Volume 52, Issue 3

The Gyrodactylus fauna of 274 fish taken from ten salmonid farms in Poland was sampled in 2006. Four fish species were investigated: rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, brown trout Salmo trutta (morphs fario, lacustris, and trutta), grayling Thymallus thymallus and huchen Hucho hucho. No parasites were observed on huchen. No indications of gyrodactylosis were observed, but an unexpected parasite species diversity was found. A molecular species identification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2 was utilized, with addition of morphometric methods. The most frequent parasite was a new record in Poland, G. teuchis. It was present in two molecular forms on brown trout and rainbow trout, which also carried G. derjavinoides and G. truttae. Three molecular forms of G. salaris/G. thymalli were found, the standard type ITS only on grayling. A heterozygous (or heterogenic) G. salaris type described earlier in Denmark was found in seven farms on rainbow trout, and a complementary homozygous clone which differs from the standard by three nucleotides, in two farms. This homozygous form has not been recorded earlier. The PCR-RFLP results were confirmed by sequencing ITS segment from representative specimens of each type and comparing them with all available salmonid-specific Gyrodactylus sequences in GenBank. The Polish fauna with seven different Gyrodactylus clones separated by PCR-RFLP was the most diverse reported in fish farms in any country so far.

Pseudorhabdosynochus bacchus sp. nov. (Diplectanidae) is described from the gills of the whitespotted grouper Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus collected off New Caledonia, South Pacific, and is the first monogenean reported from this fish. It has a characteristic quadriloculate male organ, with both cone and tube of similar short length (10–12 μm). The morphology of its sclerotised vagina, with two chambers of equal size, differentiates it from all other species of the genus. Other rare Pseudorhabdosynochus species and specimens of an undescribed species of Haliotrema (Ancyrocephalidae) were also found, but in insufficient number to allow description. Abstract Pseudorhabdosynochus bacchus sp. nov. (Diplectanidae) est décrit des branchies de la loche à taches blanches Epinephelus coeruleopunctatus pêchée en Nouvelle-Calédonie, Pacifique Sud, et est le premier monogène mentionné de ce poisson. L’espèce a un organe tétraloculé caractéristique, avec un cône et un tube tous deux courts (10–12 μm). La morphologie du vagin sclérifié, avec deux chambres de taille égale, différencie l’espèce de toutes les espèces du genre. D’autres espèces de Pseudorhabdosynochus et des spécimens d’une espèce non décrite d’Haliotrema (Ancyrocephalidae) ont aussi été trouvés, mais en nombre insuffisant pour permettre une description.

An examination of specimens of Anas georgica Gmelin (Anatidae) from Región del Bio-Bio and Región del Maule, Chile, revealed the presence of two digenean species reported for the Holartic Region: Australapatemon burti (Miller, 1923) Dubois, 1968 (Strigeidae) and Paramonostomum pseudalveatum Price, 1931 (Notocotylidae). A. burti parasitized ducks from both regions and P. pseudalveatum parasitized only ducks from Región del Bio-Bio. The digeneans were mounted in toto, described and illustrated. The morphology and dimensions of specimens studied correspond with their original descriptions and new morphometrical data and morphological characters are given. The reports of A. burti and P. pseudalveatum in A. georgica represent a new host record and the first record of the genera Australapatemon Sudarikov, 1959 and Paramonostomum Lühe, 1909 from Chile.

A new species of Acanthocolpidae, Stephanostomum adlardi is described from the serranid Plectropomus leopardus from Lizard Island in the northern Great Barrier Reef. It differs from all previously described acanthocolpids in the structure of the oral sucker which is extended into dorsal and ventral lobes each bearing a row of spines. A phylogenetic tree estimated from combined nuclear small and partial large ribosomal RNA gene sequences shows that, despite the unusual oral sucker structure, the species is a true member of the genus Stephanostomum. The molecular results also suggest that Monostephanostomum nolani is derived from within Stephanostomum.

