Acanthocephala in amphibians (Anura) and reptiles (Squamata) from Brazil and Paraguay with description of a new species

In a survey of 1,732 amphibians and reptiles collected across S?o Paulo Province, Brazil, and 7 provinces in Paraguay, 26 species were found infected with acanthocephalans. Of 1,510 anurans, 14 anurans, representing 11 species, were infected with cystacanths of Centrorhynchus spp. and 1 anuran with cystacanths of Oligacanthorhynchus sp. Of 107 lizards, 1 lizard was infected with cystacanths of Centrorhynchus sp. and 1 lizard with cystacanths of Oligacanthorhynchus sp. Acanthocephalus caspanensis was found in 3 anurans (3 species) and Acanthocephalus lutzi in 3 anurans (2 species) and 2 snakes (2 species). The systematic position of A. lutzi cannot be resolved using presently available morphological data. Acanthocephalus saopaulensis n. sp. was found in a single individual of Bufo ictericus. The new species can be differentiated from all its congeners except A. caspanensis in having a sigmoid-shaped male posterior end and from A. caspanensis in having a proboscis armature of 16 rows of 5-7 hooks rather than 18-19 rows of 6-7 hooks and larger eggs. The status of Acanthocephalus and Pseudoacanthocephalus continues to be problematic.     

Pseudoacanthocephalus toshimai sp. nov. (Palaeacanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae), a common acanthocephalan of anuran and urodelan amphibians in Hokkaido,Japan, with a finding of its intermediate host

The Ezo brown frog (Rana pirica) and the Ezo salamander (Hynobius retardatus) are endemic species of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Intestinal adult acanthocephalans are common in these amphibians. A molecular identification based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers demonstrated that the parasites from the anuran and the urodelan are the same species. In the neighboring Honshu island, another acanthocephalan from ranid frogs (e.g. Rana japonica and Rana ornativentris) has been identified as Acanthocephalus lucidus. The counterpart species from the amphibians of Hokkaido was morphologically indistinguishable from A. lucidus. However, clear genetic distinctiveness between the two allopatric populations (separated by islands) indicated the entity of a cryptic species. A phylogenetic tree inferred from sequences of 28S ribosomal DNA showed that the acanthocephalans from Honshu and Hokkaido belong to the genus Pseudoacanthocephalus. Therefore, Pseudoacanthocephalus toshimai sp. nov. is proposed for the cryptic species in Hokkaido, together with the transfer of A. lucidus in Honshu to Pseudoacanthocephalus lucidus comb. nov. The present field survey further demonstrated Ligidium japonicum, an isopod crustacean living in the litter layer of forests, to be an intermediate host of the new species.     

Acanthocephalus saurius n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) and other helminths from the lizard Norops limifrons (Sauria: Polychrotidae) from Costa Rica

Acanthocephalus saurius n. sp. from the small intestine of Norops limifrons collected in Costa Rica is described and illustrated. Acanthocephalus saurius n. sp. represents the third acanthocephalan species in which gravid individuals have been found in lizard hosts. In addition to A. saurius; 1 species of Trematoda, Mesocoelium monas; 3 species of Nematoda, Piratuba digiticauda, Strongyluris panamaensis, and Acuariidae gen. sp. (larvae in cysts) were found.     

Morphological and molecular differentiation of two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1958 (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from amphibians and reptiles in the Philippines, with identification key for the genus

The genus Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1958 currently includes 14 species of acanthocephalans parasitic in amphibians and reptiles worldwide. This work describes two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus from amphibians and reptiles collected in several localities on Luzon Island, Philippines. Pseudoacanthocephalus nickoli n. sp. was found in two species of frogs, Rana luzonensis Boulenger and Rana similis (Günther), and Pseudoacanthocephalus smalesi n. sp. was found in a scincid lizard, Sphenomorphus abdictus Brown & Alcala. Differential diagnoses of the two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus from their congeners are provided. Comparative analysis of nuclear ribosomal rRNA sequences encompassing the 3′ end of 18S nuclear rDNA gene, internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2), and 5′ end of the 28S gene strongly corroborated the morphological evidence and demonstrated significant differences between the two new species as well as between these species and closely related species from continental China and Vietnam. No intraspecific sequence variability was detected among different individuals representing each of the examined species. This is the first report of Pseudoacanthocephalus in the Philippines. A key to known species of Pseudoacanthocephalus is provided.     

