Ultrastructural and molecular characterization of Nosema alticae sp. nov. (Microsporidia: Nosematidae), pathogen of the flea beetle, Altica hampei Allard, 1867 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

In this study, the first microsporidian pathogen from Altica hampei (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is described based on light microscopy, ultrastructural characteristics and comparative 16S SSU rDNA analysis. All developmental stages of the microsporidium are diplokaryotic and in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm. Giemsa-stained mature spores are oval in shape and measured 3.82 ± 0.35 ?m in length and 2.54 ± 0.27 ?m in width. The polar filament of the binucleate spores is isofilar with 12–14 coils. Coils are 140.28 ± 4.88 nm (135.59–147.06; n = 36) in diameter and consist of six concentric layers of different electron density and thickness. The spores have a relatively thick (161.72 ± 29.19 nm) trilaminar spore wall. Morphological, ultrastructural and molecular features indicate that the described microsporidium belongs to the genus Nosema and is named Nosema alticae sp. nov. © 2019FEN-BAP-A-140316-39A part of the study was supported by the Scientific Research Committee of Giresun University ( FEN-BAP-A-140316-39 ). The TEM analysis was carried out in Eskişehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU) Central Research Laboratory, Research and Application Centre (ARUM). We are thankful to Prof. İlknur Dağ and her team for making this study possible and for her valuable comments, to Prof. Dr. İrfan Aslan for insect identification. We are grateful to Asst. Prof. Onur Tosun for reading the manuscript and for his valuable comments. Appendix