Myxosporea

A class of Myxozoa with spores containing one to six (usually two) polar capsules, each containing a coiled polar filament; parasitic in the celom or tissues of cold-blooded vertebrates, especially fishes. Important genera include Ceratomyxa, Hanneguya, Leptotheca, Myxidium, and Myxobolus.

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Myxo·spor·ea (mik″so-sporґe-ə) [myxo- + spore] a class of histozoic or celozoic parasitic protozoa (phylum Myxozoa) found in cold-blooded vertebrates, having spores with one or two sporoplasms and one to six (typically two) polar capsules, each capsule with a coiled polar tube, the probable function of which is anchorage to the host's tissues. The spore membrane usually has two, sometimes up to six, valves. It comprises two orders: Bivalvulida and Multivalvulida.