Ultrastructure and phylogeny of Ceratomyxa auratae n. sp. (Myxosporea: Ceratomyxidae), a parasite infecting the gilthead seabream Sparus aurata (Teleostei: Sparidae). Issue 5 (October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rocha, Sónia; Casal, Graça; Rangel, Luís; Castro, Ricardo; Severino, Ricardo; Azevedo, Carlos; Santos, Maria João
• Is Part Of: Parasitology international. Volume 64:Issue 5(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 305
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2015-10
• Subjects: Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Parasitic Diseases -- Periodicals; Parasitology -- Periodicals; Parasitologie -- Périodiques; 571.99905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2015.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1383-5769

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="st0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <p id="sp0005">A new myxosporean parasite is described from the gall bladder of the gilthead seabream <italic>Sparus aurata</italic> in a Southern Portuguese fish farm, with basis on light and transmission electron microscopy, as well as in molecular procedures. In the bile, young and mature mono- to disporic plasmodia were elliptical and presented smooth surface membranes. Crescent-shaped myxospores measured 6.7 ± 0.7 (5.3–7.6) μm in length and 27.0 ± 3.0 (19.7–31.2) μm in thickness. The myxospore wall was constituted by two symmetrical valves united along a slightly curved suture line, each presenting a lateral projection with a rounded end. Two equal-sized subspherical polar capsules, measuring 3.6 ± 0.2 (2.9–3.8) μm in length and 3.5 ± 0.3 (2.9–3.8) μm in width, were located at the same level, each displaying a polar filament coiled in 5 turns. Molecular analysis of the SSU rRNA gene confirmed the parasite as a new member of the genus <italic>Ceratomyxa</italic>, making this the fourth report of <italic>Ceratomyxa</italic> from the gall bladder of <italic>S. aurata</italic> in the Iberian Peninsula. This reinforces the assumption that species richness of ceratomyxids in South European sparids is high, but the phylogenetic analysis performed disagrees with the existence of a common ancestor for <italic>Ceratomyxa</italic> species infecting sparid hosts, as well as their clustering according to geographical location. The main <italic>Ceratomyxa</italic> clade is not monophyletic due to the inclusion of <italic>Palliatus indecorus</italic> and <italic>Pseudoalatospora kovalevae</italic>; a situation that will probably be resolved by the taxonomic revision of these genera.</p> </sec> </abstract>