myxosporeans
Myxosporeans are a group of microscopic, spore-forming parasites that belong to the phylum Myxozoa. They are obligate intracellular parasites, meaning they can only survive and reproduce within a living host. Myxosporeans have a complex life cycle that typically involves two hosts, an invertebrate and a vertebrate, often a fish. In the vertebrate host, they develop within host tissues and organs, forming characteristic xenomas or cysts. These cysts contain developing spores.
The spores are the infective stage and are shed into the environment, usually through water. When ingested