Trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) of some River Nile fish, Egypt

Four species of trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) were collected from the gills of the following River Nile fish in Egypt: Hydrocynus forskalii, Mormyrus kannume, Schilbe mystus. These species are: Trichodina heterodentata Duncan, 1977, Trichodina fahaka sp. n., Trichodinella epizootica Raabe, 1950, Tripartiella dactylodentata sp. n. Photomicrographs and morphometric data are presented for each species.     

Trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) of wild and cultured freshwater fishes in Taiwan,with notes on their origin

During 1988 parasitological surveys were carried out on the freshwater fish fauna on the island of Taiwan in 12 localities that included fishery stations, reservoirs, fish markets as well as natural rivers and swamps. A total of 28 fish species were examined, representing 14 families. This paper reports on the parasites of the genus Trichodina (Ciliophora, Peritrichida) of Taiwan. Fourteen trichodinid species were recorded of which five are new. Trichodinids collected in this study can be divided into four categories, based on their host association and possible region of origin. The first category includes trichodinids with an African origin, T. centrostrigeata Basson, Van As & Paperna, 1983, T. heterodentata Duncan, 1977, T. compacta Van As & Basson, 1989 and possibly T. canton n. sp. The second category is species with an Eurasian origin and includes T. acuta Lom, 1961, T. modesta Lom, 1970, T. mutabilis Hirschmann & Partsch, 1955, T. nigra Lom, 1961 and T. nobilis Chan, 1963. The third category comprises one species, T. maritinkae Basson & Van As, 1990, with an Afro-Asian distribution. The last category is composed of new species that are most likely native to Asia: these are T. matsu n. sp., T. mandarin n. sp., T. wulai n. sp. and T. pagoda n. sp.     

Trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) from the gills of cultured marine fishes in China,with the description of Trichodinella lomi n. sp.

Three species of cultured percoids, each heavily infested by trichodinid ectoparasites, were examined from over-wintering pools in Qingdao, China during the winter of 1995. A total of five species of trichodinids belonging to three genera, Trichodinella Sramek-Husek, 1953, Dipartiella Shtein, 1961 and Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1838 were recorded. One new species, Trichodinella lomi n. sp., is described, the denticle of which is characterised by its acutely triangular blade, comma-like central part and inconspicuous ray. The morphology of Trichodina murmanica Poljansky, 1955 was re-investigated. Three other little-known species are redescribed: Dipartiella simplex (Raabe, 1959) Shtein, 1961, Trichodina japonica Imai, Miyazaki & Nomura, 1991 and T. domerguei (Wallengren, 1897).     

Trichodinid Protozoa (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) from Freshwater Fishes of Rybinsk Reservoir,USSR1

During the spring of 1981, trichodinid protozoa were collected from the gills or urinary bladder of the following species of fishes of Rybinsk Reservoir, USSR, located on the upper reaches of the Volga River system: Esox lucius, Rutilus rutilus, Leuciscus idus, Blicca bjoerkna, Abramis ballerus, Pelecus cultratus, Lota lota, and Perca fluviatilis. A total of 13 species of Trichodinidae was recovered from Rybinsk fishes, among which are three new species of the genus Trichodina: T. izyumovae n. sp. from the gills of L. idus, T. borokensis n. sp. from the gills of P. cultratus, and T. kupermani n. sp. from the gills of A. ballerus. Other species of trichodinids reported are T. modesta Lom, 1980; T. nigra Lom, 1969; T. pediculus (O. F. Müller, 1786); T. prowazeki Grupcheva & Lom, 1980; T. rostrata Kulemina, 1968; T. urinaria Dogiel, 1940; T. ophiocephalus Kostenko & Karaev, 1976; Paratrichodina incisa (Lom, 1959); Trichodinella epizootica (Raabe, 1950); and Tripartiella copiosa Lom, 1959. Photomicrographs and morphometric data are presented for each species and aspects of their host and geographic distribution discussed. Trichodina algonquinensis Li & Desser, 1983 is considered a synonym of T. urinaria Dogiel, 1940.     

Trichodinid parasites (Ciliophora: Peritricha) from the gills of some Australian marine fishes

Three species of the genus Trichodina are reported from the gills of marine fishes in south-eastern Tasmania, Australia. Two of these species are new: T. australis n. sp. from five atherinid fish species, Atherinosoma microstoma, Leptatherina presbyteroides, Kestratherina brevirostris, K. esox and K. hepsetoides; and T. nesogobii n. sp. from Nesogobius sp. 1. One previously reported species, T. jadranica Raabe, 1958, was also found on Nesogobius sp. 1.     

