The ultrastructure of spores (Protozoa: Microsporida) from Lophius americanus, the angler fish

Spinal and cranial ganglia of American angler fish, Lophius americanus, are often infected with microsporidia. This protozoon elicits the formation of large, spore-filled, hypertrophied host cells, cysts. Previous reports of microsporidia in European lophiids identify the parasite as Spraguea lophii, a genus which has recently been shown to be dimorphic. The spores from L. americanus are monomorphic (2.8 X 1.5 micron) and uninucleate. Each spore contains a polar tube that forms six to nine coils. Spraguea lophii differs from the microsporidium described in L. americanus in several ways. Spraguea lophii has two spore types: a large spore (4.0 X 1.25 micron) containing a diplokaryon and three to four polar tube coils and a smaller uninucleate spore (3.5 X 1.5 micron) with five to six polar tube coils. Because of these major differences, the microsporidium from L. americanus is removed from the genus Spraguea and returned to its original genus, Glugea, as a new species, G. americanus n. sp. Other ultrastructural characteristics of G. americanus are included: the posterior vacuole encloses two distinct membranous structures; one is tubular and resembles a "glomerular tuft" and the second is lamellar and composed of concentric membrane whorls, additionally, the straight or manubroid portion of the polar tube proceeds beyond the posterior vacuole before it turns anteriorly and begins to coil.     

On the Cytology and Taxonomic Position of Nudispora biformis N. G., N. Sp. (Microspora, Thelohaniidae), a Microsporidian Parasite of the Dragon Fly Coenagrion hastulatum in Sweden

The microsporidium Nudispora biformis n. g., n. sp., a parasite of a larva of the damsel fly Coenagrion hastulatum in Sweden, is described based on light microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics. Merogonial stages and sporonts are diplokaryotic. Sporogony comprises meiotic and mitotic divisions, and finally eight monokaryotic sporoblasts are released from a lobed plasmodium. Sporophorous vesicles are not formed. The monokaryotic spores are oval, measuring 1.4–1.8 × 2.8–3.4 μm in living condition. The thick spore wall has a layered exospore, with a median double-layer. The polaroplast has two lamellar parts, with the closest packed lamellae anteriorly. The isofilar polar filament is arranged in 6 (to 7) coils in the posterior half of the spore. Laminar and tubular extracellular material of exospore construction is present in the proximity of sporogonial stages. In addition to normal spores teratological spores are produced. The microsporidium is compared to the microsporidia of the Odonata; its possible relations to the genus Pseudothelohania and to the Thelohania-like microsporidia are discussed. The new genus is provisionally included in the family Thelohaniidae.     

Microsporidium goeldichironomi n. sp. and Microsporidium chironomi n. sp. (Microsporida: Apansporoblastina): Two new microsporidia from Florida chironomids

Two new species of Microsporida belonging to the genus Microsporidium are described. Microsporidium goeldichironomi n. sp. parasitizes the fat body of Goeldichironomus holoprasinus and Microsporidium chironomi n. sp. infects Chironomus attenuatus. Both microsporidia form uninucleate spores from rosette-shaped sporonts. M. goeldichironomi sporonts form 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, and possibly more spores. Two shapes of spores are produced, oval, or slightly pyriform spores measuring 3.70 ± 0.09 × 2.49 ± 0.13 μm and pyriform spores measuring 3.74 ± 0.44 × 2.04 ± 0.17 μm. Electron micrographs show that both types of spores are uninucleate, have 8 to 11 polar filament coils and a lamellate polaroplast showing several distinct regions. M. chironomi spores are pyriform and are often joined at the posterior end in groups of two or four. They measure 4.12 ± 0.37 × 2.45 ± 0.26 μm. The spores are uninucleate, have six to seven polar filament coils and a lamellate polaroplast showing two distinct regions. Neither species can be transmitted per os and thus are assumed to be transovarially transmitted. No pansporoblastic membrane is present in either species.     

