Ultrastructural localisation of carbohydrates in four Myxosporean parasites

The existence and localisation of carbohydrates in lour myxosporean parasit es was investigated at transmission electron microscope, using lectin histo chemistry techniques. The Myxosporea studied showed different lectin bindin g patterns. N-acetyl-glucosamine or its polymers were predominant in the va lves of Leptotheca sp, and were also present in Sphaerospora dicentrarchi a nd Polysporoplasma spoils ones. Mannose and/or glucose terminals were mainl y detected in S. dicentrarchi and P. spoils valves. Polar capsule walls wer e intensively recognised by Con-A in S, dicentrarchi and with medium intens ity in P. sparis and leptotheca sp. The polar filament was scarcely labelle d except in Leptotheca sp. with BS-I. The sporoplasms of the studied parasi tes were stained with all the lectins tested with each myxosporea, except t hose of Leptotheca sp, with BS-I. Some structures of the developmental stag es of Zschokkella mugilis and leptotheca sp, were stained with BS-l. The po ssible role of these carbohydrate terminals found in the studied Myxosporea is discussed.