Ultrastructural data on the life cycle stages of Myxobolus braziliensis n sp, parasite of an Amazonian fish

A myxosporidium was found in the gills of Bunocephalus coracoideus, a freshwater fish from the Amazon River near Belem (Brazil) and studied using light and electron microscopy. Sporogenesis follows the usual pattern known in polysporic myxosporidians, giving rise to disporic pansporoblasts. The plasmodial wall presents a very sinuous outline with projections resembling villosities, unusual for histozoic species. During valvogenesis, one of the valves in the sutural ridge curves inwards and some microtubule bundles differentiate. The sporoplasm contains numerous sporoplasmosomes with unique ultrastructural features. Based on the morphologic aspects and specificity of the host species, we propose the creation of a new species, designated Myxobolus braziliensis n. sp.