DAO 61:95-102 (2004)  -  doi:10.3354/dao061095

ABSTRACT: Actinospore infection of oligochaetes collected from the mud of 2 freshwater biotopes in South Africa was studied. Using the Œcell-well plate method¹, a new aurantiactinomyxon type was found in 1.1% of the examined Branchiura sowerbyi oligochaete specimens from the Rietvlei River, north of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. In 1.5% of B. sowerbyi collected in a pond (Padda Dam), near the Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, the same aurantiactinomyxon type was found. Infected oligochaetes were found only after collection and no actinosporean release was recorded in Branchiura specimens kept alive for several weeks. Actinospore infection showed a high intensity in oligochaetes in both positive cases. Until now, no actinosporean stages of myxosporeans have been described from South Africa. The aurantiactinospore type presented in this communication differs from the known types already described in the literature.

KEY WORDS: Myxosporea · Aurantiactinomyxon · Actinospore · Branchiura sowerbyi · Oligochaete · Alternate host · Padda Dam · Gauteng · Rietvlei River · South Africa