Myxosporean hyperparasites of gill monogeneans are basal to the multivalvulida.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Myxosporeans are known from aquatic annelids but parasitism of platyhelminths by myxosporeans has not been widely reported. Hyperparasitism of gill monogeneans by Myxidium giardi has been reported from the European eel and Myxidium-like hyperparasites have also been observed during studies of gill monogeneans from Malaysia and Japan.The present study aimed to collect new hyperparasite material from Malaysia for morphological and molecular descriptions. In addition, PCR screening of host fish was undertaken to determine whether they are also hosts for the myxosporean.

Results

Heavy myxosporean infections were observed in monogeneans from two out of 14 fish and were detected from a further five fish using specific PCRs and pooled monogenean DNA. Positive DNA isolate

SUBMITTER: Freeman MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3235069 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature