Volume 52, Issue 4

The tissues of herbivores are commonly infected with cysts of parasites belonging to the apicomplexan genus Sarcocystis, but such sarcocysts are rare in bears. Here, we describe a new species, Sarcocystis arctosi, based on the mature sarcocysts identified in two brown bears (Ursus arctos) from Alaska, USA. Microscopic sarcocysts (37–75 × 20–42 μm) had thin walls (<1 μm). The outer layer of the sarcocyst, the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane (pvm), was wavy in outline and had minute undulations that did not invaginate towards the sarcocyst interior; these undulations occurred at irregular intervals and measured up to 100 nm in length and up to 60 nm width. The ground substance layer beneath the pvm was smooth and lacked microtubules. Longitudinally cut bradyzoites measured 5.6–6.8 × 0.7–1.8 μm. A major portion of nuclear small subunit rDNA sequence obtained from these sarcocysts was similar to that previously obtained from the hepatic schizonts of a S. canis-like parasite from polar bears (Ursus maritimus).

We propose to name as Lamellodiscus theroni sp. nov., the gill parasite of Diplodus puntazzo (Cetti) that was reported by Euzet (1984) as L. ergensi Euzet and Oliver, 1966 in Kerkennah Island (Tunisia). L. theroni sp. nov. was also found specific to D. puntazzo in Algiers Bay (Algeria) and in Gulf of Lion (France). The host specificity of various Lamellodiscus species on D. puntazzo is briefly discussed. Within Lamellodiscus, L. theroni belongs to the “ignoratus” group characterized by a “lyre” shaped male copulatory organ and to the “ergensi” subgroup, characterized by a complex morphology of the haptoral dorsal bars. L. theroni differs from the five other species of this subgroup (L. ergensi, L. kechemirae, L. tomentosus, L. sanfilippoi, L. baeri) by the morphology and the size of the haptoral dorsal bar. L. theroni, as well as, L. hilii, L. bidens, L. impervius, was only reported on the sparid Diplodus puntazzo. These parasite species are all considered as oioxenic.

A total of eight species of furcocercous cercariae of four families (Strigeidae, Diplostomidae, Schistosomatidae and Sanguinicolidae), were found in 2005 in Lake Konnevesi in Central Finland in four snail species (Valvata macrostoma, Lymnaea stagnalis, Bathyomphalus contortus and Planorbarius corneus). Australapatemon burti (Miller, 1923), Australapatemon sp., Cotylurus brevis Dubois et Rausch, 1950, Cercaria spinulosa Ginetsinskaya, 1959 and Sanguinicola sp. are new species records for Finland. Ichthyocotylurus variegatus (Creplin, 1825) and Bilharziella polonica (Kowalewski, 1895) were first recorded as cercariae in Finland. The most common cercariae were A. burti (prevalence 13.3%) and Diplostomum pseudospathaceum Niewiadomska, 1984 (10.0%). Our study represents the first host record of Valvata macrostoma for larval stages of Australapatemon sp. and Sanguinicola sp.

Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. (Digenea, Choanocotylidae) is described from the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira, Chelidae) from the Daly and Mary Rivers, Northern Territory, Australia. This is the fifth known member of Choanocotyle. Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. differs from Choanocotyle nematoides Jue Sue et Platt, 1998 and Choanocotyle hobbsi Platt et Tkach, 2003 by smaller body length, larger oral sucker, relatively greater distance between tests, and prepharynx with an infolded posterior region. In addition the new species does not have the looped cirrus sac characteristic of Choanocotyle nematoides. Comparison of sequences of 18S, ITS (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and partial 28S regions of nuclear rDNA among all 3 species strongly supports the status of Choanocotyle platti sp. nov. as a new species.

The glands in the pseudoscolex of the echinophallid cestode Paraechinophallus japonicus (Bothriocephalidea), a parasite of the bathypelagic fish Psenopsis anomala (Perciformes, Centrolophidae), were studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Two types of glands, with different morphological types of secretory granules and mechanisms for discharging their glandular secretion, were observed. Both types of gland cell bodies are localized in the parenchyma of the pseudoscolex. The syncytial glands of type I are characterized by the production of small (all ∼0.25 μm in diameter), rounded, dense secretory granules which pass though thin projections into the distal tegumental layer of the pseudoscolex. This type of gland has a unique method of discharging its secretory granules, which we call tumulogenesis. The elimination of the secretory products is realized by an encroachment of the basement membrane and underlying tegumental muscles into the surface region of the distal cytoplasm of the tegument, resulting in the formation of a ‘glandular stalk’ above which develops a superficial glandular tumulus. In the region of the glandular material of the tumulus, the basement membrane of the stalk forms a dilation, and the appearance of a membrane-bound area serves to separate the tumulus from the distal cytoplasm of the tegument. Unicellular glands of type II are characterized by large granules (0.4–0.9 μm in diameter), the presence of peripheral microtubules in the terminal region of their ducts and an eccrine mechanism for the discharge of their secretory granules. A comparative analysis of the distribution and morphology of the types of scolex glands among members of the different families of the ‘Pseudophyllidea’ (currently believed to represent two distinct orders, Bothriocephalidea and Diphyllobothriidea) is presented.

