MICROSPORIDIA 327 



Genus Spirogliigca Leger et Hesse, 1924 (for Spiroucma 



Leger et Hesse, 1922; syn. Spirospora ^ Kudo, 1925) 

 Genus Toxoglugea Leger et Hesse, 1924 (for Toxonenia 

 Leger et Hesse, 1922; syn. Toxospora - Kudo, 1925) 

 Suborder dicnidea Leger et Hesse, 1922 

 Family telomyxid^ Leger et Hesse, 191 o 

 Genus Telomyxa Leger et Hesse, 19 10 



THE SPORE 



As in the case of myxosporidia, the spore is perhaps the most 

 important stage of a microsporidian from the taxonomic stand- 

 point, which fact is widely recognized. The vegetative stage of a 

 microsporidian possesses without doubt its own characteristic ap- 

 pearance and structure, yet the present optical apparatus and 

 technique do not allow one to determine the microsporidian nature 

 of an organism unless one sees its spore stage. Aside from its 

 taxonomic importance, the microsporidian spore possesses interest 

 to the protozoologist in that it is probably one of the smallest 

 protozoan cells and it contains a unique structure, known as the 

 polar filament, which is ordinarily long and fine. As in other spore- 

 producing forms of microorganisms, the spore becomes the source 

 of infection to new hosts which are often animals useful to man. 

 It is, therefore, the most important phase in a microsporidian from 

 the economic standpoint also. For this reason, one section for the 

 spore will not be out of place. 



The form of microsporidian spores varies somewhat among 

 dift'erent genera and is used as the basis for the family differentia- 

 tion. The great majority of the spores are oval, ovocylindrical or 

 pyriform with various intermediate forms; in some cases, they 

 may be spherical, reniform, tubular, bacilliform, crescentic, comma- 

 form or even spiral. Although there are certain species such as 

 Mrazekia mrazcki, in which a diversity in form of spore was noted 

 and also a number of species in which abnormal spores were noted 



'Without knowledge of Leger and Hesse's paper (1924) in which these 

 two authors proposed Spiroglngea and Toxoglugea respectively for 

 Spironema and Toxonenia which names had been preoccupied, the writer 

 proposed to substitute the latter two by Spirospora and Toxospora (Kudo, 

 1925). These two names therefore become synonymous with Spiroglugea 

 and Toxoglugea respectively. The writer wishes to thank Dr. C. W. Stiles 

 for kind advice in this connection. 



