Abstract
The microsporidian diversity catalogued so far has resulted in the development of several taxonomic groups, one of which is the Enterocytozoonida – a group of generalist ‘ultimate opportunists’, which infect many fished and aquacultured animals, as well as a broad suite of host taxa, including humans. In this study, we provide phylogenetic, ultrastructural, developmental, and pathological evidence for the creation of a new genus and species to hold a microsporidian parasite of the Jonah crab, Cancer borealis.
Cancer borealis represents a species of commercial interest and has become the target of a recently developed fishery on the USA and Canadian Atlantic coast. This species was found to harbour a microsporidian parasite that develops in the cytoplasm of alpha and beta cells of the hepatopancreas. We retrieved a 937 bp fragment of the parasite SSU region, alongside developmental and ultrastructural data that suggests this species is ∼ 87 % similar to Parahepatospora carcini and develops in a similar manner in direct association with the host cell cytoplasm. The mature spores are ovoid in shape and measure 1.48 ± 0.15 µm (SD) in length and 1.00 ± 0.11 µm (SD) in width.
Phylogenetically, the new parasite clades in the Enterocytozoonida on the same branch as P. carcini. We provide a new genus and species to hold the parasite: Pseudohepatospora borealis n. gen. n. sp. (Microsporidia: Enterocytozoonida) and explore the likelihood that this species may fit into the Hepatoporidae family.
Cancer borealis represents a species of commercial interest and has become the target of a recently developed fishery on the USA and Canadian Atlantic coast. This species was found to harbour a microsporidian parasite that develops in the cytoplasm of alpha and beta cells of the hepatopancreas. We retrieved a 937 bp fragment of the parasite SSU region, alongside developmental and ultrastructural data that suggests this species is ∼ 87 % similar to Parahepatospora carcini and develops in a similar manner in direct association with the host cell cytoplasm. The mature spores are ovoid in shape and measure 1.48 ± 0.15 µm (SD) in length and 1.00 ± 0.11 µm (SD) in width.
Phylogenetically, the new parasite clades in the Enterocytozoonida on the same branch as P. carcini. We provide a new genus and species to hold the parasite: Pseudohepatospora borealis n. gen. n. sp. (Microsporidia: Enterocytozoonida) and explore the likelihood that this species may fit into the Hepatoporidae family.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 107886 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Invertebrate Pathology |
| Volume | 197 |
| Early online date | 14 Jan 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2023 |