ABSTRACT

Captive refugia for four species of plethodontid salamanders were established. Following this successful maintenance, two of the species presented with kyphosis. In one of these species (San Marcos salamander, Eurycea nana), microsporidial organisms within the epaxial musculature were identified in post-mortem histopathology and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction rDNA sequence as most closely similar to Encephalitozoon helium. However, ultrastructural analysis and further rDNA sequencing suggested a new species of Pleistophora. In these affected individuals, the microsporidial infection produced kyphosis resulting from inflammation and fibrosis of the epaxial musculature to the parasite.