A new cestode, Wardium gvozdevi sp. n. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), and its biology

A new species, Wardium gvozdevi sp. n., was described from a slender-billed gull (Larus genei Brême) in central Kazakhstan (Lake Tengiz). It was experimentally established that brine shrimps Artemia salina, abundant in the lake, are obligatory intermediate host of the cestodes. Wardium gvozdevi develops in the intermediate host (from an oncosfere to a cysticercoid) during 12-15 days under conditions of Lake Tengiz with the extremely salt water (65-80 per mill) and temperatures of 22-24 degrees C.     

Life-cycle of the cestode Wardium calumnacantha (Schmidt, 1963) comb. n. (Hymenolepididae) from common snipe, Gallinago gallinago (L.)

Post-embryonic development of the cestode Wardium calumnacantha (Schmidt, 1963) comb. n., a parasite of common snipe, was studied by experimental infection of the oligochaetes Neoscolex roseus Morev and Rhyacodrilus coccineus (Vejdovsky) carried out in Chukotka. The larvae of W. calumnacantha were ovoid and belonged to the morphological modification of cysticercoid-diplocyst. Two invaginations were observed during the larvogenesis. The first one occurred at the stage of scolexogenesis, when the body of larva was plunged into the external cyst formed by the walls of the primary cavity. Second invagination of the formed scolex and neck into the internal cyst was the final stage of cysticercoid formation.     

Ophiotaenia bonneti sp. n. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Rana vaillanti (Anura: Ranidae) in Costa Rica

Ophiotaenia bonneti sp. n. is described from the intestine of the frog Rana vaillanti Brocchi, 1877 (Anura: Ranidae) from San Gerardo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The new species is characterized by the testes 100-177 in number, the genital pores situated anteriorly, the osmoregulatory canals overlapping the testis field, the cirrus pouch length as 15-24% of proglottis width, and the uterus with 18-32 ramified diverticula on each side. It differs from the 23 known species of the genus Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911, parasitic in amphibians, by one to several morphological characters. It differs from O. gracilis Jones, Cheng et Gillespie, 1958, the most morphologically similar species, in the sucker diameter in % of scolex diameter and in the morphology of the eggs - funnel-like depression and embryophore closely investing the oncosphere in O. gracilis. We generally observe a very low mean prevalence of the Proteocephalidea in Neotropical amphibians (about 0.41%-3%), but in the case of some host species, the prevalence can reach up to 25%. We conclude that these cestodes exhibit a strict host specificity of the oioxene type. Ophiotaenia junglensis Srivastava et Capoor, 1980 is considered a species inquirenda. Batrachotaenia hernandezi (Flores-Barroeta, 1955) becomes Ophiotaenia hernandezi (Flores-Barroeta, 1955) comb. n., B. tigrina (Woodland, 1925) becomes O. tigrina (Woodland, 1925) comb. n. and B. ceratophryos (Parodi et Widakowich, 1916) becomes O. ceratophryos (Parodi et Widakowich, 1916) comb. n.     

Demodex foveolator sp. n. (Acari: Demodicidae), a new epidermis-dwelling parasite of Crocidura suaveolens (Pallas, 1821)

A new species, Demodex foveolator, is described in all stages of the life cycle from the lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens (Pallas, 1821). The species inhabits epidermal pits and apparently is a low-grade pathogen. A suggested trait of structural adaptations of epithelia-dwelling demodicids to their habitats is briefly discussed.     

Punctodera achalensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Punctoderidae), a new cyst nematode from Argentina

European Journal of Plant Pathology - Trichoderma aggressivum, a mycopathogen causing green mould disease, is a major problem in Agaricus bisporus cultivation due to crop loss, and resistance to...     

Kudoa dianae sp. n. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida), a new parasite of bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae)

A new multivalvulid myxosporean species, Kudoa dianae sp. n., is described from bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Jenyns) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae). Plasmodia develop in extramuscular sites, in the wall of oesophagus and less frequently on mesenteries. Mature spores can reach lumen of the digestive tract directly by disruption of plasmodial wall or via macrophage transport to the oesophageal epithelium. New species is characterised by morphology of spores and by the complete sequence of SSU rRNA gene that differs from all hitherto known sequences of Kudoa species. Spore morphology (moderate-sized, simple non-ornate spores, quadrate in apical view) clusters with that of Kudoa scienae, K. cerebralis, K. chilkaensis, K. leiostomi, K. finduli, K. cascasia and K. ovivora. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships (using SSU rRNA gene sequences) among five Kudoa species, the molecular data of which are available thus far, revealed that K. dianae is distinguishable from these five species and that its closest relation is with K. miniauiriculata.     

