Morphological and molecular aspects of Ceratomyxa ghannouchensis n. sp. and C. pallida Thélohan 1894 infecting the bogue, Boops boops (l.)

ABSTRACT

We report herein the molecular and morphological characteristics of two myxozoan parasites, Ceratomyxa ghannouchensis n. sp. and Ceratomyxa pallida Thélohan, 1894 infecting the gallbladder of the bogue, Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Gulf of Gabès off the Tunisian coast. Mature myxospores of C. ghannouchensis were stubby with a convex anterior end and almost straight to slightly concave posterior one. Mature myxospores measured 5.8 ± 0.4 (5–7) µm in length and 11.7 ± 0.3 (11–13) µm in thickness. Valves were unequal in size with one occasionally tapering to a greater degree than the other. The polar capsules were equal in size, spherical in shape and measured 2 ± 0.2 (1.8–2.8) µm in diameter. Infection with C. pallida occurs as spherical to elongated mono-, di- or trisporic plasmodia floating in the bile. Mature myxospores were crescent-shaped with two symmetrical shell valves with rounded edges. The myxospores measured 6 ± 0.5 (5–7) µm in length and 28.5 ± 2.5 (26–33) µm in thickness. The polar capsules were spherical, equal in size and measured 3 ± 0.3 (2.7–3.3) µm in diameter. Based on the SSU rDNA partial sequence, C. ghannouchensis n. sp. and C. pallida appeared in the same subclade with Ceratomyxa leatherjacketi and Ceratomyxa tunisiensis.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0DE35680-A3C9-45BA-B29B-0B7462CA7A43

KEYWORDS:

• Myxozoa
• fish parasites
• Ceratomyxa
• Teleostei
• Tunisia
• phylogeny
• SSU rDNA

Acknowledgements

We extend our appreciation to the Dean of Scientific Research, King Saud University, for funding the work through the research group project number RG-1435-023.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dean of Scientific Research, King Saud University [RG-1435-023].