Publication Abstract

Enterospora canceri n.gen., n. sp., intranuclear within the hepatopancreatocytes of the European edible crab (Cancer pagurus)

Enterospora canceri n.gen., n. sp., intranuclear within the hepatopancreatocytes of the European edible crab (Cancer pagurus)

G.D. Stentiford, K.S. Bateman, M. Longshaw and S.W. Feist

(Nucleospora) within 1 family (Enterocytozoonidae) of the Microsporidia Nucleospora of an invertebrate, the European edible crab crabs displayed no obvious external signs, and maximum apparent prevalence of infection within a monthly sample was 3.45%. Infected hepatopancreatic tubules were characterised by varying numbers of hypertrophic and eosinophilic nuclei within epithelial cells. Parasite stages appeared as eosinophilic granular accumulations causing margination of host chromatin. In advanced cases, the tubule epithelia degenerated, with parasites and sloughed epithelial cells appearing in tubule lumens. All life stages of the parasite were observed within host nuclei. Uninucleate meronts were not detected, although binucleate stages were observed.  Ultinucleate plasmodia (sporogonal plasmodia) contained up to 22 nuclei in section, and late-stage plasmodia contained multiple copies of apparatus resembling the polar filament and anchoring disk, apparently associated with individual plasmodial nuclei. As such, aggregation and early assembly of sporoblast  omponents took place sporogonial plasmodium, a feature unique to the Enterocytozoonidae. Liberation of sporoblasts from plasmodia or the presence of liberated sporoblasts was not observed in this study. However, large numbers of maturing and mature spores (measuring 1.3 ± 0.02 in direct contact with the host nucleoplasm. Considering the shared features of this parasite with microsporidians of the family Enterocytozoonidae, and the unique presence of this parasite within the nucleoplasm of decapod crustacean hepatopancreatocytes, this parasite proposed as the type species of a new genus work is now required, comparing within the Enterocytozoonidae. spp. parasitise fish. This study describes the first intranuclear microsporidian parasite Cancer pagurus L. (Decapoda: Cancridae). Infected within the intact× 0.7 ± 0.01 μm) were frequently observed(Enterospora canceri) is (Enterospora) of microsporidian. Molecular taxonomic Enterospora to Enterocytozoon and Nucleospora, the 2 other genera.

Reference

G.D. Stentiford, K.S. Bateman, M. Longshaw and S.W. Feist (2007) Enterospora canceri n.gen., n. sp., intranuclear within the hepatopancreatocytes of the European edible crab (Cancer pagurus). Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 75(1): 61-72

G.D. Stentiford*, K.S. Bateman*, M. Longshaw* and S.W. Feist*

Diseases of Aquatic Organisms, 75(1): 61-72