Fine structure of Henneguya pilosa sp. n. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), parasite of Serrasalmus altuvei (Characidae), in Brazil

Henneguya pilosa sp. n., a new species of myxosporean from the gill filaments of the white piranha, Serrasalmus altuvei Ramirez, 1965 (Characidae), a freshwater teleost fish collected in the Zoological Garden of the city of Teresina (Piauí), Brazil, is described from light and transmission electron microscope observations. This myxosporean produced small plasmodia (up to 0.2 mm in diameter), each one containing all life-cycle stages of the parasite, including numerous spores. The spores, laterally compressed, averaged 54.2 (52.3-56.0) microm in total length and consisted of two unequal valves adhering together along the suture line and two caudal processes. The spore body measured 21.1 (20.0-23.1) microm in length, 5.9 (5.5-6.3) microm in width, and 2.2 (1.9-2.6) microm in thickness. The two equal ellipsoidal polar capsules of 7.4 (7.1-7.6) microm long and 1.2 (1.0-1.3) microm wide possessed a polar filament with 11-12 (rarely 13) turns. All surfaces of the spores were covered with a tightly adherent complex network of numerous densely ramified granulo-fibrillar masses, the longest measuring 1.5 microm long, observed around the caudal processes. The prevalence of infection was 30%. The taxonomic affinities of this parasite with other of the same genus in freshwater South American fish species are discussed.     

Grillotia borealis sp. n. (Cestoda: Trypanorhyncha) from five species of Bathyraja (Rajiformes: Arhynchobatidae) in the North Pacific Ocean with comments on parasite enteric distribution

A new trypanorhynch cestode, Grillotia borealis sp. n., is described from the spiral intestines of softnose skates of the genus Bathyraja collected from subarctic waters of the North Pacific Ocean: B. parmifera (Bean) (type host), B. aleutica (Gilbert) and B. interrupta (Gill et Townsend) from the Bering Sea and B. minispinosa Ishiyama et Ishihara and B. sminovi (Soldatov et Pavlenko) from the Sea of Okhotsk off Japan. The new species is distinguished from other species of Grillotia by possession of the following combination of characters: four hooks per principal row, hooks 4(4') distinctly separated from hooks 3(3') of principal row, principal rows separated by 13-15 intercalary hooks in 2-3 rows, hooks 2(2') and 3(3') change in form along their respective files, hooks 1(1') do not change in form along the file, a broad band of microhooks on the external tentacular face, intermediary hooks are lacking, absence of a special basal armature, origin of the retractor muscle near middle of the bulb, average scolex ratio of 1:3:2:0.1, and a hermaphroditic sac. Grillotia borealis consistently favoured the most anterior regions of the spiral intestine. Seventy-one per cent of 21 attached worms occupied the most anterior chamber of the spiral valve and 52 per cent were embedded in the anterior surface of the spiral valve whorls. Factors which may limit the distribution of G. borealis within the spiral intestine of its host are discussed. Statistically significant differences occur in the mucosal morphology of B. aleutica and B. parmifera for villus length, diameter, spatial arrangement and number per unit area along the antero-posterior axis of the spiral intestine.     

Four species of digeneans, including Allocreadium patagonicum sp. n. (Allocreadiidae), from freshwater fishes of Patagonia, Argentina

Four species of adult digeneans are reported from freshwater fishes of two lakes in Neuquén, Patagonia, Argentina. Allocreadium patagonicum sp. n. (Allocreadiidae) is described from the intestine of Percichthys colhuapiensis MacDonagh and Percichthys trucha (Cuvier et Valenciennes) (Percichthyidae) from Lago Aluminé. Three species redescribed are: Acanthostomoides apophalliformis Szidat, 1956 (Acanthostomidae) from the intestine of P. colhuapiensis and P. trucha from Lago Aluminé and of Salmo trutta (Linnaeus) (Salmonidae) from Lago Huechulafquén; Deropegus patagonicus (Szidat, 1956) comb. n. (= Genarches patagonicus Szidat, 1956) (Derogenidae) from the stomach of P. colhuapiensis, P. trucha, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) (Salmonidae) and Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill) (Salmonidae) from Lago Aluminé and of S. trutta from Lago Huechulafquén; and Austrocreadium papilliferum Szidat, 1956 from the intestine of P. trucha from Lago Aluminé. The genus Polylekithum Arnold, 1934 is considered a synonym of the genus Allocreadium Looss, 1900. The genus Austrocreadium Szidat, 1956 is removed to the family Homalometridae.     