Occurrence of a New Microsporidan: Enterocytozoon bieneusi n. g., n. sp., in the Enterocytes of a Human Patient with AIDS1

A new microsporidium is reported infesting the enterocytes of a Haitian patient with AIDS. The stages observed were diplokaryotic cells, sporogonial plasmodia, unikaryotic sporoblasts, and spores. Neither a sporophorous vesicle (pansporoblastic membrane) nor parasitophorous vacuole were differentiated around the developmental stages, which were in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. The polar tube (5-6 coils) was differentiated before fission of the sporogonial plasmodium. The mature spores measured 1.5 m?m × 0.5 m?. The spore wall was very thin as the endospore was absent or poorly differentiated. The organism is named Enterocytozoon bieneusi n. g., n. sp. and is assigned to the suborder Apansporoblastina.     

Napamichum cellatum N. Sp. (Microspora, Thelohaniidae), a New Parasite of Midge Larvae of the Genus Endochironomus (Diptera, Chironomidae) in Sweden

ABSTRACT The new microsporidium, Napamichum cellatum, a parasite of the adipose tissue of midge larva of the genus Endochironomus in Sweden, is described based on light microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics. Plurinucleate Plasmodia with nuclei arranged as diplokarya divide, probably by plasmotomy, producing a small number of diplokaryotic merozoites. The number of merogonial cycles is unknown. Each diplokaryotic sporont yields eight monokaryotic sporoblasts in a thin-walled, more or less fusiform sporophorous vesicle. A small number of multisporoblastic sporophorous vesicles were observed, in which a part of the sporoblasts were anomalous. The sporogony probably begins with a meiotic division. The mature spores are slightly pyriform. Fixed and stained spores measure 2.1-2.4 × 3.7-4.5 μm. The five-layered spore wall is of the Napamichum type. The polar filament is anisofilar with seven to eight coils (142-156 and 120 nm wide). The angle of tilt is 55-65°. The polaroplast has an anterior lamellar and a posterior tubular part. The granular, tubular and crystal-like inclusions of the episporontal space disappear more or less completely when the spores mature. The crystal-like inclusions are prominent in haematoxylin staining, but not visible with the Giemsa technique. The microsporidium is compared to other octosporoblastic microsporidia of midge larva and to the species of the genera Chapmanium and Napamichum.     

Pseudoloma neurophilia n. g., n. sp., a new microsporidium from the central nervous system of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

An unusual xenoma-forming microsporidium was discovered in the central nervous system of moribund zebrafish from a laboratory colony in Eugene, Oregon. Infected fish were often emaciated and lethargic, and histological examination commonly revealed severe myelitis and myositis associated with the infection. Based on its structure, development, and small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence it is unique among fish microsporidia. Spores are uninucleate, ovoid to pyriform, with a prominent posterior vacuole. Spores average 5.4 x 2.7 microm with 13-16 coils of the polar filament. The microsporidium produces xenomas within the spinal cord and hindbrain of fish, and xenomas contained sporophorous vesicles with up to 16 spores. Sporoblasts and presporoblast stages (probably sporonts) are found occasionally in small aggregates dispersed randomly throughout xenomas. It clustered in the "Ichthyosporidium group" along with other fish microsporidian genera based on rDNA sequence analysis. The rDNA sequence of the zebrafish microsporidium was most similar to that of Ichthyosporidium, but showed only 12.1% similarity and therefore this microsporidium can be considered a distinct genus and species, which we have named Pseudoloma neurophilia n. g., n. sp.     

Description of Chytridiopsis Trichopterae N. Sp. (Microspora, Chytridiopsidae), A Microsporidian Parasite of the Caddis Fly Polycentropus Flavomaculatus (Trichoptera, Polycentropodidae), With Comments On Relationships Between the Families Chytridiopsidae and Metchnikovellidae

