Sphaerospora elwhaiensis sp.n. (Myxosporea: Sphaerosporidae) from landlocked sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Salmoniformes: Salmonidae) in Washington State, USA

A new species of sphaerosporid myxosporean, Sphaerospora elwhaiensis sp. n., is described from kidney of non-anadromous sockeye salmon (kokanee) Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum) from Lake Sutherland in the northern Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA. Infection with the parasite was detected in 45% of 177 kokanee examined over 5 years. While conforming to the morphological criteria by which members of the genus are defined, the parasite is distinguished from congeners in salmonids of western North America by a unique combination of valvular sculpting of the myxospore, the relatively large size of the myxospore and monosporous development within the pseudoplasmodium. In addition, nucleotide sequences of the parasite's small and large subunit ribosomal RNA gene are unique. Phylogenetic analyses of these sequences suggested that the parasite is most closely related to freshwater Myxidium spp. and Zschokkella spp. The molecular data have provided further evidence for a polyphyletic association previously recognized among members of the genus and emphasize the need for a taxonomic revision of Sphaerospora Thélohan, 1892 and related genera.     

Myxidium biliare sp. n. (Myxozoa) from gall bladder of Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in Patagonia (Argentina)

Myxidium biliare sp. n., a new myxosporean species parasitizing the gall bladder of Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns), in Patagonia, is described. Its coelozoic plasmodia were floating free in the bile. Spores are fusiform 13.7 +/- 0.9 microm long and 6.9 +/- 0.6 microm wide, with rounded ends in frontal view and slightly pointed ends in sutural view; shell with ridges and sinuous sutural line. Both maximum prevalence and maximum percentage of immature plasmodia occurred in summer. In winter the prevalence and the percentage of immature plasmodia fell to their lowest values. Prevalence was independent of host sex but increased with host length. Prevalence in 15 Patagonian Andean lakes (situated from 39 degrees 25'S to 41 degrees 30'S) ranged between 4.2% and 70%.     

Development and release of a malacosporean (Myxozoa) from Plumatella repens (Bryozoa: Phylactolaemata)

During an experiment to transmit Tetracapsula bryosalmonae Canning, Curry, Feist, Longshaw et Okamura, 1999 to a laboratory-cultured bryozoan, Plumatella repens L. a previously undescribed malacosporean species was noted. This parasite produced sacs of spores in the host that reached 1.2 mm in length. The spores released from the sacs appeared similar in size to the two species of Tetracapsula previously described although slight differences in form were noted. Release of spores from the bryozoans was observed associated with the lophophore of the host. The use of experimental bryozoan cultures for the examination of malacosporeans is described and discussed.     

Trilosporoides platessae gen. et sp. n. (Myxozoa: Multivalvulida) in the plaice Pleuronectes platessa (Teleostei: Pleuronectidae) from Denmark

A new myxosporean species, Trilosporoides platessae gen. et sp. n. (Multivalvulida), is described from the gallbladder of the plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. (Pleuronectidae) from Denmark. The myxospore of T. platessae is conical in side view, with a 24 microm long, pointed posterior projection. In apical view, the myxospore (diameter 9.4 microm) is round, trilobed and with three spherical polar capsules arranged peripherally, equidistant and opening peripherally through protruding tips. The polar capsules are of different sizes, one often larger than the others (diameter 3.3 microm vs. 2.5 microm). Apart from the long posterior projection, the myxospore of T. platessae differs from those of the three known species of Trilospora Noble, 1959 and from all genera within the order Multivalvulida Shulman, 1959 in the arrangement of the polar capsules. Trilosporoides platessae may temporarily be placed in the vicinity of the Trilosporidae.     

Ellipsomyxa gobii gen. et sp. n. (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) in the common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Denmark

A new myxosporean species Ellipsomyxa gobii gen. et sp. n. is described from the common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Kr?yer) (Perciformes, Gobiidae). Plasmodia with long branched pseudopodia in the gallbladder develop to subspherical bisporous plasmodia. The myxospores were found in the gallbladder, and the hepatic and bile ducts. The new genus is characterised by the morphology of the myxospores. The myxospores have smooth thin valves elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the straight central transverse indistinct sutural line. The two spherical polar capsules open some distance from the sutural line on opposite sides. The new genus thereby differs from Leptotheca Thélohan, 1895. Ellipsomyxa gobii is tentatively placed in the Ceratomyxidae.     

