In vitro growth of the microsporidian Heterosporis saurida in the eel kidney EK-1 cell line.
Heterosporis saurida is an intracellular microsporidian that infects lizardfish Saurida undosquamis. Although some attempts have been introduced to clarify microsporidian host-pathogen interactions, development of novel strategies to combat fish diseases is still needed. Here we present an in vitro cultivation model for fish microsporidia based on an eel kidney cell line (EK-1), which is susceptible to infection by H. saurida. Spores were isolated from infected lizardfish and used to inoculate EK-1 cells. H. saurida were propagated in the eel kidney EK-1 cell line and detected by immunofluorescence. Developmental stages of H. saurida were seen in EK-1 cells by transmission electron microscopy. Identity of the parasite was confirmed by partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA gene. Our cell culture model provides a valuable means to explore molecular and immunological events and will facilitate development of effective treatment strategies.
Clinical Division of Fish Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Mona
M
Saleh
Gokhlesh
G
Kumar
Abdel-Azeem
AA
Abdel-Baki
Mansour
M
El-Matbouli
Saleh
S
Al-Quraishy
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004524:Eels; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology*; D016814:Microsporidia / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology