EPIZOOTIOLOGY AND HISTOPATHOLOGY OF Chloromyxum trijugum (MYXOSPORA: MYXOSPORIDA) IN CENTRARCHID FISHES FROM IOWA

Abstract

The gall bladder parasite, Chloromyxum trijugum, shows marked host specificity within the sunfish family Centrarchidae. During 1977-78 80% of 230 bluegills (lepomis macrochirus) in Iowa were infected. Prevalence in green sunfish (L. cyanellus) was lower (17%); one of 2 specimens of the hybrid L. macrochirus x L. cyanellus was infected; orangespotted sunfish (L. humilis) and hybrids (L. humilis x L. macrochirus) were not infected. Intensity of infection in bluegills varied throughout the year. Prevalence of free-floating plasmodia in bluegill gall bladders was highest (100%) during winter and spring months, and decreased to 40-50% during summer and fall. Prevalence of attached plasmodia may remain 80-100% throughout the year. Sporulation and plasmotomy were observed year-round. Plasmodia were attached to underlying epithelial cells by pseudopodia-like projections and were associated with various stages of breakdown in the mucosal layer.