Notocotylidae (Digenea) from the Australian water rat Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, 1804 (Muridae)

Notocotylus johnstoni n. sp., N. imbricatus (Looss, 1893) Szidat, 1935 and Catatropis nicolli n. sp. are described from the large intestine and caecum of the Australian water rat Hydromys chrysogaster (Rodentia: Muridae). The water rat is the only known mammalian host of notocotylids in Australia. N. imbricatus, recorded from Tasmania, is a cosmopolitan species which elsewhere uses birds and bithyniid snails as definitive and intermediate hosts respectively. In Tasmania bithyniid snails are unknown and the only known definitive host is a mammal. In view of this it is possible that the material examined represents a species distinct from N. imbricatus. Catatropis gallinulae Johnston, 1928 is found to have three rows of ventral papillae and thus to belong to the genus Notocotylus. The new combination Notocotylus gallinulae (Johnston, 1928) is a senior homonym of Notocotylus gallinulae El-Naffar & Khalifa, 1983 which is replaced with Notocotylus elnaffari nom. nov.     

Heterophyes nocens Onji & Nishio, 1916 (Digenea: Heterophyidae) from the water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, 1804 in Australia

A Heterophyes species from the small intestine of the water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster, in Australia is described in detail. The specimens are assigned to H. nocens, a species which many authors believed to be a synonym of H. heterophyes. From this study, H. nocens is considered a valid species as it differs from H. heterophyes in the number of sclerites on the gonotyl, the course of the uterus, coefficients of allometric growth of the suckers and the presence of genital sinus spines.     

Coryphogonimus aglaos n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Prosthogonimidae) from the Australian bush rat,Rattus fuscipes (Rodentia: Muridae), with notes on other prosthogonimids from Australian mammals

Coryphogonimus aglaos n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Prosthogonimidae) is described from the liver of the Australian bush rat, Rattus fuscipes (Rodentia: Muridae). The new genus is distinguished from other prosthogonimids by the possession of the following combination of characters: oral and ventral suckers well developed; caeca terminating in front of testes; genital pore opening dorsal to oral sucker; vitelline follicles restricted to caecal region; uterus extending posterior to testes; and uterus without an egg reservoir. A single specimen of an as yet undetermined Coryphogonimus species is recorded from the Australian water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster (Rodentia: Muridae). A new host, Sminthopsis macroura (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae), is recorded for Coelomotrema antechinomes. Attention is drawn to the apparent rarity of the six known mammal prosthogonimids.     

Two amphistomes,Lobatodiscus australiensis n.g., n.sp. and Elseyatrema microacetabularis n.g., n.sp., from the Australian turtle Elseya dentata (Gray)

Summary Lobatodiscus australiensis n.g., n.sp. (family and subfamily uncertain) and Elseyatrema microacetabularis n.g., n.sp. (family Paramphistomidae, subfamily Dadaytrematinae?), from the intestine of the freshwater turtle Elseya dentata (Gray) in Queensland, Australia, are described. Lobatodiscus has a large lobed acetabulum, small oral diverticula which do not protrude out of the oral sucker, two pairs of lymph vessels and no oesophageal bulb. Elseyatrema has a small acetabulum, large protruding oral diverticula, an oesophageal bulb, juxtaposed testes, one pair of rudimentary lymph vessels and no cirrus-sac. ac]19830626     

Dicrocoeliidae (Trematoda: Digenea) of Australian mammals with description of Dicrocoelium antechini n. sp., Athesmioides aiolos n. g., n. sp. and Platynosomum burrman n. sp.

