Ultrastructure of Spironucleus barkhanus N. Sp. (Diplomonadida: Hexamitidae) from Grayling Thymallus thymallus (L.) (Salmonidae) and Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar L. (Salmonidae)

ABSTRACT. A hexamitid flagellate Spironucleus barkhanus n. sp., from the lumen of the gut and gall bladder of wild grayling Thymallus thymallus , and from muscle abscesses of farmed Atlantic salmon Salmo salar from Norway, is described by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The flagellate was axenically cultured in trypticase, yeast extract, iron serum medium. Live trophozoites from axenic cultures incubated at 5° C, measure 11–20 x 6–14 μm. The flagellates show a typical bi-radial symmetry. Each recurrent flagellum is almost completely surrounded by a striated lamina. In the posterior end the lamina widens, appearing heart shaped in transverse section. Accompanying each recurrent flagellum are three narrow bands of microtubules, following the longitudinal groove created by the incomplete closure of the striated lamina. The recurrent flagella emerge posterio-medially through cytostome openings halfway surrounded by crescent-shaped ridges, oriented in opposite directions in the two openings. The position and adornment of the cytostome openings, and the arrangement and number of the microtubules accompanying the recurrent flagella, distinguish Spironucleus barkhanus n. sp. from previously described species of Spironucleus .