<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myxobolus nagaraensis</Emphasis> n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) causes abdominal distension of freshwater goby <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhinogobius</Emphasis> sp. OR type from the Nagara River

ABSTRACT:   A new myxosporean parasite was found in the body cavity and caudal peduncle of the freshwater goby Rhinogobius sp. Orange type (OR) collected from the Nagara River, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Infected fish exhibited substantial swelling of the abdomen caused by large parasitic cysts approximately 10 mm in size, formed in the visceral cavity. The cyst was a compacted aggregate of several smaller cysts, similar to a bunch of grapes in appearance. Histological examination showed that plasmodia developed within the renal capsule, and finally occupied the visceral cavity. Spores were ovoid with an attenuated anterior end. Sutural ridges were conspicuous with several folds on the edge. Average spore size was 11.9 (10.5–13.5) μm long, 9.0 (8.0–10.0) μm wide, and 6.5 (6.0–7.0) μm thick. Two equal polar capsules were 5.5 (4.5–6 0) μm long and 3.0 (2.5–4.0) μm wide. Partial small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences of the myxosporean were distinct from those of other myxozoan species in GENBANK. A new species name, Myxobolus nagaraensis , is proposed for this parasite.     

Infection of Myxobolus turpisrotundus sp. n. in allogynogenetic gibel carp,Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch), with revision of Myxobolus rotundus (s. l.) Nemeczek reported from C. auratus auratus (L.)

Infection of a Myxobolus species, previously identified as Myxobolus rotundus, was detected in 182 of 7892 (2.31%) allogynogenetic gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio, in a closed pond culture system in China. Morphological and molecular data showed that this myxosporean is a different species from M. rotundus parasitizing Abramis brama in Europe and is thus designated as a new species, Myxobolus turpisrotundus. M. rotundus (s.l.) ex C. auratusauratus is a synonym of M. turpisrotundus. Plasmodia of M. turpisrotundus develop in the subepidermal tissues of the body surface resulting in an unaesthetic appearance and causing severe economic losses. Prevalence of infection with the myxosporean plasmodia varied seasonally, increasing in winter and decreasing in spring. Prevalence was positively correlated to host size, but no host sex‐specificity was found. No infection was observed in other fish species (grass carp, bighead carp and yellow catfish) reared in the same pond, suggesting that the parasite has a relatively strict host specificity. Plasmodia grew gradually as the parasite developed, and reached up to a maximum 5.6 mm in diameter. Plasmodia ruptured naturally to release the mature spores and host fish completely recovered with no mortality. Release of spores and regeneration of lesions were not correlated with water temperature. Histology showed that plasmodia developed sub‐epidermally, and that the wall of the plasmodia was composed of a multiple complex structure, including layers of fibroblasts, a collagenous membrane, melanophores and a layer of cup‐like cells of unknown derivation and function. The cup‐like cells are in direct contact with pre‐sporogonic stages located in the peripheral parts of the large plasmodia. No severe host inflammatory response was seen.     

Molecular diagnosis of Myxobolus spirosulcatus associated with encephalomyelitis of cultured yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel

Mass mortality of cultured yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata, has recently been reported from fish farms in western Japan. Previous studies revealed that diseased fish were characterized by encephalomyelitis and presporogonic stages of a myxosporean‐like parasite in the spinal cord. However, the parasite has remained unidentified because of the lack of mature stages being present. Thus, in the present study, analysis of the small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA) of the parasite as well as in situ hybridization (ISH) studies using histological sections of the infected tissue was conducted. The 18S rDNA of the myxosporean had higher sequence similarities with those of bile‐duct‐infecting myxosporeans rather than those infecting nervous tissues and was identified as Myxobolus spirosulcatus. The ISH using specific probes demonstrated that the DNA amplified was derived from the multinuclear organisms found in histological sections. A highly sensitive and specific PCR‐based assay for M. spirosulcatus was developed, which revealed a high prevalence of infection in cultured yellowtail that exhibited the clinical signs of encephalomyelitis.     