Paranoplocephala kalelai (Tenora, Haukisalmi et Henttonen, 1985) is an anoplocephalid cestode that primarily parasitizes the grey-sided vole Myodes rufocanus (syn. Clethrionomys rufocanus) in northern Fennoscandia. In a preliminary molecular phylogenetic analysis, the cytochrome oxidase I (mtDNA) sequences of P. kalelai formed two divergent sublineages originating from two different localities in northern Finland and northern Norway. The present data confirm the existence of two strongly supported clades and show that their geographic distributions are overlapping in northernmost Finland. Relatively deep genetic divergence and coexistence of the two main clades at one of the localities suggest that the material may include two biological species. However, because the specimens representing the two mtDNA clades of P. kalelai are not morphometrically sufficiently differentiated and because the mtDNA clade of the specimens from the type locality is unknown, they are not assigned to different species. Comparison with the existing phylogeographic data of M. rufocanus suggests that the genetic structure of this host-specific cestode reflects the glacial and post-glacial history of its primary host. A redescription is presented for P. kalelai.

Heligmosomoides vandegrifti sp. nov. (Nematoda, Heligmosomidae) is described from Peromyscus maniculatus (Rodentia, Cricetidae) from Pennsylvania, USA. It differs from its closest congener, H. douglasi, in the number of cuticular ridges (35 vs. 32 in male, 36 vs. 41 in female at mid-body), longer bursal rays 2 in relation to rays 3, and in having smaller spicules (635–740 μm long vs. 1 mm). It is proposed that both H. douglasi and H. vandegrifti sp. nov. are parasites of capture from species in North American arvicoline rodents.

Four known species of insect parasitic nematodes were recovered from Periplaneta americana and Gryllotalpa africana. They are all redescribed in the present study. Key to species along with comparative measurement chart of all known species of Leidynema, Gryllophila and Hammerschmidtiella have been provided. Based on additional features that were not provided by previous workers the emended generic diagnosis of Thelastoma, Leidynema, and Hammerschmidtiella have been provided in the present study.

Pharyngodon duci sp. nov. and Spauligodon vietnamensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of a gecko, Gekko ulikovskii (Sauria, Gekkonidae), from Vietnam are described and illustrated. Pharyngodon duci is the 35th species assigned to the genus and is separated from its congeners based upon the lack of a spicule, egg morphology, mouth morphology and cloacal lip morphology. Spauligodon vietnamensis is the 44th species assigned to the genus and is separated from its congeners by the lack of a spicule, egg morphology, and tail filament morphology.

Aplectana krausi sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Platymantis boulengeri (Anura, Ceratobatrachidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana krausi represents the 42nd species assigned to the genus, the 4th species reported from the Australo-Papuan region. It is easily separated from the three species previously reported from the region by the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii and A. novaezelandiae have irregular patterns; A. zweifeli and A. krausi have defined patterns. Aplectana zweifeli has 8–10 precloacal, no adcloacal, and 9 postcloacal pairs of papillae, there is a single median papillae just anterior to the cloaca; A. krausi has 5 precloacal, 1 adcloacal, and 5 postcloacal pairs of papillae, a median papillae is absent.

A new anisakid nematode, Hysterothylacium liparis sp. nov., is described from the intestine and stomach of the fish, Liparis tanakae (Gilbert et Burke, 1912) (Scorpaeniformes, Liparidae), a fish endemic to the Yellow Sea, China. The new species can be distinguished from the congeners by the absence of lateral alae, the length of the intestinal caecum (1.94–3.35 mm, 58.84–82.47% of oesophageal length), the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae (20–29 precloacal subventral pairs, 1 adcloacal pair and 4 postcloacal pairs), the size of the spicules (1.94–3.74 mm, 4.85–7.30% of body length) and the morphology of the tail tip. This is the first species of adult ascaridoid nematodes to be reported from fishes of the family Liparidae in northern China.

A new species of parasitic nematode, Philometra mexicana sp. nov. (Philometridae), is described based on males and females parasitizing the gonads of the marine perciform fish (rock hind) Epinephelus adscensionis (Osbeck) (Serranidae) off the coast of the southern Gulf of Mexico (reefs of the Enmedio Island, Veracruz), Mexico, collected on 10 April 1990. The new species is characterized mainly by very small males (body length 1.63–1.86 mm) with equally long, needle-like spicules (length 90–120 μm) and the gubernaculum (57–66 μm) without the usual dorsal barb on the distal end, the body length of gravid females (178–230 mm), the presence of a well-developed anterior bulbous inflation on the female oesophagus, and by the length of the first-stage larvae (420–435 μm). A comparison with other congeners parasitizing the gonads of marine fishes is provided. The cephalic end of the gravid female of Philometra margolisi Moravec, Vidal-Martínez et Aguirre-Macedo, 1995, another related species from the gonads of Epinephelus [E. morio (Valenciennes)] in Mexico, has been studied by SEM for the first time; it confirms the arrangement of the cephalic papillae as reported in the original species description. Philometra mexicana is the fifth species of Philometra reported from the gonads of marine fishes in the West Atlantic region.

