Morphology and histopathology of Calyptospora sp. (Apicomplexa: Calyptosporidae) in speckled peacock bass, Cichla temensis Humboldt, 1821 (Perciformes: Cichlidae), from the Marajó-Açu River, Marajó Island, Brazil

Abstract

Several species of coccidia are protozoan parasites that cause infection in a wide variety of animal groups. Calyptospora is an important genus of protozoan, which infests both freshwater and marine fish. The hepatopancreases of 150 speckled peacock bass captured on Marajó Island, Brazil were studied macro- and microscopically. Oocysts were found in 84 (56%) of the specimens in both the examination of the fresh material by compression and the analysis of histological sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Small, circular, homogeneous forms in negative contrast had a mean diameter of 21.2 μm, frequently with pyriform sporocysts, with a mean length of 9.2 μm and width of 3.1 μm, and a thin-walled capsule, were observed in both the hepatic and the pancreatic parenchyma, but were completely devoid of any inflammatory reaction. Calyptospora infections are documented for the first time in the Marajó-Açu River.