A new microsporidian parasite from the muscular tissue of the body wall of the Piute sculpin from Lake Tahoe is described. The name Plistophora tahoensis is suggested in recognition of the habitat of the host and the uniqueness of the fauna of the lake. Fresh spores were ovoidal and measured 6.05 ± 0.14 by 3.03 ± 0.11 microns for spore length and width, respectively. Fixed and stained spores were somewhat smaller. The polar filament measured 140.9 ±3.8 microns which was 23.28 times the mean spore length. Cysts, which measured 0.4 to 0.9 mm long, were present in the abdominal body wall between the points of insertion of the pelvic fins. The macroscopic cysts were composed of several smaller cysts derived from infected muscle bundles. Cysts displaced the muscles and weakened the body wall. Uninucleate, binucleate, and multinucleate schizogonic stages were recognized. Sporogony resulted in the development of a sporonts measuring 15–24 microns which produced 20 to 48 spores.
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1 July 1969
Plistophora tahoensis sp. n (MICROSPORIA, NOSEMATIDAE) IN THE BODY WALL OF THE PIUTE SCULPIN (Cottus beldingii) FROM LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA-NEVADA
ROBERT C. SUMMERFELT,
VERLYN W. EBERT