Amblyospora salinarian. sp. (Microsporidia: Amblyosporidae), Parasite ofCulex salinarius(Diptera: Culicidae): Its Life Cycle Stages in an Intermediate Host

Horizontal transmission testing with anAmblyosporaspecies from the mosquitoCulex salinariushas documented the involvement of a copepod intermediate host. Meiospores (one type of uninucleate spore) of theAmblyosporasp. were infectiousper osto femaleMacrocyclops albidusadults. All developmental stages in the copepod had unpaired nuclei (were haplophasic), starting with the sporoplasms from the meiospore, continuing as a succession of schizonts undergoing binary division and ending with sporulation, producing a second type of uninucleate spore. These spores, formed in the ovaries ofM. albidus,were lanceolate, slightly curved and measured 13.23 × 3.85 μm. They infectedC. salinariuslarvae, both male and female, when ingested. In addition, cross-infectivity testing was conducted and demonstrated that whileA. californicafromC. tarsaliswill infectC. salinarius,it does not complete its life cycle in this host. Based on these findings, we conclude thatAmblyosporasp. fromCulex salinariusis a distinct species and assign it the nameAmblyospora salinarian. sp.