Myxobolus neurophilus Guilford 1963 (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae): a common parasite infecting yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchell, 1814) in Saskatchewan, Canada

The goal of this study was to identify a myxosporidian parasite infecting the central nervous system of yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchell, 1814) observed while investigating a fish kill in Saskatchewan, Canada. Fish were collected from seven different lakes, from two distinct watersheds. Sixty...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish diseases 2015-04, Vol.38 (4), p.355-364
Main Authors: Scott, S J, Griffin, M J, Quiniou, S, Khoo, L, Bollinger, T K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Brain - parasitology
Fish Diseases - parasitology
Fish Diseases - pathology
Lakes
Molecular Sequence Data
Myxobolidae
Myxobolus
Myxobolus - classification
Myxobolus - genetics
Myxobolus - isolation & purification
Myxobolus - ultrastructure
Myxobolus neurophilus
Myxosporea
Parasitic Diseases, Animal - parasitology
Parasitic Diseases, Animal - pathology
Perca flavescens
Perches
Phylogeny
RNA, Ribosomal, 18S - genetics
Saskatchewan
spinal cord
Spinal Cord - parasitology
yellow perch
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Summary:The goal of this study was to identify a myxosporidian parasite infecting the central nervous system of yellow perch Perca flavescens (Mitchell, 1814) observed while investigating a fish kill in Saskatchewan, Canada. Fish were collected from seven different lakes, from two distinct watersheds. Sixty‐four per cent (54/86) of yellow perch contained myxozoan pseudocysts located throughout the spinal cord and brain. Myxospores measured 16.5 μm (range 16.2–16.8) long and 8.2 μm (range 7.9–8.4) wide and contained two pyriform, mildly dissymmetrical, polar capsules measuring 7.7 μm (range 7.3–8.1) long and 2.7 μm (range 2.4–3.0) wide. The polar capsules each contained a single polar filament, with 7–9 turns per polar filament coil. Sequencing of the 18S SSU rDNA gene demonstrated >99% similarity to Myxobolus neurophilus. In 60% of infected fish, there was a mild to moderate, non‐suppurative myelitis or encephalitis, or both, associated with myxospores. Axonal degeneration was present in rare cases. These findings extend the geographical distribution of M. neurophilus and suggest it may be widespread in yellow perch populations in Saskatchewan.
ISSN:0140-7775
1365-2761
DOI:10.1111/jfd.12242