[Preliminary observations of two microsporidian hyperparasites of Acanthocephala in marine and lagoon fishes].

Microsporidium acanthocephali n. sp. and Microsporidium propinqui n. sp. are two microsporidian species hyperparasitic in the tegumentary syncytium of salt-water fishes. Their ultrastructural study shows that both species have diplocaryotic meronts and spores, anisofilar polar filaments; meronts and some sporogonic stages of M. acanthocephali are surrounded by a parasitic vacuole. Spores of both parasites are oviform; those of M. acanthocephali are gigantic, 12-14 micron long and 6-7 micron broad, those of M. propinqui are only 3-4 micron X 1.25-1.50 micron. A poor knowledge of some sporogonic aspects prevents us from all precise generic assigning of these two parasites which may coexist in the same Helminth.