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New microsporidia parasitizing bark lice (Insecta: Psocoptera)
Yuliya Y Sokolova1, Igor M Sokolov, Christopher E Carlton
1Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 4 Tikhoretsky Ave. 194064, St. Petersburg, Russia. jumicro@yahoo.com
Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
|April 6, 2010
Summary
Microsporidia infections were discovered in two bark louse species from Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This study describes two new microsporidia species, Antonospora psocopterae and Mockfordia xanthocaeciliae, marking the first record in the insect order Psocoptera.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Entomology
- Parasitology
- Molecular Phylogenetics
Background:
- Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites with a wide host range.
- The insect order Psocoptera (bark lice) has not been previously documented as hosts for microsporidia.
- Faunal surveys in protected areas like Great Smoky Mountains National Park are crucial for discovering novel organisms and host-parasite interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize microsporidia infecting bark lice collected in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
- To establish the first record of microsporidia in the insect order Psocoptera.
- To describe new microsporidia species using morphological and molecular data.
Main Methods:
- Collection of bark lice (Xanthocaecilius sommermanae and Polypsocus corruptus) using a canopy Malaise trap.
- Diagnosis of microsporidia infection via light microscopy, PCR amplification, and electron microscopy.
- Molecular analysis of SSUrDNA sequences for phylogenetic placement.
- Morphological characterization of microsporidia spores.
Main Results:
- Four distinct microsporidia infections were detected in the sampled bark lice, corresponding to four SSUrDNA sequences.
- Two new species are described: Antonospora psocopterae gen. n. sp. n. and Mockfordia xanthocaeciliae gen. n. sp. n.
- Phylogenetic analyses placed A. psocopterae within the Antonospora-Paranosema clade and M. xanthocaeciliae within a clade with Encephalitozoon spp.
- Propylene glycol fixation proved effective for subsequent DNA and morphological analyses, indicating its utility for future surveys.
Conclusions:
- This study reports the first instance of microsporidia infection in the order Psocoptera.
- The discovery of two new species, including a new genus, expands our understanding of microsporidian diversity.
- The effectiveness of propylene glycol fixation offers a practical method for future microsporidia surveys in preserved insect collections.
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