DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENDOPARASITIC DINOFLAGELLATE AMOEBOPHYRA-CERATII WITHIN HOST DINOFLAGELLATE SPECIES

The endoparasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya ceratii Koeppen occurs in coastal waters of Nova Scotia within cells of two dinoflagellate hosts, a Scrippsiella species (probably S. trochoidea (Stein) Loeb. III) and Dinophysis norvegica Claparede & Lachman. We describe the development of the endoparasitic stage (the trophont) of A. ceratii within host cells using light and electron microscopy. After entry into the host, the trophont grows and expands until most of the host cell is occupied by the parasite. Growth is marked by a proliferation of trophont nuclei and flagella and by the formation of numerous lobes, each of which possesses a characteristic dinoflagellate amphiesma. The mature endoparasitic trophont is recognized at the light microscopic level as a beehive-shaped structure that consists Of numerous lobes of the developing motile sporont cells and a mastigocoel cavity containing the sporont flagella.