ABSTRACT. The microsporidium Chytridiopsis trichopterae n. sp., a parasite of the midgut epithelium of larvae of the caddis fly Polycentropus flavomaculatus found in southern Sweden, is described based on light microscopic and ultrastructural characteristics. All life cycle stages have isolated nuclei. Merogonial reproduction was not observed. the sporogony comprises two sequences: one with free spores in parasitophorous vacuoles, the other in spherical, 5.6-6.8 μm wide, sporophorous vesicles which lie in the cytoplasm. the free sporogony yields more than 20 spores per sporont. the vesicle-bound sporogony produces 8, 12 or 16 spores. the envelope of the sporophorous vesicle is about 82 nm thick and layered. the internal layer is the plasma membrane of the sporont; the surface layer is electron dense with regularly arranged translucent components. Both spore types are spherical. They have an ～ 35-nm thick spore wall, with a plasma membrane, an electron-lucent endospore, and an ～ 14-nm thick electron-dense exospore. the polar sac is cup-like and lacks a layered anchoring disc. the polar filament is arranged in two to three isofilar coils in the half of the spore opposite the nucleus. the coupling between the polar sac and the polar filament is characteristic. the surface of the polar filament is covered with regularly arranged membraneous chambers resembling a honeycomb. There is no polaroplast of traditional type. the cytoplasm lacks polyribosomes. the nucleus has a prominent, wide nucleolus. the two spore types have identical construction, but differ in dimensions and electron density. Free living spores are about 3.2 μm wide, the diameter of the polar filament proper is 102-187 nm, the chambers of the honeycomb are 70-85 nm high, and the polar sac is up to 425 nm wide. Living spores in the vesicle-bound sporogony are about 2.1 μm wide, the polar filament measures 69-102 nm, the chambers of the honeycomb are about 45 nm high, and these spores are more electron dense. Comparisons of cytology (especially the construction of the spore wall and the polar filament and associated structures) and life cycles reveal prominent differences among the Chytridiopsis-like microsporidia, and close relationships between the families Chytridiopsidae and Metchnikovellidae.     

Nosemoides syacii n. sp., a microsporidian parasite of the West African turbot Syacium micrurum Ranzani, 1840

Nosemoides syacii n. sp. is a new microsporidian parasite of the stomach, gut and liver of Syacium micrurum (Pisces: Teleostei). It forms whitish, elongate-oval xenomas. All the development stages of the microsporidia are monokaryotic and in direct contact with host cytoplasm. Merogonial and sporogonial plasmodia divide by plasmotomy. Sporogony is polysporous and results in oval spores with a conspicuous posterior vacuole which measured 3.8×2.2 μm (2.9–4.9×1.8–2.7 μm). The polar filament is isofilar and consists of only four to five coils. The polaroplast is made up of an anterior lamellar part and a posterior vesicular part.     

Pyrotheca hydropsycheae N. Sp., a Microsporidian Parasite of Caddis Fly Larvae,Hydropsyche siltalai Döhler, 1963 (Trichoptera,Hydropsychidae)1

ABSTRACT. Pyrotheca hydropsycheae n. sp. is described from caddis fly larvae, Hydropsyche siltalai Döhler, 1963. All stages were found in oenocytes and fat body cells. Meronts were uni- or binucleate with simple surface membranes. The sporogonic stages were recognized ultrastructurally by the separation of an envelope, the sporophorous vesicle, from their surfaces. Mature sporogonial plasmodia were tetranucleate and gave rise by longitudinal fission to four uninucleate elongate sporoblasts with polar nuclei. Spores were lageniform with an inflated posterior end, containing the polar tube coils and the nucleus, and a narrow anterior section comprising two-thirds of the length, containing the polaroplast and straight part of the polar tube. The polaroplast consisted of an anterior region of loosely packed membranes arranged as partitions at angles to one another and a posterior region of increasingly closely packed parallel membranes. The spore wall consisted of an electron-dense exospore with a fuzzy coat and a thin electron-lucent endospore. All four spores derived from a sporont faced in the same direction in the sporophorous vesicle. Spores measured 8.7 μm long and extruded polar filaments were about 20 μm.     

Development and pathology of two undescribed species of microsporidia infecting the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot

