Work

Taxonomy and phylogeny of Myxobolus branchiostegi sp. nov. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea) infecting the gallbladder of Branchiostegus argentatus Cuvier, 1830 from the East China Sea

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Myxobolus branchiostegi sp. nov. was detected in the gallbladder of six out of 28 specimens (21.4%) of Branchiostegus argentatus Cuvier, 1830 from the East China Sea. This is the first record of a Myxobolus species infecting this host. Mature myxospores of the new species were oval in valvular view, measuring 9.21 ± 0.52 µm (8.3–9.8 µm) in length and 7.40 ± 0.60 µm (6.2–8.0 µm) in width. Two equal, pyriform polar capsules measured 4.40 ± 0.34 µm (3.7–4.8 µm) in length and 2.58 ± 0.17 µm (2.3–2.9 µm) in width, each possessing polar tubules with 4–6 turns. Phylogenetic analysis, based on small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rDNA) sequences placed the new species within the family Myxobolidae, as a sister to Myxobolus iwagiensis Kawano et al., 2025. Further analysis suggested a possible trend that the clustering of Myxobolidae species may be influenced by the taxonomic affinity of their fish hosts, with closely-related parasites tending to infect hosts within the same order. Host aquatic habitat (marine, brackish-water or freshwater) and species geographic distribution may also contribute to the observed clustering patterns.

Source: Zoosystematics and Evolution

DOI: 10.3897/zse.101.170695