JOURNAL OF INVERTEBRATE PATHOLOGY 53, 278-280 (1989)

A Hepatopancreatic Microsporidian in Pond-Reared Tiger Shrimp,

Penaeus monodon, from Malaysia

Microsporidian parasites are known from containing intraluminal spore-like bodies

a number of different wild and cultured pe- were completely necrotic, with a multiple
naeid species in North America (J. A. melanized hemocytic encapsulation replac-
Couch, Fish. Bull. 76, l-44, 1978; V. ing the epithelium. Edema and an increased
Sprague, 1977 in “Comparative number of hemocytes in interstitial tissue
Pathobiology,” L. A. Bulla, Jr., and T. C. was a generalized change in affected he-
Cheng, Eds., Vol. 2, pp. 335-386, Plenum patopancreases.
Press, New York). More recently, Electron microscopy of thin-sectioned
M. L. C. Baticados and G. L. Enriques Agar IOOlAraldite-embedded hepatopan-
(Nut. Appl. Sci. Bull. 34,255-271, 1982) de- cress recovered from Paraplast Plus em-
scribed a microsporidian infection of Pe- bedded specimens confirmed the presence
naeus merguiensis from the Philippines af- of typical thick-walled microsporidian
fecting the ovary of adults. This communi- spores (Fig. 3). Due to fixation inappropri-
cation reports a microsporidian infection of ate for electron microscopy, details of
P. monodon hepatopancreatocytes associ- sporoplasm and extrusion apparatus were
ated with low production in brackishwater not readily apparent, nor could micro-
pond culture. sporidial developmental stages be deter-
P. monodon juveniles were collected mined in the cell profiles examined. In
from two shrimp farms for diagnostic exam- stained sections, at the center of the oval
ination during September and October spores, a stained band separated unstrained
1987. Both farms, in Sarawak, East Malay- areas at either end. Spores measured 1.9 *
sia, and Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia, had 0.2 km by 1.4 ? 0.2 p,rn (n = 60) in differ-
histories of low production, slow growth ential interference contrast microscopy of
rates, and occasional mortalities. Speci- stained sections. The microsporidian infec-
mens collected were darkened, small, and tion was entirely restricted to hepatopan-
lethargic, with no gross tissue lesions. Tis- creatocytes. While further electron micro-
sues were fixed in Davidson’s solution, scope studies are necessary, the absence of
stored in 50% ethanol, and processed rou- a pansporoblast membrane and diffuse dis-
tinely for light microscope examination. tribution of many single spores in infected
Histological examination revealed 3 out host cells are indicative of a microsporidian
of 9 and 2 out of 6 specimens, from each in the genus Ameson.
farm, had marked hepatopancreatic In two specimens, tissues other than the
changes (Fig. 1). Numerous tubules in hepatopancreas were also abnormal. There
proximal hepatopancreatic areas were di- was necrosis and marked hemocytic intlam-
lated and lined with flattened epithelial mation of midgut epithelium, similar to le-
cells, and their lumens contained pale gran- sions described in hemocytic enteritis (HE)
ular debris or necrotic cells and small, oval following toxic algae ingestion (D. V.
refractile spore-like bodies. Over 40% of all Lightner, J. Invertebr. Pathol. 32, 139-150,
hepatopancreatocytes were observed to 1978). Severe P. monodon baculovirus
contain similar intracytoplasmic spore-like (MBV) infections were also present (D. V.
bodies (Fig. 2). These bodies, diffuse Lightner, R. M. Redman, and J. A. Bell,
throughout the cytoplasm, did not appear Aquaculture 32, 209-233, 1983).
to be enclosed in vacuoles. Several tubules The source of the microsporidian is un-
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