Dicrocoelium antechini n. sp. is described from the bile ducts of Antechinus swainsonii and A. stuartii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) from New South Wales. The species differs from all others in the genus in that the caecal bifurcation is well posterior to the ventral sucker and testes. Athesmioides aiolos n. g., n. sp. is described from Rattus fuscipes and R. lutreolus from New South Wales and from R. norvegicus, R. lutreolus and Pseudomys higginsi from Tasmania (all Rodentia: Muridae). The genus Athesmioides is characterised by the presence of unilateral vitelline follicles and an undivided caecum. Platynosomum burrman n. sp. is described from Isoodon macrourus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae) from the Northern Territory. It differs from other species in a combination of characters regarding the shape of the forebody, the arrangement of the gonads, the disposition of the uterus and the size of the eggs. The taxonomic status of Platynosomum australiense (Sandars, 1958), Brachylecithum insulare Angel & Pearson, 1977 and Brachylecithum hydromyos Angel & Pearson, 1977 are summarised. Records are presented of undescribed dicrocoeliids from the marsupials Petaurus breviceps, Planigale maculata and Dasyurus hallucatus and the murids Rattus fuscipes and Melomys sp.     

Pholeohedra overstreeti n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) from Girella zebra (Kyphosidae) in South Australia

Pholeohedra overstreeti n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) is described from Girella zebra (Kyphosidae) in South Australia. The new genus is compared with all genera of Haploporidae sensu lato (including Atractotrematidae, Megasolenidae and Waretrematidae) and has a unique bell-shaped concavity at its posterior end. The genus otherwise resembles Hapladena in the arrangement of the testis, vitellarium and gut but also resembles Megasolena, Metamegasolena and Vitellibaculum except in having a single testis. This is the first haploporid reported from kyphosid fishes in Australia.     

Scorpidotrema longistipes n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from Scorpis georgiana (Teleostei: Scorpididae) from southern Western Australia

Scorpidotrema longistipes n. g., n. sp. is described from the intestine of Scorpis georgiana Valenciennes (Scorpididae) from off Point Peron, Western Australia. The new genus is distinguished by the combination of a remarkably long and retractable ventral sucker peduncle, a possible uroproct, well-developed cirrus-sac and a uterine seminal receptacle. The subfamilial relationships of the new genus are troublesome. It incorporates features of the Opecoelinae, Stenakrinae and Plagioporinae. The absence of a canalicular seminal receptacle suggests a relationship with the Opecoelinae and Stenakrinae, whereas the well-developed cirrus-sac suggests a relationship with the Plagioporinae and Stenakrinae. The overall arrangement of the gonads is not similar to that of existing genera of Stenakrinae. It is concluded that the genus is best placed in the Stenakrinae although that subfamily may now be an artificial assemblage. This new genus forms part of a distinctive fauna of trematodes restricted to Australian southern temperate fishes.     

Dactylomyza gibsoni n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from Schuettea woodwardi (Waite) (Monodactylidae) from off Western Australia

An opecoelid digenean, Dactylomyza gibsoni n. g., n. sp. is described and figured from Schuettea woodwardi (Waite), a monodactylid from off the coast of Western Australia. The new genus conforms to the concept of the opecoelid subfamily Opecoelinae. The resemblance of the new genus to three other opecoelid genera, Pseudopecoeloides Yamaguti, 1940, Opecoeloides Odhner, 1928 and Poracanthium Dollfus, 1948, is discussed. Dactylomyza n. g. is distinguished from these morphologically similar worms on the basis of its median genital pore, ventral sucker appendages, uroproct and the absence of an accessory sucker. Pseudopecoeloides equesi Manter, 1947 is transferred to the new genus as Dactylomyza equesi (Manter, 1947) n. comb.     

Moniligerum blairi n. g., n. sp. and Nudacotyle undicola n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea) from the West Indian Manatee,Trichechus manatus L.

Moniligerum n. g. is erected for Moniligerum blairi n. sp. (Opisthotrematidae) and Nudacotyle undicola n. sp. (Nudacotylidae) is described, both from the small intestine of Trichechus manatus L. from Martin County, Florida. The new genus is placed in the family Opisthotrematidae Poche, 1926, subfamily Lankatrematinae Yamaguti, 1958. Moniligerum differs from other genera in the subfamily (Lankatrema Crusz & Fernand, 1954, and Lankatrematoides Blair, 1981) by the possession of an anterior collar and in the form of the ovary (compact and not transversely elongated) and vitellarium (single median lobed mass). Nudacotyle undicola differs from N. valdevaginatus, the most similar species, in body size, the length of the caeca, the shape of the vitellarium and the position of the genital pore, cirrus pouch and ovary.Supported in part by Cooperative Agreement No. 14-16-0008-1204 from the US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Serivice. Florida Agricultural Experimental Stations Journal Series No. 3820.Supported in part by Cooperative Agreement No. 14-16-0008-1204 from the US Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Serivice. Florida Agricultural Experimental Stations Journal Series No. 3820.     