Utilization of tissue habitats by Myxobolus wulii Landsberg & Lom, 1991 in different carp hosts and disease resistance in allogynogenetic gibel carp: redescription of M. wulii from China and Japan

Myxobolus wulii (= Myxosoma magna ) was first described from the gills of goldfish, Carassius auratus auratus, in China. Subsequently, a myxosporean infecting the hepatopancreas of allogynogenetic gibel carp, C. auratus gibelio , was designated as a different species, Myxobolus guanqiaoensis , although the morphological features were almost identical to those of M. wulii . In Japan, an unidentified Myxobolus sp. was found in the gills and hepatopancreas of goldfish. Morphological and molecular analyses in the present study identified these myxosporeans as M. wulii , which was thus shown to use different habitats in the host fish. Phylogenetic analyses of small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences showed that M. wulii is closely related to two gill-infecting Myxobolus species, M. ampullicapsulatus and M. longisporus . Fish infected with M. wulii in the hepatopancreas exhibit swollen abdomens and chronic mortality. Hepatopancreas tissues are virtually destroyed and replaced with plasmodia of M. wulii . A remarkable difference in susceptibility to M. wulii between two clones of allogynogenetic gibel carp was observed, suggesting that resistance to the myxosporean infection was established in a clone of fish bred by allogynogenesis.     

Myxobolus erythrophthalmi sp. n. and Myxobolus shaharomae sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxobolidae) from the internal organs of rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.), and bleak, Alburnus alburnus (L.)

During a survey of myxosporean parasites of cyprinid fish in Hungary, infections caused by unknown Myxobolus spp. were found in the internal organs of rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, and bleak, Alburnus alburnus . Small plasmodia developed in blood vessels of the kidney, liver, testes and intestinal wall. The parasites were studied on the basis of spore morphology and by histological and molecular methods. In most cases, plasmodia were surrounded by host tissue without a host reaction; however, in advanced cases, a connective tissue capsule was seen around plasmodia. Spores collected from the two fish species differed from each other and from the known Myxobolus spp. both in their morphology and 18S rDNA sequences. The two species, described as M. erythrophthalmi sp. n. from rudd and M. shaharomae sp. n. from bleak, are characterized by a specific histotropism to blood vessels, while the organ specificity involves the kidney and for the latter species, most internal organs.     

Expanded geographical distribution of Myxobolus cerebralis: first detections from Alaska

The parasite responsible for salmonid whirling disease, Myxobolus cerebralis, was introduced to the USA in 1958. It has since spread across the country causing severe declines in wild trout populations, but has never been documented from Alaska. However, while assessing the risk of introduction of M. cerebralis into the state, we detected the parasite using a species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Testing of 180 hatchery rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), by pepsin trypsin digest (PTD) and quantitative PCR (QPCR) revealed 14 positive samples. Infection was confirmed by sequencing the parasite 18S rRNA gene and by a nested PCR assay based on the same gene. Sequence comparison of M. cerebralis from several locations demonstrated the Alaska isolates were genetically distinct and therefore not false-positives arising from contamination during processing. We were unable to visually identify myxospores, indicating that either infection was light or mature spores had not formed. A reference set of fish samples spiked with known numbers of myxospores verified the QPCR and PTD results. This paper presents DNA sequence data from the Alaska M. cerebralis isolates, provides a brief history of the fish and facility of origin, and discusses implications of different testing methods on asymptomatic fish populations.     

鲫圆形碘泡虫病组织病理学研究

采用常规石蜡切片、苏木精-伊红染色的方法,研究了鲫（ Carassius auratus auratus ）自然感染圆形碘泡虫（Myxobolus rotundus）后的组织病理变化。结果表明,感染圆形碘泡虫后,在鲫的头部、鳃和体表能形成大小不一的圆形或椭圆形乳白色孢囊,其孢囊为典型的3层结构：外层的结缔组织、双层质膜的外质以及各个发育阶段的孢子或营养体组成的内质。病理切片可见鱼体各组织器官均有不同程度的病变,主要表现为鳃丝粘连、肿胀增生;肝脏发生以肝血窦为中心的透明、空泡变性;肾小管内皮脱落,肾小球萎缩;肠道粘膜层脱落,肌层细胞肿胀病变;脾脏的含铁血黄素增多等异常现象。     

Characterization of glycans in the developmental stages of Myxobolus cerebralis (Myxozoa), the causative agent of whirling disease

