Sphaerospora festivus n. sp., a parasite of the flag cichlid, Mesonauta festivus (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from eastern Amazon, Brazil

Abstract The present study describes a new species of the genus Sphaerospora found in urinary bladder flag cichlid, Mesonauta festivus collected Corre Água district municipality Macapá, Amapá State (Brazil). includes morphological and phylogenetic analyses parasite, to determine relationship with related myxosporean species. has polysporous plasmodia, which vary size shape. mature myxospores are subspherical shape valvar view. In sutural view, 5.3±0.2 (5.2-5.6) μm length 7.0±0.7 (6.3-7.7) width, two piriform polar capsules equal size, 2.5±0.2 (2.3-2.8) 1.8±0.2 (1.6-2.0) width. partial sequence 18S rRNA gene confirmed status determined species.The sum evidence indicates that, n. sp. belongs family Sphaerosporidae, is first record from Brazil.