Microsporidan spore structure as revealed by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study spore surface morphology of the microsporidans Nosema necatrix, N. whitei, Parathelohania opacita, P. legeri, and Pleistophora sp. Nosema and Pleistophora spores were similar, having spores with either smooth or highly rugose surfaces. The surface of Parathelohania spores was characterized by four to six parallel ridges joining to form an apical ring. Polar filaments extruded from N. necatrix spores, by pressure, demonstrated the nature of the polar filament, anchor of the polar filament, terminal pore, and sporoplasm. The demonstration of different morphological characters by SEM makes evident its applicability to the identification of Microsporida.