Three new helminth species from two endemic plethodontid salamanders, Typhlomolge rathbuni and Eurycea nana, in central Texas

Helminthological examination of two rare, endemic species of plethodontid salamanders, the Texas blind salamander (Typhlomolge rathbuni Stejneger) and the San Marcos dwarf salamander (Eurycea nana Bishop), from the subterranean waters and springs in San Marcos, Hays County, central Texas, USA revealed the presence of three new, previously undescribed species of intestinal helminths: Brachycoelium longleyi sp. n. (Trematoda) from T. rathbuni (type host) and E. nana, Dendronucleata americana sp. n. (Acanthocephala) from T. rathbuni, and Amphibiocapillaria texensis sp. n. (Nematoda) from T. rathbuni; nematode larvae probably belonging to the last named species were recorded from E. nana. Brachycoelium longleyi can be distinguished from all congeners primarily by its conspicuously small eggs among other features, whereas A. texensis differs from its closest congeneric species A. tritonispiunctati mainly in the structure of mature eggs and a markedly shorter spicule. Dendronucleata americana is the first species of the family Dendronucleatidae from the New World, differing from its Asian congeners mainly in the number and arrangement of proboscis hooks, number of giant hypodermic nuclei and in the position of testes.     

Rhabdias kongmongthaensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from Polypedates leucomystax (Amphibia: Anura: Rhacophoridae) in Thailand

Rhabdias kongmongthaensis sp. n. is described based on specimens found in the lungs of the tree frog Polypedates leucomystax (Gravenhorst) (Amphibia: Rhacophoridae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. The new species is similar to two North-American species, Rhabdias ranae and R. americanus, by presence of two lateral pseudolabia, each with two inner submedian protuberances. R. kongmongthaensis differs from both species by relative length and shape of the tail, and by its distribution and host specificity. Presence of lateral pseudolabia distinguishes the new species from the geographically closest Rhabdias species as well as from those parasitizing other rhacophorid frogs.     

Two species of philometrid nematodes (philometridae) from marine fishes off Japan, including Philometroides branchiostegi sp. n. from Branchiostegus japonicus (malacanthidae)

Gravid females of two species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) were collected from marine perciform fishes in Japanese waters, mainly from the southern Sea of Japan. Based on light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy examinations, the previously described but poorly known species Philometra cryptocentri Yamaguti, 1961 is redescribed from specimens recovered from the abdominal cavity of Acanthogobius flavimanus (Temminck et Schlegel), Pterogobius elapoides (Günther) and P. zonoleucus Jordan et Snyder (all Gobiidae) (all new host records); the number (14) and arrangement of cephalic papillae in this species are described for the first time. The new species, Philometroides branchiostegi sp. n. from head tissues of Branchiostegus japonicus (Houttuyn) (Malacanthidae), based on a single specimen, is mainly characterized by the embossment of the entire body except for the cephalic end, presence of four submedian pairs of large cephalic papillae of external circle and two small lateral single papillae of internal circle, pair of large papilla-like caudal projections, the oesophagus with a distinct anterior inflation, by a markedly small body (length about 18 mm) and the larvae 306-465 microm long.     

Two new gonad-infecting Philometra species (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the marine fish Lutjanus vitta (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) off New Caledonia

Two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Philometridae), P. brevicollis sp. n. and P. mira sp. n., are described from the ovary of the brownstripe red snapper, Lutjanus vitta (Quoy et Gaimard) (Lutjanidae, Perciformes), from the South Pacific Ocean off the coast of New Caledonia. Based on light and scanning electron microscopy examination, these new nematodes are compared with all other gonad-infecting species of Philometra. The former species (males and mature and gravid females available) mainly differs from its congeners in the length of males (5.39-5.92 mm), equally long spicules (279-312 microm), and the gubernaculum (151-168 microm), in that the distal end of the gubernaculum bears dorsolateral transverse lamella-like structures, and in the structure of the male caudal end. The latter species (only males available) is characterized by the length of males (3.47-3.66 mm), equally long spicules (96-105 microm), and the gubernaculum (78-84 microm), the absence of a dorsal reflected barb or lamella-like structures on the distal end of gubernaculum, and by the structure of the male caudal end. Judging from the occurrence in the host, P. brevicollis is the main philometrid parasitizing the gonads of L. vitta, in which it can reproduce, whereas this fish probably serves as only the paradefinitive host for P. mira. Both P. brevicollis and P. mira are the first nominal species of Philometra described from fishes of the family Lutjanidae.     

