A new Dactylogyrus species (Dactylogyridae: Monogenea) from Enteromius mattozi,Cyprinidae, at Piet Gouws Dam,South Africa

Enteromius mattozi Guimaraes, 1884, a popular eating fish among local people, were examined for monogenean parasites as part of a larger study to ascertain the feasibility of establishing aquaculture production in Limpopo, South Africa. In this study a new monogenean parasite of the genus Dactylogyrus was collected from the gills of E. mattozi, and described. It differs from known species of this group in the shape, size and structure of the heavily sclerotized vaginal prop. The proximal end of the vaginal prop has three layers similar to stacked funnels of decreasing sizes leading into a tube. The male copulatory organ is also much larger and robust than those of related species. The name Dactylogyrus mattozii is proposed for this new species.     

Host Switch of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lamellodiscus elegans</Emphasis> (Monogenea: Monopisthocotylea) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sparicotyle chrysophrii</Emphasis> (Monogenea: Polyopisthocotylea) between Cage-reared Sparids

Sharpsnout bream (Diplodus puntazzo) has been used in Adriatic aquaculture for less than a decade, but the decreasing trend of rearing this species will probably result in its complete substitution by more exploited sea bream (Sparus aurata). Only two facilities still rear both fish species in neighbouring cages in monoculture. A switch of parasites was observed between sparids during monitoring of the gill monogeneans of farmed fish. In wild fish of the Adriatic Sea, Lamellodiscus elegans (Monogenea: Monopisthocotylea) has previously been reported in annular (Diplodus annularis), and two-banded sea bream (D. vulgaris) and sharpsnout bream (D. puntazzo), and the present study confirmed its presence also in sea bream, in low prevalence and abundance. The exclusively sea bream monogenean Sparicotyle chrysophrii (Monogenea: Polyopisthocotylea) was also isolated from sharpsnout bream, showing prevalence and abundance values even higher than in its resident host. In the occurrence of L. elegans in sea bream, the opportunistic switch resulted in lower abundance and prevalence than in the original host, while in the second case of switching the monogenean S. chrysophrii showed better reproductive capacity on a new host (sharpsnout bream). Both cases point to the possible enlargement of parasite host range.     

Invasion of a South African Anguilla mossambica (Anguillidae) opulation by the alien gill worm Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae (Monogenea)

The parasitic gill monogenean Pseudodactylogyrus anguillae is alien to Africa. In an investigation of 227 longfin eel, Anguilla mossambica, and 26 mottled eel, Anguilla marmorata, sampled from four river systems in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, this parasite was only present on the gills of A. mossambica sampled from the Great Fish River system. In the Great Fish River, it infected 73.2% of the sampled population at a mean intensity of 63.8±34.3 parasites per fish. High prevalence and intensity are indicative of a well-established alien invasive parasitic species. Results showing the absence of P. anguillae from the co-occurring but less abundant A. marmorata indicate that this species may be less susceptible to P. anguillae infection.     

The status of some southern African nominal species of Cucumaria (s.e.) referable to a new genus and their ecological isolation

A full history of four nominal species of southern African dendrochirotid holothurians, namely Cucumaria jägeri Lampert, Semperia (= Cucumaria) sykion Lamped, C. insolens Theél and C. sinorbis Cherbonnier, is given and the confusion in their taxonomic status discussed. Morphological differences and habitat selection indicate that the latter three are valid sister species. C. jägeri is relegated to the synonymy of C. sykion, a well-established name which it threatens. Since none of the three species is referable to the genus in which it is currently classified, a new genus Pseudocnella is erected to accommodate them. It is suggested that the Mediterranean Ocnus syracusanus (Grube) be also classified in the new genus. A key to the three southern African species is given, their synonymy detailed, additional notes provided, and the geographic distributions mapped. Although P. sykion and P. sinorbis have an identical geographical range it is demonstrated that the two species are ecologically isolated and thus prevented from any interspecific competition. P. insolens is sympatric with P. sinorbis over a wide area, often occupying the same habitat in a single locality. However, morphological and other evidence points to subtle niche differences between them. A provisional cladogram is proposed to show the possible relationships of the four species included in the new genus.     

