Dermocystidium
Encyclopedia
Dermocystidium is a genus of cyst forming parasitic protists of fish, which are the causative agents of dermocystidiosis.
It was subsequently identified as one of a group of fish parasites (the "DRIP clade") of previously uncertain affiliation, which were later identified as non-animal, non-fungi opisthokont
s, and renamed as Ichthyosporea, and after expansion as Mesomycetozoa. Parasites of crustacea (Dermocystidium daphniae) and molluscs (Dermocystidium marimum) placed in this genus have been found to be stramenopiles, and reclassified as Lymphocystidium daphniae and Perkinsus marinus
respectively.
The frog parasite Dermocystidium ranae has recently been segregated as Amphibiocystidium ranae.
Taxonomic History
The genus Dermocystidium was described in 1907. It was previously thought to be a genus of fungal parasites, related to thraustochytrids and labrynthulids (both those groups are now considered to be stramenopiles rather than fungi). Other biologists considered it to be a sporozoan protist.It was subsequently identified as one of a group of fish parasites (the "DRIP clade") of previously uncertain affiliation, which were later identified as non-animal, non-fungi opisthokont
Opisthokont
The opisthokonts or "Fungi/Metazoa group" are a broad group of eukaryotes, including both the animal and fungus kingdoms, together with the eukaryotic microorganisms that are sometimes grouped in the paraphyletic phylum Choanozoa...
s, and renamed as Ichthyosporea, and after expansion as Mesomycetozoa. Parasites of crustacea (Dermocystidium daphniae) and molluscs (Dermocystidium marimum) placed in this genus have been found to be stramenopiles, and reclassified as Lymphocystidium daphniae and Perkinsus marinus
Perkinsus marinus
Perkinsus marinus is a prevalent pathogen of oysters, causing massive mortality in oyster populations. The disease it causes is known as "Dermo" ,and is characterized by proteolytic degradation of oyster tissues...
respectively.
The frog parasite Dermocystidium ranae has recently been segregated as Amphibiocystidium ranae.
Species
- Dermocystidium anguillae - a gill parasite of eels
- Dermocystidium branchialis - a gill parasite of salmonids
- Dermocystidium cochliopodii
- Dermocystidium cyprini - a gill parasite of carp
- Dermocystidium erschowii - a skin parasite of carp
- Dermocystidium fennicum - a skin parasite of perch
- Dermocystidium gasterostei - a parasite of sticklebacks
- Dermocystidium granulosum
- Dermocystidium guyenotii
- Dermocystidium koi - a skin parasite of carp
- Dermocystidium kwangtungensis
- Dermocystidium macrophagi
- Dermocystidium nemachili
- Dermocystidium percae - a skin parasite of perch
- Dermocystidium pusula
- Dermocystidium salmonis - a gill parasite of salmon
- Dermocystidium sinensis
- Dermocystidium vejdovskyi - a parasite of pike