Sphaeromyxa azevedoi n. sp. (Myxozoa: Sphaeromyxidae) infecting the gall bladder of Gobioides grahamae (Perciformes: Gobiidae) in the Amazon region

Sphaeromyxa azevedoi n. sp. is described from the gall bladder of the goby Gobioides grahamae (Gobiidae) captured on the Paracauari River in Salvaterra, on Marajó Island, northern Brazil. A total of 50 G. grahamae specimens were analysed, and 15 (30%) were parasitised by the plasmodia and myxospore of Sphaeromyxa azevedoi n. sp. Large plasmodia were observed floating in the bile. These plasmodia were flat, rounded, oval or elongated, and of varying sizes. The mature myxospores, found singly or in pairs, were 27.1 ± 2.7 (20.5–30.1) μm Length and 3.8 ± 0.2 (3.5–4.4) μm Width in the valvular view. The myxospore has two polar capsules of equal size, 8.1 ± 0.6 (7.4–9.4) μm in length and 2.9 ± 0.2 (2.3–3.3) μm in width. A polar tubule was observed in each capsule, arranged perpendicularly to the principal axis, with three or four coils. The histological analysis showed that the plasmodia and myxospore are located in the lumen of the gall bladder, arranged in pairs, and the epithelium of the gall bladder presented multifocal necrosis. The SSU rDNA of Sphaeromyxa azevedoi n. sp. clusters in the ‘balbianii’ group of the Sphaeromyxa clade. The morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny of Sphaeromyxa azevedoi n. sp. support its classification as a new species of the genus Sphaeromyxa , which represents an important advancement in the understanding of the diversity of the myxozoan parasite fauna of Brazilian fishes, especially considering that the new species may be detrimental to the host, a commercially important Brazilian fish species.