First Myxozoan Infection (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) in a Marine Polychaete from North America and Erection of Actinospore Collective Group Saccimyxon.

First Myxozoan Infection (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) in a Marine Polychaete from North America and Erection of Actinospore Collective Group Saccimyxon.
J Parasitol. 2019 Apr;105(2):252-262
Authors: Atkinson SD, Hallett SL, Díaz-Morales D, Bartholomew JL, de Buron I
Abstract
In a survey of marine annelids for myxosporean infection in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, we collected 3,214 polychaetes from 21 families and found infections in 6 spionid individuals. Based on gross morphology and COI sequencing, all infected spionids were identified as Streblospio benedicti. Infection prevalence was 0.8% (6/734) of that species of spionid, and 0.2% of all 3,214 polychaetes examined. Pansporocysts contained 8 actinospores and developed in the tegument of the annelid host. This is the first myxozoan infection recorded from this polychaete species, second in the family, and the first marine myxozoan found in the Americas. It is the first marine species found to develop in the tegument of its annelid host; a site of development observed only once before, in Ceratonova shasta infections of its freshwater sabellid polychaete host. Mature actinospores were morphologically simple, truncated ellipsoids, lacking processes or ornamentation, 9.0 ± 0.5 μm × 6.0 ± 0.4 μm. Their sack-like shape was similar to 9 of the 12 actinospores described previously from polychaetes; 10/12 had been and ascribed originally to the morphological collective group Tetrac...

Source: The Journal of Parasitology - March 31, 2019 Category: Parasitology Authors: Atkinson SD, Hallett SL, Díaz-Morales D, Bartholomew JL, de Buron I Tags: J Parasitol Source Type: research