Thelohanellus (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) infection of the scales in the European wild carp Cyprinus carpio carpio

Abstract

Thelohanellus infection of the scales of the European wild carp Cyprinus carpio carpio L. is reported for the first time in Europe. Comparative morphological and histological findings are described Plasmodia and spores found in the fins of cultured common carp fingerlings and those detected in the scales of 2- to >4-yr-old European wild carp belong to the same species. The morphological characteristics of the spores and histological analysis of plasmodial location suggest that the species is identical with Thelohanellus nikolskii Achmerov, 1955. The authors regard T. cyprini Hoshina and Hosoda, 1957 and T callisporis Ky, 1971 as junior synonyms of T. nikolskii Achmerov, 1955.