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Spore ornamentation of Minchinia occulta n. sp. (Haplosporidia) in rock oysters Saccostrea cuccullata (Born, 1778)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2008

D. BEARHAM ,
Z. SPIERS ,
S. R. RAIDAL ,
J. B. JONES  and
P. K. NICHOLLS
D. BEARHAM*
Affiliation:
Fish Health Unit, Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch Drive, Murdoch, Western Australia6150
Z. SPIERS
Affiliation:
Fish Health Unit, Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch Drive, Murdoch, Western Australia6150
S. R. RAIDAL
Affiliation:
Charles Sturt University, School of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Boorooma St, Wagga Wagga, NSW Australia
J. B. JONES
Affiliation:
Fish Health Unit, Department of Fisheries, Animal Health Labs, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth, Western Australia6151
P. K. NICHOLLS
Affiliation:
Fish Health Unit, Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch Drive, Murdoch, Western Australia6150
*
*Corresponding author: School of Veterinary and Biomedical Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia6150. Tel: +61 08 9360 2479. E-mail: [email protected]
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Summary

A Minchinia sp. (Haplosporidia: Haplosporidiidae) parasite was identified infecting rock oysters and morphologically described by Hine and Thorne (2002) using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The parasite was associated with up to 80% mortality in the host species and it is suspected that the parasite would be a major impediment to the development of a tropical rock oyster aquaculture industry in northern Western Australia. However, attempts to identify the parasite following the development of a specific probe for Haplosporidium nelsoni were unsuccessful. The SSU region of the parasite's rRNA gene was later characterized in our laboratory and an in situ hybridization assay for the parasite was developed. This study names the parasite as Minchinia occulta n sp. and morphologically describes the parasite using histology, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The non-spore stages were unusual in that they consisted primarily of uninucleate stages reminiscent of Bonamia spp. The parasite's spores were ovoid to circular shaped and measured 4·5 μm–5·0 μm×3·5–4·1 μm in size. The nucleus of the sporoplasm measured 1·5–2·3 μm and was centrally located. The spores were covered in a branching network of microtubule-like structures that may degrade as the spore matures.

Keywords

molecular probesHaplosporidiaSaccostrea cuccullataMinchiniarock oysterSSU rRNA geneparasiteaquaculture
Type
Original Articles
Information
Parasitology , Volume 135 , Issue 11 , September 2008 , pp. 1271 - 1280
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Cambridge University Press

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