Description of Myxidium tetraodoni Sp. Nov., Myxidium anisocapsularis Sp. Nov. and Myxobolus magai Sp. Nov. (Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) Infecting Some Freshwater Fishes in Cameroon (Central Africa)

Abstract

Examination of some Teleost fishes captured in the Maga detention lake located in the Far North Region of Cameroon, revealed the presence of three new species of Myxosporidia of the genera Myxidium Butschli, 1882 and Myxobolus Butschli, 1882 of which complete description is given in the present study. These species are: Myxidium tetraodoni sp. nov., parasite of the urinary bladder of Tetraodon lineatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Tetraodontidae) that form ellipsoidal spores with a turgid middle part and rounded ends. They measured 11.6 (10.5-12.5) μm long × 8.2 (7.2-9.6) μm broad; the spherical polar capsules are of equal size and measure 3.7 (3.0-4.3) μm. Myxidium anisocapsularis sp. nov., a parasite of the gall bladder of Distichodus engycephalus Gunther, 1964 (Distichodontidae) form spindle-shaped and elongated spores, that measure 15.2 (14.0-16.2) μm longx6.0 (5.0-6.7) μm broad; its polar capsules are quite unequal and respectively measure 6.0 (5.0-6.5) × 3.3 (3.0-3.8) μm for the larger and 4.7 (4.0-5.5) × 3.0 (2.3-3.3) μm for the smaller. Myxobolus magai sp. nov., a gill parasite of Labeo batesii Boulenger, 1911 (Cyprinidae) form ovoid spores with the anterior end larger with small protuberance, that measure 10.6 (9.0-12.0) × 6.3 (5.5-7.0) μm. Its polar capsules measure 2.8 (2.4-3.4) × 2.3 (2.0-3.0) μm.