Glycans and sugar-binding molecules (lectins) form an interactive recognition system, which may enable parasitic organisms to adhere to host cells and migrate into target tissues. The aim of the present study was to analyse surface-associated glycans in the developmental stages of Myxobolus cerebralis (Hofer), the causative agent of whirling disease. A panel of biotin-labelled plant lectins was used to detect a broad spectrum of glycan motifs with high specificity. Binding sites were detected histochemically in the tissue sections of infected rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and infected Tubifex tubifex (Müller), and were characterized by light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. With mannose-specific lectins [Lens culinaris agglutinin, Pisum sativum agglutinin, Canavalia ensiformis agglutinin (LCA, PSA, CanA)] mannose-containing glycans were detected in all the developmental stages and host tissues. No binding sites for galactose-specific lectins were present in M. cerebralis spores but reactivity with host tissues occurred. Diversity in glycans was detected by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-specific lectins in sporoplasm cells of M. cerebralis and triactinomyxon spores. In the group of lectins with monosaccharide-specificity for N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc), the reactivity of Datura stramonium agglutinin (DSA), Lycopersicon esculentum agglutinin (LEA) and Solanum tuberosum agglutinin (STA) was restricted to polar capsules whereas Griffonia simplicifolia agglutinin II (GSA II) also bound to sporoplasm cells of stages in the fish host but not in those present in infected T. tubifex. Moreover, Triticum vulgaris (wheat germ) agglutinin (WGA) and succinylated WGA indicated the presence of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine polymers in polar capsules. No specificity for spores was observed concerning 'bisected'N-glycans and no reactivity in parasitic stages was observed with the fucose-binding lectin Ulex europaeus agglutinin (UEA) I, Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA) (specific for alpha2,6-sialylated glycans) and Maackia amurensis agglutinin (MAAI) (specific for alpha2,3-sialylated glycans). Arachis hypogaea (peanut) agglutinin (PNA), Erythrina cristagalli agglutinin (ECA), GSA I, Sophora japonica agglutinin (SJA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA) and GSA II detected reactive sites solely confined to the developmental stages of M. cerebralis and were not reactive in the fish host. These parasite-specific glycans may play a role in the adhesion process of the parasite to fish epidermis prior to infection, but may provide protection to the host by activating the complement system, or stimulating an adaptive immune response as putative antigens.     

鲫复合种隐性感染洪湖碘泡虫调查及遗传多样性分析

为探究严重危害养殖异育银鲫“喉孢子虫病”病原的宿主范围以及不同宿主寄生虫株间的遗传差异,本研究广泛采集了金鱼、红鲫、异育银鲫、彭泽鲫、方正银鲫、淇河鲫、金背鲫等我国常见鲫复合种样品,采用18S rDNA PCR检测了各样品伪鳃的洪湖碘泡虫感染率,并进一步通过巢式PCR克隆测序获得部分样品洪湖碘泡虫的ITS2序列。PCR检测结果发现来自7个地区8种鲫属鱼类品系都存在洪湖碘泡虫的隐性感染,感染率为25.0 % ~ 88.2 %;ITS2序列分析表明感染鲫复合种的洪湖碘泡虫株系间序列差异较低,所获得的序列间仅有6个差异信息位点,平均遗传距离为0.003;不同来源虫株间共存在7种单倍型, 其中H1、H2和H3只出现在金鱼、红鲫寄生虫株,H5广泛存在不同来源的异育银鲫寄生虫株。系统发育分析显示,来自不同鲫复合种的洪湖碘泡虫聚集为2个分支,其中寄生金鱼的虫株与瓶囊碘泡虫亲缘关系较近。本研究结果为阐明异育银鲫“喉孢子虫病”的流行病学规律和防控疾病发生提供重要基础数据。     

