title: Dermocystidium sp. Infection in Blue Ridge Sculpin Captured in Maryland.
abstract: Raised pale cysts were observed on Blue Ridge Sculpin Cottus caeruleomentum during stream fish community surveys in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland. When examined histologically, preserved sculpin exhibited multiple cysts containing spherical endospores with a refractile central body characteristic of Dermocystidium spp. Cysts were not observed on the gills or internally. The portion of the watershed in which affected sculpin were observed contained lower than expected numbers of sculpin, raising concerns about the population effects of this infection. A nearby stream lacked sculpin even though they are common in this region, further suggesting the possibility of regional effects. This is the first report of a Dermocystidium infecting any fish species in the eastern United States. Received October 16, 2015; accepted February 14, 2016.
authors.affiliation: a U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center , National Fish Health Research Laboratory , 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville , West Virginia 25430 , USA.
authors.forename: Vicki S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Blazer
authors.affiliation: b U.S. Geological Survey , Leetown Science Center, Aquatic Ecology Branch , 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville , West Virginia 25430 , USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Hitt
authors.affiliation: b U.S. Geological Survey , Leetown Science Center, Aquatic Ecology Branch , 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville , West Virginia 25430 , USA.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.affiliation: b U.S. Geological Survey , Leetown Science Center, Aquatic Ecology Branch , 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville , West Virginia 25430 , USA.
authors.forename: Erin L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Snook
authors.affiliation: a U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center , National Fish Health Research Laboratory , 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville , West Virginia 25430 , USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005399:Fishes; D008396:Maryland; D050298:Mesomycetozoea / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D050738:Mesomycetozoea Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D015995:Prevalence; D045483:Rivers