Two undescribed species of microsporidia were found in mass-reared Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot from two commercial sources during a routine examination of these predators for pathogens. Both microsporidian species were described from specimens that had been prepared for transmission electron microscopy; live specimens were unavailable for examination. One microsporidium, identified as Species A, was described from two specimens obtained from a commercial insectary in North America. All observed stages of this microsporidium were uninucleate. Rounded-to-ovoid schizonts appeared to develop in direct contact with the cytoplasm of lyrate organ cells (ovarian tissue). Mature spores of Species A were elongate-ovoid and measured 2.88 x 1.21 microm. A polar filament coiled 7 to 10 times in the posterior half of the spore. Sporoblasts and spores were observed in the cytoplasm of cells of numerous tissues and in developing eggs within gravid females. A second species, identified as Species B, was described from five specimens obtained from a commercial source in Israel. All observed stages of this microsporidium were uninucleate. Schizonts of Species B were observed within the cytoplasm of cecal wall cells and within the nuclei of lyrate organ cells. Mature spores were ovoid and measured 2.65 x 1.21 microm. A polar filament coiled 3 to 4 times in the posterior half of the spore. Densely packed ribosomes often concealed the polar filament and other internal spore characteristics. Spores were observed in the cytoplasm of cells of numerous tissues and occasionally within the nuclei of lyrate organ cells. Numerous spores and presporal stages were observed within the ovary and developing eggs. The development and pathology of Species A and B were compared to those of Microsporidium phytoseiuli Bj?ornson, Steiner and Keddie, a microsporidium previously described from P. persimilis obtained from a commercial source in Europe. The occurrence of three species of microsporidia within P. persimilis from three sources raises questions regarding the origin of these pathogens. Because microsporidia may have profound impact on the performance of P. persimilis, consideration must be given to the identification and exclusion of microsporidia from field-collected specimens or from predators that may be shared among commercial sources.     

Microsporidian Spore Envelope Keratins Phosphorylate and Disassemble During Spore Activation

The microsporidian spore stage of the nerve parasite, Spraguea lophii, consists of outer envelope stabilized in part by keratins, including K4 and K13. The nonepidermal K4 and K13 keratins were found only in the spore envelope and were absent in the internal microsporidian sporoplasm. At the time of spore activation, the keratin-based outer spore envelope assemblage dissociated and became phosphorylated when the spores were placed in the presence of labeled ATP. Verapamil or lanthanum, agents which block S. lophii spore activation, also blocked spore envelope keratin disassembly and phosphorylation when the spores were incubated in activation medium with labeled ATP. However, after the removal of the verapamil or lanthanum, the spores regained the capacity to activate in discharge medium and the keratin analogues appeared to dissociate and phosphorylate.     

Establishing a New Species Encephalitozoon pogonae for the Microsporidian Parasite of Inland Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps Ahl 1927 (Reptilia,Squamata, Agamidae)

The microsporidium parasitizing Inland Bearded Dragons Pogona vitticeps, and developing primarily in macrophages within foci of granulomatous inflammation of different organs, is described as a new species Encephalitozoon pogonae. Establishing the new species was based on sequencing the ITS‐SSUrDNA region of the ribosomal gene and consequent SSUrDNA‐inferred phylogenetic analyses, as well as on comparison of pathogenesis, host specificity, and ultrastructure among Encephalitozoon species and isolates. The new species is closely related to E. lacertae and E. cuniculi. Analysis of the literature suggests that this microsporidium has been reported previously as an unidentified microsporidian species or isolate of E. cuniculi and may represent a common infection in bearded dragons. All stages of E. pogonae develop in parasitophorous vacuoles. Uninucleate spores on methanol‐fixed smears measured 2.1 × 1.1 μm, range 1.7–2.6 × 0.9–1.7 μm; on ultrathin sections spores measured 0.8–1.1 × 1.8–2.2 μm. Ultrastructural study revealed 3–6 polar filament coils, a mushroom‐shaped polar disk, and a polar sac embracing half of the volume occupied by the lamellar polaroplast. In activated spores, polar filament everted eccentrically. The overall morphology and intracellular development of E. pogonae were similar to other Encepahalitozoon spp. We also review the existing data on microsporidia infecting reptiles.     

Molecular and ultrastructural characterization of Andreanna caspii n. gen., n. sp. (Microsporida: Amblyosporidae), a parasite of Ochlerotatus caspius (Diptera: Culicidae)

