Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Myxobolus nkondjockei sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae), A Parasite of Labeo batesii Boulenger, 1911 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Makombè River in Cameroon.

PURPOSE: Myxozoans are economically important group of metazoan parasites, which can cause diseases in a large variety of commercially important fishes. Increased knowledge on molecular features has shown that traditional descriptive characters may be misleading. Combination of both descriptive and molecular features is therefore necessary for an integrated taxonomic assessment. METHODS: Cyprinid Labeo batesii, sampled in the Makombè River at Nkondjock in Cameroon were examined for myxosporeans. Identification of parasite species was based on morphological and molecular sequence analyses of myxospores. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. RESULTS: The scales of L. batesii were infected by Myxobolus nkondjockei sp. nov Their mature myxospores are ovoid in frontal view and lenticular in lateral view, with two rounded ends. These myxospores measured 10.3 (10-10.9) µm length and 8.0 (7.3-8.5) µm width. Myxospores have two ovoid and equal sizes polar capsules. They measured 4.5 (4.0-5.0) µm in length and 2.4 (2-2.9) µm in width. Polar tubules were coiled in 4-5 turns perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the polar capsules. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA sequence show clustering of M. nkondjockei sp. n. close to an undetermined species Myxobolus sp. reported infecting gill lamellas of Labeo rohita from India. CONCLUSION: The morphological, molecular and phylogenetic data provided for M. nkondjockei sp. n. are solid basis for further identification of this myxozoan of which pathogenicity probably plays an economic role at culturing the hosts.