Strzeleckia major n. g., n. sp. and S. minor n. sp. (Digenea: Hasstilesiidae) from Antechinus swainsonii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in Australia

Strzeleckia major n. g., n. sp. and S. minor n. sp. are described from the dusky antechinus Antechinus swainsonii (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) from the Kosciusko National Park in southern New South Wales, Australia. The two species were found together in the same individual host animals but occupy different sites in the intestine. The new genus is placed within the Hasstilesiidae, where it differs from the only other genus, Hasstilesia, by being more elongate and in having larger suckers, tandem testes, the ovary between rather than opposite the testes, and in having the caeca not reaching the posterior end of the body. It is suggested that the life-cycles of these species are similar to those of other hasstilesiids. Pupillid snails may act as sole intermediate hosts.     

Renivermis crocodyli (Digenea: Exotidendriidae) n. g., n. sp. from the kidneys of the saltwater crocodileCrocodylus porosus in Australia

Renivermis crocodyli, n. g., n. sp., is described from the kidneys of the saltwater crocodileCrocodylus porosus Schneider from northern Australia. The genusRenivermis is grouped withExotidendrium Mehra, 1935 andSimhatrema Chattopadhyaya, 1970 in the family Exotidendriidae Mehra, 1935. An amended diagnosis of the family and a key to its genera are given.     

Quantitative estimation of islet tissue of pancreas in water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster)

Pancreases from three male and three female adult water rats ( Hydromys chrysogaster ) were studied. Estimations of islet tissue mass and of individual cell types were made on paraffin sections of Bouin-fixed tissue taken from head, neck, body and tail regions of the pancreas of each animal. Islet tissue mass was assessed using a linear scanning technique (Carpenter & Lazarow, 1962) on sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Specific cell types were assessed using a point-intercept method (Weibel, Kistler & Scherle, 1966) on sections stained with aldehyde-fuchsin for beta (β) cells, phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin for alpha (α) cells and an immunoperoxidase method for somatostatin for delta ( δ ) cells. Positive regional differences noted were a greater percentage proportion of islet tissue in the tail region and a lower proportion of a cells in the head region. Alpha cells were peripherally situated in the islets.
These results show some elements of agreement with a previously proposed hypothesis (Bonner-Weir & Weir, 1979) regarding the general pattern of arrangement of the mammalian endocrine pancreas.     

Australotrema brisbanensis n.g., n.sp. (Paramphistomidae: Dadaytrematinae) from the Australian freshwater mullet Trachystoma petardi (Castlenau)

Summary A new paramphistomatid, Australotrema brisbanensis n.g., n.sp. from the intestine of Trachystoma petardi from the Brisbane River is described and illustrated. It is assigned to the subfamily Dadaytrematinae and distinguished from other members of the subfamily by the shape of the acetabulum which has a transverse opening guarded by a strong muscular sphincter. ac]19801204     

Deurithitrema gingae n.g., n.sp. (Digenea: Plagiorchioidea) from the kidneys of a salt-water crocodile (Crocodylus porosus Schneider) from Australia

Summary The name Deurithitrema gingae n. g., n. sp. is proposed for worms from the kidneys of one Crocodylus porosus from Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia. The following combination of characters distinguishes the new genus from all others: prepharynx very short; oesophagus absent; caeca reaching to posterior end of body; testes tandem in middle third of body, contiguous or amost so; cirrus-sac large, over-reaches ventral sucker, contains bipartite seminal vesicle, prostatic regions and ejaculatory duct with spines around its opening into genital atrium; genital pore immediately in front of ventral sucker; uterus coiled to posterior end of body; vitellaria lateral from ventral sucker to slightly behind testes; excretory vesicle small, receiving a single ventro-lateral duct from each side behind end of uterine loops. Deurithitrema belongs to the superfamily Plagiorchioidea Dollfus, 1930. It superficially resembles a number of genera, but its relationships within the superfamily are obscure.     

