Loubes C ; Maurand J ; De Buron I ;

Parasitol Res vol. 74 (4)   pp. 344-51, 1988

Laboratoire d'Ichthyologie et de Parasitologie generale, U.S.T.L., Montpellier, France.

Microsporidium acanthocephali n. sp. and Microsporidium propinqui n. sp. are two microsporidian species hyperparasitic in the tegumentary syncytium of salt-water fishes. Their ultrastructural study shows that both species have diplocaryotic meronts and spores, anisofilar polar filaments; meronts and some sporogonic stages of M. acanthocephali are surrounded by a parasitic vacuole. Spores of both parasites are oviform; those of M. acanthocephali are gigantic, 12-14 micron long and 6-7 micron broad, those of M. propinqui are only 3-4 micron X 1.25-1.50 micron. A poor knowledge of some sporogonic aspects prevents us from all precise generic assigning of these two parasites which may coexist in the same Helminth.

Acanthocephala: physiology ;  Animal ;  Comparative Study ;  Fish Diseases: parasitology ;  Fishes ;  Helminthiasis: parasitology: veterinary ;  Microscopy,Electron ;  Protozoa: classification: physiology: ultrastructure ;  Protozoan Infections: parasitology: veterinary ;  Seawater ;  6250 ;