A new genus and species of microsporidia, Andreanna caspii n. gen., n. sp. is described from the mosquito, Ochlerotatus caspius (Pallas) based on ultrastructural morphology, developmental characteristics, and comparative sequence analyses of the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Parasite development is confined to fat body tissue and infected larvae appear swollen with dull white masses within the thorax and abdomen. Meronts have diplokaryotic nuclei and are delineated by a simple plasmalemma contiguous with the host cell cytoplasm. Merogony occurs by synchronous binary division followed by cytokinesis. Diplokaryotic sporonts undergo meiosis and synchronous nuclear division forming sporogonial plasmodia with two, four and eight nuclei enclosed within a persistent sporophorous vesicle. Cytokinesis of sporogonial plasmodia results in the formation of eight uninucleate spores. The episporontal space of early sporonts is filled with a homogeneous accumulation of electron dense granular inclusions and ovoid vesicles of various dimensions, transforming into an interwoven matrix during the initial phase of sporogenesis. Spores are oval, uninucleate and measure 4.8 ± 0.3 × 3.1 ± 0.4 μm (fixed). The spore wall is 260 μm thick with an irregular exospore consisting of two layers (150-170 μm) and a thinner endospore (90-100 μm). The anchoring disk is well developed and is contiguous with a lamellar polaroplast that occupies the anterior third of the spore and possess more narrow lamellae on the posterior end. The polar filament is gradually tapered and arranged in a single row consisting of six coils ranging from 180 to 150 μm in diameter. The posterior vacuole (posterosome) is moderately sized and filled with a matrix of moderate electron density. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rDNA from A. caspii and 30 other species of microsporidia including 11 genera parasitic in mosquitoes using maximum parsimony, neighbor joining and maximum likelihood methods showed A. caspii to be a sister group to the clade containing all of the Amblyospora species, including Culicospora, Edhazardia and Intrapredatorus, as well as Culicosporella and Hyalinocysta thus providing strong support for establishment of Andreanna as a separate genus.     

Light and electron microscope study of a new species of Thelohania (Microsporida) in the shrimp Pandalus jordani

Thelohania butleri n. sp. was found in cells of skeletal muscles of the shrimp Pandalus jordani, from Queen Charlotte Sound, British Columbia, Canada. Sporulation stages were studied with the light and the electron microscope. Earliest stages were small and apparently uninucleate. Next were small diplokaryotic cells that possibly arose by fusion of the former. These enlarged and underwent sporogony. Sporogony was a series of three binary divisions, each producing unikaryotic cells. There was no sporogonial plasmodium. The spore was ovoid, 4.8 × 3.1 μm (stained), with a large crescentic nucleus and rounded posterior vacuole. The polar filament was isofilar, doubly coiled, with about 10 turns. This species closely resembles the type T. giardi Henneguy. It is concluded that sporogony by means of three binary divisions and lack of a sporogonial plasmodium may be essential characters of the genus Thelohania Henneguy, 1982.     

Ultrastructural Study and Description of Ovavesicula popilliae N. G., N. Sp. (Microsporida: Pleistophoridae) from the Japanese Beetle,Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)1

A new genus and species of microsporidia, Ovavesicula popilliae n. g., n. sp., is described from the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, on the basis of studies by light and electron microscopy. Parasite development primarily occurs within the Malpighian tubules of larvae, and spores are formed in a sporophorous vesicle. Meronts have diplokaryotic nuclei, develop in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm, and divide by binary fission. Sporonts have unpaired nuclei, develop within a thick sporophorous vesicle, and undergo synchronous nuclear divisions producing plasmodia with 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 nuclei. Cytokinesis of sporogonial plasmodia does not occur until karyokinesis is complete with 32 nuclei. Intact sporophorous vesicles are ovoid, containing numerous secretory products, and are surrounded by a persistent two-layered wall. The uninucleate spores are regularly formed in groups of 32, and the polar tube in each has six coils.     

A New Pathogen,Microsporidium itiiti n. sp. (Microsporida), from the Argentine Stem Weevil,Listronotus bonariensis (Coleoptera,Curculionidae)1

A new species of microsporidium (phylum Microspora) infecting the Argentine stem weevil, Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel. 1955), is described on the basis of light and electron microscope observations. It has the following characteristics: nuclei always isolated; meronts spherical and sporonts ribbon-shaped, with variable numbers of nuclei; sporogony within a vacuole which is bounded by a thin membrane that usually breaks down before uninucleate spores mature; occasionally parts of the membrane remain so that clusters of variable numbers of spores may be seen in light microscopic preparations. Spores measure 2.5 × 1.4 μm (fresh) and development occurs mainly in the midgut, but also in the epidermis, fat body, muscle, and ovaries.     