There are numerous open questions concerning the life cycle of Gordiida (Nematomorpha), especially about egg development and viability of larvae during winter, when the temperature of freshwater environments where they inhabit is low. On the basis of experimental studies we demonstrate that egg development of Chordodes nobilii takes 20–25 days at 22°C and 45–55 days at 5°C. We also observed that larvae of C. nobilii obtained from egg strings at 5°C and maintained at that temperature during six months remained inside their egg shells as a survival strategy.

Three new genera of feather mites of the Protolichus generic group (Pterolichidae, Pterolichinae), restricted to parrots, are established based on re-examination of type series and some previously unidentified mite specimens deposited in the collection of E. Trouessart (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France): Loriprotolichus gen. nov. with the type species Loriprotolichus charmosynae sp. nov. from Charmosyna papou (Scopoli, 1786) and Loriprotolichus falculiger (Trouessart, 1884) comb. nov. from Glossopsitta concinna (Shaw, 1791); Calyptolichus gen. nov. with type species Calyptolichus favettei (Trouessart, 1899) comb. nov.; Nestorilichus gen. nov. with the type species Nestorilichus atyeoi sp. nov. from Nestor meridionalis (Gmelin, 1788). Several taxonomic changes were implemented in the course of re-examination of the type series. The holotype of Pterolichus (Protolichus) falculiger Trouessart, 1884 is designated. Re-examination of the full syntype series of P. (Protolichus) favettei Trouessart, 1899 representing samples from different hosts, recovered two distinct pterolichid species of the Protolichus generic group. The sample clearly corresponding to the original description (Trouessart, 1899) is fixed as the lectotype and nomenclatural type of P. (Protolichus) favettei; the second species is described as a new species Nestorilichus atyeoi. Protolichus (Mesolichus) favettei cordifora Favette et Trouessart, 1904 is synonymized with P. (Protolichus) favettei.

Parasites are used as biological tags in environmental impact studies. However, terrestrial systems in general and small mammals in particular are rarely considered in these ecological studies. Based on the effects of a wildfire which occurred in the Spanish Serra Calderona Natural Park — a typical Mediterranean ecosystem — the regeneration process of the wood mouse population and its helminth community is analysed. A total of 217 individuals of Apodemus sylvaticus were studied in a five year period, from the second to the fifth post-fire year: 152 mice originating from the burned area and 65 from the control — non-burned — area. The helminth community for both burned and non-burned areas as well as the effect of intrinsic (host age and sex) and extrinsic (site, period and season of capture) factors on helminth prevalences and abundances were analysed. Taking into account the most important results of this study, various aspects of the helminth community dynamics of the wood mouse are postulated as biological tags of the environmental impact of a wildfire, such as the changes in the frequency distribution of the helminth species, the higher diversity in the burned area, and the prevalences of helminth species having biological cycles directly affected by climatic conditions and the vegetal regeneration process. Consequently, the helminth species of A. sylvaticus should be considered suitable biological tags of environmental perturbations, such as a wildfire, and the wood mouse/helminth model can be applied to predict the consequences for helminth species in general.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, is a prominent disease in Lebanon. The objectives of this study were to determine HLA allele-CE association in patients, and relate its presence to high anti-Echinococcus antibody titers and the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC). Thirty patients and 20 controls were included. HLA profiles were determined by DNA-SSP typing. Relative risk and P-values were determined for each allele using Statcalc (EpiInfo, Version 6). Linkage disequilibrium was determined for associated alleles using SPSS 12.0 for Windows. Antibody titers were determined by indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and CIC by polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation. HLA-B*14 and HLA-DRB1*01 appeared to associate with protection against CE (P1 = P2 = 0.007 and P1 = P2 = 0.0007, respectively). However, it appeared that linkage disequilibrium did not exist between these 2 alleles (P = 0.250). HLA-B*35 was found to associate with susceptibility to disease (RR = 1.70, P = 0.02). Twenty five patients had anti-Echinococcus antibodies and 9 patients had CICs. However, there did not appear to be a correlation between the presence of HLA-B*35 and high antibody titers, or the presence of CICs. In conclusion, 2 HLA alleles that associate with resistance and 1 that associates with susceptibility to E. granulosus infection have been identified. The joint pain reported by some of the patients might be attributed to CIC deposits.

The nematode Pelecitus fulicaeatrae (Diesing, 1861) (Onchocercidae, Dirofilariinae) was found in the leg of a silvery grebe Podiceps occipitalis (Garnot, 1826) (Aves, Podicipediformes) at Puerto Madryn, Argentina. The specimens redescribed in this note are based on 7 females and 3 males. This is the first Argentinean record for this species and the second for South America, and represents the southern-most record of a species from this genus.