Zschokkella icterica sp. nov. (Myxozoa, Myxosporea), a pathogen of wild rabbitfish Siganus luridus (Ruppell, 1829) from the Red Sea

Zschokkella icterica sp. nov. is described from the liver and gall bladder of wild rabbitfish Siganus luridus from the Red Sea. This coelozoic myxosporean produces large (300 × 400 μm) Plasmodia that inhabit the hepatic bile ducts. The species is disporoblastic and pansporoblast forming. Small plasmodia are found in the gall bladder. Spores average 9.9 urn in length, 5.8 μm in width and 3.5 um in thickness, and the polar filament has 3–4 coils. It is suggested that the hepatic bile ducts are the primary target organ, their blockage by the parasite producing cholestasis and duct breakdown. In severe infections, invasion of the liver parenchyma by the parasite occurred. In these cases, the infection was often associated with massive hepatic necrosis, ascites and jaundice.