Volume 54, Issue 2

Examination of 98 gold skink, Eumeces schneiderii Daudin, 1802 from Alexandria and Marsa-matroh Governorates, Egypt revealed oocysts of Choleoeimeria baltrocki (Daszak et Ball, 1991) n. comb. in the gall bladder and faeces. The prevalence of the infection was 40.8%. Sporulated oocysts were found in the faeces and the gall bladder contents. Sporulated oocysts were tetrasporocystic, cylindrical, reaching a mean of 38.7 (36–42) × 19.9 (17–25) μm with bilayered smooth and colourless wall. The dizoic sporocysts were subspherical and measuring 10.8 (9.5–13) × 9.3 (8–10.5) μm with a large globular sporocyst residuum. Sporocyst wall was bilayered joined by meridional suture. Sporozoites were crescent-shaped, blunt at one end and slightly tapered at the other. Endogenous stages (meronts, gamonts, gametes and young oocysts) were confined to the gall bladder epithelium and the infected cells were hypertrophied. Based on the morphological features of the exogenous stages and endogenous development of the present parasite, its generic affiliation was revised and placed into the genus Choleoeimeria.

Three new coccidian (Apicomplexa, Eimeriidae) species from the sayaca tanager, Thraupis sayaca, from Brazil, are reported in the current study. Isospora sanhaci sp. nov. oocysts are spherical to subspherical, 22.1 × 21.0 μm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ∼1.0 μm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent, while Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocysts are elongated, 17.0 × 9.9 μm. Sporocyst residuum is present, sporozoites have one refractile body and a nucleus. Isospora sayacae sp. nov. are spherical to subspherical, 28.9 × 27.4 μm, with smooth, bilayered wall, ∼1.3 μm. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granule are absent, while Stieda and substieda bodies are present. Sporocysts are bottle-shaped, 23.4 × 11.8 μm and containing a sporocyst residuum and sporozoites with one refractile body and a nucleus. Isospora silvasouzai sp. nov. are spherical to subspherical, 25.5 × 22.6 μm, with a smooth, bilayered wall, ∼1.0 μm. Micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent, but one polar granule is present. Sporocysts are pyriform ellipsoidal, 17.6 × 10.5 μm. Stieda and substieda bodies and sporocyst residuum are present and sporozoites have one refractile body and a nucleus.

The present study describes a new species, Ligophorus uruguayense, parasitizing the gills of Mugil platanus Günther, 1880 from the coast of Uruguay. It differs from all other species of the genus mainly in the shape of the ventral bar, the thick process at the distal end of the inner root of ventral anchors, the J-shaped penis accessory piece and the vaginal tube showing transverse annulations at its distal end, the host species, and geographical distribution. This is the first description of a species of Ligophorus from a mullet in the South Atlantic Ocean.

A detailed account is given about the mode of attachment and histopathological effects of Macrogyrodactylus clarii Gussev, 1961, a viviparous monogenean from the gills of the catfish Clarias gariepinus. Most parasites attach their haptors to the proximal region of the gill filament (primary gill lamellae), while few specimens were seen attached to the distal region. Attachment of the haptor was achieved mainly by the blade of the hamuli, but no evidence was found indicating the participation of marginal hooklets in the attachment. The hamuli of M. clarii penetrate into the interlamellar epithelium of the gill tissue. Some evidences were found to indicate that M. clarii may also utilize suction force during haptoral attachment. The pathological effects of M. clarii are manifested by breakdown of the coating epithelium, necrosis of the epithelial cells, vacuolations inside and outside the host cells, fusion of the gill lamellae, rupture of blood capillaries, infiltration of erythrocytes and degeneration and fibrosis of the interlamellar epithelium. The host response includes the appearance of lymphocytes, mucoid secretions and hyperplasia of the tissue at the site of attachment.

Dendromonocotyle urogymni sp. nov. is described from the dorsal surface of the porcupine ray, Urogymnus asperrimus, kept at Cairns Marine Aquarium Fish in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Dendromonocotyle urogymni can be distinguished most readily from the other 15 species in the genus by the male copulatory organ which has a distinct spherical inflation mid-way along its length. This is the first monocotylid to be described from U. asperrimus.

