Zschokkella epinepheli n. sp. (Myxosporea: Myxidiidae) infecting the gallbladder of the white grouper Epinephelus aeneus (Serranidae) from Tunisian waters

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Bouderbala, K (Author) Other; Rangel, LF (Author) Other; Santos, MJ (Author) FCUP; Bahri, S (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Parasitology Research

Vol. 120

Pages: 45-54

ISSN: 0932-0113

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 3 Citations

Scopus - 3 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00T-2XW

DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06977-w

Abstract (EN): A new coelozoic myxosporean species, Zschokkella epinepheli n. sp., collected from the gallbladder of the white grouper Epinephelus aeneus (Perciformes: Serranidae) from the bay of Bizerte, Tunisia, is described based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Myxospores and plasmodia were observed floating free in the bile. Mature plasmodia were polysporic and subspherical in shape, measuring 85.0-94.0 mu m long and 70.0-82.0 mu m wide. Mature myxospores were ovoid in valvular view, measuring 10.0 +/- 1.7 (8.0-11.0) mu m in length and 7.0 +/- 0.3 (6.6-7.5) mu m in width. Polar capsules were pyriform and equal in size, measuring 3.0 +/- 0.2 (2.8-3.6) mu m in length and 2.3 +/- 0.3 (1.8-2.7) mu m in width. Myxospore valves had 12-14 longitudinal striations. Based on the small subunit rDNA, the new species Z. epinepheli n. sp. differs from all other Zschokkella species for which there is a DNA sequence deposited in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Z. epinepheli n. sp. clustered in the marine subclade of Zschokkella species within the biliary tract IV clade. This is the first report of a Zschokkella species from the gallbladder of an epinephelin fishes.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 10