Cytokinesis of Thuricola folliculata (Ciliophora,Peritrichida)1

Thuricola folliculata is a sessiline, loricate peritrich ciliate. Its somatic pellicle consists of annular transverse crests and includes the plasma membrane, the alveolus, the electron-dense epiplasm, and the subepiplasmic layer. Cytokinesis occurs along an oral-aboral median plane where two fissures develop, one at the oral and one at the aboral end of the peritrich. Each fissure results from simultaneous formation of two furrows on opposite sides of the cell. At the end of cytokinesis, both trophozoites remain joined to each other by an intercellular bridge. During cytokinesis, microfilament bundles appear at the level of the subepiplasmic layer in the fission plane; they are distributed in two arcs, one oral and one aboral, and may be responsible for the formation of the four furrows. The cross-sectioned microfilament arc is 1 pm wide and about 0.1-0.2 pm thick at first and later can be more than 1 pm in diameter; it shows many microfilaments, 3-10 nm in diameter and oriented parallel to the fission plane, and also many dense corpuscles 25-55 nm in diameter. Then both arcs join each other to form a microfilament ring. This ring is delimited by discontinuous dense borders and a boundary layer. The microfilament ring seems structurally analogous to the contractile ring of various dividing cells, where it works like a sphincter. The dense corpuscles, the discontinuous dense borders, and the boundary layer of T. folliculata have not been reported in any other ciliates.     

The Stomatogenic Process in Opercularia coarctata (Ciliophora, Peritrichida)

ABSTRACT. Stomatogenesis in Opercularia coarctata has been studied in specimens treated with Fernández-Galiano's silver impregnation method. The new buccal structures originate from the germinal row and from the parental haplokinety.     

Trichodinid ectoparasites (Ciliophora: Peritricha) from Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor) and Anodonta woodiana (Lea) in China, with descriptions of two new species of Trichodina Ehrenberg, 1838

During parasitological surveys in Chongqing, China, three trichodinids infecting a freshwater fish, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor), and a mollusc, Anodonta woodiana (Lea), were investigated. Two of these species were found to be new. Trichodina lechriodentata n. sp., from the fish, was identified by its small-sized body and irregularly rectangular blade, while T. rara n. sp., from the mollusc, is characterised by its overall dimensions, denticle morphology and the presence of a white speckle in some specimens. T. modesta Lom, 1979 is also described from the fish. Photomicrographs and morphometric data are presented for all of the species.     

A New Flagship Peritrich (Ciliophora,Peritrichida) from the River Rhine,Germany: Apocarchesium arndti n. sp.

ABSTRACT. We discovered a free‐living peritrich ciliate with outstanding features in the River Rhine. Its morphology and 18S rRNA gene sequence were studied with standard methods. Apocarchesium arndti n. sp. has several peculiarities. (i) There are ordinary zooids, macrozooids, and microzooids, which form a hemispherical rosette on a discoidal base, the stalk dish, locking the ～18 μm wide and up to 2 mm long, spirally contracting colony stalk. (ii) The stalk myoneme is connected only to the microzooids. (iii) A rosette contains up to 50 zooids not connected to each other but individually attached to the stalk dish with the scopula. (iv) The ordinary zooids are epistylidid, trumpet‐shaped (～6:1 length:width), about 180 × 30 μm in size, and have an ellipsoidal macronucleus subapically between oral cavity and dorsal side. (v) The myoneme system of the zooids, which can contract individually, forms a tube‐like structure in the narrow posterior half of the cell. (vi) The silverline pattern belongs to the transverse‐striate type. (vii) The oral apparatus is of usual structure, with kinety 1 of peniculus 3 distinctly shortened proximally. (viii) The 18S rRNA places A. arndti n. sp. as a distinct lineage near Vorticella and Carchesium. These data are used to provide an improved diagnosis of the genus Apocarchesium. Features (i)–(iii) and the molecular data indicate that Apocarchesium could be the type genus of a new peritrich family.     

A new species of Chonopeltis (Crustacea: Branchiura) from the Zambesi River System

A new species of Chonopeltis (Crustacea: Branchiura), C. koki n. sp., which parasitises the cyprinid fish Labeo cylindricus Peters, 1852 and displays a pigmentation pattern corresponding to the skin coloration of its host, is described from the Zambesi River in the eastern Caprivi, Namibia. The anatomical terminology of the genus is discussed.     

