Abstract
Myxobolus dibombensis sp. n. (Cnidaria: Myxosporea: Bivalvulida) is described from the fins of the African carp, Labeobarbus batesii, based on morphological and molecular data. Prevalence of infection was 51.9% (67/129). Ovoid to spherical cyst-like plasmodia were found in the intrasegmental region and among the fin rays. No pathological changes were found in the fish host tissue surrounding the cyst-like plasmodia. Mature myxospores were ovoid in frontal view and lenticular in lateral view, with slightly truncated anterior and rounded posterior ends. Myxospores measured 16.8 (15.8-18.0) μm long and 11.4 (10.0-13.0) μm wide. There was a triangular intercapsular appendix measuring 3.8 (2.6-4.5) μm long. Polar capsules were ovoid and slightly unequal in size, occupying approximately one-third of the myxospore length. The larger polar capsule measured 7 (6-8) μm long and 3.6 (3-4) μm wide, while the smaller one measured 5.8 (4.8-7.0) μm long and 3 (2-4) μm wide. The larger polar capsule contained nine to 11 filament coils, whereas the smaller one contained seven to nine coils. SSU rDNA gene sequence of M. dibombensis sp. n. did not match any sequences available in the GenBank. The similarity with available Myxobolus spp. sequences ranged from 65 to 81%. The novel species clustered with M. algonquinensis, which infects the cyprinid Luxilus cornutus from Canada.