Ankistromeces mariae n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from Meuschenia freycineti (Monacanthidae) off Tasmania

Ankistromeces mariae n. g., n. sp. is described from Meuschenia freycineti (Monacanthidae), the six-spined leatherjacket, from off northern Tasmania. The new genus differs from the 21 other sanguinicolid genera in the combination of the anteriorly intercaecal and posteriorly post-caecal single testis, the presence of a cirrus-sac, the absence of an auxiliary external seminal vesicle, separate genital pores, the typically post-ovarian uterus and the H-shaped intestine. A. mariae is the first sanguinicolid to be reported from a monacanthid fish.     

Boreascotia megavesicula n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Hemiuridae: Lecithochiriinae) in the nototheniid fish Lepidonotothen macrophthalma (Norman) from the sub-Antarctic Atlantic

Boreascotia megavesicula n. g., n. sp. is described from the intestine of the fish Lepidonotothen macrophthalma from the North Scotia Ridge, Sub-Antarctic, Atlantic Ocean. The new genus has an ecsoma, placing it in the family Hemiuridae, and a distinct prostatic vesicle, placing it in the subfamily Lecithochiriinae, but is distinct from the other members of the subfamily in having an elongate, tubular seminal vesicle, which reaches well into the hindbody and overlaps the anterior testis.     

Cercogylus africanus n. g., n. sp. (Angiostrongylidae,Metastrongyloidea, Nematoda), parasite du Primate africain Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster

Cercogylus africanus n. g., n. sp. is described from the lungs of Cercocebus galeritus chrysogaster in Kinshasa, Zaire. It is characterized by the elongate, reduced male bursa, the dorsal ray represented by two widely separated branches, and the subterminal anus in the female.     

Bartoliella pritchardae n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) in Epinephelides armatus (Serranidae) from temperate marine waters of Western Australia

An opecoelid, Bartoliella pritchardae n. g., n. sp., is described from the intestine of Epinephelides armatus from Western Australia. The new genus has been assigned to the subfamily Opecoelininae Gibson & Bray, 1984, bringing the number of genera in the subfamily to two. Although the new genus is similar to Opecoelina Manter, 1934 morphologically, the pedunculate ventral sucker and complete absence of a cirrus-sac necessitate the erection of a new genus. A formal re-definition of the subfamily is given, based on the diagnoses of the genera Opecoelina and Bartoliella n. g.     

Description of a new blood-fluke,Cruoricola lates n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae), from sea-bass Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) (Centropomidae)

A new blood-fluke, Cruoricola lates n. g., n. sp., is described from sea-bass Lates calcarifer cultured in Malaysia. It is also found in Thailand and Australia. All fish examined over 15 cm in length were infected in the type-locality. This sanguinicolid is differentiated from other genera by: the spherical seminal vesicle; the large, single testis extending beyond the intestinal caeca; the medial, bi-lobed ovary; and the single column of sub-marginal, laterally directed, evenly spaced spines. It has separate genital pores which are close together. Adults are found predominantly in the mesenteric venules of the venous circulation. Juveniles are commonest in the caudal kidney.     

Melogonimus rhodanometra n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Ptychogonimidae) from the elasmobranch Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider (Rhinobatidae) from the southeastern coastal waters of Queensland,Australia

The new genus Melogonimus is defined and adults of its type-species, M. rhodanometra n. sp., are described from Rhina ancylostoma from Moreton Bay, Queensland. This is the first record of a digenean from this host species. It is argued that metacercariae from the portunid crab Portunus pelagicus from Hervey Bay, off Queensland, belong to M. rhodanometra. The definition of the family Ptychogonimidae is amended, and a key to its two genera is given. Melogonimus is characterised by a smooth genital atrium wall, a large sinus-organ, a large muscular seminal vesicle, a weakly developed pars prostatica, a pre-testicular uterus and confluent post-testicular vitelline fields.