Anoplophora glabripennis infestation (col.: cerambycidae) in Italy

In June 2007, the Asian longhorned beetle Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) was found at Corbetta, in Lombardy, 23 km west of Milan, Italy. The invasive exotic pest was observed in four host trees, one sycamore maple Acer pseudoplatanus L. and three silver birches Betula pendula Rothmahler. During summer 2007, 20 living and 107 dead A. glabripennis beetles were collected on or around the infested trees. The dissection of the infested material showed that 287 beetles emerged from the trees during previous years and 158 living larvae of varied ages were still developing in April, 2008. Fortunately, it appears that predation by birds on early stage larvae developing under the bark, played a major role in limiting the developing pest population. A. glabripennis is native to China and Korea where it is considered as a serious pest of many deciduous trees including maples, poplars, and willows. During the last decade, it was accidentally introduced into the USA, Canada, Austria, Germany and France in wood packaging material of goods imported from China. The current discovery in Italy is the first record of the Asian pest in this country.     

Brain thelohanellosis due to Thelohanellus oculileucisci (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in Gobio gobio

The first case of a Thelohanellus infection in the brain of gudgeons (Gobio gobio) is described. The infection was found on three localities in southern Bohemia, Czechoslovakia. The spores measured 13.2-14.4 x 6.3-7.1 micron. The reasons are discussed for which the species was identified as T. oculileucisci Trojan, 1909.     

Ellipsomyxa gobii (Myxozoa: Ceratomyxidae) in the common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Teleostei: Gobiidae) uses Nereis spp. (Annelida: Polychaeta) as invertebrate hosts

Nereis diversicolor O.F. Müller and N. succinea Frey et Leuckart (Polychaeta, Nereidae) living in brackish shallow areas in Denmark are naturally infected with tetractinomyxon actinospores. Infected Nereis spp. were experimentally fed to various potential fish hosts, and the actinosporean stages developed into myxosporean stages of Ellipsomyxa gobii K?ie, 2003 (Ceratomyxidae) in the gallbladder of the common goby Pomatoschistus microps (Kr?yer) (Gobiidae). The European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.), three-spined stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus L., small sand eel Ammodytes tobianus L., flounder Platichthys flesus (L.), European plaice Pleuronectes platessa L. and common sole Solea solea (L.) did not become experimentally infected. In Danish shallow brackish areas P. microps is naturally infected with E. gobii, in some areas with a prevalence >90%. We compared small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences of the actinosporean with E. gobii from P. microps. Sequences were identical, which further verifies that both forms belong to the same organism. This is the first myxozoan two-host life cycle in the marine environment.     

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

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 microm 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.     

Myxobolus lentisuturalis sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae), a new muscle-infecting species from the Prussian carp,Carassius gibelio from China

A new highly pathogenic muscle-infecting species of the genus Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 is described from the Prussian carp, Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) using spore morphology and SSU rDNA sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses elucidated relationship of the newly described Myxobolus lentisuturalis to other Myxobolus species and supported its position of an independent species.     

Pistia stratiotes L. and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.: emerging invasive alien hydrophytes in Campania and Sardinia (Italy)

This article provides general information on the distribution and presence of invasive macrophytes in Italy and describes and discusses two hydrophyte invasion case studies: Eichhornia crassipes in Sardinia and Pistia stratiotes in Campania. The two invasions took place in the same period, but mechanical removal intervention started only in Sardinia, even if costly and unsuccessful in the long term. Two main pathways are responsible for the presence of these two species in Italy, i.e. introduction as ornamentals and investigation and use for phytoremediation. The drafting of a national strategy on biological invasions is a priority for Italy and several specific action plans for species and habitats, as in the case of inland waters, are required. Furthermore, there is the need for regulations in the trade sector of invasive plant species and to evaluate the possibilities for biological control for established aquatic alien invaders.     

Fine structure of Henneguya pilosa sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), parasite of Serrasalmus altuvei (Characidae), in Brazil

Henneguya pilosa sp. n., a new species of myxosporean from the gill filaments of the white piranha, Serrasalmus altuvei Ramirez, 1965 (Characidae), a freshwater teleost fish collected in the Zoological Garden of the city of Teresina (Piauí), Brazil, is described from light and transmission electron microscope observations. This myxosporean produced small plasmodia (up to 0.2 mm in diameter), each one containing all life-cycle stages of the parasite, including numerous spores. The spores, laterally compressed, averaged 54.2 (52.3-56.0) microm in total length and consisted of two unequal valves adhering together along the suture line and two caudal processes. The spore body measured 21.1 (20.0-23.1) microm in length, 5.9 (5.5-6.3) microm in width, and 2.2 (1.9-2.6) microm in thickness. The two equal ellipsoidal polar capsules of 7.4 (7.1-7.6) microm long and 1.2 (1.0-1.3) microm wide possessed a polar filament with 11-12 (rarely 13) turns. All surfaces of the spores were covered with a tightly adherent complex network of numerous densely ramified granulo-fibrillar masses, the longest measuring 1.5 microm long, observed around the caudal processes. The prevalence of infection was 30%. The taxonomic affinities of this parasite with other of the same genus in freshwater South American fish species are discussed.     

