Parasitism of two zoonotic reservoirs Dasyprocta leporina and D. fuliginosa (Rodentia) from Amazonas, with Trichostrongylina nematodes (Heligmonellidae): description of a new genus and a new species

A new genus and a new species of Heligmonellidae nematodes are described parasiting the stomach of three agoutis (two Dasyprocta fuliginosa and one D. leporina) captured in the middle and high Negro river microregion, state of Amazonas, Brazil. The new genus, as well as its type-species, are closely related to the trichostrongylids included in Fuellebornema, particularly on what concerns the pattern of the caudal bursa, but differing from them by the characteristics of the synlophe, that presents a poorly developed carene, when compared to the referred number of body ridges in Freitastrongylus n. gen. and consequently in F. angelae n. sp.,in which the ridges are well developed and the carene at mid-body has a similar size when compared to the ridge situated in front of the right field (ridge no. 5). Caudal bursa is of the type 1-4, with rays 9 shorter than rays 10, with a very long genital cone.     

New Pudicinae (Nematoda,Heligmonellidae) parasite of Trichomys fosteri (Rodentia: Echimyidae) from Pantanal,Brazil

Pudica trichomysae n. sp. (Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea, Helligmonellidae, Pudicinae) from the small intestine of Trichomys fosteri (Rodentia: Echimydae) from the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul is described by light and scanning electron microscopy. Pudica trichomysae n. sp. is characterized by caudal bursa type 2–2-1, proportion of spicules length in relation to body length (SpL/BL) of 17 to 18% left and right, respectively. Dorsal ray divided at about the distal third into two branches, each branch divided into two long sub-branches, rays 9 and 10. Furthermore, this study shows for the first time details of the anterior region demonstrating papillae organization, amphids, derides, and opening of the excretory pore. The posterior end of the caudal bursa showed detail of the genital cone, papillae, and ray 1, and in the female, it showed interrupted ridges between the vulva and anus. In conclusion, the present species is the seventeenth described in the genus in South America and the first in Pantanal.     

New Pudicinae (Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea), Pudica ctenomydis n. sp. parasite of Ctenomys talarum (Rodentia: Octodontidae) from Argentina

A total of 138 nematodes were found in the small intestine of Ctenomys talarum (Octodontidae) from Mar de Cobo, Argentina. A new nematode species, Pudica ctenomydis n. sp., is described. The new species more closely resembles P. pujoli Durette-Desset, 1990, parasite of Microcavia niata Thomas, from Bolivia. It can be distinguished from P. pujoli by the number of ridges and characteristics of the synlophe, the spicular morphology, differences in length between rays 9 and 10, and by the presence of a symmetrical caudal bursa and a cuticular expansion surrounding the body between vulva and anus in females.     

New Pudicinae (Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea) coparasites of Proechimys longicaudatus (Caviomorpha) from Bolivia. I--Description of Pudica ginsburgi n. sp. and Heligmostrongylus chiarae n. sp

Two new Pudicinae (Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea, Heligmonellidae) coparasites of Proechimys longicaudatus (Caviomorph rodent) from Bolivia are described: Pudica ginsburgi n. sp. is differentiated from all the other species of the genus by the great length of the spicules and of the vestibule and by a different ratio of the length of the spicules on the length of the body. Heligmostrongylus chiarae n. sp. has very developed rays 4, strongly divergent from rays 5 as occurs in three other species, H. almeidai (Durette-Desset & Tcheprakoff, 1969), a parasite of Trichomys apereoides (= Cercomys cunicularius) from Brazil, H. squamastrongylus (Travassos, 1937), a parasite of Proechimys oris from Brazil and H. proechimysi Durette-Desset, 1970, a parasite of Proechimys semispinosus from Columbia. The specimens from Bolivia are differentiated from the three species by the division of the dorsal ray (anterior half versus posterior half) and by a different ratio of the length of the spicules on the length of the body.     

Description of two new species of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda, Trichostrongyuna, Heligmosomoidea) coparasites in Arvicanthis ansorgei (Muridae) from Cameroon

In the small intestine of a single Arvicanthis ansorgei from Cameroon, two new species of Nippostrongylinae were found: Neoheligmonella zero n. sp. and Heligmonina comerounensis n. sp. N. zero belongs to the Neoheligmonella species in which the right dorsal ridge is poorly developed. Among these species, N. bainae (Durette-Desset, 1970), a parasite of Steatomys opinus from Burkina Fasso, is a closely related species. It is differentiated by the presence of vulvar alae, the ratio uterus length/body length and the separation of rays 2 and 3 at two thirds of their length. N. zero is also closely related to N. kenyae (Yeh, 1958) a parasite of Rattus rattus kijabius from Kenya by the pattern of the caudal bursa and the ratio spicules length/body length. The synlophe of N. kenyae was not described in detail but it is differentiated from N. zero by the position of the excretory pore, situated just posteriorly to the nerve ring and in the female by the ratio ovejector length/body length which is smaller. H. camerounensis n. sp. is characterised by the ratio dorsal ridges/ventral ridges which is 4/7. It is differentiated from the species of which the synlophe has not been described by the pattern of the caudal bursa (type 1-4 with tendancy 1-3-1). It is the first report of Nippostrongylinae species in Cameroon and the first record of a species of the genus Heligmonina in an Arvicanthis.     

A new genus of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from the water rat Scapteromys aquaticus (Sigmodontinae) in Argentina

A new genus of Nippostrongylinae, Malvinema n. gen., with 3 coparasitic species M. frederici n. sp., M. carolinae n. sp., and M. victoriae n. sp. from the intestine of the water rat, Scapteromys aquaticus Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae), from the northeast of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, is proposed in this study. The new genus shows similarities to 2 Neotropical Nippostrongylinae: Carolinensis (Travassos, 1937) by some characters of the synlophe and Stilestrongylus Freitas, Lent and Almeida, 1937, by the pattern of the caudal bursa. It is characterized by a synlophe with triple or quadruple gradient of size of the ridges, lateromedian, decreasing from the largest left and right ridges. The gradient situated in the right ventral quadrant is always present. The caudal bursa shows a pattern of type 1-4. Malvinema frederici possesses a synlophe with 17 ridges and an axis of orientation inclined at 45 degrees from the sagittal axis; M. carolinae possesses a synlophe with 22-24 ridges and an axis of orientation almost merged with the sagittal axis. Both species have a caudal bursa with the right lobe enlarged transversally. Malvinema victoriae possesses a synlophe with 22-24 ridges, an axis of orientation inclined at 45 degrees from the sagittal axis, and a caudal bursa with the right lobe enlarged vertically.     

Vexillata liomyos n. sp. (Nemata: Ornithostrongylidae) from Liomys pictus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) from Mexico, with comments on the synlophe of Vexillata armandae.

Individuals of a new species of Vexillata were collected from the small intestines of Liomys pictus from the Estaci6n de Biología Chamela, in Jalisco State, Mexico. The new species shows an array of characters that allow us to recognize it as a member of Vexillata; however, it can be distinguished from other species of the genus in that males possess an asymmetrical caudal bursa, females possess a characteristic cuticular inflation at the level of the ovijector, and both sexes possess a synlophe with 9 ridges at the midbody. Additional detail of the synlophe of Vexillata armandae Gardner et al., 1994 from Chaetodipus hispidus in New Mexico shows that both sexes have 12 cuticular ridges just posterior to the cephalic inflation, and in the posterior region of the body, females have 9 ridges of equal size while males possess 11 equal-sized ridges. In both sexes, the carene disappears at the posterior end of the body.     

Phylogeny of the flyingfish family Exocoetidae (Teleostei, Beloniformes)

The phylogeny of the flyingfish family Exocoetidae is studied cladistically, using 41 morphological characters encompassing early life history, and external and internal features. The monophyly of the family is supported by 10 synapomorphies. Within the family,Oxyporhamphus is the sister group to all other genera, the monophyly of the latter being defined by 10 synapomorphies.Fodiator is the sister group of genera characterized by the presence of chin barbels in juveniles.Parexocoetus is the sister group ofExocoetus, Cypselurus, Prognichthys andHirundichthys, the latter being defined by four synapomorphies. In the latter group,Exocoetus is the sister group of the other three genera. The phylogeny of the Exocoetidae is characterized by the stepwise upgrading of gliding capability, with sequential modifications of the caudal, pectoral and pelvic fins. The subfamily Oxyporhamphinae is resurrected.     

A new Heligmonellid (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae) from Oecomys mamorae (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in the pantanal and new data on the synlophe of Guerrerostrongylus zetta from the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

A new species of Heligmonellidae nematode, Guerrerostrongylus gomesae n. sp., is described from specimens collected from the small intestine of the rodent Oecomys mamorae Thomas, 1906 in the Brazilian Pantanal. It differs from the 2 other species of the genus by the number of ridges in the synlophe 35-46 and 40-48 at the midbody in the male and female, respectively, by rays 8 arising at midlength of the dorsal trunk, ending near the margin of the caudal bursa, and the dorsal ray divided at the second-third part into 2 branches, each branch divided into 2 subequal subbranches. In addition, specimens of Guerrerostrongylus zetta Travassos, 1937 collected in Oligoryzomys nigripes Olfers, 1818 contain synlophe with 36-42 cuticular ridges in males and 38-42 in females at the midbody. By the characteristics of the synlophe and caudal bursa, Gerrerostrongylus gomesae n. sp. is considered a new species. We suggest that the number of cuticular ridges for this genus broadens the range of the cuticular ridges to at least 35 at midbody.     