Endohelminth fauna of the marsh frog Rana ridibunda from Lake Hazar, Turkey

In this study, 236 marsh frogs Rana ridibunda collected from Lake Hazar (Elazig, Turkey) at 15 d intervals between March 2001 and February 2002 were examined for endohelminths; of these, 148 (62.71%) frogs were found to be infected with helminths. In total, 9 helminth species (3 trematodes, 5 nematodes and 1 acanthocephalan) were identified. We observed Gorgoderina vitelliloba (prevalence 2.97%) in the urinary bladder, Haematoloechus variegatus (4.66%) and Rhabdias bufonis (8.90%) in the lung, Pleurogenoides medians (1.69%), Oswaldocruzia filiformis (3.81 %) and Acanthocephalus ranae (26.27 %) in the small intestine, Neoxysomatium brevicaudatum (16.95%) and Cosmocercoides sp. (3.39%) in the large intestine, and Eustrongylides excisus (14.41%) in the body cavity and on,the stomach. No helminth was found in the spleen, kidney, gall bladder, liver, heart or muscle. Of the 9 helminth species identified, Acanthocephalus ranae (26.27 %) had the highest prevalence and abundance and Oswaldocruzia filiformis (8.33+/-4.09) had the highest mean intensity.     

New genus of Cosmocercidae (nematoda) and other helminths in Hylarana volkerjane (Anura: Ranidae) from papua new Guinea

Paraplesiohedruris rinse n. gen., n. sp. (Ascaridida; Cosmocercoidae; Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Hylarana volkerjane (Anura; Ranidae) is described and illustrated. The new genus is assigned to the Cosmocercinae of the Cosmocercidae based on the presence of an esophagus composed of a short pharynx, cylindrical corpus, isthmus, and valved bulb; on the presence in males of paired spicules and numerous caudal papillae; plus the presence in the female of an equatorial vulva, 2 uteri, a short tail, and thin-shelled eggs. The Cosmocercinae now contains 10 genera. Hylarana volkerjane was also found to harbor 6 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Aplectana macintoshii, Icosiella papuensis, Meteterakis crombiei, Paracapillaria spratti, Physalopteroides milnensis, and larvae of Abbreviata sp., as well as 1 species of Acanthocephala, Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis.     

Rhabdias rhampholeonis n. sp. and Rhabdias mariauxi n. sp. (Nematoda, Rhabdiasoidea), first lung worms from leaf chameleons: Description, molecular evidence and notes on biology

Rhabdias rhampholeonis n. sp. from Rhampholeon (Rh.) spectrum, Cameroon, and Rhabdias mariauxi n. sp. from Rieppeleon brevicaudatus, Tanzania, are the first lung worms from leaf chameleons. The new species are similar to the majority of species parasitic in chamaeleonids by having a long (≥10 mm) and thick body (≥500 µm), long oesophagus (≥800 µm), wide buccal capsule (≥40 µm) and low buccal ratio (<0.5). They most closely resemble Rhabdias chamaeleonis and Rhabdias cristati parasitic in Trioceros spp. from East Africa and Cameroon, respectively. Main distinctive characters are a buccal capsule composed of two segments and the head shape. The dorso-ventrally flattened buccal capsule of R. mariauxi n. sp. is unique in Rhabdias parasitising Chamaeleonidae. Sequences of the 12S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (coxI) genes were obtained and compared to those of Rhabdias okuensis, the only sequences published for chamaeleonid lung worms. The smallest nucleotide interspecific distances were found between R. mariauxi n. sp. and the former species of Trioceros from Cameroon. Hermaphroditism in females in the lungs, and R. mariauxi n. sp. free-living stages are like in other species from Chamaeleonidae, but the number of infective larvae produced per free-living female (one or two) was not fixed.     

Acanthocephalus tahlequahensis sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from the the stippled darter, Etheostoma punctulatum (Agassiz), in northeastern Oklahoma.

Acanthocephalus tahlequahensis sp. n. was recovered from the intestines of 4 species of freshwater fishes, Etheostoma punctulatum, E. spectabile, Nocomis asper, and Notropis pilsbryi, collected in northeastern Oklahoma. The new species is distinguished from all other species of Acanthocephalus, except A. japonicus (Fukui and Morisita 1936) Petrochenko 1956, and A. fluviatilus Paperna 1964, by having smaller proboscis hooks. The length of the proboscis hooks for males is 27 to 38 (33) mum and for females 35 to 46 (42) mum. A. tahlequahensis is smaller than either A. japonicus or A. fluviatilis, and has about half the number of longitudinal rows of proboscis hooks of A. japonicus and half the number of proboscis hooks in each longitudinal row of A. fluviatilus. In addition to having smaller hooks. A. tahlequahensis differs from other species of Acanthocephalus parasitizing North American fishes by its smaller, spindle-shaped trunk and more hooks in each longitudinal row.     