Polystomatidae (Monogenea) of southern African Anura: Polystoma channingi n.sp. parasitic in two closely related Cacosternum species

Polystoma channingi is described as a new species of polystomatid flatworm (Monogenea) parasitic in the urinary bladder of Cacosternum nanum in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In a locality where C. nanum and C. boettgeri occur sympatrically the parasite has been found in both species. This finding of a Polystoma sp. in two closely related host species questions the strict host-specificity generally ascribed to the genus, but supports the hypothesis that host-specificity is determined by the oncomiracidium's ability to recognize the tadpole as a suitable host. This is the first polystome to be described from the genus Cacosternum and the ninth species of Polystoma from South Africa. The species is distinguished by its huge haptor and suckers relative to the body size. The haptor length/body length ratio of 0.38 is by far the largest for the known southern African polystomes. The prevalence of infection with P. channingi n.sp. was 25% for C. nanum and 40% for C. boettgeri, while the mean intensity of infections in adult frogs was 1.5 for C. boettgeri and 1.0 for C. nanum.     

Identification of cryptic species of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in the subgenus Culicoides and development of species-specific PCR assays based on barcode regions

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are vectors of important diseases affecting wild and domestic animals. During the last decade they have played a major role in the epidemiology of the largest bluetongue epizootic ever recorded in Europe, the disease is transmitted between hosts almost exclusively by bites of Culicoides midges and affects both domestic and wild ruminants however severe disease usually occurs in certain breeds of sheep and some species of deer. An accurate vector identification is of major importance in arthropod borne diseases surveillance, as great differences in vectorial capacity are found even between close species. Unfortunately, specialized taxonomic knowledge of Culicoides identification is rarely available in routine surveillance, mainly based on wing morphology. Recently, some European species of Culicoides belonging to the subgenus Avaritia Fox, 1955 and Culicoides Latreille, 1809 have been described as new bluetongue virus vectors.In the present study, by using a fragment of the barcode region (COI gene) we report the presence of up to 11 species within the subgenus Culicoides in Catalonia (NE Spain), a region recently affected by a bluetongue epizootic. The molecular analysis revealed new non-described cryptic species which were grouped in three complexes of morphologically similar species, two in the Pulicaris complex resembling Culicoides pulicaris, two in the Fagineus complex resembling Culicoides fagineus and three in the Newsteadi complex resembling Culicoides newsteadi. The phylogenetic relationships among them showed that cryptic species detected in both Pulicaris and Fagineus complexes were closely related, whereas those in the Newsteadi complex were more distant. Accurate analysis of all species using morphological and molecular approaches resulted in the detection of diagnostic metric traits for cryptic species and the design of several new species-specific single and multiplex PCR assays to identify unambiguously all the species, most of them still lacking a specific molecular diagnosis.     

DNA barcoding for identification of cryptic species in the field and existing museum collections: a case study of Aethomys and Micaelamys (Rodentia: Muridae)

DNA barcoding has been proposed as a method for species identification. However, this method has been criticised for its over-reliance on a single mitochondrial gene. In this study, four mitochondrial gene regions and one nuclear gene region were used to investigate their different abilities to identify tissue associated with museum specimens of Aethomys chrysophilus, Aethomys ineptus and Micaelamys namaquensis. Aethomys chrysophilus and the more recently elevated A. ineptus are indistinguishable on morphological grounds; however, their ranges are largely parapatric with only one syntopic locality currently known. All of the mitochondrial gene regions were able to separate M. namaquensis from A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus, but they varied in their abilities to resolve differences between A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus. The sequence results identified a specimen from KwaZulu-Natal that was misclassified and should have been identified as A. ineptus. Seven specimens that had not been reclassified following the elevation of A. ineptus to species level were identified as A. ineptus. Individuals of A. chrysophilus from Malawi could not be classified as either A. chrysophilus or A. ineptus, and may be a hybrid or a new, distinct species. This study indicates that DNA barcoding may be used to separate M. namaquensis from A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus, and although it was not able to separate A. chrysophilus and A. ineptus, it did indicate specimens from Malawi may be a new cryptic species.     

