Six types of pathogenic endoparasites in an economically important fish, spotted seatrout Cynoscion nebulosus, were studied in order to test whether prevalence of infection and assemblage richness varied with season, host sex, host size, or host age. Fish were collected from South Carolina estuaries, USA, over 12 months (n = 216; total lengths 15-663 mm). They were screened histologically for presence of Henneguya cynoscioni (Myxozoa) and Cardicola spp. (Digenea) in the heart, Kudoa inornata (Myxozoa) in the skeletal muscle, Sinuolinea dimorpha (Myxozoa) in the urinary system, Ichthyophonus sp. (Mesomycetozoea) in the kidney, and an unidentified microsporidian in the liver. Prevalence of infection was 29.8, 38.6, 47.2, 41.2, 13.6, and 2.8%, respectively. All factors had significant, but varying effects on the parasites. Parasite infections were more prevalent in winter than other seasons for Cardicola spp. and H. cynoscioni, more prevalent in winter and spring for Ichthyophonus sp., and more prevalent in male fish than female fish for K. inornata, S. dimorpha, and Ichthyophonus. Prevalence of infection by the three myxosporeans and Cardicola spp. increased with fish length, whereas prevalence of Ichthyophonus increased with length among young fish, but decreased with length among older fish. None of the factors affected the liver microsporidian, although statistical power was low due to its rareness. Assemblage richness varied between 0 and 5, was greater during winter and in male fish, and increased with fish length and fish age. Our results demonstrate that spotted seatrout are commonly co-infected by multiple pathogenic endoparasites, suggesting these parasites likely play an import role in controlling fish population numbers.

• Klíčová slova
• Aporocotylidae, Histology, Ichthyosporea, Myxozoa, Richness, Sciaenidae,
• MeSH
• estuár * MeSH
• nemoci ryb epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• parazitární nemoci u zvířat epidemiologie   parazitologie   MeSH
• roční období MeSH
• ryby parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Jižní Karolína epidemiologie   MeSH

Myxosporean infections that we diagnosed frequently in the urinary tract of Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuvier, 1830) and Cynoscion regalis (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Sciaenidae) collected in the estuarine systems of SC, USA, are described together with their etiological agent. Based on the morphology of spores and plasmodial stages, we identified the agent, in both fish host species, as Sinuolinea dimorpha (Davis, 1916), which is the type species of the genus. Based on sequences of SSU rDNA generated in this study from type host material, this species of SinuolineaDavis, 1917 has found its place in the current phylogenetic reconstruction of Myxozoa and enlarged the limited number of myxosporean genera represented in phylogenetic analyses by sequences of type species. Sequences of SSU rDNA of S. dimorpha from Cynoscion host species formed two clusters, irrespective of their host species, and also revealed differences within each cluster. These findings contribute to the acknowledgement of myxosporean cryptic species diversity, an important topic that emphasizes the general necessity of species delimitation and of continued effort to improve our knowledge of Myxosporea based on both morphology of spores and molecular data.

• Klíčová slova
• Sinuolinea dimorpha, Cynoscion nebulosus, Cynoscion regalis, Cryptic species, Myxosporean phylogeny,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH