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Zschokkella helmii n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), a new parasite of marbled spinefoot Siganus rivulatus (Forsskal 1775), Red Sea, Egypt: light and transmission electron microscopy

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Abstract

Zschokkella helmii n. sp., a new parasite of Siganus rivulatus from the Red Sea, Egypt, was described using light and transmission electron microscopy. However, the infection was severe; single “histozoic” plasmodium was encountered in the gallbladder wall. Spores are ellipsoid with 9–11 valvar striations. Spore mean length is 10.8 μm (10.0–11.0), while the spore mean width is 7.5 μm (7.0–8.0). Polar capsules are nearly round with a diameter of 2.2 μm (2.0–3.0) and have five filaments. Ultrastructure of the plasmodial wall and sporogenesis of the present species followed the usual pattern valid for most studied myxosporean species.

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Acknowledgment

The authors are thankful for the technical assistance of Prof. Entzeroth’s group with the electron microscopy. We also appreciate the University of Dresden (Freude und Forder) for funding the electron microscopic study. This work is also supported by Center of Excellence for Biodiversity Research, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    F. Abdel-Ghaffar & A.-R. Bashtar

  2. National Institute of Oceanography & Fisheries (NIOF), Cairo, Egypt

    M. A. Ali

  3. Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    S. Al Quraishy

  4. Institute of Special Zoology and Parasitology, Technical University, Dresden, Germany

    R. Entzeroth

  5. Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt

    A. S. Abdel-Baki

  6. Biology Department, Teachers College, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    S. Al Farraj

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  1. F. Abdel-Ghaffar
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  2. M. A. Ali
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  3. S. Al Quraishy
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  4. R. Entzeroth
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  5. A. S. Abdel-Baki
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  7. A.-R. Bashtar
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Correspondence to F. Abdel-Ghaffar.

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Abdel-Ghaffar, F., Ali, M.A., Al Quraishy, S. et al. Zschokkella helmii n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), a new parasite of marbled spinefoot Siganus rivulatus (Forsskal 1775), Red Sea, Egypt: light and transmission electron microscopy. Parasitol Res 102, 183–192 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0732-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-007-0732-3

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