Pseudogilquinia pillersi (Southwell, 1929), a poorly known species of trypanorhynch, is redescribed from plerocerci collected from Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1922), Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch et Schneider, 1801) (Serranidae) and Plectropomus laevis (Lacépède, 1801) (Serranidae) off New Caledonia. These were compared with specimens from Lethrinus atkinsoni Seale, 1910 and Lethrinus miniatus (Forster, 1801) (Lethrinidae) off the north-east coast of Australia as well as syntypes from Protonibea diacantha (Lacépède, 1802) from Sri Lanka. Although size differences were found in parts of the scolex as well as in the sizes of the tentacular hooks, the hook arrangements were identical in all specimens. The differences observed were attributed provisionally to intra-specific variation across a wide geographic and host range. Abstract Une espèce de trypanorhynque peu connue, Pseudogilquinia pillersi (Southwell, 1929), est redécrite à partir de plérocerques récoltés chez Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton, 1922), Epinephelus malabaricus (Bloch et Schneider, 1801) et Plectropomus laevis (Lacépède, 1801) (Serranidae) en Nouvelle-Calédonie, et chez Lethrinus atkinsoni Seale, 1910 et Lethrinus miniatus (Forster, 1801) (Lethrinidae) de la côte nord-est de l’Australie, et des syntypes provenant de Protonibea diacantha (Lacépède, 1802) du Sri Lanka. En dépit de la taille différente des constituants du scolex et des crochets des tentacules, l’arrangement des crochets était similaire chez tous les spécimens. Les différences observées ont été provisoirement attribuées à une variation intraspécifique dans une aire géographique étendue et un grande variété d’hôtes.

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Calliobothrium verticillatum (Cestoda, Tetraphyllidea, Oncobothriidae) parasite of the smoothhound shark, Mustelus mustelus L. (Pisces, Carcharhiniformes), was studied by transmission electron microscopy. This spermatozoon presents five regions characterized by several ultrastructural elements: an apical cone, a crested body, two axonemes of 9 + “1” pattern, electron-dense granules, a nucleus and cortical microtubules. In the present study, three of these features were the subject of a detailed attention. The first is the presence of two axonemes, which confirms that the Tetraphyllidea, Oncobothriidae possess two axonemes whereas the Tetraphyllidea, Phyllobothriidae possess only one axoneme. The second is the presence of one crested body, a criterion homogeneous in the Tetraphyllidea but heterogeneous among the different orders of Cestoda. The third is the number and the disposition of cortical microtubules. These three criteria seem to be interesting for phylogeny.

During a survey of insect nematodes from Manipur, two new species of nematodes parasitic in the hindgut of mole cricket Gryllotalpa africana were recovered. The two new species are designated as Cameronia triovata sp. nov. and Cameronia manipurensis sp. nov. C. triovata sp. nov. is characterized by presence of three eggs which are fused on lateral sides by ridges and furrows and presence of polar egg filaments while in C. manipurensis sp. nov., the eggs are more than five in one group and attached simply one upon another. A comparative measurement chart (see Table I) as well as key to the species of Cameronia have been provided. The diagnosis of the genus has been emended in order to accommodate the two new species.

Moaciria moraveci sp. nov. (Nematoda, Heterakidae) from the large intestine of Hylophorbus cf. rufescens from Papua New Guinea is described. Moaciria moraveci sp. nov. represents the 9th species assigned to the genus and the 5th from the Australo-Papuan region. It is distinguished from congeners by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae of the male, spicule length and vulvar position.

A new species of parasitic nematode, Ascarophis (Similascarophis) richeri sp. nov. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the stomach of the marine scorpaeniform fish Hoplichthys citrinus Gilbert (Hoplichthyidae) (prevalence 19%, intensity 1–8 nematodes per fish) collected in the region of the Chesterfield Islands (Coral Sea, west of New Caledonia) in October 2005. The new species, studied using both light and scanning electron microscopy, is characterized mainly by the structure of the mouth (highly reduced pseudolabia, high pseudolabial terminal projections, no submedian labia, well-developed, bilobed sublabia), bifurcate deirids, the length of the spicules (663–729 μm and 105–108 μm) and the presence of filaments on both egg poles (2–5 on each). Similascarophis Muñoz, González et George-Nascimento, 2004 is considered a subgenus of Ascarophis van Beneden, 1871 to accommodate the species characterized by highly reduced pseudolabia. Presence of the new species in fish from Seamount Nova (Lord Howe Rise) but not from the Chesterfield plateau suggests that it is endemic to this seamount, a case already encountered for many benthic invertebrates. Abstract Une nouvelle espèce de Nématode parasite, Ascarophis (Similascarophis) richeri sp. nov. (Cystidicolidae), est décrite de l’estomac du poisson marin Hoplichthys citrinus Gibert (Scorpaeniformes, Hoplichthyidae) (prévalence 19%, intensité 1–8 nématodes par poisson) collecté en octobre 2005 dans la région des Îles Chesterfield (Mer du Corail, Ouest de la Nouvelle-Calédonie). La nouvelle espèce, étudiée au microscope photonique et au microscope électronique à balayage, est caractérisée principalement par la structure de la bouche (pseudolabia très réduites, terminaison des pseudolabia haute, pas de labia submédiane, sublabia bien développées et bilobées), des deirides bifurquées, la longueur des spicules (663–729 μm et 105–108 μm) et la présence de 2–5 filaments sur chaque pôle des œufs. Similascarophis Muñoz, González et George-Nascimento, 2004 est considéré comme un sous-genre de Ascarophis van Beneden, 1871, et inclut les espèces caractérisées par des pseudolabia très réduites. La présence de la nouvelle espèce dans des poissons provenant du mont sous-marin Nova (Ride de Lord Howe) mais pas du plateau des Chesterfield suggère qu’elle est endémique à ce mont, un cas déjà rencontré chez de nombreux invertébrés benthiques.

The present study was conducted on bats from different locations in Turkey. Of 33 bats, belonging to 10 species, 10 individuals (30.3%) of four species were infected with gamasine mites. Fifty-three mites belonging to 2 families (Spinturnicidae and Macronyssidae) were collected. The spinturnicid Spinturnix myoti (Kolenati) was the most abundant species (27 specimens) and only recorded n Myotis nattereri (Kuhl). The species Steatonyssus periblepharus (Kolenati) and the genera Steatonyssus, Macronyssus and Ancystropus are reported from Turkey for the first time, while new host and distributional data are presented.

Two new genera and three new species of feather mites (Astigmata, Pterolichoidea, Analgoidea) are described from two closely related species of cockatoos, Cacatua galerita (type host) and C. sulphurea (Psittaciformes, Cacatuidae): Astrolabelichus caudatus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), Psittophagus lacunosus sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), and Cacatualges microdiscus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Xolalgidae). The presence of the same set of mite species on these two species of parrots points to a very close affinity of Cacatua sulphurea and C. galerita and gives additional support for the recent hypothesis of the conspecificity of these birds.

Brasergasilus bifurcatus sp. nov. (Copepoda, Ergasilidae, Abergasilinae) is described. Specimens of the new species were collected from the gills and nasal fossae of the serrasalmid fishes, known as “piranhas”, Pygocentrus piraya (Cuvier, 1819) and “pirambebas”, Serrasalmus brandtii (Lütken, 1875). The fishes were netted in the Três Marias Reservoir (18°12′59″S, 45°17′34″W) of the upper São Francisco River, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The new species differs from its congeners by the following characters: the specific setation on the antennule; the terminal barb of the antenna; the deeply bifurcate distal segment of the mandible; the chalice-shaped genital complex; a conspicuous external indentation of the second segment of the first endopod and a very short terminal segment of the first exopod.

Brasilochondria riograndensis Thatcher et Pereira, 2004 (Copepoda, Chondracanthidae) is redescribed based on newly collected material from the branchial cavity of flounder, Paralichthys orbignyanus (Valenciennes, 1842), from the coasts of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. A number of details were overlooked and some appendages were misidentified in original description and are included herein. These are: the distribution and the number of setae and spines in the antennule, the armature and segmentation of mandible, maxillule, maxilla, and maxilliped, pedigerous segments and genitoabdomen, in both, females and males. Moreover, the geographical distribution of this parasite species is broadened.

Between May and September 2006, 640 specimens of the rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus Forsskål (Teleostei, Siganidae) were examined for infections with intestinal helminths. These fishes were caught in the Red Sea off the coast of Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt, examined in a field laboratory and separated into three size groups of regular length intervals. Only three species of helminths were recovered: the trematode Gyliauchen volubilis Nagaty, 1956 (Gyliauchenidae Fukui, 1929), the acanthocephalan Sclerocollum rubrimaris Schmidt et Paperna, 1978 (Cavisomidae Meyer, 1932) and the nematode Procamallanus elatensis Fusco et Overstreet, 1979 (Cucullanidae Cobbold, 1864). The distribution of these helminths along the intestine of S. rivulatus, in all patterns of single and concurrent infections and the corresponding prevalences and intensities of infection in the different size groups of the fish were recorded. In single infections, each parasite species was found distributed in a well-defined fundamental niche along the intestine of Siganus rivulatus, and a distinct partial overlap between the niches of G. volubilis and Sclerocollum rubrimaris was observed. In concurrent infections with these two species, their fundamental niches were significantly reduced, probably being affected by interactive site segregation and individuals of each species were found segregated in a restricted realised niche. In all other patterns of concurrent infections, each parasite species was normally found in its original fundamental niche. The prevalences of these parasites in the fish examined were relatively low and somewhat similar. In all patterns of single and concurrent infections, the intensity of infection was directly related to fish size. In concurrent infection with G. volubilis and S. rubrimaris, a significant decline was observed in the intensities of both species in the different size groups of the fish, but, in all other patterns of concurrent infections, no significant change in intensity was observed. These observations suggest that the interaction between G. volubilis and S. rubrimaris is probably a negative and symmetrical one. The mode of transmission of these parasites to the fish is also discussed.

The identified mutations in the pfcrt, dhfr and dhps genes of Plasmodium falciparum show a very high correlation with resistance to chloroquine, pyrimethamine and sulfadoxine, the drugs that are still used as malaria chemoprophylaxis or treatment. We undertook a molecular screening of 82 Polish P. falciparum isolates, mainly imported from different countries of sub-Saharan Africa to assess their molecular drug-resistance profiles. Only 4 isolates showed no mutations in the three analyzed gene fragments. In the remaining isolates from one to six mutations in one or more examined genes were found. Different mutations in the pfcrt, dhfr and dhps genes were found in ca. 76%, 80% and 70% of P. falciparum isolates, respectively. About forty our patients used chloroquine or pyrimethamine + sulfadoxine as malaria chemoprophylaxis and/or antimalarial treatment, but without success. In all but 5 of the P. falciparum isolates obtained from these persons, mutations associated to resistance of the parasite to chloroquine and the antifolate drugs were found.

Three male specimens of the eyeworm, Oxyspirura chabaudi, were found during the post mortem examination of one individual of Turdus merula L. (Passeriformes). This is the first record of Turdus merula as a host for O. chabaudi.

Neospora caninum was isolated from the brain of an apparently healthy calf born to a seropositive cow. The calf was killed 12 hrs after birth and homogenate of its brain was inoculated into Vero cells. Neospora-like tachyzoites were detected 66 days later. The identity of the parasite was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of N. canium-specific fragments using Np21 and Np6 primers. This first Polish isolate of N. caninum was designated NC-PolB1.