Three interesting nematodes from the fish Parupeneus indicus (Mullidae, Perciformes) of the Indian Ocean, including a new species, Ascarophis parupenei sp. n. (Habronematoidea)

In 1986, samples of the marine commercial fish Parupeneus indicus originating from the Indian Ocean near Somalia were examined for helminths. They proved to harbour three species of adult parasitic nematodes: Ascarophis parupenei sp. n., Philometra lateolabracis (Yamaguti, 1935), and Cucullanus himezi Yamaguti, 1941. A. parupenei sp. n. is characterized mainly by its non-filamented eggs with a fine flock-like coating, length ratio (1: 13-16) of the muscular and glandular parts of oesophagus, length of spicules (0.533-0.600 mm and 0.150-0.171 mm), structure of the head end and shape of the female tail. All these species are briefly described and illustrated and some problems concerning their taxonomy and geographical distribution are discussed.     

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) zabensis sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from freshwater fish in northern Iraq

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) zabensis sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) is described from Capoeta damascina (Valenciennes, 1842) (type host) and Capoeta trutta (Heckel, 1843) in the Greater and Lesser Zab Rivers, northern Iraq. The new species is unique among all other species of the genus by its characteristic paired para-vaginal muscular appendage and fragmented giant nuclei in the lemnisci. Eleven of the other 88 valid species of Neoechinorhynchus and N. zabensis have middle and posterior hooks of equal length. However, N. zabensis is distinguished from the others by size of trunk, proboscis, proboscis hooks and lemnisci, number of giant nuclei, position of female gonopore, and geographical and host distribution. It is also distinguished from six other species of Neoechinorhynchus previously reported from Iraq. Other distinguishing features are also included.     

Huffmanela paronai sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae), a new parasite from the skin of swordfish Xiphias gladius in the Ligurian sea (Western Mediterranean)

A new species of trichosomoidid nematode, Huffmanela paronai sp. n., is established on the basis of its egg morphology and biological characters. The dark-shelled, embryonated eggs of this histozoic parasite occur in masses in the epidermis of the swordfish Xiphias gladius L. (Xiphiidae, Perciformes) from the Ligurian Sea in northern Italy. The eggs are concentrated in groups appearing as black spots in the skin of the fish host, being distributed mainly on the lower part of its body (lower jaw, gill covers, pectoral, anal and caudal fins, lower half of body). The parasite's eggs are characterised mainly by their shape and markedly small size (48-51 x 21-24 microm), an aspinose surface, relatively small polar plugs, and thick egg wall (3 microm). This is the first Huffmanela species reported from fish in Europe.     

The role of mite pocket-like structures on Agama caudospinosa (Agamidae) infested by Pterygosoma livingstonei sp. n. (Acari: Prostigmata: Pterygosomatidae)

Pterygosoma livingstonei sp. n. collected from the Kenyan lizard Agama caudospinosa Meek shows morphological affinities with other South African congener species parasitizing lizards of the genus Agama, especially with P. triangulare Lawrence, 1936, but it differs in having glabrous genua II and III. P. livingstonei shows affinities with the Lawrence's hispida species group in the characters of genital and peripheral setae. This new species was found concentrated in a nuchal "mite pocket-like structure", a behaviour previously unreported among species belonging to the genus Pterygosoma. Mite pockets (or acarodomatia, acarinaria) of lizards typically house damaging chigger mites, and are usually interpreted as the evolutionary host's response to limit damage caused by parasites. Because scale mites are permanent ectoparasites and less damaging than seasonally occurring larval trombiculids, the heavy infestation by P. livingstonei in the nuchal skin folds of its host is interpreted as a consequence of the best utilisation of an available protected site by these mites that spend their entire life cycle on their host and whose primitive body shape prevents them from seeking shelter beneath the scales of their lizard host.     

