First Report of Enteromyxum leei (Myxozoa) in the Black Sea in a Potential Reservoir Host Chromis chromis

Abstract

Damselfish Chromis chromis collected from the Black Sea coasts of Sinop, Turkey, were examined for myxosporeans in June and July 2013. One of 25 healthy fish and 2 dead fish had infections with Enteromyxum leei. Developing plasmodia and fully developed spores were numerously observed in the intestine and gall bladder of infected fish. This finding suggests that E. leei can develop normally in this fish species. Absence of fish farms close to the sampling site suggests that the parasite was not originated from farmed fish. This is the first report of E. leei in the Black Sea.