New and already known acanthocephalans from amphibians and reptiles in Vietnam, with keys to species of Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1956 (Echinorhynchidae) and Sphaerechinorhynchus Johnston and Deland, 1929 (Plagiorhynchidae)

Adults of 2 new species in 2 orders of acanthocephalans obtained from the intestines of terrestrial amphibians and reptiles collected between 1998 and 2004 in Vietnam are described here. Pseudoacanthocephalus nguyenthileae n. sp. (Palaeacnthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) was collected from 5 species of terrestrial amphibians: (1) the common Sunda toad Bufo melanostictus Schneider (Bufonidae); (2) Paa verucospinosa (Bourret); (3) Gunther's Amoy frog Rana guentheri Boulenger; (4) Taipei frog R. taipehensis Denburgh (Ranidae), and (5) the Burmese whipping frog Polypedates mutus (Smith) (Racophoridae); as well as from the Chinese cobra Naja atra Cantor (Reptilia: Elapidae) and house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Dumeril and Bibron (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Sphaerechinorhynchus maximesospinus n. sp. (Plagiorhynchidae: Sphaerechinorhynchinae) was isolated from a king cobra Ophiophagus hannah (cantor) (Reptilia: Elapidae). Cystacanths of Porrorchis houdemeri (Joyeux and Baer, 1935) Schmidt and Kuntz, 1967 (Plagiorhynchidae: Porrorchinae) obtained from the mesenteries of banded krait Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider) (Reptilia: Elapidae), a paratenic host, are reported for the first time. Keys to the species of Pseudoacanthocephalus and Sphaerechinorhynchus are included. Characteristic features distinguishing the new species from related taxa include: P. nguyenthileae has 15-19 (usually 16-18) proboscis hook rows, each with 5-6 hooks that progressively increase in length and size posteriorly. The largest, intermediate, and smallest proboscis hooks of S. maximesospinus are the middle, anterior, and posterior hooks, respectively; the proboscis and neck are enclosed in a membrane. Morphometric characteristics of P. nguyenthileae show host-related variability.     

Cosmocerca vrcibradici n. sp. (Ascaridida: Cosmocercidae), Oswaldocruzia vitti n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineoidae), and other helminths from Prionodactylus eigenmanni and Prionodactylus oshaughnessyi (Sauria: Gymnophthalmidae) from Brazil and Ecuador

Cosmocerca vrcibradici n. sp. and Oswaldocruzia vitti n. sp., intestinal parasites of Prionodactylus eigenmanni (type host) and P. oshaughnessyi, are described and illustrated. Of the 19 valid species of Cosmocerca, C. vrcibradici n. sp. represents the 12th Neotropical species and the first species to be reported from lizard hosts. Of the 76 valid species of Oswaldocruzia, O. vitti n. sp. represents the 14th Neotropical species and the eighth species to be reported from lizard hosts. In addition, 1 species of Digenea, Mesocoelium monas, and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus saurius, were found.     

Microornamentation of leaf chameleons (Chamaeleonidae: Brookesia,Rhampholeon, and Rieppeleon)—with comments on the evolution of microstructures in the chamaeleonidae

Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae) feature many adaptations to their arboreal lifestyle, including zygodactylous feet, a prehensile tail, and epidermal microstructures. In arboreal tree chameleons, the substrate‐contacting site of the feet and tail is covered by microscopic hair‐like structures (setae) of 6–20 µm length. Their friction enhancing function has been shown in recent studies. Leaf chameleons and one representative of the tree chameleons (Chamaeleo namaquensis) secondarily have become ground‐dwelling. Because leaf chameleons are paraphyletic, one could expect that in the three leaf chameleon genera Brookesia, Rhampholeon, and Rieppeleon and the tree chameleon Ch. namaquensis, epidermis has adapted independently to terrestrial locomotion. Using scanning electron microscopy, we investigated the substrate‐contacting surfaces of the feet (subdigital) of 17 leaf chameleon species and five tree chameleon species that have not yet been examined. Additionally, surfaces not involved in locomotion, the flanks (dorsolateral), and scale interstices, were examined. Although the subdigital microstructures in leaf chameleons are more diverse than in tree chameleons, we found some features across the genera. The subdigital microornamentation of Rhampholeon spinosus consists of long thin setae and spines, comparable to those of tree chameleons. All other Rhampholeon species have spines or short but broad setae. Rh. spectrum had tooth‐like structures instead of setae. Subdigital scales of Brookesia have either thorns or conical scale‐tops in the center and feature honeycomb microstructures. In Rieppeleon, subdigital scales have a thorn. Scale surfaces are covered by honeycombs and short hair‐like structures (spines). As subdigital scales with a thorn in the center and honeycomb microstructures were also found in the terrestrial tree chameleon Ch. namaquensis, one can assume that this geometry is a convergent adaptation to terrestrial locomotion. Despite the great number of genus‐specific traits, the convergent evolution of honey‐comb structures in Brookesia, Rieppeleon, and Ch. namaquensis and the high variability of spines and setae in Rhampholeon suggests a rapid adaptation of subdigital microornamentation in Chamaeleonidae. J. Morphol. 276:167–184, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Description of a new Echinorhynchid species (Acanthocephala) from the European eel, Anguilla anguilla, in Germany, with a key species of Acanthocephalus in Europe