Differential diagnosis of the genera in the family Trichodinidae (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) with the description of a new genus ectoparasitic on freshwater fish from southern Africa

A trichodinid ectoparasite was collected from mormyrid fish in the Olifants River System, South Africa. A new genus, Hemitrichodina, is described to accomodate these trichodinid ciliophorans of which the blades are reduced and with an adoral spiral of more than 360°, but less than two full turns. A differential diagnosis of the genera within the family Trichodinidae is presented.     

DNA barcodes show cryptic diversity and a potential physiological basis for host specificity among Diplostomoidea (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) parasitizing freshwater fishes in the St. Lawrence River,Canada

Diplostomoid metacercariae parasitize freshwater fishes worldwide and cannot be identified to species based on morphology. In this study, sequences of the barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) were used to discriminate species in 1088 diplostomoids, most of which were metacercariae from fish collected in the St. Lawrence River, Canada. Forty‐seven diplostomoid species were detected, representing a large increase in known diversity. Most species suggested by CO1 sequences were supported by sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA and host and tissue specificity. Three lines of evidence indicate that physiological incompatibility between host and parasite is a more important determinant of host specificity than ecological separation of hosts and parasites in this important group of freshwater fish pathogens. First, nearly all diplostomoid species residing outside the lens of the eyes of fish are highly host specific, while all species that occur inside the lens are generalists. This can be plausibly explained by a physiological mechanism, namely the lack of an effective immune response in the lens. Second, the distribution of diplostomoid species among fish taxa reflected the phylogenetic relationships of host species rather than their ecological similarities. Third, the same patterns of host specificity were observed in separate, ecologically distinctive fish communities.     

Effect of Cytochalasin B on the Cytokinesis of Thuricola folliculata (Ciliophora,Peritrichida)1

ABSTRACT. Binary fission of the sessiline loricate peritrich Thuricola folliculata was examined by light microscopy. Cytokinesis, which occurs in the oral-aboral median plane, is 35-40 min in duration. Cytochalasin B (CB) was used at final concentrations of 50–100 μg/ml in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A transition point occurs at about 20 min after the beginning of binary fission and about 10 min before cytokinesis. In most cases, 50 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml CB added to cells before the transition point resulted in delays of cytokinesis which were significant compared to DMSO controls; sometimes, cytokinesis was blocked completely. If added after the transition point, CB had no effect on cells.     

Trichodinids (Ciliophora: Peritrichia) from a calanoid copepod and catfish from South Africa with notes on host specificity

A case study is presented in which a trichodinid infestation was found on Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) larvae in a hatchery. Upon examination of copepods in the water system, it was found that they too hosted this trichodinid species. After following the infestation for some time it was found that the trichodinids on the catfish disappeared, whilst the infestation on the calanoid copepods persisted. It was concluded that the trichodinid originated from the copepods and could not establish a viable infestation on the catfish larvae. Specimens of catfish fry from the same farm, however, hosted a different trichodinid which is described as a new species. After analysis of published information, it was concluded that the trichodinid from these calanoid copepods belongs to the same species as described by different authors from various localities from Eurasia. In order to provide a specific identification of this trichodinid, a literature review is presented. In a discussion of host specificity, it is concluded that the trichodinid involved is specific to planktonic copepods and cannot establish an infestation on fish.     

小球藻绿钟虫--中国东北淡水生缘毛类纤毛虫的形态学重述

小球藻绿钟虫 (VorticellachlorellataStiller ,194 0 )采自哈尔滨附近水域。本文在活体观察基础上 ,利用蛋白银染色技术对其形态学进行了研究 ,给出了该种染色后的特征。小球藻绿钟虫因其细胞内充满共生小球藻呈鲜绿色而得名。该种自然伸展时呈稳定的矮钟状 ,体长 5 3- 6 3× 4 1- 6 2 μm ;大核“J”型 ,两端明显盘绕 ,纵贯于体内。细胞表面具横纹 ,蛋白银制片后可见从口围唇到反口纤毛环之间有 33- 36条纹 ,从反口纤毛环到帚胚有条纹 15 - 18条 ;第三咽膜 (P3)由三列毛基列组成 ,最内侧一列长度仅是另外两列的一半 ,并显著分离 ;口围盘纤维斜向并呈轮辐式放射状排列 ,纤维末端分叉。通过对本文描述的绿色钟虫—小球藻绿钟虫的研究 ,发现对绿色钟虫的描述与归属问题仍存在一些混淆。本文认同将小球藻绿钟虫与绿钟虫严格分立的观点     

Habitat traits, population structure and host specificity of the freshwater pearl mussel Margaritifera margaritifera in the Waldaist River (Upper Austria)