The Genome of Spraguea lophii and the Basis of Host-Microsporidian Interactions

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites with the smallest known eukaryotic genomes. Although they are increasingly recognized as economically and medically important parasites, the molecular basis of microsporidian pathogenicity is almost completely unknown and no genetic manipulation system is currently available. The fish-infecting microsporidian Spraguea lophii shows one of the most striking host cell manipulations known for these parasites, converting host nervous tissue into swollen spore factories known as xenomas. In order to investigate the basis of these interactions between microsporidian and host, we sequenced and analyzed the S. lophii genome. Although, like other microsporidia, S. lophii has lost many of the protein families typical of model eukaryotes, we identified a number of gene family expansions including a family of leucine-rich repeat proteins that may represent pathogenicity factors. Building on our comparative genomic analyses, we exploited the large numbers of spores that can be obtained from xenomas to identify potential effector proteins experimentally. We used complex-mix proteomics to identify proteins released by the parasite upon germination, resulting in the first experimental isolation of putative secreted effector proteins in a microsporidian. Many of these proteins are not related to characterized pathogenicity factors or indeed any other sequences from outside the Microsporidia. However, two of the secreted proteins are members of a family of RICIN B-lectin-like proteins broadly conserved across the phylum. These proteins form syntenic clusters arising from tandem duplications in several microsporidian genomes and may represent a novel family of conserved effector proteins. These computational and experimental analyses establish S. lophii as an attractive model system for understanding the evolution of host-parasite interactions in microsporidia and suggest an important role for lineage-specific innovations and fast evolving proteins in the evolution of the parasitic microsporidian lifecycle.     

A new Microsporidium sp. (microsporidia) from the musculature of the mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni from British Columbia: morphology and phylogeny

Few microsporidia have been reported from whitefish species (subfamily Coregoninae). For the most part, these microsporidia have been incompletely described. In a survey of parasites of mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni collected from Kootenay Lake, British Columbia, we encountered an unusual microsporidium infecting the endomysium of the skeletal musculature. Spores were uninucleate, ovoid to pyriform, and were 5.6 (5-7) microm x 3.2 (3-4) microm with 13-16 coils in the polar filament. We describe here this organism as a new species based on its site of development and its relationship among fish microsporidia based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data, i.e., our analysis showed that it is not closely related to other microsporidia for which ribosomal DNA sequence is available thus far.     

Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Anncaliia azovica sp. n. (Microsporidia) Infecting Niphargogammarus intermedius (Crustacea,Amphipoda) from the Azov Sea

Five out of one hundred adults of Niphargogammarus intermedius caught at the Azov sea shore were found to be infected with microsporidia. The infection was found in the subcuticular fat body and myocytes. Parasites developed in direct contact with host cells, displayed a disporoblastic sporogony and diplokaryotic arrangement of nuclei at all stages. Spores were oval, 4.6–5.8 × 2.6–3.0 μm. Exospore appendages, vesicular–tubular secretions, and the anisofilar polar filament indicated a similarity to Anncaliia species. Sporont surfaces displayed ridges of amorphous material. Meronts and sporonts formed protoplastic extensions, similar to A. vesicularum and A. meligheti. Mature spores possessed a bipartite polaroplast. The polar tube was arranged in one row of 13–18 coils including 0–3 distal coils of lesser diameter. Partial sequencing of SSU, ITS, and LSU regions of rRNA gene (GenBank accessions: KY288064 – KY288065 ) confirmed this new species to be congeneric with A. algerae (# AF069063 ) and A. meligheti (# AY894423 ). The SSU gene of this novel microsporidium shared 99.4% sequence similarity to A. algerae and 98.9% to A. meligheti. Genes for HSP70 and RPB1 amplified with primers designed for A. algerae orthologs displayed 99.7% and 97.4% similarity, respectively, between A. algerae and the novel microsporidium. A new species, Anncaliia azovica, is described based on morphological and molecular characterization.     

A new species of Nosema from Hylobittacus apicalis (Insecta: Mecoptera: Bittacidae)

An undescribed Nosema was found infecting adults of the mecopteran Hylobittacus apicalis. This microsporidium is described herein as the first record of a microsporidium from the order Mecoptera. The slightly pyriform spores measured 4.5 × 2.4 μm. Mature spores had 9.5–10 polar filament coils irregularly grouped in the posterior end. The life cycle and ultrastructure of the developmental stages were described, and were typical of other Nosema spp. This microsporidium was regularly recorded from adult Hylobittacus apicalis populations over a 10-year period and tbe incidence of infection increased during the summer.