Pleistophora hyphessobryconis unicellular, spore-forming protozoan parasite.[1] It is the causative agent of "neon tetra disease." P. hyphessobryconis is a known pathogen of the zebra danio, a model organism used in many research laboratories.[2]
| Pleistophora hyphessobryconis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Phylum: | Microsporidia |
| Family: | Pleistophoridae |
| Genus: | Pleistophora |
| Species: | P. hyphessobryconis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pleistophora hyphessobryconis Schäperclaus. 1941
| |
Disease
editThe primary host of Pleistophora hyphessobryconis is the neon tetra; however, this parasite demonstrates a broad range of host specificity and has been isolated from numerous species of aquarium fish.[3] P. hyphessobryconis primarily infects the skeletal muscle with no involvement of smooth or cardiac muscle.[2] There is minimal inflammation until the spores are released from their intracellular environment. Spores have been observed to spread to other organs within macrophages of infected fish. Infections are characterized with a high parasitic load with over half of the myofibers containing the parasite in some fish.[4]
Treatment
editDiagnosis of Pleistophora hyphessobryconis infection is made through visual microscopy of damaged tissue.[5] The Lilly-Twort and Accustain Gram stain procedures are effective at visualizing spores within infected tissue.[2] Some veterinary diagnostic laboratories offer PCR testing for this parasite.
There are no treatment options available. Fish infected with P. hyphessobryconis should be removed from the enclosure to prevent the spread of the disease.[5]
References
edit- ^ Schäperclaus, W (1941). "Eine neue Mikrosporidien-krankheit beim Neonfisch und seinen Verwandten". Wochenschrift für Aquarienund Terrarienkunde. 39 (40): 381–384.
- ^ a b c Sanders, Jl; Lawrence, C; Nichols, Dk; Brubaker, Jf; Peterson, Ts; Murray, Kn; Kent, Ml (2010-07-26). "Pleistophora hyphessobryconis (Microsporidia) infecting zebrafish Danio rerio in research facilities". Diseases of Aquatic Organisms. 91 (1): 47–56. doi:10.3354/dao02245. ISSN 0177-5103. PMC 4155925. PMID 20853741.
- ^ Steffens, W (1962). "Der heutige stand der verbreitung von Plistophora hyphessobryconis Schäperclaus 1941 (Sporozoa, Microsporidia)". Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde. 21 (6): 535–541. doi:10.1007/BF00260258.
- ^ Kent, Michael L.; Sanders, Justin L. (2020), "Important Parasites of Zebrafish in Research Facilities", The Zebrafish in Biomedical Research, Elsevier, pp. 479–494, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-812431-4.00040-3, ISBN 978-0-12-812431-4, retrieved 2024-08-08
- ^ a b Francis-Floyd, R; Petty, B (Feb 2020). "Disorders and Diseases of Fish". Merck Veterinary Manual. Retrieved 8 August 2024.