Some observations on Babesiosoma bettencourti (Franca, 1908) n. comb. (syns. Haemogregarina bettencourti Franca, 1908; Desseria bettencourti Siddall, 1995) from eels, Anguilla anguilla L., in Portugal

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1998

Authors

Cruz, C (Author) FCUP; Davies, AJ (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Journal of Fish Diseases

Vol. 21

Pages: 443-448

ISSN: 0140-7775

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Agrarian Sciences > Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-6VC

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2761.1998.00131.x

Abstract (EN): The stages of a babesiosome were recorded from the erythrocytes of 73 out of 591 European eels, Anguilla anguilla L., captured in six rivers in northern and central Portugal during the period from January 1988 to July 1994. The prevalence, intensity and seasonality of the infection were recorded. Parasites were mostly intraerythrocytic in stained blood films. Unidivided and cruciform meronts, merozoites and gamonts were identified, and the meront stage was the most common. Mixed infections, in which the babesiosome coexisted with Trypanosoma granulosum Laveran & Mesnil, 1902, were present in 72 out of the 591 eels. In captive fish kept for up to 6 months, fluctuations in the levels of infection with the babesiosome were noted. The babesiosome existed in a similar geographical location, in what was presumed to be the same host: and in the same host cell type as a parasite described earlier as Haemogregarina bettencourti. Furthermore, the gamonts of the babesiosome and the haemogregarine overlapped in morphometric description. Although H. bettencourti was recently assigned to the genus Desseria, a nomenclatural correction is proposed: a new combination, Babesiosoma bettencourti (Franca, 1908) (syns. Haemogregarina bettencourti Franca, 1908; Desseria bettencourti Siddall, 1995) in the European eel, Anguilla anguilla L. The definitive host of B. bettencourti is unknown.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6