Trichostrongylina (Nematoda) from Malagasy Muridae. I--Description of two new species of Heligmonellidae in Nesomys spp

Two new species of Heligmonellidae, Heligmonina wrightae n.sp. (Nippostrongylinae) and Nesomystrongylus fissicauda n.gen., n. sp. (Brevistriatinae) are described from Madagascar in Nesomys rufus and N. audeberti (Muridae). In Nesomys audeberti, the species are coparasites. Heligmonina wrightae is differentiated from all the other species of the genus, except H. malacomysi Sakka & Durette-Desset, 1988, by the ratio of the length of the spicules on the length of the body (25-27.8% versus 9.5-7%). It differs from H. malacomysi by the pattern of the caudal bursa and by the angle of the axis of orientation of the cuticular ridges on the sagittal axis. Nesomystrongylus fissicauda is related to the genus Fissicauda Durette-Desset & Krishnasamy, 1976, by the absence of the carene, by the ridges discontinuous on all the sides of the body and by the deeply divided dorsal ray. It differs from this genus by a different structure of the ridges, by the pattern of the caudal bursa, (very tiny rays 2 and strongly developed rays 3, rays 8 arising from common trunk of rays 2 to 6) and by the presence of a caudal tip in the female.     

A new genus and species of Sarcoglanidinae from the Río Mamoré, Amazon Basin, with comments on subfamilial phylogeny (Teleostei, Trichomycteridae)

Stenolicmus sarmientoi is described as a new genus and species of the trichomycterid subfamily Sarcoglanidinae, from the RíAo Mamoré Basin, Bolivia. It can be distinguished from all other sarcoglanidines by: five-rayed pectoral fin; elongate body shape (HL about 15% of SL); absence of fontanelles on cranial roof; well-developed patches of opercular and interopercular odontodes (five or six on each bone); numerous accessory caudal-fin rays (13 dorsal and 11 ventral); and presence of extensive dark pigmentation on the surface of the body. Three synapomorphies support a hypothesis that the new taxon forms a monophyletic group with other sarcoglanidines: presence of an anterior ossification of the palatine cartilage; quadrate with a dorsal expansion directed posteriorly; and premaxilla with a long lateral process. Stenolicmus lacks some synapomorphies shared by Stauroglanis, Malacoglanis and Sarcoglanis , and shares some other synapomorphies exclusively with Sarcoglanis and Malacoglanis. These character distributions make it uncertain whether Stenolicmus is the sister group of all other sarcoglanidines or only of Malacoglanis plus Sarcoglanis , because the two positions imply equally parsimonious cladograms.     

Srivastavanema cynocephali n. sp. (Nematoda,Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea), a parasite of a dermopteran from Indonesia

Srivastavanema cynocephali n. sp., a parasite of Cynocephalus variegatus (Dermoptera) from Indonesia, is described. This species is closely related to S. yapi Durette-Desset & Lim Boo Liat, 1975, in the characters of the synlophe at the mid-body and in the shape of the caudal bursa, but it is distinguished by the pattern of the synlophe in the posterior part of the body, very long, thin rays 2 and 3, a less developed genital cone, the absence of a membrane between left and right rays 6, and longer spicules. Its morphology is slightly less specialised than the four previously known species of the genus, which are all parasites of petauristines. The genus Srivastavanema (Singh, 1962) has a systematic position between the Heligmonellinae and the Brevistriatinae. Therefore, it may be a parasite of the Dermoptera which could have secondarily evolved within the Petauristinae. The Dermoptera may have played an important role in the evolution of the Heligmonellinae.     

Suttonema delta n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina: Heligmosomoidea) from Oxymycterus rufus (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in Argentina

A new nippostrongyline, Suttonema delta n. g., n. sp., is described from the intestine of Oxymycterus rufus (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) from Argentina, in a host from which trichostrongylid nematodes were hitherto unknown. The new genus is very similar to Stilestrongylus Freitas, Lent & Almeida, 1937 and Malvinema Digiani, Sutton & Durette-Desset, 2003, both parasites of Neotropical sigmodontines, in the features of the caudal bursa (with a pattern of type 1-4, asymmetrical with hypertophied right lobe) and the presence of cephalic structures resembling cuticular cordons. The larval synlophe is also identical to that of Stilestrongylus freitasi Durette-Desset, 1968. The new genus is differentiated by an adult synlophe with few ridges (9-12 at mid-body) of two different types: small, rounded ridges without cuticular support on the dorsal side, and pointed ridges of unequal size on the ventral side and in lateral fields. It is also characterised by the presence of comaretes on the left ventral and ventral fields of the synlophe.     

