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First report of trypanosomiasis in farmed largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from China: pathological evaluation and taxonomic status

  • Fish Parasitology - Original Paper
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of trypanosomes on cultured largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and describe the taxonomic identification of the parasite. The effects of the parasite on M. salmoides were examined based on clinical symptoms, hemograms, histopathology, and serum biochemistry. Diseased fish showed typical clinical symptoms of trypanosomiasis, which included lethargy, anorexia, and histopathological lesions in the liver, head kidney, and spleen. The serum of diseased fish had significantly lower concentrations of glucose, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein, and significantly higher alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities. The morphology of the trypanosomes was also analyzed using light microscopy, and their 18S rDNA sequence was analyzed to establish genetic relationships with other known strains. We found that the trypomastigote form of the trypanosomes from M. salmoides was similar to those isolated from Pelteobagrus fulvidraco. The trypanosomes had a slender and narrow body with a relatively long free flagellum, not well-developed undulating membrane, and an oval kinetoplast located near the subterminal posterior end of the body. The 18S rDNA sequences of the trypanosome from M. salmoides had the highest similarity (99.8%) with that of P. fulvidraco, suggesting they are identical species. Based on the differences in morphological characteristics and 18S rDNA sequence compared to trypanosomes isolated from other freshwater fish, it is considered as a new species and we propose the name Trypanosoma micropteri n. sp.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by China Agriculture Research System (The Control of Parasites Infection on Marine Fish, CARS-47-18) to Pro. Anxing Li.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial key Lab for Aquatic Economic Animals, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China

    Biao Jiang, Geling Lu, Jiajia Du, Jing Wang, Yazhou Hu & Anxing Li

  2. Key Laboratory of South China Sea Fishery Resources Exploitation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, South China Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, 510300, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China

    Youlu Su

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  1. Biao Jiang
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  2. Geling Lu
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  3. Jiajia Du
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  4. Jing Wang
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  5. Yazhou Hu
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  6. Youlu Su
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  7. Anxing Li
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Correspondence to Anxing Li.

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All protocols were approved by China Institute of Veterinary Drug Control and the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China.

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Jiang, B., Lu, G., Du, J. et al. First report of trypanosomiasis in farmed largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) from China: pathological evaluation and taxonomic status. Parasitol Res 118, 1731–1739 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-019-06323-9

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