Heteropolaria colisarum Foissner & Schubert, 1977 (Protozoa: Epistylididae) of North American freshwater fishes

Abstract The peritrichous ciliate 'Epistylis sp.' involved in the'red-sore' disease of various North American freshwater fishes is identified as Heteropolaria colisarum Foissner & Schubert, 1977. Its morphology is redescribed from observations of living and silver-stained organisms and biometrically analysed individuals. Extended zooids can be easily identified by their highly characteristic (elongated) body. Silver impregnations show a very high number of silverlines and a band-like, irregularly formed macronucleus. The genus Heteropolaria belongs to the family Epistylididae and is characterized by the eccentric location of the scopula of the swarmer and a peculiar myoneme in the peristomal disc that branches off the myoneme of the peristomal collar. Autochthonous occurrences of this species are known only from North America. In Europe only the related species H. lwoffi has been found. Histological sections give some evidence that the terminal platelet of the stalk is embedded in the dermal epithelium. This suggests that H. colisarum could be a parasite rather than an epizoon and that the often associated bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila is a secondary invader. However, further studies are necessary. Experiments showed a high infectivity of the ciliate and no host specificity. These characteristics are supported by the observations of other researchers. Preliminary laboratory tests showed that a single treatment with salt solution (NaCl) at a rate of 1.5% for 3h controlled H. colisarum.