Gregarinasina

The gregarines are a group of Apicomplexan alveolates, classified as the Gregarinasina or Gregarinia. They belong to the same phylum as the parasites that cause malaria (phylum: Apicomplexa). Gregarines are single-celled parasites which inhabit the intestines of many invertebrates, including ants. They are not found in vertebrates.

Known Ant Hosts

Ant	Gregarine Species	Locality	Source	Notes
Harpagoxenus sublaevis	Mattesia geminata	Germany	Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Leptothorax acervorum	Mattesia geminata	United States (Montana), Germany, Italy	Kleespies et al., 1997; Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Leptothorax kutteri	Mattesia geminata	Germany	Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Leptothorax muscorum	Mattesia geminata	United States (Montana), Germany, Canada (Alberta), Europe	Kleespies et al., 1997; Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Leptothorax muscorum	Neogregarinorida, Ophryocystidae (species unspecified)	United States (Montana)	Buschinger et al., 1995	reported as ''Leptothorax muscorum'' complex, includes European species
Monomorium pharaonis	Mattesia geminata	Germany	Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Myrmecia pilosula	species unknown	Australia	Crosland, 1988
Myrmecia rufinodis	species unknown	Australia	Crosland, 1988
Myrmica rubra	Mattesia geminata	Germany	Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Solenopsis geminata	Mattesia geminata	United States	Jouvenaz & Anthony, 1979
Temnothorax recedens	Mattesia geminata	Germany, Italy	Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999
Temnothorax unifasciatus	Mattesia geminata	Germany, Italy	Buschinger & Kleespies, 1999

References

• Valles, S.M., Pereira, R.M. 2003. Use of ribosomal DNA sequence data to characterize and detect a neogregarine pathogen of Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 84 (2): 114-118.