A novel microsporidian parasite, Vairimorpha rumexii sp. nov., from Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): morphological, ultrastructural and molecular characterization
- 1Maçka Vocational School, Department of the Veterinary Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, Türkiye
- 2Maçka Vocational School, Department of the Chemistry and Chemical Processing Technology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Türkiye
- 3Espiye Vocational School, Department of the Crop and Animal Production, Giresun University, Türkiye
Abstract
This study describes Vairimorpha rumexii sp. nov., a newly identified microsporidian parasite infecting Gastrophysa viridula, the green dock leaf beetle, in northeastern Türkiye. 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 Türkiye’s microsporidian fauna, potentially informing future biological control strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{tosun2026novel,
title = {{A novel microsporidian parasite, Vairimorpha rumexii sp. nov., from Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): morphological, ultrastructural and molecular characterization}},
author = {Onur Tosun and Çağrı Bekircan and Hilal Yıldırım},
journal = {Parasitology},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1017/s0031182026102467},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182026102467},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - A novel microsporidian parasite, Vairimorpha rumexii sp. nov., from Gastrophysa viridula (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae): morphological, ultrastructural and molecular characterization
AU - Onur Tosun
AU - Çağrı Bekircan
AU - Hilal Yıldırım
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/21
JO - Parasitology
DO - 10.1017/s0031182026102467
UR - https://doi.org/10.1017/s0031182026102467
AB - This study describes Vairimorpha rumexii sp. nov., a newly identified microsporidian parasite infecting Gastrophysa viridula, the green dock leaf beetle, in northeastern Türkiye. 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 Türkiye’s microsporidian fauna, potentially informing future biological control strategies.
SN - 0031-1820
SN - 1469-8161
ER -