Morphology and SSU rDNA sequences of Ortholinea orientalis (Shul'man and Shul'man-Albova, 1953) (Myxozoa, Ortholineidae) from Clupea harengus and Sprattus sprattus (Clupeidae) from Denmark.

Ortholinea orientalis (Shul'man and Shul'man-Albova 1953) Shul'man 1956 is redescribed from Clupea harengus L. and Sprattus sprattus (L.) (Teleostei, Clupeidae) from the northern Øresund, Denmark. S. sprattus is a new host record. Polysporic plasmodia and most myxospores were found in the ureters of both hosts. The myxospores have external valvular ridges, which were not observed in the original description. The presence of this character causes us to consider Ortholinea clupeidae Aseeva 2000 as a likely synonym of O. orientalis. Ortholinea antipae Moshu and Trombitsky, 2006 from a Black Sea clupeid is also similar and represent a possible synonym. Sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of partial SSU rDNA sequences of O. orientalis reveal closest affinity (82-86% identity) to members of the 'Freshwater Urinary Bladder Clade' sensu Fiala (2006), a clade among the Platysporina containing members of the myxosporean genera Myxobilatus, Hoferellus, Myxidium, Zschokkella and Chloromyxum from freshwater fishes.