On a new Myxosporidian henneguya otolithi n. sp. a tissue parasite from the bulbus arteriosus of two species of fish of the genus Otolithus

Abstract

1. A new species of a polysporous tissue infecting myxosporidian, Henneguya otolithi is described from the bulbus arteriosus of two species of a marine fish, Otolithus ruber and O. maculatus. 2. Two kinds of nuclei, the vegetative and generative, are present in the earlier stages of the parasite. The vegetative nuclei are not present in later stages. 3. The pansporoblasts originate by the copulation of anisogamous gametes. 4. Evidences of multiplicative reproduction by plasmotomy in young vegetative forms are seen. 5. Autogamy is present and instances of auto-infection have been observed. 6. The histopathological processes in the infected organ are described. 7. Diffuse infiltration of spores is common and scattered spores have been located in the kidney. 8. A seasonal variation in the occurrence of the different stages of the parasite is noted. In general a higher temperature seems to accelerate spore formation.