Ultrastructure and Molecular Phylogeny of Mrazekia macrocyclopis sp. n. (Microsporidia, Mrazekiidae), a Microsporidian Parasite of Macrocyclops albidus (Jur.) (Crustacea, Copepoda)

The ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny of a new microsporidium Mrazekia macrocyclopis sp.n., a parasite of the copepod Macrocyclops albidus (Jur.) in North-West of Russia are described. All stages of its life cycle are diplokaryotic. Fresh spores are rod-shaped and 7.3–10.5 × 1.6–2.3 μm in size. Spore ultrastructure is typical of Mrazekia. The polar tube consists of the anterior clavate manubrium followed by a thin filament arranged in 3.5–4.5 nearly vertical coils. Spores are enclosed in individual sporophorous vesicles. SSU rDNA sequence analysis showed attribution of the new species to a cluster of microsporidia infecting insects (Cystosporogenes, Endoreticulatus), microsrustaceans (Glugoides), vertebrates (Vittaforma) and ciliates (Euplotespora) nested within the clade IV sensu Vossbrinck, Debrunner- Vossbrinck (2005). Mrazekia macrocyclopis is not therefore closely related to Bacillidium vesiculoformis, another microsporidium with rod-shaped spores, and the polyphyletic nature of the family of Mrazekiidae is obvious

Ecological aspects of microsporidia parasitizing in natural populations of the Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) blood-suking mosquitoes in Western Siberia

We examined microsporidia (1976-2014) in natural populations of blood-sucking Aedes mosquitoes of Western Siberia with the focus on their biodiversity and ecology. In total, we recorded 31 species of Culicidae family mosquitoes in Western Siberia; 22 species of them belong to the univoltine genus Aedes, producing one generation per year (spring). As it has been shown, microsporidians infect 13 mosquito species. In this study, we isolated 26 microsporidian species representing five genera (Amblyospora, Andreanna, Dimeiospora, Novothelohania, and Trichoctosporea) from mosquitoes; of them, the Amblyospora species were the most abundant. The majority of species display a high level of host specificity. Microsporidians are found in all types of aquatic habitats; however, the highest diversity of parasites was observed in mainland temporary ponds. During the period of study, the prevalence rates of microsporidians infecting Aedes mosquitoes varied from 0.05 to100%, with the maximal parasite prevalence during mass mosquito pupation and imago emergence (mid-May - beginning of June). Low parasite loads (0.05-6.5%) are characteristic of the last 20 years

Tubulinosema loxostegi sp. n. (Microsporidia: Tubulinosematidae) from the Beet Webworm Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Western Siberia

Adults of beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis were collected in Western Siberia in 2009 and 2010. A microsporidium was found infecting 12 of 50 moths in 2010. The parasite develops in direct contact with host cell cytoplasm, sporogony is presumably disporoblastic. The spores are ovoid, diplokaryotic, 4.2 × 2.4 μm in size (fresh), without a sporophorous vesicle. Electron microscopy showed: (a) tubules on the surface of sporoblasts and immature spores; (b) slightly anisofilar polar tube with 10–14 coils, last 2–3 coils of lesser electron density; (c) bipartite polaroplast with anterior and posterior parts composed of thin and thick lamellae, respectively; (d) an indentation in the region of the anchoring disc; (e) an additional layer of electron-dense amorphous matter on the exospore surface. The spore ultrastructure is characteristic of the genus Tubulinosema. Sequencing of small subunit and large subunit ribosomal RNA genes showed 98–99.6% similarity of this parasite to the Tubulinosema species available on Genbank. A new species Tubulinosema loxostegi sp. n. is established

Ultrastructure and Molecular Phylogeny of Mrazekia macrocyclopis sp. n. (Microsporidia, Mrazekiidae), a Microsporidian Parasite of Macrocyclops albidus (Jur.) (Crustacea, Copepoda)

The ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny of a new microsporidium Mrazekia macrocyclopis sp.n., a parasite of the copepod Macrocyclops albidus (Jur.) in North-West of Russia are described. All stages of its life cycle are diplokaryotic. Fresh spores are rod-shaped and 7.3–10.5 × 1.6–2.3 μm in size. Spore ultrastructure is typical of Mrazekia. The polar tube consists of the anterior clavate manubrium followed by a thin filament arranged in 3.5–4.5 nearly vertical coils. Spores are enclosed in individual sporophorous vesicles. SSU rDNA sequence analysis showed attribution of the new species to a cluster of microsporidia infecting insects (Cystosporogenes, Endoreticulatus), microsrustaceans (Glugoides), vertebrates (Vittaforma) and ciliates (Euplotespora) nested within the clade IV sensu Vossbrinck, Debrunner- Vossbrinck (2005). Mrazekia macrocyclopis is not therefore closely related to Bacillidium vesiculoformis, another microsporidium with rod-shaped spores, and the polyphyletic nature of the family of Mrazekiidae is obvious

Ecological aspects of microsporidia parasitizing in natural populations of the Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) blood-suking mosquitoes in Western Siberia

We examined microsporidia (1976-2014) in natural populations of blood-sucking Aedes mosquitoes of Western Siberia with the focus on their biodiversity and ecology. In total, we recorded 31 species of Culicidae family mosquitoes in Western Siberia; 22 species of them belong to the univoltine genus Aedes, producing one generation per year (spring). As it has been shown, microsporidians infect 13 mosquito species. In this study, we isolated 26 microsporidian species representing five genera (Amblyospora, Andreanna, Dimeiospora, Novothelohania, and Trichoctosporea) from mosquitoes; of them, the Amblyospora species were the most abundant. The majority of species display a high level of host specificity. Microsporidians are found in all types of aquatic habitats; however, the highest diversity of parasites was observed in mainland temporary ponds. During the period of study, the prevalence rates of microsporidians infecting Aedes mosquitoes varied from 0.05 to100%, with the maximal parasite prevalence during mass mosquito pupation and imago emergence (mid-May - beginning of June). Low parasite loads (0.05-6.5%) are characteristic of the last 20 years

Transfer of the members of the genus Brachiola (microsporidia) to the genus Anncaliia based on ultrastructural and molecular data

Two microsporidian genera, AnncaliiaIssi, Krylova, & Nicolaeva 1993 and BrachiolaCali et al. 1998, possess a Nosema-type life cycle and unique cell surface ornamentations, which include precocious electron-dense coating of the plasmalemma and a variety of secretory structures deposited on the parasite surface and scattered in the host cell cytoplasm. Comparative analysis of ultrastructure of Anncaliia meligethi (the type species of the genus Anncaliia) and of B. vesicularum and B. algerae (the best-studied members of the genus Brachiola) clearly demonstrated that these microsporidia share many distinctive morphological features. The comparison of small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences showed high sequence identity of A. meligethi and B. algerae. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the rDNA sequences of A. meligethi clustered with those of B. algerae suggesting a close relatedness of these microsporidia. The combination of molecular and morphological data provided clear evidence that these microsporidia belong to the same genus and therefore, warranted emendation of the genus Anncaliia and establishments of the following new combinations: Anncaliia vesicularum nov. comb., Anncaliia algerae nov. comb., Anncaliia connori nov. comb., and Anncaliia gambiae nov. comb. The generic name Brachiola is submerged according to the rule of priority

Tubulinosema loxostegi sp. n. (Microsporidia: Tubulinosematidae) from the Beet Webworm Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Western Siberia

Adults of beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis were collected in Western Siberia in 2009 and 2010. A microsporidium was found infecting 12 of 50 moths in 2010. The parasite develops in direct contact with host cell cytoplasm, sporogony is presumably disporoblastic. The spores are ovoid, diplokaryotic, 4.2 × 2.4 μm in size (fresh), without a sporophorous vesicle. Electron microscopy showed: (a) tubules on the surface of sporoblasts and immature spores; (b) slightly anisofilar polar tube with 10–14 coils, last 2–3 coils of lesser electron density; (c) bipartite polaroplast with anterior and posterior parts composed of thin and thick lamellae, respectively; (d) an indentation in the region of the anchoring disc; (e) an additional layer of electron-dense amorphous matter on the exospore surface. The spore ultrastructure is characteristic of the genus Tubulinosema. Sequencing of small subunit and large subunit ribosomal RNA genes showed 98–99.6% similarity of this parasite to the Tubulinosema species available on Genbank. A new species Tubulinosema loxostegi sp. n. is established