Observational study describes new urosporid gregarine Gonospora axinopsidae, indicating an expanded host range.
Urosporid gregarines are an understudied group of coelomic and intestinal extracellular parasites of marine invertebrates. To date, they have been recorded in various hosts, including annelids, nemerteans, echinoderms and gastropods. In the present paper, we describe a new urosporid gregarine, Gonospora axinopsidae sp. nov., the first in this family known to infect a bivalve mollusc, Axinopsida orbiculata. Trophozoites and oocysts within gametocysts were observed within the bivalve's mantle cavity and hemocoel. The morphology and ultrastructure of these life stages are described using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The 18S rRNA sequence of Gonospora axinopsidae sp. nov. suggests strong phylogenetic affinity with the genus Difficilina, which infects the intestine of nemerteans. This report increases the known host range of urosporid gregarines. The described morphological and genetic characteristics of Gonospora axinopsidae sp. nov. can support further studies aiming to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within marine gregarines.
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