Acanthocephalus rhinensis n. sp. is described from the European eel. Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758), collected in the Rhine River near the city of Karlsruhe, Germany. It is the sixth species of Acanthocephalus Koelreuther, 1771 described from European fish. Four other species are known from amphibians. The new species is distinguished from the other 5 species infecting fish by having a 1.2-mm-long proboscis armed with 15-21 rows of 13-16 hooks each, lemnisci about as long as receptacle, oblong and slightly pre-equatorial testes, and thin fusiform eggs, measuring 85-95 X 15-18 micro. Testes in the other European species are usually round to ovate, except in Ac. anguillae (Müller, 1780) Lühe, 1911 where they are also elongated but postequatorial. It aslo has an orange-brown belt encircling the anterior end of the trunk. The comparative distribution of Acanthocephalus in Europe and North America, and the validity of 2 presumably questionable species are discussed, Acanthocephalus falcatus (Froelich, 1789) Lühe, 1911 and Ac. Paronai (Cendorelli, 1897) Meyer, 1932. A dichotomus key distinguishing Ac. rhinensis from the other 9 European species is also included. The new species was only found in 3 of 390 eels examined during 11 yr; this may be related to the changing benthos community in the Rhine River.     

Endoparasites in Sphenomorphus jobiensis (Sauria: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea with description of three new species

One species of digenean, Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi n. sp., and 2 nematode species, Meteterakis crombiei n. sp. and Physalopteroides milnensis n. sp., from the intestine of Sphenomorphus jobiensis, are described and illustrated. Zeylanurotrema sphenomorphi n. sp. represents the second species, Meteterakis crombiei n. sp. the 18th species, and Physalopteroides milnensis n. sp. the 19th species assigned to each respective genus. In addition, 1 species of cestode, Oochoristica javaensis; 7 nematode species, Abbreviata oligopapillata, Aplectana macintoshii, Aplectana zweifli, Cosmocerca zugi, Maxvachonia adamsoni, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Parapharyngodon maplestonei; 1 species of acanthocephalan, Acanthocephalus bufonis; and 1 species of pentastome, Kiricephalus sp., were found. With the exception of Abbreviata oligopapillata, Sphenomorphus jobiensis represents a new host record for each species of endoparasite.     

A new species of Spinicauda (Nematoda: Heterakidae) and other endoparasites in Platymantis pelewensis (Anura: Ranidae) from the Palau Islands, Republic of Belau, Oceanica

Spinicauda fisheri n. sp. from the intestine of Platymantis pelewensis collected in the Palau Islands, Republic of Belau, is described and illustrated. Spinicauda fisheri represents the 12th species assigned to the genus and the first from Oceanica. It is most similar to Spinicauda spinicauda in that the tail ends in a filament, but it has 19 pairs of caudal papillae as compared with 5 pairs in S. spinicauda. In addition to S. fisheri, 2 species of Cestoda, cysticercoids of Joyeuxiella sp. and tetrathyridia of Mesocestoides sp., 2 species of Nematoda, Oswaldocruzia bakeri and Physocephalus sp. (larvae in cysts), 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus bufonis, and 1 species of Pentastomida, nymphs of Kiricephalus pattoni were identified.     

