Search

A Minchinia sp. (Haplosporidia: Haplosporidiidae) parasite was identified infecting rock oysters and morphologically described by Hine and Thorne (2002) using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The parasite was associated with up to 80% mortality in the host species and it is suspected that the parasite would be a major impediment to the development of a tropical rock oyster aquaculture industry in northern Western Australia. However, attempts to identify the parasite following the development of a specific probe for Haplosporidium nelsoni were unsuccessful. The SSU region of the parasite's rRNA gene was later characterized in our laboratory and an in situ hybridization assay for the parasite was developed. This study names the parasite as Minchinia occulta n sp. and morphologically describes the parasite using histology, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The non-spore stages were unusual in that they consisted primarily of uninucleate stages reminiscent of Bonamia spp. The parasite's spores were ovoid to circular shaped and measured 4·5 μm–5·0 μm×3·5–4·1 μm in size. The nucleus of the sporoplasm measured 1·5–2·3 μm and was centrally located. The spores were covered in a branching network of microtubule-like structures that may degrade as the spore matures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies the morphology, pathology, and prevalence of Klossiella quimrensis (Apicomplexa) by researchers in Western Australia. The researchers diagnosed klossiellosis by histology of renal tissue collected during necropsy of 20 Perameles bougainville. It was found out that the infection is indirectly associated with mild multifocal interstitial lymphocystic nephritis and is likely to be only minimally pathogenic in otherwise healthy individuals.

Feces from western barred bandicoots, Perameles bougainville, examined during routine monitoring of captive breeding colonies and wild populations were frequently found to contain oocysts. Fecal oocysts from 1 individual housed at Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre were allowed to sporulate in 2% potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) at room temperature. Sporulated oocysts are subspheroidal 18.8 X 17.9 (16.9-21.0 x 16.0-19.9) microm, with length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.05 (1.00-1.15), lack a micropyle and oocyst residuum, but they usually have a polar granule within a smooth trilaminate oocyst wall 1.0 (0.7-1.3) microm thick. Sporocysts are ovoid, 9.1 x 7.0 (8.1-10.8 x 6.1-8.6) microm, with L/W ratio of 1.32 (1.04-1.51), have a Stieda body, sporocyst residuum, and 2 comma-shaped sporozoites, each containing 2 spheroidal refractile bodies. Sporulation takes 2-5 days at room temperature. This is the first formal description of an Eimeria species parasitic in the order Peramelemorphia.