In European streams and rivers, the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera L., 1758) faces extinction. This is also true for the Waldaist River, with 20,000 specimens recorded in the early 1990s then Austria’s most important pearl mussel river. Nowadays, there is only a single 320 m stretch with noteworthy mussel densities. During an in-depth survey of this river stretch in 2010, we detected a total of 2,774 specimens. Mussel microhabitats were confined to patches of sand and fine gravel (psammal and akal) at run sections of the river, stabilized by large boulders. Pearl mussels avoided large accumulations of fine sediments. Typically situated at undercut slopes, preferred microhabitats were 0.25–0.50 m deep at baseflow with current velocities (at 40% depth) of 0.2–0.6 m s^?1. A comparison of the present stock with data from 1997 revealed a rapid decline in mussel density down to 27%. We also noticed strongly reduced growth and a high mortality of medium age classes. Juvenile mussels were completely lacking. With respect to host specificity in terms of glochidia survival, the brook char Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill, 1814), a suitable host in North America, shed glochidia within eight days. In the brown trout Salmo trutta L., 1758, two strains were investigated. Glochidia survival, growth and prevalence were significantly higher in the Danish than in the Austrian hatchery strain.     

Two new species of Epistylis (Ciliophora: Peritrichida) on the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) in the Gulf of Mexico

Two epibiotic peritrichs infested the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, from the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, USA. Epistylis callinectes n. sp. was isolated from the epipods of maxillipeds, bases of gill-cleaning setae, and gills, and Epistylis clampi n. sp. was isolated from the exterior surfaces of the exoskeleton. Epistylis callinectes has short, symmetrically and dichotomously branched stalks; its zooid is elongate ovoid and conspicuously longer than the individual stalk branches, measuring 40-57 (49) x 18-33 (26) microm in vivo and containing a thick, undivided peristomial lip (PL). It has a single contractile vacuole and a transverse horseshoe-shaped macronucleus. Its haplokinety (H) and polykinety (Po) complete one and one-half circuits on the peristome before entering the infundibulum. There is a distal kinetal fragment present at the distal end of both the H and Po. Epistylis callinectes has 48-70 transverse silverlines from the oral area to the trochal band (TB) and 19-26 from the TB to the scopula. Epistylis clampi has long, asymmetrically, and dichotomously branched stalks. Its zooid is elongate vase-shaped, measuring 35-64 (48) x 21-30 (27) microm in vivo and with a thick, transversely folded PL. The stalks supporting zooids are unequal in length. Its zooid has a single contractile vacuole and a transverse horseshoe-shaped macronucleus occurs in the upper half of the body. Its H and Po complete approximately one circuit around the peristome before entering the infundibulum. There is a distal kinetal fragment present at the distal end of both the H and Po. This species has 71-112 transverse silverlines from the peristome to the scopula.     

The Fine Structure of the Trophont and Stages in Telotroch Formation in Circolagenophrys ampulla (Ciliophora,Peritrichida)1

ABSTRACT. Ultrastructural studies of the trophont of the epizooic loricate peritrich, Circolagenophrys ampulla, show that the body conforms to the basic peritrich pattern. The lorica is dome-shaped, and the trophont is joined to it by attachment organelles. A single row of barren aboral kinetosomes is present. In telotroch formation, as cytokinesis proceeds, a band of aboral kinetosomes develops, running posteroventrally in an arc from the base of the epistomial disc. In one instance, postciliary microtubules were seen associated with the kinetosomes of the adoral polykinety in a dividing organism. In the fully developed telotroch there are several distinctive structures. In the midaboral region there is a scopula with numerous barren kinetosomes in the epiplasm underlying the pellicle. Surrounding the rim of the aboral surface is a tripartite fringe which overlies the base of the aboral ciliary girdle. The outer layer of this fringe contains regularly spaced electron-dense striations and the middle region contains microfilaments. The aboral ciliary girdle forms a complete ring. It is composed of diagonal rows of kinetosomes, 8–9 in each row. Striated fibers run between the rows of kinetosomes. They bend at the ends of the rows and continue for some distance below the outer rim of the aboral surface. Running beside each striated fiber is a band of paracrystalline material. Several distinctive structures are associated with the kinetosomes and striated fibers of the aboral girdle. In the telotroch many of the adoral cilia are absent but the adoral kinetosomes are still present. The possible functions of the specializations of the aboral surface in settlement of the telotroch, and the relationship between telotroch formation and the molting behavior of the crustacean host are discussed.