The lobster parasite Anophryoides haemophila (Scuticociliatida Orchitophryidae): nuclear 18S rDNA sequence, phylogeny and detection using oligonucleotide primers

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the nuclear gene encoding small-subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid of the ciliate Anophryoides haemophila, a parasite of the American lobster Homarus americanus. The gene is 1763 bp in length, and has a guanosine-plus-cytosine content of 43.9%. Inferred phylogenetic frameworks strongly support the monophyly of the scuticociliates, and suggest that order Scuticociliatida should be elevated to at least subclass rank. Oligonucleotide probes based on A. haemophila ssurDNA can discriminate between DNAs of A. haemophila and other investigated hymenostome ciliates, and effectively prime polymerase chain reaction-based detection of A. haemophila deoxyribonucleic acid against at least a 1600-fold excess of total deoxyribonucleic acid from H. americanus. GENBANK/U51554