Sphaerospora infection of American catfishes (Ictalurus punctatus and I. nebulosus) in Europe.
The occurrence in Europe of a Sphaerospora species described in North America is reported. Based upon its morphological characteristics, the parasite could be identified with the species S. hankai described from brown bullhead in Canada. This parasite was found to infect channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) cultured in farm ponds in Italy and brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) living in the supply channels of fish ponds in Hungary. The spores and sporogonic developmental stages were situated in the lumen of the renal tubules. In the authors' opinion, S. ictaluri described from channel catfish can be considered synonymous with S. hankai.
Molnár
K
K
Veterinary Medical Research Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest.
Baska
F
F
D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D006814:Hungary; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000469:parasitology*; D007558:Italy; D007668:Kidney / Q000469:parasitology; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal