The molecular divergence, morphology and pathology of a cryptic gregarine that is related to the bee parasite Apicystis bombi Lipa and Triggiani, 1996 is described. The 18S ribosomal DNA gene sequence of the new gregarine was equally dissimilar to that of A. bombi and the closest related genus Mattesia Naville, 1930, although phylogenetic analysis supported a closer relation to A. bombi. Pronounced divergence with A. bombi was found in the ITS1 sequence (69.6% similarity) and seven protein-coding genes (nucleotide 78.05% and protein 90.2% similarity). The new gregarine was isolated from a Bombus pascuorum Scopoli, 1763 female and caused heavy hypertrophism of the fat body tissue in its host. In addition, infected cells of the hypopharyngeal gland tissue, an important excretory organ of the host, were observed. Mature oocysts were navicular in shape and contained four sporozoites, similar to A. bombi oocysts. Given these characteristics, we proposed the name Apicystis cryptica sp. n. Detections so far indicated that distribution and host species occupation of Apicystis spp. overlap at least in Europe, and that historical detections could not discriminate between them. Specific molecular assays were developed that can be implemented in future pathogen screens that aim to discriminate Apicystis spp. in bees.

描述了与蜜蜂寄生虫Apicystis bombi Lipa和Triggiani，1996年有关的一种隐秘的人造黄油的分子发散，形态学和病理学。新的人造黄油的18S核糖体DNA基因序列与A. bombi和最接近的相关属Mattesia Naville，1930年相同，尽管系统发育分析支持与A. bombi的关系更紧密。在ITS1序列（69.6％的相似性）和七个蛋白质编码基因（核苷酸78.05％和蛋白质90.2％的相似性）中发现了与A. bombi的明显差异。新的人造黄油是从Bombus pascuorum中分离出来的斯科波利（Scopoli），1763年，女性，其宿主的脂肪体组织严重肥大。此外，还观察到了下咽腺组织（宿主的重要排泄器官）的感染细胞。成熟的卵囊呈舟状，并包含四个子孢子，类似于A. bombi卵囊。鉴于这些特征，我们建议命名为Apicystis cryptica sp。。到目前为止的检测表明，蚜虫的分布和宿主物种的占领。至少在欧洲有重叠，而且历史发现无法区分它们。开发了可以在未来的病原体筛查中实施的特定分子测定法，目的是区分蚜虫。在蜜蜂中。