Ultrastructural description of Ceratomyxa microlepis sp. nov. (Phylum Myxozoa): a parasite infecting the gall bladder of Hemiodus microlepis, a freshwater teleost from the Amazon River

A new ceratomyxid parasite was examined for taxonomic identification, upon being found infecting the gall bladder of Hemiodus microlepis (Teleostei: Hemiodontidae), a freshwater teleost collected from the Amazon River, Brazil. Light and transmission electron microscopy revealed elongated crescent-shaped spores constituted by two asymmetrical shell valves united along a straight sutural line, each possessing a lateral projection. The spores body measured 5.2 ± 0.4 µm (n = 25) in length and 35.5 ± 0.9 µm (n = 25) in total thickness. The lateral projections were asymmetric, one measuring 18.1 ± 0.5 µm (n = 25) in thickness and the other measuring 17.5 ± 0.5 µm (n = 25) in thickness. Two equal-sized subspherical polar capsules measuring 2.2 ± 0.3 µm in diameter were located at the same level, each possessing a polar filament with 5-6 coils. The sporoplasm was binucleate. Considering the morphometric data analyzed from the microscopic observations, as well as the host species and its geographical location, this paper describes a new myxosporean species, herein named Ceratomyxa microlepis sp. nov.; therefore representing the first description of a freshwater ceratomyxid from the South American region.

Hepatic steatosis associated with microsporidiosis in teleost fishes from Marajó Island, Brazil

Um total de 40 exemplares do peixe teleósteo Gobioides grahamae Palmer & Wheeler, 1955 foram obtidos a partir do município de Salvaterra na Ilha de Marajó, no estado brasileiro do Pará. Os fígados foram removidos e processados para a microscopia de luz. De modo geral, 90% das amostras apresentavam algum grau de esteatose hepática, a qual foi invariavelmente associada com a presença de Microsporidium sp. O presente estudo confirma a ocorrência de esteatose em G. grahamae associada a infecções parasitárias por Microsporidium. Os resultados indicam que as condições de peixes saudáveis em ambiente natural podem ser afetadas negativamente por parasitas.

A note on the occurrence of praniza larvae of Gnathiidae (Crustacea, Isopoda) on fishes from Northeast of Pará, Brazil

Foi estudada a parasitose dos peixes estuarinos Mugil gaimardianus Desmarest, 1831 (Mugilidae), Arius phrygiatus Valenciennes, 1839 (Ariidae), Conodon nobilis Linnaeus, 1759 (Haemulidae), Cetengraulis edentulus Cuvier, 1829 (Engraulidae), e Anableps anableps Linnaeus, 1758 (Anablepidae) por larvas praniza de Gnathiidae (Crustacea, Isopoda) em exemplares pescados no Oceano Atlântico, no Nordeste do Pará, próximo a Bragança, Brasil. O valor mais elevado da prevalência da infecção foi observado em A. anableps (42,3%) e o menor em C. nobilis (9,1%). A intensidade média da parasitose variou entre 1 parasita em C. nobilis até 19,5 em A. phrygiatus. Efetua-se a descrição da larva, verificando-se que a morfologia da armadura bucal está relacionada com a atividade sugadora de sangue, e faz-se a comparação com as características de outras espécies.

Myxidium volitans sp. nov., a parasite of the gallbladder of the fish, Dactylopterus volitans (Teleostei: Triglidae) from the Brazilian Atlantic coast: morphology and pathology

Myxidium volitans sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Myxidiidae) parasitizing the hypertrophied green-brownish gallbladder of the teleost Dactylopterus volitans, collected in the Atlantic coast near Niterói, Brazil was described based on ultrastructural studies. The spores were fusiform, sometimes slightly crescent-shaped on average 21.7 ± 0.3 µm (mean ± standard deviation) (n = 50) long and 5.6 ± 0.4 µm (n = 30) wide. The spore wall was thin and smooth, comprising two equally-sized valves joined by a hardly visible sutural ridge. Spores containing two pyriform polar capsules (PC) (5.0 ± 0.4 × 2.3 ± 0.3 µm) (n = 30) are situated in each extremity of the spore. The PC wall was composed of hyaline layer (0.20-0.29 µm thick) and by a thin external granular layer. Each PC contains a polar filament (PF) with irregular arrangements that was projected from its apical region to the bases of PC and coiled laterally from bases to the tip of PC. Some regular striations and S-like structures in the periphery of the PFs with four-five irregular sections were observed. Based on the spore morphology, ultrastructural differences and the specificity of the host we describe this parasite as a new myxosporidian, named M. volitans sp. nov.

Light and electron microscopy of Myxobolus sciades n. sp. (Myxozoa), a parasite of the gills of the Brazilian fish Sciades herzbergii (Block, 1794) (Teleostei: Ariidae)

A myxosporean parasite in the gill lamellae of the freshwater teleost fish, Sciades herzbergii (Ariidae) (Block, 1794), from the Poti River (Northeast of Brazil) was described by light and electron microscopy studies. Polysporic histozoic cyst-like plasmodia containing several life-cycle stages, including mature spores, were observed. The spores were pyriform and uninucleate, measuring 9.15 ± 0.39 μm (n = 50) long, 4.36 ± 0.23 μm (n = 25) wide and 2.61 ± 0.31 μm (n = 25) thick. Elongated pyriform polar capsules (PC) were of equal size (4.44 ± 0.41 μm long and 1.41 ± 0.42 μm in diameter) and each contained a polar filament with 9-10 coils obliquely arranged in relation to the axis of PC. The PC wall was composed of two layers of different electron densities. Histological analysis revealed the close contact of the cyst-like plasmodia with the basal portion of the epithelial gill layer, which exhibited some alterations in the capillary vessels. Based on the morphological and ultrastructural differences, the similarity of the spore features to those of the genus Myxobolus and the specificity of this host to previously described species, we describe a new species named Myxobolus sciades n. sp. in this study.

Biflagellate spermatozoon structure of the hermaphrodite fish Satanoperca jurupari (Heckel, 1840) (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Amazon River

Foram estudados aspectos ultra-estruturais do espermatozóide do teleósteo hermafrodita Satanoperca jurupari (HECKEL, 1840) do rio Amazonas. Em diferentes oocistos testiculares encontram-se fases evolutivas de espermatócitos, espermátides e espermatozóides. Nos estádios mais jovens, nos espermatócitos, foram observados os respectivos complexos sinaptonêmicos. O espermatozóide maduro do tipo "introsperm" apresenta cabeça pequena de ~ 3 mm de comprimento e 1,3 mm de largura, sem acrosoma, com uma pequena peça intermediária de ~ 1,2 mm de comprimento e 1,8 mm de largura, contendo algumas mitocôndrias esféricas, circundando os dois centríolos e formando um colar mitocondrial. Esse espermatozóide apresenta 2 flagelos, cada um com ~ 15 mm de comprimento e com a formação microtubular comum de 9 + 2. Cada flagelo tem 2 extensões citoplasmáticas lateralmente opostas, sendo formadas cerca de 3 mm abaixo da peça intermediária, acompanhando o flagelo até a parte final.