KIDNEY MYXOSPOREAN PARASITES IN RED DRUM SCIAENOPS-OCELLATUS (SCIAENIDAE) FROM FLORIDA, USA, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF PARVICAPSULA-RENALIS N-SP

Two species of myxosporean parasites were found in red drum Sciaenops ocellatus (L.) from Florida, USA. These species were located in the posterior kidney and are confirmed as Henneguya ocellata Iversen & Yokel 1963 and Parvicapsula renalis n. sp. Intraluminal developmental stages and mature spores of P. renalis n. sp. were observed. In front view, mature spores were elongate (9.5 X 3.55 to 4.7 mum), asymmetrical and slightly curved, with one valve slightly larger than the other. The pyriform polar capsules (3.0 x 2.0 mum) pointed in towards each other and were situated in a raised 'head' region that appeared to be separated from the spore cavity by a 'membrane'. The polar filaments had 5 to 8 evenly spaced coils.