A new myxozoan from feral goldfish (Carassius auratus)

J Parasitol. 2006 Apr;92(2):357-63. doi: 10.1645/GE-666R.1.

Abstract

In February 2004, a mass die-off of common goldfish Carassius auratus L., presumptively caused by bacterial coldwater disease (Flavobacterium psychrophilum), occurred at Fern Ridge Reservoir, Oregon. A range of size classes was affected, but all mature fish were female and all fish were infected with a single myxozoan, Chloromyxum auratum n. sp. No histological changes were observed associated with the parasite. Infection was represented by mictosporic plasmodia and free-floating spores in the gall bladder. Parasite spores were nearly spherical, 13.6 microm long x 12.6 microm wide x 13.1 microm thick, and possessed 4 equal-sized polar capsules. Spores had a coglike appearance in apical view because of distinct ridges 2.1 microm high protruding from the valve cells. There were 6-9 extrasutural ridges per valve (15-20 ridges per spore), aligned along the longitudinal axis, with some branching, and convergence at both poles. Morphologically, spores identified most closely with Chloromyxum cristatum Léger, 1906; however, 18S rDNA sequence data indicated only 97.5% similarity over 2,076 bp with Chloromyxum cyprini, the only synonym of C. cristatum for which DNA data are available; additional sequence data may reveal the other synonyms to be distinct species. This is the first record of a species of Chloromyxum from goldfish.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Fish Diseases / epidemiology
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology*
  • Fresh Water
  • Gallbladder / parasitology
  • Gallbladder Diseases / epidemiology
  • Gallbladder Diseases / parasitology
  • Gallbladder Diseases / veterinary*
  • Goldfish / parasitology*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / veterinary
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oregon / epidemiology
  • Protozoan Infections, Animal / epidemiology
  • Protozoan Infections, Animal / parasitology*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
  • Spores, Protozoan / classification*
  • Spores, Protozoan / genetics
  • Spores, Protozoan / ultrastructure

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan