Sphaerospora epinepheli n. sp. (Myxosporea: Sphaerosporidae) observed in grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus).
Sphaerospora epinepheli n. sp. is described from grouper, Epinephelus malabaricus, in cage-cultured and wild fish collected from both coastal lines of southern Thailand. Subspherical to spherical spores and mono- or disporous pseudoplasmodia were observed in the lumen of kidney tubules. Pseudoplasmodia were round to elongate, size range 15.6-22.9 microns (length) x 8.4-21.6 microns (width). Spores were 7.8-10.0 microns (length) x 12.3-14.5 microns (thickness), and 7.0-9.5 microns (width) with two spherical polar capsules of equal size measuring 2.9-4.4 microns in diameter and containing polar filaments with six or seven windings. Two uninucleate sporoplasms showed iodine vacuoles. Blood stages, similar to C-blood protozoans observed from freshwater fish in Europe, were found from peripheral blood smears of grouper. Ultrastructural studies of blood stages showed a similar structure to unidentified mobile protozoans from the blood of carp. Electron dense bodies were observed in the cytoplasm of the primary cell blood stages. Infected proximal-tubular epithelial cells showed highly vacuolated cytoplasm and pycnotic nuclei.
Department of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Thailand.
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Supamattaya
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Fischer-Scherl
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Hoffmann
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Boonyaratpalin
D000818:Animals; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000469:parasitology; D013170:Spores