Biology of a new xenoma-forming gonadotropic microsporidium in the invasive blotchfin dragonet Callionymus filamentosus

Abstract

A gonadotropic microsporidian parasite, Obruspora papernae gen. et sp. nov. (Microsporidia: Enterocytozoonidae), is described from Callionymus filamentosus (Teleostei: Callionymidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. The host, a Red Sea invasive species which entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, was first collected in the Levant Basin in 1953, whereas its parasite went unobserved until 2008. Analysis of partial small subunit ribosomal gene sequences (SSU rDNA) placed the new species within the Nucleospora, Desmozoon, and Paranucleospora clade, and as it differs from each of them, it is assigned to a new genus. The development of the parasite is described, and the biological mechanisms underlying this parasite−host system are analyzed. Prevalence of infection approached 80% in female samples throughout most of the year. Males showed no signs of infection, but parasite rDNA was detected in male internal organs. The parasite-induced xenomas progressively occupied and eventually replaced much of the ovary, in some cases producing effective castration. Despite high levels of parasite infection, current trawl fishery statistics indicate that the abundance of Mediterranean populations of the host remains high. The parasite impact on the host population dynamics is unclear. Possible effects of the new microsporidian parasite on the reproductive effort of C. filamentosus and the potential role of another parasite, the ectoparasitic copepod Lernanthropus callionymicola, as an additional host in the life cycle of O. papernae, require further investigation.

New operational taxonomic units of Enterocytozoon in three marsupial species

“…ITS sequence lengths obtained here were consistent with those (240–245 bp) for all nine recognised groups of E. bieneusi [ 29 , 30 ], but distinct from other microsporidians, including Encephalitozoon spp. ( E. cuniculi , E. hellem and E. intestinalis ; 28–46 bp) [ 34 ], Nucleospora cyclopteri (261 bp) [ 35 ], Nucleospora salmonis (261 bp) [ 36 ] and Obruspora papernae (227 bp) [ 37 ].…”

Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of Glugea serranus n. sp., a microsporidian infecting the blacktail comber, Serranus atricauda (Teleostei: Serranidae), in the Madeira Archipelago (Portugal)

“…The phylum Microsporidia encompasses 21 genera recognized as fish parasites, infections of which can elicit severe pathological effects, including malformations of the body, impairment of swimming, and increased mortality rates (Rodriguez-Tovar et al 2004;Brown et al 2010;Stentiford et al 2013;Diamant et al 2014). In particular, members of the genus Glugea typically produce large xenomas that often lead to atrophy of visceral organs (Lom and Dyková 1992;Lom 2002).…”

“…To date, about 187 genera have been described (Vávra and Lukeš 2013), of which 21 parasitize freshwater and marine fish worldwide, some causing diverse pathologies in commercially important species (Lom and Dyková 1992;Lom 2002;Lom and Nilsen 2003;Stentiford et al 2013;Diamant et al 2014). The genus Glugea Thélohan, 1891 (Microsporidia: Glugeidae) includes at least 33 species infecting numerous organs in the fish hosts (Lom 2002;Vagelli et al 2005;Wu et al 2005;Voronin and Iukhimenko 2010;Su et al 2014;Abdel-Baki et al 2015a, b;Azevedo et al 2016).…”

Myxozoans on the Move: Dispersal Modes, Exotic Species and Emerging Diseases

“…Ali et al 2006;Diamant et al 2004), mostly non-myxozoan parasites are documented as being co-introduced (e.g. Diamant et al 1999Diamant et al , 2014 …”