Dicyema sphyrocephalum (Phylum Dicyemida: Dicyemidae) isolated from Korean common octopus Callistoctopus minor in Korea

• Published in: Journal of veterinary science (Suwŏn-si, Korea) Vol. 21; no. 6; p. e86
• Main Authors: Whang, Ilson, Lee, Beomseok, Krishnan, Rahul, Nakajima, Hiroaki, Furuya, Hidetaka, Shin, Sang Phil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Korean Society of Veterinary Science 01-11-2020; 대한수의학회
• Subjects: Original; 수의학
• ISSN: 1229-845X; 1976-555X
• DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2020.21.e86

BACKGROUNDDicyemids are parasites found in the renal sac of cephalopods. The first species of dicyemid was found from kidneys of the Korean common octopus Callistoctopus minor. OBJECTIVESThis study aimed to identify the dicyemid and investigate the effect on renal sac of host. METHODSIn this study, we compared the morphological characteristics of isolate to dicyemids (Dicyema sphyrocephalum, Dicyema clavatum, and Dicyema dolichocephalum) reported from C. minor in Japan. We compared the 18S ribosomal RNA (rDNA) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of isolate to the sequences of D. shyrocephalum and D. clavatum. The infected octopuses renal tissues were histologically compared with the tissues of uninfected individuals. RESULTSThe morphological characteristic of this isolated species corresponds to D. sphyrocephalum. The sequences similarities of 18S rDNA and COI gene of isolate are 99.7% and 98.1% with D. sphyrocephalum. We observed morphological changes in the epithelia folds of kidney at the dicyemids attached areas. CONCLUSIONSThe present study identified the isolate as D. sphyrocephalum and this is the first report of dicyemid species from Republic of Korea. Further studies on the effects of dicyemids on growth and health status of cephalopods will be needed.