Goussia molnarica n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Coccidia) infecting the gut of the freshwater catfish Clarias gariepinus in Egypt

Abstract

A new coccidian (Apicomplexa: Coccidia), Goussia molnarica n. sp., is described from the gut of the African catfish Clarias gariepinus Bürchell, 1822. Elliptical sporulated oocysts measuring 14-16 x 9-10 μm were found in the feces and in the mucus covering the epithelium in 40.6% of examined catfish specimens. In histological sections, G. molnarica macrogamonts were found, infecting the first part of the intestinal epithelium. Infection prevalence was highest in April and lowest in November. The pathology of infection resembled disperse coccidioses of cyprinid fishes caused by various other species of the genus Goussia Labbé, 1896. © Inter-Research 2008.