Evidence of a parasite protist in Eurhomalea lenticularis (Sowerby, 1835) (Mollusca: Bivalvia): A case of intraoocytarian parasitism
2005; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 39; Issue: 23 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00222930500060447
ISSN1464-5262
Autores Tópico(s)Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
ResumoAbstract In the present paper a microsporidian parasitic protist is described and characterized; it was observed in oocytes of Eurhomalea lenticularis Sowerby. The clams were obtained in Algarrobo, Chile (33°20′S, 71°40′W). The observations were made on 5 µm sections of female clam gonads, processed by routine histological techniques with ARTETA trichromic stain. According to the parasite's characteristics, it is established that the microsporidian protist is related to the genus Steinhausia (Chytridiopsidae). Microsporidian prevalence reached 20.6% (n = 34) in summer months, but there was no evidences of cell damage in the oocyte of the host; in a total of 66 female clams, a 10.6% of infection was detected between December 1995 and August 1996. The infection intensity showed that 77.4% of the infested acini had single parasitized oocytes, and 88.0% of total oocytes parasitized contained only one cyst in the cytoplasm. Keywords: Eurhomalea lenticularisintraoocytarian meroparasitismmicrosporidian protistparasitic protistSteinhausia sp Acknowledgements I wish to thank Donald Brown and Rodolfo Rivero for the infected clam specimens and for collaboration in the histological treatment of the samples. Funding was provided by Project DIUV 20/95, Universidad de Valparaíso, Chile.
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