Sporozoon tincae, A pathogenic parasite of the tench

Abstract

Sporozoon Tincae Volf & Dvořak, 1928, is the cause of a fatal disease of the tench (Tinca tinca) in fish-ponds in south Bohemia. We can distinguish in its life cycle two different stages, multiplication by repeated binary fission, resembling schizogony and by sporogony with the formation of elliptical spores measuring 1.5–2 by 0.5–1 μ. The development of all these stages occurs in the cytoplasm of histiocytes. A detailed description of the life cycle is given. This parasite should be placed provisionally in the order Haplosporidia.

Sporozoon tincae infection in tench. An ultrastructural investigation

“…Following the first report by Volf & Dvoiak (1928), Sporozoon tincae was described in detail by Jirovec et al (1947). The comparison of these descriptions with our results give us reason to believe that the same causative microorganisms are involved.…”

“…Editorial Responsibility: Managing Editor According to their light microscopical observation of schizogony and sporogony, Jirovec et al (1947) assigned the microorganisms to the Haplosporidia. We suggest relating the microorganisms to the bacteria since no nucleus appeared ultrastructurally.…”

“…The disease ascribed to Sporozoon tincae occurred in southern Bohemia (present Czech Republic). The symptoms and the light microscopy of the causative agent were redescribed by Jirovec et al (1947). In contrast to the disease in Bohemia which, with a mortality rate of up to 90%, reflects a widespread condition, those instances reported from northern Germany were only individual cases, which occurred regularly in the autopsy mater-'Address for correspondence: Experimental Pathology, German Primate Centre (DPZ), Kellnerweg 4.…”

A review of the diseases and contaminant related mortalities of tench (Tinca tinca L.)

“…The course of the disease was always chronic, there were 3-9 months elapsed between the first clinical signs and the fish deaths. Other than a further report of the disease by Jirovec et al (1946), there have been few reports on the occurrence of this disease. Lom et al (1989) included in S. tincae among microorganisms traditionally reported among protozoa parasiting on fish whose taxonomic status was unclear.…”