Phylogeography and genetic diversity of Psammophis schokari (Serpentes) in North Africa based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

The snake Psammophis schokari has a widespread distribution across North Africa, and in Morocco/Western Sahara is represented by three different morphotypes: striped, unicoloured and the Western-Sahara morph. ND4 mitochondrial DNA sequences from 28 specimens comprising 20 P. shokari, two P. aegyptius, one P. elegans, two P. sibilans, one P. condanarus and two outgroups were analysed. Within P. schokari we identified four genetic lineages (Morocco/Western Sahara, Mauritania, Algeria and Israel) with a genetic divergence ranging from 4-5%, less than that typically found between different species. Surprisingly, Moroccan/Western Sahara and Algerian lineages are the most divergent ones. This geographic substructuring may be due to severe climate changes in the Sahara desert between the Miocene and Pleistocene associated with expansion/contraction phases of this desert. Psammophis aegyptius is the sister-taxon of Psammophis schokari with a high level of genetic divergence between them (10.7%) supporting the recognition of P. aegyptius as a distinct species. The three Moroccan/Western Sahara colour morphotypes form one genetic lineage, indicating that colour pattern does not reflect a different phylogenetic history, and is probably an ecological adaptation to the local environment.     

Pseudorhabdosynochus kritskyi n. sp. (Monogenea: Diplectanidae) on Gag from the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Pseudorhabdosynochus kritskyi n. sp. from gag Mycteroperca microlepis (Perciformes: Serranidae) of the Gulf of Mexico is described and differs from all known species of the genus by the shape of the vagina. It may be further differentiated from P. americanum, P. amplidiscatum, P. caballeroi, P. epinepheli, P. latesi, P. monaensis, and Cycloplectanum magnisquamodiscum in having fewer rows of scales in each squamodisc. This new species is most similar to P. beverleyburtonae, P. bocquetae, P. cupatum, P. lantauensis, P. melanesiensis, P. querni, P. serrani, P. summanae, P. vagampullum, and Cycloplectanum riouxi in having 15 or fewer squamodisc rows, but it may be separated by differences in either squamodisc morphology or differently shaped hamuli or bars.     

Sexual dimorphism in two girdled lizard species,Cordylus niger and Cordylus cordylus

The extent of sexual selection in two girdled lizard species was evaluated by measuring sexual dimorphism in those characters normally affected by sexual selection. Neither Cordylus niger, a cool-adapted species, nor C. cordylus, a warm-adapted species, displayed any notable sexual differences in asymptotic body sizes, but both species displayed slight dimorphism in head size measurements. The C. niger sample contained more large males than large females, which may be attributed to a lower growth rate in females. In the cool Saldanha area, females of both species lack generation glands. In the warmer Gansbaai area, these glands are present in females of C. cordylus, but in lower numbers than in males. Sex ratios favouring females, have been recorded for both species. The observed sexual dimorphism in the two species seems to be mainly the result of differential energy allocation by females, and not of sexual selection perse.     

The first report of Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 (Platyhelminthes, Monogenea) on Italian cultured stocks of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum)

The monogenean Gyrodactylus salaris Malmberg, 1957 is considered one of the most important parasites of wild salmonids in the European Community due to the heavy ecological and economical damage it has inflicted on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr populations. Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is susceptible to G. salaris and can act as a suitable carrier host and, consequently, its trade in EU territory is restricted in relation to the status of “recognized free” zones. Despite the economic importance of rainbow trout farming in Italy, information on the Italian gyrodactylid fauna is lacking and prior to this study, G. salaris had not been officially reported. During a routine health examination of farmed rainbow trout stock throughout Central and Northern Italy in 2004–2005, five fish farms were found to be infected with G. salaris alongside three other gyrodactylids. Morphological and molecular characterisation confirmed the presence of G. salaris, Gyrodactylus teuchis Lautraite, Blanc, Thiery, Daniel et Vigneulle, 1999 and Gyrodactylus derjavinoides Malmberg, Collins, Cunningham et Jalali, 2007, while Gyrodactylus truttae Gläser, 1974 was identified by morphological analysis only. The findings from this study extend the distribution of G. salaris within Europe and highlight the importance of the rainbow trout trade in its dissemination.     

