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An unidentified epi-epithelial myxosporean in the intestine of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L.

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Abstract

In the course of experimental infections of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata with the myxozoan Enteromyxum leei, stages of an unidentified myxozoan were observed attached to the intestinal brush border of some fish. Infection levels of the parasite, which was named “epi-epithelial myxosporean” (EEM) were recorded, and its structure was studied by light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). In situ hybridisation (ISH) probes specific for E. leei were developed and used to differentiate between the two parasites. The EEM parasite was observed only in epi-epithelial position on the intestine mucosa and never in any of the other tissues studied (kidney and gall bladder). Prevalence was variable, with values reaching 40.2%. With transmission EM, trophozoites displayed pseudopodia-like projections inserted in between the enterocyte microvilli, producing an intimate interface. No mucosal histopathology that could be attributed to the myxozoan was found. EEM stages did not stain with the E. leei-specific ISH probes. From the results of the LM, EM and ISH studies, we conclude that the EEM parasite found in gilthead sea bream intestine in both Mediterranean and Red Sea sites is a coelozoic myxosporean, distinct from E. leei.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Mr. Lluis Puig for his contribution to this work. We also acknowledge excellent technical support from the transmission electron microscopy service of UAB. The authors declare that the experimental procedures performed for this work comply with current laws of Spain and Israel.

Funding for this work was obtained from the European Union through research project QLRT-2001-00722 (MyxFishControl). M. Cuadrado benefits from a FI grant from “Departament d’Universitats, Recerca i Societat de la Informació” of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Social Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departament de Biologia Animal, Vegetal i Ecologia. Unitat de Zoologia. Facultat de Veterinària, Edifici V-Campus UAB, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain

    M. Cuadrado, G. Albinyana, F. Padrós & S. Crespo

  2. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Instituto de Acuicultura “Torre de la Sal”, 12595 Ribera de Cabanes, Castellón, Spain

    M. J. Redondo, A. Sitjà-Bobadilla, P. Álvarez-Pellitero & O. Palenzuela

  3. NCM—Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research Institute, Eilat, Israel

    A. Diamant

Authors
  1. M. Cuadrado
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  2. G. Albinyana
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  3. F. Padrós
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  4. M. J. Redondo
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  5. A. Sitjà-Bobadilla
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  6. P. Álvarez-Pellitero
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  7. O. Palenzuela
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  8. A. Diamant
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  9. S. Crespo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. Palenzuela.

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Cuadrado, M., Albinyana, G., Padrós, F. et al. An unidentified epi-epithelial myxosporean in the intestine of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata L.. Parasitol Res 101, 403–411 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0484-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0484-0

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