New material from Epinephelus quoyanus collected from Heron Island, Australia and material collected by Young in the same locality, allegedly from E. merra, and deposited in the Queensland Museum, contained the same three species of diplectanid monogeneans: Pseudorhabdosynochus cupatus (Young, 1969), P. vagampullum (Young, 1969), and P. justinei Zeng et Yang, 2007 (new record for Australia). In contrast, E. merra in New Caledonia harbours only P. melanesiensis (Laird, 1958). It is concluded that the type-host of P. cupatus and P. vagampullum is not E. merra, as indicated in Young (1969), but E. quoyanus, and that P. cupatus sensu Young comprises two species, P. cupatus from E. quoyanus and P. youngi sp. nov. from E. fasciatus. P. youngi sp. nov. is described from E. fasciatus from New Caledonia (type-locality), Heron Island, and French Polynesia, and distinguished from P. cupatus on the basis of the male quadriloculate organ, sclerotised vagina and lamellosquamodiscs. Thus, P. cupatus, P. melanesiensis and P. youngi each have a single host, respectively E. quoyanus, E. merra, and E. fasciatus. Results for E. fasciatus and E. merra in New Caledonia, Wallis and French Polynesia suggest impoverishment of the monogenean fauna in a West-East gradient in the Pacific. Abstract Du matériel nouveau extrait de Epinephelus quoyanus récolté à Heron Island, Australie et le matériel collecté par Young dans la même localité, prétendument de E. merra, et déposé au Queensland Museum, contenaient les mêmes trois espèces de Monogènes Diplectanidae, à savoir Pseudorhabdosynochus cupatus (Young, 1969), P. vagampullum (Young, 1969) et P. justinei Zeng et Yang, 2007 (nouvelle mention pour l’Australie). De manière opposée, E. merra en Nouvelle-Calédonie héberge seulement P. melanesiensis (Laird, 1958). Il en est conclu que l’hôte-type de P. cupatus et P. vagampullum n’est pas E. merra, comme indiqué par Young (1969), mais E. quoyanus, et que P. cupatus sensu Young comprend deux espèces, P. cupatus de E. quoyanus et P. youngi sp. nov. de E. fasciatus. P. youngi sp. nov. est décrit de E. fasciatus de Nouvelle-Calédonie (localité-type), de Heron Island (Australie) et de Polynésie Française, et est distingué de l’espèce proche P. cupatus sur la base de l’appareil copulateur male tétraloculé, du vagin sclérifié et des lamellosquamodisques. De ce fait, P. cupatus, P. melanesiensis et P. youngi ont chacun un seul hôte, respectivement E. quoyanus, E. merra et E. fasciatus. Des résultats sur E. fasciatus et E. merra en Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis et Polynésie Française suggèrent un appauvrissement de la faune des Monogènes le long d’un gradient Ouest-Est dans le Pacifique.

Vitellogenesis in Wenyonia virilis was examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including the cytochemical detection of glycogen at the ultrastructural level with the periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate (PA-TSC-SP) technique. Mature vitelline follicles have cells in various stages of development, progressing from immature cells of gonial type near the periphery of the follicle to maturing and mature vitellocytes towards the centre. Maturation is characterized by: (1) increase in cell volume; (2) increase in nuclear surface area restoring the N/C (nucleo-cytoplasmic) ratio; (3) nucleolar transformation; (4) extensive development of parallel cisternae of GER, the shell-protein producing units; (5) development of Golgi complexes, engaged in shell-granule/shell-globule formation and packaging; (6) synthesis and storage of glycogen in the cytoplasm; (7) simultaneous, independent formation and storage of intranuclear glycogen; (8) continuous fusion of small shell-granules into larger shell-globules and fusion of these into large shell-globule clusters with a progressive increase in the number and size of the latter; and (9) disintegration of GER in the medial layer of vitellocyte cytoplasm, degenerative changes and accumulation of glycogen and shell-globule clusters within the cytoplasm. The functional significance of numerous shell-globule clusters and the relatively small amount of nuclear and cytoplasmic glycogen is analysed. Unlike vitellogenesis of other caryophyllids, the nuclear glycogen of mature vitellocytes in W. virilis is randomly dispersed in the nucleoplasm and never forms a high central accumulation, the so-called “nuclear vacuole”. The nutritive function of vitellocytes appears greatly reduced in W. virilis, a fact perhaps related to the intrauterine development of the early embryos. The ultrastructure of vitellogenesis in W. virilis is compared with that in other lower cestodes, both monozoic and polyzoic. Conclusions concerning interrelationships of the vitellogenesis pattern of the ultrastructural cytochemistry of mature vitellocytes of W. virilis to intrauterine embryonation, absence of uterine glands and an extensive uterus characteristic for this species, are drawn and discussed.

Cysticercoids of two cestode species isolated from brine shrimps from the Mediterranean coasts of Spain and France are described. Fimbriarioides tadornae Maksimova, 1976 (adults known as parasites of Tadorna tadorna) was recorded from Artemia parthenogenetica and A. franciscana from Spain (Bras del Port and River Ebro Delta, respectively), and from A. franciscana from Aigues-Mortes, France (new geographical record). Branchiopodataenia gvozdevi (Maksimova, 1988) (adults known as parasites of Larus genei) was recorded from A. parthenogenetica (Bras del Port, Spain), A. salina (San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain) and A. franciscana (River Ebro Delta, Spain); this is the first record of the species in Europe. An illustrated key to cysticercoids of 12 cestode species from Artemia spp. from the Western Mediterranean is proposed.

Thelandros vietnamensis sp. nov. (Oxyuroidea, Pharyngodonidae) from the intestines of an agamid lizard, Leiolepis reevesi, collected in Vietnam is described and illustrated. Thelandros vietnamensis represents the 3rd Oriental species to be described and is distinguished from all other species by length of spicule (485–536 μm) of the male; all other species have spicules less than 200 μm.

