Class MICROSPOREA Delphy, 1963

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Introduction

Unidentified species recorded from eastern Australia.

Based on ribosomal DNA sequence data, the Microsporidia are recognised as Fungi and not Protists. At present Australian Biological Resource Study has retained the Microsporidia as a phylum in the Protists for historical comparative purposes.

Ecological Descriptors

Parasitic (host(s): Cephalopholis boenak (Bloch, 1790) [SERRANIDAE] Brown-Barred Rockcod, Chocolate Hind (mesentery); Choerodon venustus ((De Vis, 1884) [LABRIDAE] Venus Tuskfish (LIVER); Engraulis australis (White, 1790) [ENGRAULIDAE] Australian Anchovy (muscle); Etrumeus teres (De Kay, 1842) [CLUPEIDAE] Maray, Round Herring (muscle); Hyperlophus vittatus (Castelnau, 1875) [CLUPEIDAE] Sandy Sprat, Whitebait (muscles); Paramonacanthus filicauda (Günther, 1880) [MONACANTHIDAE] Threadfin Leatherjacket (liver); Rhombosolea tapirina Günther, 1862 [PLEURONECTIDAE] Greenback Flounder (liver); Gymnocranius audleyi Ogilby, 1916 [LETHRINIDAE] Collar Seabream (syn. Gymnocranius bitorquatus; muscle); Sardinella lemuru Bleeker, 1853 [CLUPEIDAE] Scaly Mackerel (muscle); Sardinops sagax (Steindachner, 1879) [CLUPEIDAE] Australian Pilchard (muscles); Spratelloides robustus Ogilby, 1897 [CLUPEIDAE] Blue Sprat (muscle); CheraX quadricarinatus (von Martens, 1868) [PARASTACIDAE] Redclaw (connective tissue); Panulirus ornatus (Fabricus, 1798) [PALINURIDAE] Ornate Spiny Lobster (muscles); Panulirus cygnus George, 1962 [PALINURIDAE] Western Rock Lobster (muscles); Penaeus japonicus Bate, 1888 [PENEIDAE] Karuma Prawn (hepatopancreas); Agapornis roseicollis (Vieillot, 1818) [PSITTACIDAE] Peach-faced Lovebird, Rosy-faced Lovebird (intestines); Amphibolurus vitticeps (Ahl, 1926) [AGAMIDAE] Inland Bearded Dragon (syn. Pogona vitticeps; liver, kidney, gut, brain, ovary; zoo, USA)).

Diagnosis

Spores with well-formed polar filament opening terminally.

General References

Dennis, D., M. & Munday, B.L. 1994. Microsporidiosis of palinurid lobsters from Australian waters. Bulletin of the European Association of Fish Pathologists 14: 16-18

Edgerton, B.F. & Owens, L. 1999. Histopathological surveys of the redclaw freshwater crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus, in Australia. Aquaculture 180: 23-40

Hudson, D.A., Hudson, N.B. & Pyecroft, S.B. 2001. Mortalities of Penaeus japonicus prawns associated with microsporidean infection. Australian Veterinary Journal 79: 504-505

Jacobson, E.R., Green, D.E., Undeen, A.H., Cranfield, M. & Vaughn, K.L. 1998. Systemic microsporidiosis in inland bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps). Zoo Journal of Medicine and Wildlife 29: 315-323

Langdon, J.S., Thorne, T. & Fletcher, W.J. 1992. Reservoir hosts and new clupeoid host records for the myoliquefactive myxosporean parasite Kudoa thyrsites (Gilchrist). Journal of Fish Diseases 15: 459-471

Munday, B.L. 1996. Infectious diseases of finfish. in Fish Health Workshop. Post Graduate Committee in Veterinary Science: University of Sydney. pp. 81-132

Norton, J.H. & Prior, H.C. 1994. Microsporidiosis in a peach-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis). Australian Veterinary Journal 71: 23-24

O'Donoghue, P.J. 1997. Protozoan parasites of wildlife in south-east Queensland. pp. 119-136 in Tribe, A. (ed.). Proceedings of the 1997 Conference of the Australian Association of Veterinary Conservation Biologists. Brisbane : Australian Veterinary Association.

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