The first record of the Tetrahymena pyriformis complex, Ciliophora, as an endobiont of ostracods

Abstract

Tetrahymena pyriformis complex, Ciliophora, so far have been registered as free-living organisms of the fresh water and marine ecosystems, as well as the ecto- and endobionts of the various aquatic species. This complex consists of the total of 14 species including all transitional groups from the free-living forms, ectocomensals, ectoparasites, endocomensals to the endoparasites. The samples of the ostracode crustaceans were collected from 34 different sites situated in the region of the middle and south Banat (Vojvodina, Serbia) during the period 2002-2003. It was noticed that the species Tonnacypris lutaria (Koch, 1838) was attacked by the ciliates of the Tetrahymena pyriformis complex located in the area among lamellas of the shell and in the legs. Tetrahymena - infections may cause damages of the epithelia tissues, necroses, edemas and hemorrhagia. So far this complex of the species has been described as an ecto- or endobiont of the crustaceans of the orders Cladocera, Amphipoda, Isopoda and Decapoda. Thus, these results may be treated as the first finding for the crustaceans of the class Ostracoda.