Seven species of chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) were found on six species of passerine birds (Passeriformes) in northern Vietnam. A description and illustrations of Brueelia alophoixi sp. nov. ex Alophoixus pallidus (Pycnonotidae) are given. New host records are: Abroscopus superciliaris (Sylviidae) for Myrsidea sp.; and Orthotomus sutorius (Sylviidae) and Lonchura striata (Estrildidae) for Brueelia spp.

A total of 38 Coryphaenoides mediterraneus from the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone (CGFZ), a part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR), was studied for parasites and feeding ecology. Sixteen different parasite species were found, most of them belonging to the Digenea (6 species) and Nematoda (6). Twelve new host and 11 new locality records were established, and 8 deep-sea generalists and 5 deep-sea specialists were found. Twelve adult and 3 larval parasites occurred, with Allopodocotyle margolisi (Digenea), Tetraphyllidea indet. (Scolex pleuronectis, Cestoda) and Ascarophis longiovata (Nematoda) being the predominant species. These parasites reached a prevalence of 50.0%, 86.8% and 68.4% with an intensity of infection of 1–10, 1–91 and 1–74, respectively. The food consisted of crustaceans and cephalopods; no further prey items such as fish could be identified. Coryphaenoides mediterraneus demonstrates a parasite fauna similar to that of other deep-sea macrourids. No MAR-specific parasite species were found, and the collected helminths are common fish parasites of the North Atlantic deep-sea basin and the adjacent continental shelf regions. Only few larval epipelagic generalists such as ascaridoid nematodes were found, due to the deep origin of the studied fish between 1700–3500 m. The recorded species rich parasite fauna reflects the wide depth range and opportunistic feeding behaviour of C. mediterraneus on benthopelagic food. The recorded parasite species composition around the MAR appears to be similar to other deep-sea locations in the Atlantic Ocean, demonstrating the wide zoogeographical distribution of these deep-sea metazoans. Consequences of the MAR, the CGFZ and the homogeneous deep-sea environmental conditions for the parasite species distribution are discussed.

Pentatrichomonas hominis, a parasitic protozoan often detected in human diarrheic stools, is the cause of severe morbidity in newborns and children, particularly in tropical zones. The flagellate is resistant to many disinfectants and anti-protozoan drugs. Therefore in this study we have synthesized three novel 4,5,6,7-tetrabromobenzimidazole (TBBI) derivatives carrying a polyfluoroalkyl substituent in position 2 of the benzimidazole scaffold, namely 2-trifluoromethyl-TBBI (CF3-TBBI), 2-nonafluorobutyl-TBBI (C4F9-TBBI), and 2-nonadecafluorononyl-TBBI (C9F19-TBBI), that next we tested for their in vitro activity against P. hominis.Widely applied anti-protozoal drug, metronidazole as a reference was used. All the investigated agents were added to 24 h P. hominis cultures; each of them was administered at three different concentrations. Number of the moving trichomonads was determined and compared with the control cultures. Different anti-trichomonal activity occurred depending on a kind of compound and its concentration. C4F9-TBBI was the most effective TBBI derivative tested: the agent, at the highest concentration 24.2 μg/ml, after 72 h reduced the number of viable trichomonads to 44.3%; C9F19-TBBI, at the concentration 24 μg/ml reduced the number of the flagellates to 58.5%. Paradoxically, metronidazole after the same time given at the highest concentration increased trophozoite counts by 464.6% in comparison with the control cultures (100%).

An enzyme-histochemical study of five enzymes, namely succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), cytochrome oxidase (CCO), cholinesterase (CHE) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was elucidated in the soft tissues of Oncomelania hupensis, the intermediate host snail of Schistosoma japonicum, before and after the treatment with a suspension concentrate of niclosamide (SCN). Following the treatment of SCN, a marked loss occurred in the activity of the five enzymes mentioned above. LDH and SDH showed their strongest activity in the buccal mass and muscular fibers, CCO in buccal mass and liver, CHE in pellicle and ganglia, and NOS in muscular fibers and pharyngeal canal. The results indicate that SCN impairs the activities of the enzymes influencing the transfer of neurotransmitter and energy supply in O. hupensis, ultimately leading to the loss of various physiological functions, which is considered to be a cause of death in O. hupensis.

Neospora caninum is a tissue-cyst forming parasite that has been recognized worldwide as a cause of abortion in cattle. Despite the ubiquitous distribution of this parasite and its broad range of hosts, the number of N. caninum isolates obtained to date is limited. In addition, the majority of isolates have been obtained from clinically affected hosts, therefore potentially biasing this population towards more virulent isolates. This report describes the isolation and biological characterisation of a new N. caninum isolate, Nc-Goiás 1, obtained from an asymptomatic, naturally infected calf from Brazil. This new isolate was identified as a member of the N. caninum species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers based on the N. caninum internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) sequence, and was genetically identified at multiple loci using microsatellite analysis. Finally, a pathogenicity study was conducted in a BALB/c mice model. All Nc-Goiás 1-infected mice survived without exhibiting any clinical signs. Further pathogenic characterisation of this isolate suggested that Nc-Goiás 1 is less virulent than other N. caninum isolates (Nc-Liv and Nc-1) studied in this mouse model. This is the first report of the isolation and biological characterisation of N. caninum from an infected but clinically healthy calf in South America.