Morphological, ultrastructural and phylogenetic analyses of Myxobolus hilarii n. sp. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea), a renal parasite of farmed Brycon hilarii in Brazil

Myxobolus hilarii n. sp. was described, based on morphology, histology, ultrastructure and 18S rDNA sequencing, infecting the kidney of Brycon hilarii (Valenciennes 1850) (Characiformes: Bryconidae) taken from fish farms in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Thirteen specimens of B. hilarii were examined and 100% had round, white plasmodia in the kidney. The mature myxospores were rounded, measuring 11.5 ± 0.8 (9.8-13.4) μm in length, 11.0 ± 0.7 (9.7-12.4) μm in width and 7.6 ± 1.0 (6.7-9.0) μm in thickness. Polar capsules were elongated and of equal size, with 6.5 ± 0.4 (6.0-7.2) μm in length and 4.0 ± 0.2 (3.6-5.3) μm in width and their polar filaments had 5 to 7 coils. Histological analysis revealed plasmodial development in the renal tubules, causing compression and deformation of adjacent tissues and destruction of renal tubule cells. Ultrastructural analysis showed direct contact between the plasmodial wall and the host tissue and asynchronous plasmodial development. The phylogenetic analysis of South American myxobolids, based on 18S rDNA sequencing, showed the myxosporeans grouping into two main clades. M. hilarii n. sp. appears as sister species of Myxobolus piraputangae.