Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Mouse Footpad Inoculation Model to Study Viral-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses
Published on: June 14, 2020
Pseudoloma neurophilia: a retrospective and descriptive study of nervous system and muscle infections, with new
Sean Thomas Spagnoli1, Lan Xue, Katrina N Murray
11 Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University , Corvallis, Oregon.
Abstract:
Pseudoloma neurophilia is a microsporidium of zebrafish (Danio rerio) that preferentially infects neural tissue. It is one of the most common pathogens of zebrafish in research laboratories based on diagnostic data from the Zebrafish International Resource Center diagnostic service (Eugene, OR). Five hundred fifty-nine zebrafish infected with P. neurophilia submitted to ZIRC from 86 laboratories between the years 2000 and 2013 were examined via histopathology to develop a retrospective study of the features of neural microsporidiosis. Parasite clusters (PCs) occurred in distinct axonal swellings, frequently with no associated inflammation. Inflammation was observed in viable cell bodies distant from PCs. Multiple PCs occasionally occurred within a single axon, suggesting axonal transport. PCs occurred most frequently in the spinal cord ventral white matter (40.3% of all PCs) and the spinal nerve roots (25.6%). Within the rhombencephalon, PCs were most common in the primary descending white matter tracts. Within the rhombencephalon gray matter, PCs occurred most frequently in the reticular formation and the griseum centrale (61% and 39%, respectively). High numbers of PCs within brain and spinal cord structures mediating startle responses and anxiety suggest that related behaviors could be altered by neural microsporidiosis. Infection could, therefore, introduce unacceptable variation in studies utilizing these behaviors.
Insights
Pseudoloma neurophilia, a common zebrafish pathogen, infects neural tissue, forming parasite clusters in axons. This neural microsporidiosis can alter behaviors, potentially impacting research validity.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Zebrafish Research
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudoloma neurophilia is a prevalent microsporidian parasite affecting zebrafish (Danio rerio).
- Zebrafish are critical models in biomedical research, making pathogen control essential.
- This parasite preferentially targets neural tissues, posing a unique challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the histopathological features of neural microsporidiosis caused by Pseudoloma neurophilia in zebrafish.
- To identify the specific neural locations and patterns of P. neurophilia infection.
- To assess the potential impact of neural microsporidiosis on zebrafish behavior and research outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective histopathological analysis of 559 infected zebrafish brains and spinal cords.
- Examination of diagnostic data from the Zebrafish International Resource Center (ZIRC) spanning 2000-2013.
- Detailed mapping of parasite cluster (PC) distribution within neural structures.
Main Results:
- Parasite clusters (PCs) were found in axonal swellings, often without inflammation.
- Inflammation was observed in distant viable cell bodies.
- PCs were most frequent in the spinal cord ventral white matter (40.3%) and nerve roots (25.6%).
- In the rhombencephalon, PCs predominantly occurred in descending white matter tracts and specific gray matter nuclei (reticular formation, griseum centrale).
Conclusions:
- Pseudoloma neurophilia infection concentrates in specific neural pathways, including those involved in motor control and behavior.
- The presence of parasite clusters in neural tissue suggests potential axonal transport.
- Neural microsporidiosis in zebrafish may alter behaviors, introducing variability into research studies, particularly those investigating startle responses and anxiety.
More Related Videos
04:01Author Spotlight: Advanced Integrated Model for Sepsis-Induced Myopathy and Single-Cell Metabolic Analysis
Published on: June 14, 2024
13:12Transsynaptic Tracing from Peripheral Targets with Pseudorabies Virus Followed by Cholera Toxin and Biotinylated Dextran Amines Double Labeling
Published on: September 14, 2015