflict between the traditional taxonomy and molecular sciences. This validates the taxonomic positions of level systematics. The progress of molecular biology and many organisms. Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon and introducing of new tools and techniques help in finalizing Plasmodium, the members of the Haemosporidia, are the taxonomic position of the organism along with its the well recognized parasitic genera. Revisiting the evolutionary history. Taxonomy refers to the classification progress in animal taxonomy appears to be important to of groups of organisms. Systematics arranges various evaluate our studies. Haemosporidia being microscopic, taxa like phyla, subphyla, classes, orders, suborders etc. their taxonomy specially the morphotaxonomy has following a hierarchy of evolutionary interrelated groups. sometimes created confusion. Therefore, analysis of Taxonomy puts names for organisms and groups of progression of the taxonomy of the avian Haemosporidia related organisms. Systematics deals with the taxonomy demands special attention. Modern phylogenetic analyses and evolution of organisms to establish an evolutionary revealed a wealth of information, which is undoubtedly relationship between taxa meaningfully. Thus, both the useful for protozoology and other related sciences. taxonomy and systematic depend on each other. Techniques of molecular taxonomy are applied to draw Zoologists took the role of principal taxonomists the phylogeny covering members of Haemosporidia. The for protozoa in the early period. Definitely, they had study of the life cycles of both hosts and parasites are less opportunity for studying the taxonomic position of absorbing. Besides, analysis of their evolution through protozoans with the traditional tools and techniques. Also, molecular phylogenetics appears to be vital in studying authoritarianism by the zoologists perhaps played a major haemosporidians and to gain insight for basic and role in fixing the systematic position of the lower fungi, applied sciences. This article examines the potential of protozoa, and algae at the then time [1]. Now Protozoa are molecular phylogenetics in refining systematics of avian not the sole domain of protozoologists. Members of the Haemosporidia and to explain a holistic view of the group. Protozoa have important implications in the medical and veterinary parasitology as well as in microbiology. Gradual Keywords: Phylogenetics, Hemoproteus, Plasmodium, development of the classification scheme and progress of cytochrome b biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology improved our knowledge of protozoa and to fill up the gaps in our knowledge thereof. Many taxonomists still work with traditional techniques of protozoa. The classification of 1 Introduction protozoa was complicated due to lumping of protozoa, with algae and some other eukaryotic microorganisms Systematics, taxonomy, classification, synonyms, and together as Protista and by data collected from modern homonyms are becoming difficult for students, teachers, biological techniques. For a more detailed account in this and researchers. This applies to the field of zoology, context, the reader may consult the classical works [2-8]. microbiology, parasitology, medical parasitology, Similarly, improvements in microscopic methods and entomology and medical entomology. Difficult situations molecular biology revealed the morphological, cellular sometimes arise in dealing with taxa like Protozoa, and subcellular characteristics of protozoa in detail. Rotifera and Insecta. Various approaches to taxonomy Open Access. © 2021 Fatik Baran Mandal, Ph.D., published by De Gruyter. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License. Hurdle in taxonomy: A case of malaria parasites and other Haemosporidia 41 The efforts of scientists throughout the globe through identification of specimens. The process of identification centuries have developed the present-day classification relies on information about the characters of the concerned of the protozoa. Interesting history of those efforts would organism. Specific taxonomic approach (morphological/ also attract readers. ecological/ behavioral/cytological) requires specific Here, I review the taxonomy of protozoa, especially information to classify organisms into groups. Taxon is the avian Haemosporidia to present the complexity of considered as a group of biological organisms (taxa, plural). the assemblages of diverse groups of animals within Taxa in a classification have rank, with the basic rank (basal the group. I shall also deal with the brief descriptions, rank) as species. The higher ranks include genus, subgenus, general characteristics, life cycles, and systematics of the tribe, family, order, suborder, class, subclass, phylum, and three genera of avian Haemosporidia. Other groups of kingdom. Scientific names are the primary but critical keys to animals involved in systematics of avian Haemosporidia unlock biosystematics information about living organisms. will also be taken into account, as and when required, Scientific names are unique. Typically, only one valid for the sake of clarity. Then I shall discuss the present scientific name indicates a specific organism throughout the trend of research on avian Haemosporidia as a case world. Disagreements in classification are due to differences study to illustrate how the hurdles in morphotaxonomy in paradigm and/or information. Theoretically, there should are gradually decreasing along with the development of be only one correct classification. However, in practice there biological tools and techniques. were multiple classifications in the past; some of which are in use today. For the correct classification, we must develop a nomenclatural system that supports two unique 2 Methods keys (valid name and original name). The valid name is the correct name and the best name to provide the full value of While consulting literature on animal classification, scientific name for a taxon. The original name refers to the opportunity presented itself to examine the progress in valid name in the classification in which it was proposed, taxonomy and to realize how sometimes, synonyms and which would be useful only to retrieve information across homonyms create confusion to get the valid information multiple classifications. of a genus, or a taxon. Besides, I had to consult the Classifications also include terms like synonymy literature on taxonomy of avian haemoparasites or blood which indicate two or more names for the same species. inhabiting parasites especially of the genus Haemproteus Homonymy shows various species having the same (Haemosporidia: Haemosporina) during 1986-1991 for my name. However, the rules of nomenclature can solve PhD work. At that time morpho-taxonomy was mostly such conflicts. For example, if homonymy becomes an followed. In the present study, I have analyzed the trends obstacle, the rule of uniqueness can address it.The rules of of progress of taxonomy and systematics of the avian typification can solve the problem of synonymy following Haemosporidia from my experience of consultation of the convention. The scientific name to be used is settled by classic literature, as well as the survey of recent literature giving priority to the oldest name. The codes of zoological in the field following standard procedure. nomenclature can solve the problems of homonymy Ethical approval: The conducted research is not related and synonymy, and can guide us for proper formation to either human or animals use. and documentation of scientific names. Linnaeus and Fabricius, following Aristotelian essentialism/typology, 3 Findings developed the first classification. Organisms are grouped together as they share the criteria of the group, which The findings are given in subheadings and in sequence as is the type. Later, to develop systematics and to get a below for convenience. holistic view, evolution was added to the taxonomy. The classifications then lead to phylogeny, which is the genealogical hypothesis of relationship. Later, 3.1 Systematics and taxonomy various ways of deciphering phylogeny and translating phylogenetic information into a hierarchical classification The science of classification of organisms following the valid (phylogenetics vs cladistic methods) have developed. A rules is called taxonomy. We get a picture of biodiversity, perusal of literature reveals that much has been written and the information required for entire biology from the about the relative advantages of phenetics, evolutionary taxonomy. Taxonomy mostly depends on the accurate systematics, and cladistics [2-8]. 42 Fatik Baran Mandal, Ph.D. The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature [11]. Identification of Protozoa has employed microscopic (ICZN) in its 4th edition consists mainly of a series of methods by tradition. Now molecular methods identify 18 chapters comprising 90 articles. The ICZN contains many cryptic protozoan species. The cryptic species recommendations and examples to address