Phenotypic characterisation of Australian sheep and cattle isolates of Mannheimia haemolytica, Mannheimia granulomatis and Mannheimia varigena

Objective To perform a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of 35 isolates of bacteria previously identified as haemolytic Pasteurella‐Actinobacillus and obtained from cattle and sheep. Design The 35 isolates that had been obtained from Australian animals, 30 from cattle and five from sheep, were compared with reference strains of the five recognised species of the genus Mannheimia ‐ M haemolytica, M glucosida, M granulomatis, M ruminalis and M varigena. Results Thirty‐four of the isolates could be confidently assigned to three species of the genus Mannheimia. Twenty‐nine were M haemolytica, with 25 being isolated from cattle and four from sheep. All but three of the bovine M haemolytica were isolated from pneumonic lungs. Of the three remaining bovine M haemolytica isolates, one was obtained in pure culture from a bovine milk sample and the other two as part of a mixed flora associated with a middle ear infection of a calf suffering mucosal disease. Of the four ovine M haemolytica isolates, two were isolated in pure culture from milk and two, also in pure culture, from pneumonic lungs. Three bovine isolates were identified as M granulomatis ‐ one from a tongue abscess, one from a jaw abscess and one from a lung showing suppurative bronchopneumonia. Two bovine isolates were identified as M varigena‐ one coming from an udder and the other from a spleen. The available diagnostic records provided no information on whether these isolates were associated with a disease process. The remaining isolate was obtained from an ovine tongue abscess and could not be assigned to a recognised species within the genus Mannheimia. Conclusion The study represents the first time that M haemolytica, M granulomatis and M varigena have been recognised as being present in cattle and sheep in Australia. Veterinary laboratories that encounter Pasteurella‐Actinobacillus‐like organisms from cattle and sheep should attempt as complete a characterisation as possible to help improve our knowledge of the disease potential of these organsims.     

Pharmacokinetic comparison of six anthelmintics in sheep,goats, and cattle

This study was initiated to determine whether a comparative pharmacokinetic (PK) approach could be used to expand the pool of approved anthelmintics for minor ruminant species. Accordingly, the PK profiles of six anthelmintics (levamisole, albendazole, fenbendazole, moxidectin, doramectin, and ivermectin) in sheep, goats, and cattle were determined. The PK values determined for each anthelmintic included T_max, T_last, C_max, AUC, AUC/dose, and C_max/dose. The results of this study demonstrate that a comparative PK approach does not show commonality in the way these six anthelmintics are individually processed by these three ruminants. While some drugs demonstrated identical PK profiles between sheep and goats, none of these drugs demonstrated PK profiles in sheep and goats comparable to the PK profiles found in cattle. The results from this study suggest drug approval across these three ruminants is not a viable concept. However, the resulting PK profiles for each combination of drug and ruminant species represents a new dataset that can be used to support the US FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine's Minor Use/Minor Species indexing process for drug approvals in minor species such as sheep and goats.     

Phylogeography of North African Amietophrynus xeros estimated from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Amietophrynus xeros was sequenced for part of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial region to assess genetic diversity between populations from Niger, Mali, Senegal, Mauritania and Tanzania. Although populations are currently unconnected, diversity within the Sahel region was relatively low, indicating that the species only expanded into this region relatively recently, perhaps after the last glacial maximum. Diversity was higher between samples from Tanzania. Some individuals of two species from previously published studies, A. garmani and A. gutturalis, share haplotypes with A. xeros, but this is likely to be due to error, possibly misidentifica-tion. Similar errors appear to exist in published studies of other North African Amietophrynusspecies such as A. regularis.     