Gyrodactylus bohemicus sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill) (Clupeiformes: Salmonidae) in Czechoslovakia.

Gyrodactylus bohemicus sp. n (Gyrodactylidae: Monogenea) is described from the fins, skin and gill filaments of Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill) (Clupeiformes: Salmonidae) from a trout farm in Czechoslovakia. G. bohemicus sp. n. is most closely related to G. thymalli Zitnan, 1960 and G. magnus Konovalov, 1967 in the shape of the anchors, the ventral and the dorsal bar, but can be distinguished from both these species by the shape of the marginal hook proper.     

A new Huffmanela species, H. schouteni sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichosomoididae) from flying fishes in Cura?ao

A new nematode species, Huffmanela schouteni sp. n., has been established on the basis of its egg morphology and biological characters (adult nematodes are unknown). The dark-shelled eggs of this histozoic parasite occur in masses in the abdominal cavity, serose covers of internal organs and in the liver of the flying fishes Hirundichthys affinis Günther (type host) and Cypselurus cyanopterus Cuvier et Valenciennes in Cura?ao. The eggs of H. schouteni sp. n. differ from those in other congeneric species mainly in the absence of small spines on the surface of the transparent envelope enclosing the egg proper, measurements (size of eggs 0.069-0.075 x 0.027-0.030 mm) and their localization in the host. A key to Huffmanela species based on egg morphology has been provided.     

Granulinema gen. n. a new dracunculoid genus with two new species (G. carcharhini sp. n. and G. simile sp. n.) from the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas (Valenciennes), from Louisiana, USA

Two new species of dracunculoid nematodes, G. carcharhini sp. n. and G. simile sp. n., representing a new genus Granulinema gen. n. (Dracunculoidea: Micropleuridae) are described from the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, from Louisiana (Lake Borgne), USA; the site of their localization in the host is unknown (probably abdominal cavity). The nematodes of both species were found in tissue juice and only males, juvenile females and body fragments of more advanced but nongravid females were obtained. Granulinema gen. n. differs from Micropleura, the only other genus in the family Micropleuridae, mainly by the presence of marked, dark excretory corpuscles in lateral excretory canals, pointed tail in females, greater number (6) of postanal pairs of caudal papillae in males, and by the presence of conspicuous transverse cuticular ornamentations on the body surface of mature females. The two new species can be easily distinguished from each other by the length of their spicules (0.78-0.90 mm in G. carcharhini sp. n. and 0.20-0.36 mm in G. simile sp. n.); moreover, there are two pairs of preanal papillae in the male of G. carcharhini sp. n., while there are three pairs in G. simile sp. n.     

Development and release of a malacosporean (Myxozoa) from Plumatella repens (Bryozoa: Phylactolaemata)

During an experiment to transmit Tetracapsula bryosalmonae Canning, Curry, Feist, Longshaw et Okamura, 1999 to a laboratory-cultured bryozoan, Plumatella repens L. a previously undescribed malacosporean species was noted. This parasite produced sacs of spores in the host that reached 1.2 mm in length. The spores released from the sacs appeared similar in size to the two species of Tetracapsula previously described although slight differences in form were noted. Release of spores from the bryozoans was observed associated with the lophophore of the host. The use of experimental bryozoan cultures for the examination of malacosporeans is described and discussed.     

Cucullanus oceaniensis sp. n. (Nematoda: Cucullanidae) from Pacific eels (Anguilla spp.)