引起池养异育银鲫高死亡率的粘孢子虫新种咽碘泡虫形态和分子分析

对近几年发生在江苏省盐城地区引起池养异育银鲫大批死亡的粘孢子虫进行了形态和分子等方面分析研究,发现该粘孢子虫主要特点是:孢子梨形,部分孢子后部外周包围有透明无色的膜状鞘和壳瓣底部内侧呈现1～6个"V"形缺刻,两个极囊大小不等,孢子前端内侧两个极囊间有一个细长的囊间突起,胚质中无嗜碘泡,孢囊大小10～25 mm,孢子长16.82±0.43(16.03～17.69)μm,孢子宽10.26±0.43(9.12～10.88)μm,孢子厚8.09±0.29(7.50～8.75)μm,孢子长宽比1.64±0.09(1.50～1.93);大极囊长8.66±0.25(8.25～9.16)μm、宽3.65±0.25(3.01～4.19)μm,小极囊长8.35±0.28(7.60～8.85)μm、宽3.58±0.23(3.09～4.11)μm,囊间突起长1.80±0.12(1.59～2.00)μm。特异性地寄生在异育银鲫的口咽腔上颚的咽组织内、具有寄主和寄生在咽部的专一性,PCR扩增得到1 576 bp的18S rDNA序列,GenBank登录号为JQ726700。该粘孢子虫与相近的其它粘孢子虫比较,孢子长分别与白鲟碘泡虫(Myxobolus psephurusi)和扭曲碘泡虫(M.twistus)无显著差异(P>0.05),与M.ampullicapsulatus、M.wulii和鳙碘泡虫(M.aristichthydis)分别有显著差异(P<0.05);孢子宽和厚、极囊长和宽分别与M.ampullicapsulatus、M.wulii、白鲟碘孢虫(M.psephurusi)、鳙碘泡虫(M.twistus)和扭曲碘孢虫(M.aristichthydis)有显著差异(P<0.05);分子系统树分析结果显示,与M.ampullicapsulatus在同一个分支中,亲缘关系最近。从孢子形态学、寄主的特异性、寄生部位的专一性以及18SrDNA序列等特点综合比较分析,表明该粘孢子虫为一新种,命名为咽碘泡虫Myxobolus pharynae n.sp.。     

The zooplankton biomass in the Sea of Japan

We examined seasonal, annual variation and horizontal distribution of zooplankton in the Sea of Japan from 1966 to 1990. Zooplankton was most abundant in the spring. The spring maximum appeared in February–March and in April–May in the southern and eastern parts of the study areas, respectively. In the summer and autumn, a secondary peak was most conspicuous in the eastern part. The difference between the estimated biomass at night and day was large in the spring and small in summer and autumn. The biomass in the offshore southern area peaked about every 3 years between 1966 and 1983, and increased abruptly in 1990. The density in the area north of 39°N or 40°N was high. Total biomass estimated in the upper 150 m layer in the Sea of Japan (10⁶ km²) was 9.5 × 10⁶ t in the daytime and 16.6 × 10⁶ t at night.     

Structural and thermodynamic characterization of tropomyosin from fast skeletal muscle of bluefin tuna

ABSTRACT:   Tuna tropomyosin is a mixture of nearly equimolar amounts of two isoforms (designated α and β). cDNA encoding the α form was cloned from bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus fast skeletal muscle. The full-length cDNA contained 1220 bp, comprising an open reading frame of 855 bp encoding 284 amino acid residues, flanked by 5'-untranslational regions (156 bp) and 3'-untranslational regions (209 bp). The deduced amino acid sequence showed considerably high homology in a range of 93.7–98.6% to those of other vertebrate α-type tropomyosins. In phylogenetic analysis, bluefin tuna tropomyosin showed the closest relationship with the white croaker counterpart. The predicted mass was 32 919 Da, and isoelectric point was 4.50, assuming acetylation of the N-terminus. By differential scanning calorimetry, bluefin tuna tropomyosin gave two major endothermic peaks at 29.3 and 41.5°C, probably caused by the presence of two isoforms. Circular dichroism spectra supported such a unique denaturation profile.     

Genetic population structure of the deep-sea whelk Buccinum tsubai in the Japan Sea

ABSTRACT:   The purpose of the present paper was to examine the genetic population structure of Buccinum tsubai in the Japan Sea. Mitochondrial 16SrRNA gene sequence analysis was performed with specimens from various stations in the Japan Sea. Mitochondrial lineages were clearly patterned geographically in four separate areas: the Hokkaido area, the Yamagata–Toyama area, the Yamato Bank area, and the San'in area. The main distribution depth range of B. tsubai is between 200 m and 1000 m isodepths, and the horizontal distance between the 200 m and 1000 m isodepth lines represents the specific spatial scale of the habitat (SSSH). These four areas were separated either by the complete discontinuity of the SSSH area or by its narrow spatial extension. Genetic distances between the main haplotypes of each area were calculated as Jukes–Cantor distances, the value of which ranged between 0.012 and 0.017. This value seemed to be unrelated to the geographic distance. There was no tendency for clustering according to depth. In future, the morphological characters of the four lineages of B. tsubai should be compared in detail in order to elucidate significant genetic differences among them.