Polymerase Chain Reaction Mediated Identification of Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus parauberis Using Species‐specific Sequences of the Genes Encoding Superoxide Dismutase A and Chaperonin 60*

Streptococcus uberis, a well‐known bacterial pathogen associated with bovine mastitis, appears to be biochemically and serologically almost indistinguishable from the closely related species Streptococcus parauberis. In the present study, species‐specific oligonucleotide primers were designed using internal parts of the genes sodA, encoding superoxide dismutase A, and cpn60 encoding chaperonin 60 of S. uberis and S. parauberis, respectively. The two oligonucleotide primer pairs allowed a rapid and reliable PCR‐mediated identification and differentiation of both species. These studies, performed with S. uberis and S. parauberis reference cultures and clinical isolates from routine diagnostics, revealed that the occurrence of S. parauberis as causative agent of bovine mastitis appears to be rare. In addition the sodA and cpn60 sequence data confirmed that both species could taxonomically be classified to the pyogenic group of genus Streptococcus.     

A Temporal Study of Niche Breadth and Overlap in Two Sympatric Species of Mystacocarida (Crustacea)

Horus is an olpiid pseudoscorpion of which nine species have been described from southern Africa; a tenth, debatable species was described from the Ivory Coast. The two most widely distributed species are H. granulatus and H. obscurus, the former occurring especially in the west and the other in the east, but their distributions overlap; in two instances they have been recorded from the same site. All species have a preference for rock outcrops, which are largely disjunct, and their regular prey comprises small ant species. Fieldwork over a period of 15 years indicated a very low dispersal rate; therefore one would expect localized ‘island’ populations rather than widely dispersed species. This means that the current species delimitations which lump geographically widespread populations may be incorrect. Mitochondrial DNA of specimens from each of 20 different localities across South Africa were analysed to test the hypothesis. Five of these localities did not yield results, but 14 yielded DNA from specimens which proved to belong to Horus and a fifteenth turned out to be a misidentified pseudoscorpion unrelated to Horus. The results were unequivocal: populations from each locality or group of closely-spaced localities were genetically distinct from any other one tested, and the greater the distance between localities, the greater the genetic differences (i.e. significant isolation by distance). This means that the current species delimitations for Horus are incorrect. It will require detailed micro-anatomical study to identify new characteristics on which species delimitations can be based in future.     

Epidemiology of Bartonella Infection in Rodents and Shrews in Taiwan

During the period of August 2002 and November 2004, an epidemiological investigation for Bartonella infection was conducted in small mammals in Taiwan. Using whole blood culture on chocolate agar plates, Bartonella species were successfully isolated from 41.3% of the 310 animals tested. The isolation rate of Bartonella species varied among different animal species, including 52.7% of the 169 Rattus norvegicus, 28.6% of the 126 Sucus murinus, 10% of the 10 Rattus rattus and 66.7% of the three Rattus losea. Bacteremia prevalence also varied with the origin of the animals, as 56.2% of the animals captured on farms, 38.6% of the ones captured at harbour sites and 11.8% of the animals captured from urban areas were bacteremic. Through molecular analysis of the gltA gene and 16S/23S intergenic spacer region, genetic diversity of Bartonella organisms was identified, including strains closely related to Bartonella tribocorum, Bartonella grahamii, Bartonella elizabethae, Bartonella phoceensis and Bartonella rattimassiliensis. Moreover, this is the first report of zoonotic B. elizabethae and B. grahamii identified in R. losea, the lesser rice‐field rat. Various Bartonella species were identified in R. norvegicus, compared to 97.2% of Suncus murinus with unique Bartonella species. By indirect immunofluorescence antibody test, using various rodent Bartonella species as antigens, consistently low percentage of seropositivity implied that small mammals may play a role as competent reservoirs of Bartonella species in Taiwan. Future studies need to be conducted to determine whether these Bartonella species would be responsible for human cases of unknown fever or febrile illness in Taiwan, especially zoonotic B. elizabethae and B. grahamii.