First Record of Microsporeans and Myxosporeans (Protozoa) Infecting Some Arabian Gulf Fishes off the Coasts of the Emirates and Qatar with a Description of Myxobolus Arabicus n. sp PDF

Keywords

Protozoa, Microsporea, Myxosporea, Myxobolus arabiclls, fish parasites, Arabian Gulf.

Abstract

During a comprehensive survey carded out on helminth parasites of Arabian Gulf fishes mainly from the coasts of the Emirates and Qatar, two microsporeans and three myxosporeans Protozoa were reported and described for the first time. The microsporeans included Nosema sauridae and Glugea stephani. Nosema sauridae was very common among lizard fish Saurida undosquamis which were caught from the Emirati coasts (56%) and also Qatari coasts (28%). Glugea stephani infected Psettodes erumei at the Emirati coasts with a prevalence of 10%. The myxosporideans comprised Myxobolus arabicus n. sp. from the body cavity of Plectorhynchus schotaJ (Emirati coasts, 11 %), Kudoa sp. from the musculature of Lutjanus Julviflamma (Emirati coasts, 8%) and also the heart wall of Caranx malabricus (Qatari coasts, 11 %) and Henneguya sp. from the gills and mouth skin of Epinephelus tauvina (Emirati coasts, 7%). Fresh cysts and spores were described and photographed in situ.