Morphology and molecular data of two novel cnidarian myxosporean (Myxobolidae) infecting Piaractus brachypomus from the Amazon basin.

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was reports, through morphological and small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA) sequencing, two novel myxobolid myxosporeans infecting Piaractus brachypomus, an economicaly important Amazonian fish popularly known as "pirapitinga". Of a total of 25 specimens of P. brachypomus examined 68% had the gill filament parasitized by Henneguya tapariensis n. sp. and 16% had infection of Myxobolus arapiuns n. sp. in the pyloric cecum. The morphological analysis revealed H. tapariensis n. sp. myxospores with an ellipsoid shape and caudal process larger than the length of the body. The polar capsules of same size were elongated and occupied less than half the body. Sequencing of the SSU rDNA generated a partial sequence of 1946 bp. In M. arapiuns n. sp. the myxospores had oval-shaped body and polar capsules of the same size, occupying less than half the body. Sequencing of the SSU rDNA generated a partial sequence of 1950 bp. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a cluster according to the order/family of the host, where H. tapariensis n. sp. was grouped in a subclade with Henneguya brachypomus and Henneguya piaractus and M. arapiuns grouped in a subclade with Myxobolus colossomatis, Myxobolus matosi and Myxobolus pirapitingae.