An exploration of diversity among the Ostertagiinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in ungulates from Sub-Saharan Africa with a proposal for a new genus

Abomasal nematodes (Ostertagiine: Trichostrongyloidea) representing a previously unrecognized genus and species are reported in African buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) from Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. Africanastrongylus buceros gen. nov. et sp. nov. is characterized by a symmetrical tapering synlophe in the cervical region and a maximum of 60 ridges in males and females. Bursal structure is 2-2-1, with subequal Rays 4/5, massive Rays 8, and Rays 9/10, and a massive dorsal lobe that is reduced in length, laterally and dorsally inflated, and positioned ventral to externodorsal rays. Spicules are tripartite, and the gubernaculum is broadly alate in the anterior. A proconus is present. Among ostertagiines with a 2-2-1 bursa (Cervicaprastrongylus, Hyostrongylus, Mazamastrongylus, Sarwaria, Spiculopteragia, and Teladorsagia) specimens of Africanastrongylus are differentiated from respective genera based on the structure of the cervical synlophe, patterns of dorsal, externodorsal, lateral, and ventral rays, and configuration of the genital cone, gubernaculum, and spicules. Among 13 genera of the Ostertagiinae in the global fauna, 3 are entirely limited in distribution to Africa, including Africanastrongylus, Longistrongylus, and Pseudomarshallagia. Another 5 genera including Cervicaprastrongylus, Hyostrongylus, Marshallagia, Ostertagia, and Teladorsagia are represented as mosaics, with diversity centered in Eurasia or the Holarctic. Genera not represented in the African fauna include Camelostrongylus among Caprinae and some Antelopinae from Eurasia, Mazamastrongylus and Spiculopteragia in Cervidae from the Holarctic and Eurasia, respectively, Orloffia in Cervidae and Bovidae from the Holarctic, and Sarwaria among Tragulidae and Bovinae in southern Asia. The diverse nature of the ostertagiine fauna, with a disproportionate number of endemic genera relative to other regions of the northern hemisphere, may reflect the timing of episodic expansion events for artiodactyls into Africa from Eurasia during the Tertiary and Quaternary.     

Pseudostertagia bullosa (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in artiodactyl hosts from North America: redescription and comments on systematics

A relationship for Pseudostertagia bullosa within the trichostrongyloids has been enigmatic or unresolved. Studies of the synlophe in males and females of P. bullosa revealed a tapering system anterior to the deirids and a pattern of parallel ridges extending to near the caudal extremity in both lateral and median fields. Structurally, the synlophe differs considerably from that seen among the Cooperiinae and exhibits homoplasy with respect to ridge systems among some Ostertagiinae. Other structural characters due to symplesiomorphy, homoplasy or because they represent autapomorphies do not serve to reveal the putative relationships for P. bullosa with other trichostrongyloids. Although somewhat equivocal, the 2-2-1 pattern of the bursa and position of rays 2 and 3 suggest an association with the Cooperinae, as postulated by Durette-Desset and others. Pseudostertagia bullosa appears to be a species that has survived in the pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, a relictual pecoran artiodactyl that occurs in xeric regions of western North America; pronghorn are the sole remnant of the late Tertiary radiation for Antilocapridae across North America. Pseudostertagia bullosa may occur in mixed infections with a number of ostertagiines in the abomasa of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) in regions of sympatry for pronghorn and these artiodactyl hosts.     

Two new species of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda,Trichostrongylina) parasites of Cricetomys gambianus and Arvicanthis niloticus (Muridae) from Senegal

Two new Nippostrongylinae (Heligmosomoidea, Heligmonellidae) originating from Senegal are described. Heligmonina bioccai n. sp., a parasite of Cricetomys gambianus (Cricetomyinae) found in the surroundings of Dakar and Neoheligmonella bai n. sp., a parasite of Arvicanthis niloticus (Murinae) from the Province of Richard Toll. H. bioccai n. sp. is related to H. hybomysi (Durette-Desset, 1966) a parasite of Hybomys univittatus from the Central African Republic by some characteristics of the caudal bursa and of the synlophe. They are the only two species with the same pattern of caudal bursa: type 1-3-1 for the right lobe, 2-3 for the left lobe, and with the same number and disposition of the cuticular ridges at mid-body in the female. The two species are differentiated by the size (three times smaller in H. hybomysi), the ratio of spicule length on body length (7.6% versus 17% in H. hybomysi) and by a different synlophe in male and posterior part of female. N. bai n. sp. is differentiated from the closely related species N. dielmensis Diouf, Ba and Durette-Desset, 1997, also a parasite of Arvicanthis niloticus from Senegal by rays 8 arising asymmetrically on the dorsal ray and by the deirids situated at the same level as the excretory pore.     