New species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Nyctimystes cheesmani (Anura: Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Falcaustra batrachiensis n. sp. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Nyctimystes cheesmani (Anura, Hylidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra batrachiensis represents the fifth Australo-Papuan species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Australo-Papuan species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (8 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 6 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (1.4-1.6 mm) and presence of pseudosuckers (5 or 6). Nyctimystes cheesmani was found to harbor 7 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Maxvachonia ewersi, Meteterakis crombiei, Physalopteroides milnensis, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Seuratascaris numidica, larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus bufonis. Nyctimystes cheesmani represents a new host record for each of these helminth species.     

Aegyptianella ranarum sp. n. (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae): ultrastructure and prevalence in frogs from Ontario

Aegyptianella ranarum sp. n. (Rickettsiales, Anaplasmataceae) was recorded from bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana Shaw), green frogs (Rana clamitans Latreille) and mink frogs (Rana septentrionalis Baird) from five sites in southern Ontario. The rickettsia occurs within membrane-bound vacuoles in the cytoplasm of erythrocytes with up to 120 organisms in mature inclusions. The pattern of replication of A. ranarum in host erythrocytes and its prevalence over a 3-yr period in frogs from Algonquin Park, Ontario are discussed.     

Acanthocephalus reunionensis n sp (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae), a parasite of Anguilla species (Anguillidae) from Reunion Island

In a survey of 118 eels Anguilla bicolor, A. marmorata and A. mossambica, (Anguillidae) indigenous to Reunion Island in the Mascarene island group, western Indian Ocean, a new species of acanthocephalan, Acanthocepholus reunionensis n. sp., was found. With a proboscis hook formula of 19 rows of 4-5 hooks, and elongated cement glands arranged in three pairs, this species differs from all other species in the genus. This is the first record of the genus Acanthocephalus occurring in eels from the African Region.     

Eimeria hajeki n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a new coccidian parasite of the pygmy chameleon, Rampholeon temporalis (Matschie, 1892) (Reptilia: Chamaeleonidae) from Usambara Mountains, Tanzania.

Fecal samples from 10 pygmy chameleons, Rampholeon temporalis (Matschie, 1892), an endemic species of the Usambara Mountains in northeastern Tanzania, were examined for coccidian parasites. Two (20%) chameleons were found to be passing oocysts of Eimerio Schneider. Comparison with other species of Eimeria indicates that the coccidian found represents a new species. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria hajeki n. sp. are oval, 30.2 (29-31) by 23.5 (22-25) microm, with a shape index (length/width) of 1.3 (1.2-1.4) and a 2-microm-thick rough, bilayered wall. Micropyle and polar granule are absent. Sporocysts are oval to rhomboidal, 10.8 (9-11.5) by 8.8 (7.5-10) microm, with a shape index of 1.2 (1.15-1.3) and a wall composed of 2 valves joined by a suture.     

Cutaneous acariasis in the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis)

Increased mortality was observed in a single colony of 50 Xenopus laevis. The frogs were used as oocyte donors in developmental biology studies. Necropsy findings included dermal erythema and petechiation consistent with red leg syndrome; dermal ulcerations and white, filamentous growths on the skin were consistent with Saprolegnia sp. Microscopic evaluation of the skin and fungus revealed an astigmatid mite similar to those of the genus Rhizoglyphus. The mite was also found in the water and the biological filter of the tanks housing the frogs. This mite is considered not to be a parasite of X. laevis; instead, it feeds off moss, fungi, and detritus. Subsequent evaluation of the sphagnum moss used for shipping the frogs from the supplier revealed the same mite in the moss. Our hypothesis is that the mite was introduced into the tank with the shipment of new frogs in sphagnum moss. The mites lived within the biological filter, and were only found after the growth of Saprolegnia sp. attracted the mites to the frogs. Laboratory animal care and veterinary personnel should consider non-pathogenic species of mites in the differential diagnosis of acariasis in Xenopus frogs.     

Helminth infracommunities in Litoria genimaculata (Amphibia: Anura) from Birthday Creek, and upland rainforest stream in Northern Queensland, Australia

The helminth fauna of Litoria genimaculata, a rainforest frog from northern Queensland, was quantified from 53 adult male frogs collected at monthly intervals between April 1990 and March 1991. The helminth fauna of this species was depauperate (6 species: Mesocoelium sp., Parapolystoma bulliense, Austraplectana sp., Onchocercidae gen. sp., Cosmocerca sp. and an unidentified nematode larva). The most commonly encountered species was P. bulliense, but the intestinal infracommanity was dominated by the digenean Mesocoelium sp. Fifty-five per cent of frogs were infected with only 1 helminth species and only 1 frog had more than 2 species, resulting in low diversity values. These results support previous studies which indicate that amphibians have depauperate helminth communities.