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Thelohania montirivulorum sp. nov. (Microspora: Thelohaniidae), a parasite of the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae): fine ultrastructure, molecular characteristics and phylogenetic relationships

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Abstract

Thelohania montirivulorum sp. nov., a new species of microsporidian parasite, was found in a highland population of the Australian yabby, Cherax destructor. Data are presented on fine ultrastructure, developmental morphology and DNA sequence of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer region. The phylogenetic relationships of T. montrivulorum sp. nov. and other crayfish parasites in the genus Thelohania, based on the SSU rDNA sequence, are investigated. Fine ultrastructure, patterns of sporogony and SSU rDNA sequence similarities indicate T. montirivulorum sp. nov. is congeneric with T. parastaci, a parasite of lowland populations of C. destructor, and with T. contejeani, a parasite of European freshwater crayfish. SSU rDNA data suggests Thelohania species found in crustacean hosts are more closely related to the Vairimorpha/Nosema clade of species from insect and crustacean hosts than to the fire ant parasites, T. solenopsae and Thelohania sp.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a joint scholarship from the University of New England and CSIRO, Livestock Industries. The authors particularly wish to thank the following people for their assistance: Dr. Robert Adlard, Dr. Carlos Azevedo, Dr. Jeremy Bruhl, Prof. Iva Dykova, Mr. Zoltan Enoch, Mr. Peter Garlick, Prof. Robin Gasser, Dr. Dean Jerry, Ms. Mahri Koch, Mr. Ian Lenane, Mr. Callum Mack, Dr. Jennifer Mathews, Dr. Mary Notestine, Dr. Peter O'Donoghue, Prof. Klaus Rohde, Dr. Jessica Worthington-Wilmer, and Dr. Tony Sweeney.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology, School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of New England, NSW 2351, Armidale, Australia

    Elizabeth G. Moodie

  2. CSIRO Livestock Industries, Locked Bag 1, NSW 2350, Armidale, Australia

    Leo F. Le Jambre

  3. Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of New England, NSW 2351, Armidale, Australia

    Margaret E. Katz

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  1. Elizabeth G. Moodie
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  2. Leo F. Le Jambre
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  3. Margaret E. Katz
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Correspondence to Elizabeth G. Moodie.

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Moodie, E.G., Le Jambre, L.F. & Katz, M.E. Thelohania montirivulorum sp. nov. (Microspora: Thelohaniidae), a parasite of the Australian freshwater crayfish, Cherax destructor (Decapoda: Parastacidae): fine ultrastructure, molecular characteristics and phylogenetic relationships. Parasitol Res 91, 215–228 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-003-0948-9

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