Chimaerula bonai sp. n. (Cestoda: Dilepididae) from the bare-faced ibis, Phimosus infuscatus (Lichtenstein) (Aves: Threskiornithidae) in Paraguay

Chimaerula bonai sp. n. is described from the small intestine of Phimosus infuscatus (Lichtenstein) in Paraguay. The new species differs from the other two species of Chimaerula Bona, 1994, i.e., Chinmaerula woodlandi (Prudhoe, 1960) and Chinmaerula leonovi (Belogurov et Zueva, 1968), mainly by the intermediate number of rostellar hooks (30-34 compared to 42-46 in the former and 20-22 in the latter), longer rostellar hooks (31-34 microm versus 26 microm and 19-21 microm, respectively), shorter cirrus sac (58-82 microm versus 158-201 microm and 134-183 microm, respectively) and the absence of rosethorn spines in the cirrus armament. Modifications in the generic diagnosis of Chimaerula are proposed in order to conform it with some peculiarities of the new species (i.e., the relatively small and thin cirrus, the absence of rosethorn spines in its armament and the small cirrus sac).     

A redescription of Arostrilepis beringiensis (Kontrimavichus et Smirnova, 1991) and descriptions of two new species from Palaearctic microtine rodents, Arostrilepis intermedia sp. n. and A. janickii sp. n. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae)

Arostrilepis beringiensis (Kontrimavichus et Smirnova, 1991) is redescribed on the basis of its type specimens from Lemmus trimucronatus (Richardson) and material from the collections of the Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Novosibirsk from the lemmings Myopus schisticolor (Lilljeborg) and Lemmus sibiricus (Kerr) from the Asian part of Russia. Specimens previously identified as Arostrilepis horrida (Linstow, 1901) from voles are revised and newly collected materials are addressed. Two new species of the genus Arostrilepis Mas-Coma et Tenora, 1997, A. intermedia sp. n. from red-backed voles (Myodes Pallas) from the Asian part of Russia and A. janickii sp. n. from Europe, are described. These species are clearly distinguished from congeners by form and size of the cirrus and its armature as well as the type of arrangement for the testes, position of the cirrus-sac with regard to poral ventral osmoregulatory canals, and host specificity.     

Posterotestes unelen gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Apocreadiidae) from Percichthys trucha (Osteichthyes: Percichthyidae) in Patagonia, Argentina

Posterotestes gen. n. (Digenea: Apocreadiidae, Apocrcadiinae) is proposed for specimens with the following features: spiny body, posterior position of gonads, extension of vitelline follicles up to level of intestinal bifurcation and absent at post-testicular space, long oesophagus and extension of caeca up to anterior testis. Posterotestes unelen sp. n. is described from the intestine of the native fish, Percichthys trucha (Cuvier et Valenciennes) (Osteichthyes: Percichthyidae) from Patagonian Andean lakes.     

Myxobolus intrachondrealis sp. n. (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae), a parasite of the gill cartilage of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio

A species not identifiable with any of the about 23 Myxobolus species recorded from the common carp so far, was detected in the gills of one- and two-summer-old specimens of the common carp ((Cyprinus carpio L.) cultured in pond farms in Hungary. The strictly tissue-specific plasmodia of the parasite were located, surrounded by hyaline cartilage cells, in the chondrous substance of the terminal parts of the gill arches and in the cartilage structure ventrally connecting the gill arches. The spores of the parasite described as Myxobolus intrachondrealis sp. n. developed in globular or ellipsoidal plasmodia measuring 300-600 microm. By their elongated ellipsoidal shape and similarly elongated polar capsules the spores were well distinguishable from the hitherto described Myxobolus species parasitic in the common carp and also from the cartilage-parasitic Myxobolus species of other fishes.     

