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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #244455
Title: New Data on Henneguya pellis (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae), A Parasite of Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus

Author
item GRIFFIN, M - Mississippi State University
item KHOO, L - Mississippi State University
item Torrans, Eugene
item Bosworth, Brian
item Quiniou, Sylvie
item GAUNT, P - Mississippi State University
item POTE, L - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/2/2009
Publication Date: 12/2/2009
Citation: Griffin, M., Khoo, L.H., Torrans, E.L., Bosworth, B.G., Quiniou, S., Gaunt, P.S., Pote, L.M. 2009. New Data on Henneguya pellis (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae), A Parasite of Blue Catfish Ictalurus furcatus. Journal of Parasitology. 95(6):1455-1467.

Interpretive Summary: Henneguya pellis is a parasite that affect blue catfish. This paper complement previous description of the parasite with new data on the spore stage and its effect on the host. This paper also proves at the molecular level that Henneguya pellis in blue catfish is a different specie than Henneguya. Sutherlandi in channel catfish even though they share similar spore morphology and site of development.

Technical Abstract: The original description of Henneguya pellis, a myxozoan parasitizing blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus, is supplemented with new data on histopathology, spore morphology, and 18S small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequence. Plasmodia presented as both internal and external, raised, cyst-like lesions on the body wall of the peritoneal cavity and on the skin. The cysts contained numerous elongate, lanceolate myxospores, flattened parallel to the suture line. The spore body was 14.8 ± 1.1 µm (range 13.0 to 17.1) long and 4.8 ± 0.8 µm (range 4.0 to 7.4) wide in frontal view. The caudal appendages were 77.7 ± 8.8 (range 57.4 to 96.4) in length. There were 2 pyriform polar capsules, unequal in length, with the longer capsule measuring 7.2 ± 0.6 µm (range 6.2 to 8.4) in length and the shorter capsule measuring 6.5 ± 0.5 µm (range 5.5 to 8.0). The polar capsules were not significantly different in width, measuring 1.7 ± 0.2 µm (range 1.4 to 1.9). There were 8 turns in the polar filament coil. The total length of the spore was 92.5 ± 9.2 µm (range 73.3 to 113.5). Spore morphology and site of development are similar to that of Henneguya sutherlandi from channel catfish; however, 18S rDNA sequence data support previous findings that identify H. pellis and H. sutherlandi as 2 distinct species.