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A novel myxosporean species, Ceratomyxa azevedoi sp. n. is described from the gallbladder of the blackspot snapper, Lutjanus ehrenbergii (Peters), captured from the Arabian Gulf off Saudi Arabia . A total of 45 (26.8%) out of 168 fish specimens were found to be infected with Ceratomyxa azevedoi sp. n., the highest prevalence being observed in winter (42.9%, 18/42) and the lowest in autumn (11.9%, 5/42). Mature spores appeared as crescent to slightly elliptical-shaped, measuring 5-7 (6) μm in length and 12 (10-14) μm in thickness, with spherical polar capsules containing three polar filament coils. The morphometric and morphological comparison with similar species revealed the taxonomic novelty of this form, suggesting that it should be considered as new species. The phylogenetic analysis of C. azevedoi sp. n., based on partial SSU rDNA sequences, revealed close genetic relatedness to C. buri with 91.3% homogeneity and to C. hamour, with 90.1% homogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Myxozoa is a speciose group of endoparasitic cnidarians that can cause severe ecological and economic effects. Although highly reduced compared to free-living cnidarians, myxozoans have retained the phylum-defining stinging organelles, known as cnidae or polar capsules, which are essential to initiating host infection. To explore the adaptations of myxozoan polar capsules, we compared the structure, firing process and content release mechanism of polar tubules in myxospores of three Myxobolus species including M. cerebralis, the causative agent of whirling disease. Results: We found novel functions and morphologies in myxozoan polar tubules. High-speed video analysis of the firing process of capsules from the three Myxobolus species showed that all polar tubules rapidly extended and then contracted, an elasticity phenomenon that is unknown in free-living cnidarians. Interestingly, the duration of the tubule release differed among the three species by more than two orders of magnitude, ranging from 0.35 to 10 s. By dye-labeling the polar capsules prior to firing, we discovered that two of the species could release their entire capsule content, a delivery process not previously known from myxozoans. Having the role of content delivery and not simply anchoring suggests that cytotoxic or proteolytic compounds may be present in the capsule. Moreover, while free-living cnidarians inject most of the toxic content through the distal tip of the tubule, our video and ultrastructure analyses of the myxozoan tubules revealed patterns of double spirals of nodules and pores along parts of the tubules, and showed that the distal tip of the tubules was sealed. This helical pattern and distribution of openings may minimize the tubule mechanical weakness and improve resistance to the stress impose by firing. The finding that myxozoan tubule characteristics are very different from those of free-living cnidarians is suggestive of their adaptation to parasitic life. Conclusions: These findings show that myxozoan polar tubules have more functions than previously assumed, and provide insight into their evolution from free-living ancestors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the morphology and morphometric characterization of Thelohanellus niloticus sp. nov., a new myxozoan belonging to genus Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933 (Myxosporea, Bivalvulida) infecting the gills of Labeo niloticus (Osteichthyes, Cyprinidae), were described for the first time from the River Nile at El-Minia Governorate, Egypt. Forty-one out of 78 (52.6 %) of the examined fish were infected. The infection was observed as irregular, milky whitish, cyst-like plasmodia (up to 0.8 mm in diameter) attached to the gill filaments of the host fish. These plasmodia contained tear-shaped myxospores with slightly tapering anterior and rounded posterior ends. Each spore has a single pyriform polar capsule. Spores measured about 23.3 ± 0.3 (20.4-27.1) μm long and 13.4 ± 0.4 (11.5-14.2) μm wide. The polar capsule was 11.7 ± 0.3 (9.2-12.5) μm long and 4.7 ± 0.3 (3.5-6.2) μm wide, containing a polar filament coiled perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spore body making eight turns. Occasionally, an oblong, irregular-shaped mass of protoplasm with a slightly oval nucleus (1.4 μm in diameter) and a small iodinophilous vacuole measured 0.85 ± 0.2 μm (0.73-1.2 μm) were observed in the spore. Due to the lack of the second polar capsule characterizing Myxobolus sp., the present parasite is placed within the genus Thelohanellus. Based on morphological differences (compared with other members of Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933) and the host specificity, this species is described as a new one of the genus Thelohanellus recorded for the first time in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology and dimensions of Myxidiurn rhodei and M. pfeifferi were studied in roach originating from two different geographic locations (Greece and UK) using both scanning and light microscopy. Thc measurements and morphology of both mature spores and immature stages (trophozoites and spores) were studied and compared. No differences were observed in the morphology of mature or immature spores of both species when examined under light and SEM. Furthermore, no differences were found in the dimensions of the mature spores of both species in all fish. However, immature spores of both species were found to be smaller but wider than mature ones in all organs and in both habitats. Size differences between the two species were only seen in immature spores, M. rhodei immature spores being always larger than those of M. pfeifferi. When comparing the dimensions of the spores between the two habitats, these were Larger and wider in the Greek fish than those in the British fish. The information in this study suggests that, in roach, M. pfeifferi is undistinguishable from M. rhodei and that similar studies should be carried out on the tench, Tinca tinca L., the type host of M. pfezfferi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]