A new species of parasitic nematode, Cucullanus oceaniensis sp. n., is described from the intestine of the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata (type host) from Futuna Island (Wallis and Futuna Islands, Polynesia) and from A. marmorata and Anguilla sp. (cf. obscura) from Fiji Islands (Melanesia, South Pacific). The main distinguishing characteristics are the length of spicules (668-1,020 microm), situation of deirids (slightly anterior to the oesophago-intestinal junction) and the excretory pore (some distance posterior to the end of oesophagus), and the arrangement of caudal papillae in the male. It is the third known species of Cucullanus from Oceania and the first one reported from freshwater eels in the region of South Pacific. Cucullanus faliexae Morand et Rigby, 1998 is considered a junior synonym of Cucullanus australiensis Baylis, 1927.     

Observations on cucullanid nematodes from freshwater fishes in Mexico, including Dichelyne mexicanus sp. n

A new cucullanid nematode, Dichelyne mexicanus sp. n., is described from the intestine of three species of fishes, Agonostomus monticola (Bancroft) (Mugilidae, Perciformes) (type host), Ictalurus balsanus (Jordan et Snyder) (Ictaluridae, Siluriformes) and Cichlasoma beani (Jordan) (Cichlidae, Perciformes), from three rivers (La Maquina River, Veracruz; Chontalcoatlán River, Guerrero and Santiago River, Nayarit) in central Mexico. This species is characterised by the absence of a ventral sucker in the male (subgenus Dichelyne) and it differs from its congeners mainly in possessing very unequal and dissimilar spicules (left 0.465-0.768 mm and right 293-548 mm long), an asymmetrical gubernaculum, and two intestinal caeca. Another cucullanid nematode, Cucullanus caballeroi Petter, 1977, is reported from Dormitator maculatus (Bloch) (Eleotridae, Perciformes) from the La Palma and La Maquina Rivers and Balzapote stream, Veracruz, being briefly described and illustrated; this represents a new host record. Findings of D. mexicanus and C. caballeroi represent a new record of cucullanid nematodes from fishes in Mexican fresh waters.     

Capillostrongyloides Ancistri sp. n. (Nematoda: Capillariidae) a new pathogenic parasite of aquarium fishes in Europe

A new nematode species, Capillostrongyloides ancistri sp. n., is described from the intestine of aquarium-reared catfish Ancistrus dolichopterus Kner in Czechoslovakia. This fish is of South American origin and, therefore, C. ancistri sp. n. has probably been brought into aquaria in Europe from there. The parasite is characterized mainly by the structure of the male caudal end (presence of two large postanal papillae and the cuticular bursa supported by two caudal lobes), the length of a spicule (0.258-0.297 mm), the presence of a non-spiny spicular sheath, shape of the female end, structure of the stichosome (23-30 stichocytes present), and the size of the eggs. The species appears to be highly pathogenic to aquarium-reared Ancistrus dolichopterus, causing death of these fish.     

First species of Ophiotaenia (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) from Madagascar: O. georgievi sp. n., a parasite of the endemic snake Leioheterodon geayi (Colubridae)

Ophiotaenia georgievi sp. n. (Proteocephalidea: Proteocephalinae) is described from the intestine of endemic colubrid snake Leioheterodon geayi Mocquard (Colubridae) from Antananarivo in Madagascar. The new species is the first species of Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 reported from Madagascar. It differs from all Ophiotaenia species parasitic in African snakes in the possession of a three-layered embryophore of eggs (other African species have two-layered embryophore). Furthermore, O. georgievi can be distinguished by the number of testes (92-140), width of the scolex (225-235 jm), total body length (57 mm), cirrus-sac length/proglottis width ratio (19-32%), and number of lateral uterine diverticula (23-28 on each side). Ophiotaenia georgievi represents the second proteocephalidean cestode reported from Madagascar, the first one being Deblocktaenia ventosaloculata (Deblock, Rosé et Broussart, 1962), a parasite from Ithycyphus miniatus. A list of Ophiotaenia species parasitic in venomous and non-venomous snakes is provided and possible existence of other new congeneric species in snakes from Madagascar is discussed.     

