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Characterisation of Myxobolus stellatus n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxobolidae) infecting the cranial nerves and ganglia of the spotfin hatchetfish Thoracocharax stellatus (Kner) (Characiformes: Gasteropelecidae) from Colombia

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Abstract

A previously undescribed Myxobolus sp. was isolated from the cranial nerves and ganglia of the spotfin hatchetfish Thoracocharax stellatus (Kner) that exhibited neurologic signs following importation from Colombia. Associated plasmodia formed space-occupying masses within nerves, compressing neuronal cell bodies and causing axonal degeneration. Myxospores from these fish were morphologically and molecularly distinct from other myxobolids infecting the central nervous system of characins. In valvular view, spores are pyriform with a rounded posterior and tapering anterior aspect. Myxospore bodies are 17.0–19.4 (mean 18.4) µm long and 8.2–9.3 (mean 8.8) µm wide. Polar capsules are asymmetrical and pyriform with a neck-like projection at the apical end. The small polar capsule measures 4.3–5.9 × 2.2–3.1 (mean 5.0 × 2.6) µm, while the large polar capsule measures 9.1–10.7 × 4.9–6.3 (mean 9.9 × 5.4) µm wide. The sequence generated for the small subunit rRNA (18S) gene did not directly match any sequences available on GenBank, but demonstrated 92% nucleotide similarity to Myxobolus axelrodi Camus, Dill, Rosser, Pote & Griffin, 2017 infecting Paracheirodon axelrodi (Schultz). This study provides the first morphological, histological and molecular characterisation of Myxobolus stellatus n. sp. from the spotfin hatchetfish.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA

    Justin M. Stilwell & Alvin C. Camus

  2. North Florida Aquatic Veterinary Services, Ft. White, FL, 32038, USA

    B. Denise Petty

  3. Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Ethan T. Woodyard & Matt J. Griffin

  4. Department of Basic Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Thomas G. Rosser

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  1. Justin M. Stilwell
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  2. B. Denise Petty
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  3. Alvin C. Camus
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Correspondence to Justin M. Stilwell.

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This article was registered in the Official Register of Zoological Nomenclature (ZooBank) as C1909070-FD65-43F8-B14A-4CF8F1B0F28A. This article was published as an Online First article on the online publication date shown on this page. The article should be cited by using the doi number. This is the Version of Record.

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Stilwell, J.M., Petty, B.D., Camus, A.C. et al. Characterisation of Myxobolus stellatus n. sp. (Cnidaria: Myxobolidae) infecting the cranial nerves and ganglia of the spotfin hatchetfish Thoracocharax stellatus (Kner) (Characiformes: Gasteropelecidae) from Colombia. Syst Parasitol 97, 305–314 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-020-09911-x

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