An unusual infection of Henneguya sp. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea, Myxobolidae) in the gills of Hoplosternum littorale Hancock, 1928 (Osteichthyes, Callichthyidae) from Middle Parana River, Santa Fe, Argentina.

摘要

An infection of Henneguya sp. on the gills of one specimen of Hoplosternum littorale caught from the Middle Parana River, Argentina, during December 2003 is described. The parasites formed large intralamellar plasmodia, completely covering the gills of the host and forming a corncob-like structure. The gills were spongiotic and hyperplasic and their respiratory capacity was almost completely impaired. The survival of the host is likely to be assured by its ability to breath air through intestinal epithelia. It is proposed to name this clinical symptom as "Corncob Gill Disease".