Two new species of Philometra (Nematoda: Philometridae) from needlefishes (Belonidae) in Iraq, with a key to Philometra spp. parasitic in the host's subcutaneous tissue, fins and musculature

Two new nematode species, Philometra strongylurae sp. n. and Philometra tylosuri sp. n., are described from female specimens collected from needlefishes (Belonidae, Beloniformes) off the Fao coast, Basrah, Persian Gulf, in Iraq. Philometra strongylurae (gravid females with larvae) was recorded from the subcutaneous tissue, muscles of beak and gills of Strongylura leiura (type host) and S. strongylura, whereas P. tylosuri (nongravid females) from the musculature and the subcutaneous tissue of Tylosurus crocodilus. The former is characterized mainly by the presence of eight markedly large cephalic papillae, conspicuously large anterior oesophageal bulb and by the length of body (15-20 mm); the latter by eight minute cephalic papillae, poorly developed oesophageal bulb and by the body length (46-72 mm). A key to Philometra spp. with gravid females parasitic in the subcutaneous tissue, fins or musculature of fishes is provided.     

Myxidium biliare sp. n. (Myxozoa) from gall bladder of Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in Patagonia (Argentina)

Myxidium biliare sp. n., a new myxosporean species parasitizing the gall bladder of Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns), in Patagonia, is described. Its coelozoic plasmodia were floating free in the bile. Spores are fusiform 13.7 +/- 0.9 microm long and 6.9 +/- 0.6 microm wide, with rounded ends in frontal view and slightly pointed ends in sutural view; shell with ridges and sinuous sutural line. Both maximum prevalence and maximum percentage of immature plasmodia occurred in summer. In winter the prevalence and the percentage of immature plasmodia fell to their lowest values. Prevalence was independent of host sex but increased with host length. Prevalence in 15 Patagonian Andean lakes (situated from 39 degrees 25'S to 41 degrees 30'S) ranged between 4.2% and 70%.     

A new species of Acanthochondria (Copepoda: Chondracanthidae) parasitizing the flounder Xystreurys rasile (Pleuronectiformes: Paralichthyidae) from Argentina

A new copepod species, Acanthochondria sagitta sp. n., is described based on specimens collected from the flounder Xystreurys rasile (Jordan) (Pleuronectiformes, Paralichthyidae), caught in the coastal waters off Necochea, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. The new species differs from its congeners by the following combination of characters: presence of three pairs of cephalic outgrowths; the triangular shape of the trunk with diverging postero-lateral processes; leg 2 of an intermediate shape between Types C and D, which projects laterally from the trunk, and Type B-V antennule bearing two proximal processes (one ventral and one dorsal) on the swollen basal portion.     

Polylabris lingaoensis sp. n. and Polylabris cf. mamaevi Ogawa et Egusa, 1980 (Monogenoidea: Microcotylidae) from perciform fishes in the Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea

Polylabris lingaoensis sp. n. is described from the gills of the bald glassy, Ambassis gymnocephalus (Chandidae), from the Gulf of Tonkin (South China Sea), near Lingao, Hainan Province, China. The new species is characterized by a midventral vaginal pore, comparatively few (5-7) testes, and 2 parallel rows each comprised of 30-43 microcotylid clamps in the haptor. Polylabris lingaoensis is the only member of the genus known to parasitize a chandid host. Polylabris cf. mamaevi is described from the gills of the mottled spinefoot, Siganus fuscescens (Siganidae), from the South China Sea, which represents new host and locality records for the helminth. The gill parasites from S. fuscescens are tentatively assigned to P. mamaevi pending new collections and restudy of microcotylid species from siganid fishes.