Rhopalobdella japonica n. gen., n. sp. (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) from Dasyatis akajei (Chondrichthyes: Dasyatididae) in the northwestern Pacific

A new genus and species of piscicolid leech in the Platybdellinae inhabits the oral cavity of Dasyatis akajei in the northwestern Pacific Ocean near Tanabe, Japan. The genus Rhopalobdella n. gen. is characterized externally by very small oral and caudal suckers and a smooth body that is widest just posterior to the clitellum. Eyespots and ocelli are lacking. The coelom is spacious with large segmental connecting sinuses between dorsal and ventral sinuses. There are 5 pairs of testisacs, an unusually extensive epididymis, and a very large bursa. Conducting tissue is absent. There are 2 pairs of esophageal diverticula and very well developed nephridia. Rhopalobdella japonica n. gen. n. sp. is characterized by a urosome that tapers strongly to the caudal sucker and by a single gonopore; the common oviduct opens into the posterior portion of the bursa. The coelomic and excretory systems resemble Aestabdella, but in other respects the genera are quite different. This is the first marine leech reported from rays in the northwestern Pacific.     

Hamulonema gen. nov. for Teladorsagia hamata and Ostertagia kenyensis in the ostertagiine fauna (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) from African ungulates

Hamulonema gen. nov. is proposed for Teladorsagia hamata and Ostertagia kenyensis in the ostertagiine nematode fauna found in artiodactyl hosts from Africa. Monomorphic species representing this genus are characterized by a bilaterally symmetrical and parallel synlophe in males and females, a 2-2-1 bursal formula, an accessory bursal membrane that is strongly cuticularized and reduced, a strongly reduced dorsal lobe and ray, and robust spicules with a simple, weakly pointed, ventral process, and curved, hooklike dorsal process. Species referred to Hamulonema nov. gen. are immediately distinguished from those of Camelostrongylus, Longistrongylus, Marshallagia, Orloffia, Ostertagia, and Pseudomarshallagia in which the bursal formula is 2-1-2 in males. Hamulonema nov. gen. is distinguished from those genera having a 2-2-1 bursa, including Africanastrongylus, Cervicaprastrongylus, Hyostrongylus, Mazamastrongylus, Sarwaria, Spiculopteragia, and Teladorsagia by the structure of the synlophe, bursa, genital cone, "0" and "7" papillae, dorsal lobe, and spicules in specific instances. In the global fauna, 4 of 14 ostertagiine genera are endemic to Africa. African genera may represent morphologically divergent and discrete or historically isolated lineages reflecting a pattern of geographic and host colonization as a driver for diversification since the Miocene.     

Subfamily Dichomeridinae (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae): Phylogeny, classification, and position in the system of gelechiid moths

On the basis of comparative morphological analysis, taking into account the male genital musculature, a cladogram of the tribes and subfamilies of gelechiid moths is proposed. In accordance with the main branches of the cladogram the new system of the family Gelechiidae consisting of 5 subfamilies (Physoptilinae, Anomologinae, Gelechiinae, Anacampsinae, and Dichomeridinae) is developed. The subfamily Physoptilinae is considered as a sister-group to other gelechiids, the monophyly of the latter is supported by a complex of synapomorphies (female retinaculum with anteriorly directed row of scales located on the base of radial stalk; muscles m ₃ running across the longitudinal body axis, connecting the lateral arms of vinculum with margins of juxta; protractors of aedeagus m ₅ divided into two bunches m _5a and m _5b). The subfamilies Anacampsinae and Dichomeridinae are regarded as sistergroups. The monophyly of the subfamily Dichomeridinae is based on the complex of synapomorphies (presence of parategminal sclerites, which are the apodemes for muscles m ₄; presence of distinct ventral wall in tegumen; intrategminal position of the muscles m ₂). The subfamily Dichomeridinae is considered to consist of three tribes, Anarsiini, Chelariini and Dichomeridini, with 34 genera in total. The cladogram for the genera of the subfamily Dichomeridinae is proposed.