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Ultrastructural Characterisation and Molecular Taxonomic Identification of Nosema granulosis n. sp., a Transovarially Transmitted Feminising (TTF) Microsporidium
Author(s) -
TERRY REBECCA S.,
SMITH JUDITH E.,
BOUCHON DIDIER,
RIGAUD THIERRY,
DUNCANSON PHIL,
SHARPE ROSE G.,
DUNN ALISON M.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of eukaryotic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 1066-5234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1999.tb06066.x
Subject(s) - nosema , biology , microsporidia , polar filament , microsporidiosis , parasite hosting , spore , transovarial transmission , microspora , zoology , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , larva , pollen , stamen , microspore , world wide web , computer science
A novel microsporidian parasite is described, which infects the crustacean host Gammarus duebeni. The parasite was transovarially transmitted and feminised host offspring. The life cycle was monomorphic with three stages. Meronts were found in host embryos, juveniles, and in the gonadal tissue of adults. Sporoblasts and spores were restricted to the gonad. Sporogony was disporoblastic giving rise to paired sporoblasts, which then differentiated to form spores. Spores were not found in regular groupings and there was no interfacial envelope. Spores were approximately 3.78 × 1.22 μm and had a thin exospore wall, a short polar filament, and an unusual granular polaroplast. All life cycle stages were diplokaryotic. A region from the parasite small subunit ribosomal RNA gene was amplified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on these data places the parasite within the genus Nosema. We have named the species Nosema granulosis based on the structure of the polaroplast.