A novel microsporidian parasite, <i>Vairimorpha rumexii</i> sp. nov., from <i>Gastrophysa viridula</i> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): morphological, ultrastructural and molecular characterization
PARASITOLOGY, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1017/s0031182026102467
- Dergi Adı: PARASITOLOGY
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Zoological Record, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
This study describes Vairimorpha rumexii sp. nov., a newly identified microsporidian parasite infecting Gastrophysa viridula, the green dock leaf beetle, in northeastern T & uuml;rkiye. Microscopic examination revealed 2 distinct spore types, with light microscopy and Giemsa staining confirming both disporoblastic and octosporoblastic sporulation cycles characteristic of the genus Vairimorpha. Transmission electron microscopy provided detailed insights into spore ultrastructure, including polar tube configuration, spore wall stratification and nuclear arrangement. Molecular characterization using partial small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and RNA polymerase II gene sequences, combined with phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference), placed V. rumexii sp. nov. in a distinct clade, closely related to but genetically separate from Vairimorpha gastrophysae. Notably, pairwise comparison of SSU rRNA sequences revealed a genetic distance of 0.0608 between the 2 species, supported by 72 nucleotide substitutions and 32 deletions, clearly indicating molecular divergence. The integration of morphological, ultrastructural and multilocus molecular data robustly supports its taxonomic distinctiveness as a novel species. This discovery expands the known diversity of microsporidia associated with Chrysomelidae, highlights the value of integrative taxonomy in resolving cryptic species and contributes to the understanding of T & uuml;rkiye's microsporidian fauna, potentially informing future biological control strategies.