Ailinella mirabilis gen. n., sp. n. (eucestoda: pseudophyllidea) from Galaxias maculatus (Pisces: Galaxiidae) in the Andean-Patagonian region of Argentina

Ailinella gen. n. (Pseudophyllidea: Triaenophoridae) is proposed to accommodate Ailinella mirabilis sp. n. from Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns, 1842), a freshwater fish inhabiting the Andean lakes in Argentinean Patagonia. Ailinella belongs to the Triaenophoridae because it has a marginal genital pore, a follicular vitelline gland, and a ventral uterine pore. The new genus can be distinguished from other triaenophorids by the following combination of characters: a small body size, a low number of proglottides, which are longer than wide, a truncated pyramidal to globular scolex, a rectangular apical disc, presence of the neck, lack of internal longitudinal musculature separating the cortex from the medulla, testes distributed in one central field surrounding the ovary laterally and posteriorly, the vagina predominantly anterior to the cirrus sac, vitelline follicles circum-medullary, the genital pores post-equatorial, a saccate uterus, and operculate eggs. Blade-like spiniform microtriches were present on all tegument surfaces, and tumuli on all surfaces of the scolex and the anterior surface of the neck. Microtriches were characterized according to their size and density, and tumuli according to their size, inter-tumulus distance and density. Ailinella mirabilis is the first cestode described from G. maculatus and the second triaenophorid species recorded from a South American freshwater fish.     

Hysterothylacium winteri sp. n. (Nematoda: Anisakidae), a parasite of Chilean rock cod, Eleginops maclovinus (Perciformes: Eleginopidae), from South Chile

Hysterothylacium winteri sp. n. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) was collected from the intestine of a marine-estuarine fish, Eleginops maclovinus (Valenciennes) (Perciformes: Eleginopsidae), from Abtao in the Gulf of Ancud, Chile. Sixteen (51.6%) out of 31 fish were infected; the intensity was 1-10 (mean 4) worms/host. The new species belongs to the group of congeners possessing one double pair of postanal papillae. By possessing a lateral pair of phasmids situated near the tip of tail, H. winteri most closely resembles Hysterothylacium habena. The new species can be distinguished by the lip flanges forming broadly rounded points and the equal, short spicules (320-400 microm long) representing 0.9-1.7% of body length.     

Ewingana (Doreyana) baekelandae, sp. n., a parasite of molossid bats in Spain (Acari: Myobiidae).

Ewingana (Doreyana) baekelandae sp. n. (Acari: Myobiidae) is described on the basis of several adults and immatures collected on Tadarida (T.) teniotis from the province of Teruel, Spain. The species is a Palearctic representative of the evolutive line nanula Fain and digitata Fain. Differences within these species are observed in the female genito-anal area and in the shape and size of leg I, both in adults and in immatures.     

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 hyperapolytic species, Trilocularia eberti sp. n. (Cestoda: Tetraphyllidea), from Squalus cf. mitsukurii (Squaliformes: Squalidae) off South Africa with comments on its development and fecundity

A new species of tetraphyllidean cestode in the genus Trilocularia is described from an undescribed shark species, Squalus cf. mitsukurii, off the coast of South Africa. Trilocularia eberti sp. n. is the second known member of its genus, and like its congener, T. gracilis (Olsson, 1866-1867) Olsson, 1869, is extremely hyperapolytic, dropping proglottids from its strobila while they are still very immature. Characteristic of the genus, it possesses a distinctive scolex with triloculated bothridia, but differs conspicuously from its congener in its possession of an anterior loculus that is much larger in width relative to the paired posterior loculi, and also in its possession of an anterior, enlarged region of its free proglottids that is triangular with a slit-like ventral aperture, rather than rounded and cup-like. This anterior region of the free proglottid is used in attachment, and its development is described. For assessment of fecundity, an attempt was made to record all free proglottids of all ages found in both host individuals, and yielded an average estimate of 362 free proglottids being produced per individual worm of T. eberti sp. n. Both Trilocularia species parasitize sharks of the genus Squalus, and given the host specificity typically exhibited by tetraphyllideans and preliminary examinations of other members of this shark genus, it is likely that other Squalus species will be found to host additional new Trilocularia species.