Neoparamoeba branchiphila n. sp., and related species of the genus Neoparamoeba Page, 1987: morphological and molecular characterization of selected strains.

A total of 18 Neoparamoeba strains were characterized both morphologically and using the SSU rRNA gene sequences as molecular markers. Nine were isolated from gills of farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., six from sediments sampled in areas of sea-cage farms and three from net material of sea-cages. The newly obtained sequences extended substantially the dataset of Neoparamoeba strains available for phylogenetic analyses, which were used to infer taxonomic relatedness among 32 strains morphologically assigned to this genus. In addition to the N. pemaquidensis and N. aestuarina clades, phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished a third clade with sequences from six strains. Members of this clade are characterized as representatives of a new species, N. branchiphila n. sp. The diagnostic primers for the identification of this species are introduced.