Kidney sphaerosporosis with extrasporogonic stages in the blood in Baryancistrus sp. (Loricaridae) from Amazonian Brazil

Examined fish of the genus Baryancistrus (Loricaridae) from Rio Xingu in central amazonian Brazil were found infected with extrasporogonic stages of Sphaerospora sp. (Myxosporea) in the blood and sporogonic stages in the glomeruli with the resulting escape of the sporogony products into the renal tubules, apparently when the mesangial tissue in the Bowman's capsule collapsed. Spores were seen evacuating via the urinary tubules. Blood stages were initially 2.1 x 2.8 to 2.8 x 2.8 microns in size, and when fully differentiated reached 5.6 x 5.6-5.6 x 7.0 microns; in blood smears they were 11.2 x 8.4 to 14 x 8.4 microns. Bisporoblasts in the glomerular taft were 9.8 x 7.0 microns, premature spores were 5.6 x 4.2-5.6 microns.