Histopathological and ecological aspects of Henneguya and Myxobolus (Myxosporea) infections in Acanthopagrus australis (Günther) (Pisces: Sparidae) from Moreton Bay, Australia

Abstract. Sporulated plasmodia of Henneguya sp. infected the gill filaments, interhemibranch septum, gut and other microhabitats of Acanthopagrus australis in Moreton Bay, southern Queensland, whereas Myxobolus sp. infected only the gut. There was usually no inflammatory response, but some plasmodia in the gill filaments were associated with a granulomatous, predominantly lymphoid, response that was not determined by either parasite maturity, or sex and size of fish or season. There was a microhabitat shift in branchial Henneguya infection from predominantly gill filament in juvenile bream to gill septum in older fish. The highest prevalences of Henneguya were in the southern part of Moreton Bay, but trends in seasonal infection and prevalences in relation to size and sex of fish were similar in the western and southern parts of the bay. This suggested a widespread distribution of the putative annelid alternate host in Moreton Bay, with highest densities in the southern part. Myxobolus infection was most prevalent in young male fish at the winter spawning grounds on eastern surf bars.