Morphology and ultrastructure of Sphaeromyxa noblei sp. n. (Myxozoa), parasite of Heteroclinus whiteleggii (Pisces) from Australian New South Wales coast

Abstract

A new species, Sphaeromyxa noblei sp. n., is described from Heteroclinus whiteleggii (Perciformes: Clinidae), a marine fish from the coast of New South Wales in Australia. This raises the number of Sphaeromyxa species to 38; their list is presented. The species is characterised by a layer of branched glycostyles, which is about 2.4 μm thick and is a feature rather unique in Myxosporea. Pansporoblasts form one or two spores. The study of ultrastructure of this species and of those described to date result in recognition of a combination of patterns characterising the genus: plasmodia have marked surface projections, the endoplasm is full of vacuoles larger than in any other myxosporean genus, and contains a special kind of cells, the lobocytes. Sections through polar capsule reveal different appearance of subsequent stretches of the polar filament unlike in other Myxosporea.