title: Ultrastructural study ofApiosoma piscicolaBlanchard, 1885 (Subclass: Peritrichia) onTachysurus fulvidracofrom China.
abstract: This paper gave detailed description of the fine structure ofApiosoma piscicolaBlanchard 1885. These parasites were collected from the fry ofTachysurus fulvidracoduring parasite surveys of fish at Jiangxia Fish Hatchery in Wuhan, Hubei province in May 2011. Its pellicle, peristomial apparatus, nuclei, trochal band and scopula were described, respectively. The relationship between these peritrich ciliates and their hosts was well discussed herein. The scopula ofA. piscicoladid not adhere directly to the surface of the host epithelial cells, but by means of a secreted adhesive pad of material according to the present study. Besides, no ultrastructural damage to host epithelial cells could be detected in our work. We concluded that these sessilids should be ectocommensals rather than ectoparasites, but not always harmless. In addition, their great variability of body shape and non-strict host specificity were also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023 China ; Hubei Collaborative Innovation Centre for Freshwater Aquaculture, Wuhan, 430070 China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023 China.
authors.forename: Zongyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430079 China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Wuhan, 430223 China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Apiosoma piscicola; Ectocommensal; Ectoparasite; Peritrich; Tachysurus fulvidraco; Ultrastructure