Gyrodactylus bohemicus sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill) (Clupeiformes: Salmonidae) in Czechoslovakia.

Gyrodactylus bohemicus sp. n (Gyrodactylidae: Monogenea) is described from the fins, skin and gill filaments of Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill) (Clupeiformes: Salmonidae) from a trout farm in Czechoslovakia. G. bohemicus sp. n. is most closely related to G. thymalli Zitnan, 1960 and G. magnus Konovalov, 1967 in the shape of the anchors, the ventral and the dorsal bar, but can be distinguished from both these species by the shape of the marginal hook proper.     

Arlenelepis harpiprioni gen. et sp. n. (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from Harpiprion caerulescens (Vieillot) (Aves: Threskiornithidae) in Paraguay

Arlenelepis harpiprioni gen. et sp. n. (Cyclophyllidea, Dilepididae) is described from the plumbeous ibis Harpiprion caerulescens (Vieillot) (Ciconiiformes, Threskiomithidae) in Province Concepción, Paraguay. This cestode is characterised by a very small body (not exceeding 5 mm in length) consisting of about 30 proglottides, musculo-glandular rostellar apparatus, rostellar hooks arranged in two regular rows, few testes (7-10 in number) situated mostly in a post-ovarian group but one testis pre-ovarian, a large oval cirrus sac reaching antiporal osmoregulatory canals, massive cirrus armed with needle-shaped and thorn-shaped spines, long convoluted vagina, and longitudinally elongate sacciform horseshoe-shaped uterus with deep lobes of the medial uterine wall. The new genus is unique among the family Dilepididae in possessing a rhynchus armed with conical spines.     

Establishment of the pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Italy

The establishment of the pineapple mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Italy is reported in this paper. The different instars of the mealybug found during winter in Sicily on the aerial roots of adult date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.), suggests that D. brevipes has a strong capability to survive and continue its development even under cold temperatures. The establishment of this mealybug in Sicily could represent a serious threat for vineyards, considering the damage observed in South America to the ‘Italia’ grape variety, one of the most widely cultivated table grapes in the island. The application of control strategies should probably be considered.     

Supplemental diagnosis and molecular taxonomy of Myxobolus diaphanus (Fantham, Porter et Richardson, 1940) (Myxozoa) parasitizing Fundulus diaphanus (Cyprinodontiformes) in Nova Scotia, Canada

Myxobolus diaphanus (Fantham, Porter et Richardson, 1940) was found in banded killifish Fundulus diaphanus (Lesueur) at several freshwater localities in Nova Scotia, including the type locality at the mouth of the Salmon River, Guysborough County. The new material, the first to be reported in 64 years, was used to supplement information on spore morphology, to document the site of development in the tissue, and to compare sequence data of the 18S rDNA to other studied myxobolids. Plasmodia with developed spores occurred in loose connective tissue of the head, the dermis (particularly in the roof of the mouth and at the base of fins), surface of the brain and ovary, muscle epimysium, and the submucosa of the intestine. Developed plasmodia containing spores were also found free in the lumen of the vena cava and within fluid-filled spaces of the skull, mandible and lower jaw. A phylogenetic analysis using 18S rDNA (878 bp) placed M. diaphanus in a terminal clade containing certain freshwater species of Henneguya, all of which occur in North America and have elongate spore bodies.     

Rhabdias kongmongthaensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Polypedates leucomystax (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) in Thailand

Rhabdias kongmongthaensis sp. n. is described based on specimens found in the lungs of the tree frog Polypedates leucomystax (Gravenhorst) (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. The new species is similar to two North-American species, Rhabdias ranae and R. americanus, by presence of two lateral pseudolabia, each with two inner submedian protuberances. R. kongmongthaensis differs from both species by relative length and shape of the tail, and by its distribution and host specificity. Presence of lateral pseudolabia distinguishes the new species from the geographically closest Rhabdias species as well as from those parasitizing other rhacophorid frogs.