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Title: INVASION SUCCESS OF FIBRILLANOSEMA CRANGONYCIS, N.SP., N.G.: A NOVEL VERTICALLY TRANSMITTED MICROSPORIDIAN PARASITE FROM THE INVASIVE AMPHIPOD HOST CRANGONYX PSEUDOGRACILIS

Author
item GALBREATH, JOHANNA - UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK
item SMITH, JUDITH - UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK
item TERRY, REBECCA - UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK
item Becnel, James
item DUNN, ALISON - UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS, UK

Submitted to: International Journal for Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2003
Publication Date: 12/1/2003
Citation: Galbreath, J.G., Smith, J.E., Terry, R.S., Becnel, J.J., Dunn, A.M. 2003. Invasion success of fibrillanosema crangonycis, n.sp., n.g.: a novel vertically transmitted microsporidian parasite from the invasive amphipod host crangonyx pseudogracilis. International Journal for Parasitology. v. 34. pp. 235-244.

Interpretive Summary: Naturally occurring protozoan parasites (Microsporidia) of insects are under study to evaluate and develop these disease causing organisms as biological control agents. Microsporidian parasites are known to cause mortality in arthropods worldwide, but fundamental knowledge on their life cycles, modes of transmission and methods for identification is presently incomplete. This investigation, one who is a USDA, ARS, scientist located at the Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology in Gainesville, FL, examines a new form of microsporidia and determines that it represents a new taxonomic group. New information obtained here contributes to our basic understanding of these parasites which will assist in the evaluation and development of microsporidia as biocontrol agents.

Technical Abstract: We describe a novel microsporidian, Fibrillanosema crangonyctidae n.sp., n.g., from Crangonyx pseudogracilis, a North American amphipod invasive in the United Kingdom. The primary site of infection is the ovaries of females and the parasite is transovarially transmitted to the eggs. The morphological and molecular characterizations of this new microsporidium place it outside all currently established genera. On the basis of these differences, we name the new genus Fibrillanosema n.g. While Fibrillanosema crangonyctidae is morphologically identical to undescribed microsporidia from populations of North American amphipods, it is distinct from microsporidia found in European populations of amphipods. We discuss the role of vertically transmitted parasites in invasions and the ecological implications of the success of this particular host and parasite.