Chytrid infection of rotifers.

[Ariel Qassis]

A week ago Ive noticed some odd "porcupines" in my street-puddle sample. The centre mass looked like a rotifer, surrounded by a fungal-like growth, and soon Ive discovered some live rotifers with odd inclusions. Some of you know how much I care for rotifers, but I was curious about the parasite.
Not knowing much about such infections, I've started my investigation backwards, from the host, learning which rotifer parasites are the main ones.
Initially, I was distracted by a certain oomycete, known to infect rotifers, whose "fruiting body" was very similar to what I've observed in the sample. But, upon learning more, my 1 flagellum zoospores didn't match oomycetes (a Stramenopile) that possess 2 flagella.
Then, I've focused on the zoospores, and finally I got a match - Chytrids! (Probably Olpidium sp.).
But who is the rotifer? Although it looked like an Epiphanes sp., the trophi had 8 or 9 unci teeth. Later, it was confirmed that in a late revision, some Epiphanes do show such a number.
Luckily, Ive also managed to document its sporelation, and individual zoospores.
Many thanks to those who helped me to solve this murder case:
Russ Shiel, David Patterson, Ofir Hirshberg, Fabian Weston, Holger Weis.
10-100x, Petri dish and slide, DF | NIC | PH

[Jürgen Boschert]

Hi Ariel,

thank you very much for sharing this finding with us. The video is abolutely outrages and of supreme quality.
How did you realize that spotlight in the sporulasion scenes?

[Daniel Scheibenstock]

Hello Ariel,
this is a very exciting topic. Recently there was also some discussion about infected water fleas. I think this is a subject that cannot be discussed often enough, as it involves many fascinating processes.

Best regards,
Daniel

[Spectrum]

Hello Ariel,
This "case" was really interesting and enthralling!🕵
And thank's for always sharing all of your great work with others.
Your topics are pure enrichement and the way your Videos are made is just pure inspiration.
For example the Phase-contrast parts in this Video...
Greetings Holger

[Ariel Qassis]

Thank you all!
Gerald- I did the spotlight while editing, although one could do it with the condenser diaphragm as well.
Problem is, I was already at 100x + 2x optovar, and the condenser cant get that small