Genetic diversity of Loma acerinae (Microsporidia: Glugeida) from different fish hosts and localities – Short communication

Abstract Loma acerinae is a xenoma-forming fish microsporidium described from common ruffe Gymnocephalus cernua (Perciformes: Percidae) and also found in Ponto-Caspian gobies (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae). This casts doubt on the strict host specificity of this parasite. The largest subunit RNA polymerase II ( rpb1 ) was used as genetic marker parasite isolated six species Perciformes G. Baltic Sea) , Atheriniformes Atherina boyeri Azov Gobiiformes Neogobius spp. Zosterisessor ophiocephalus Black Sea Ponticola kessleri Caspian basin) . Two major haplogroups were with 98.5% identity between groups. Notably, Haplogroup I associated samples n = 6) only, whereas included other 7). These findings confirm broad distribution range L. but indicate that certain patterns host-driven intraspecific polymorphism may exist. Furthermore, study revealed low similarity ribosomal gene sequences type species, morhua (as well genus). suggests loose association within genus, raise need for taxonomic revision