Mattesia cf. geminata, an ant-pathogenic neogregarine (Apicomplexa: Lipotrophidae) in two Temnothorax species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Abstract

An ant-pathogenic neogregarine in Temnothorax affinis and T. parvulus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is described based on morphological and ultrastructural characteristics. The pathogen infects the hypodermis of the ants. The infection was mainly synchronous so that only gametocysts and oocysts could be observed simultaneously in the host body. Gametogamy resulted in the formation of two oocysts within a gametocyst. The lemon-shaped oocysts measured 11-13μm in length and 8-10μm in width. The surface of the oocysts is not smooth but contains many buds. A ring-shaped line containing rosary-arrayed buds line up in the equatorial plane of the oocyst. These specific characteristics were observed for the first time in neogregarine oocysts from ants. Polar plugs were recognizable clearly by light and electron microscopy. The oocyst wall was quite thick, measuring 775 to 1000nm. Each oocyst contained eight sporozoites. The neogregarines in the two Temnothorax species show many similarities such as the size and shape of the oocysts, a relatively fragile gametocyst membrane, host affinity, and tissue preference. We identified these neogregarines as Mattesia cf. geminata, which is here recorded from natural ant populations in the Old World for the first time. All neogregarine pathogens infecting ants in nature so far have been recorded from the New World. We present the two ant species, Temnothorax affinis and T. parvulus, as new natural hosts for M. cf. geminata. Furthermore, the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of the oocyst of M. cf. geminata are documented by scanning and transmission electron microscopy for the first time.