Nolleria pulicis n. gen., n. sp. (Microsporida: Chytridiopsidae), a microsporidian parasite of the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

A new species of microsporidium, Nolleria pulicis, is described and named here from the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. The genus Nolleria is created and placed within the family Chytridiopsidae. The family is slightly modified to accommodate certain features of intracellular development seen in N. pulicis, which is otherwise very similar to other species in the family Chytridiopsidae. Sporulation is described from ultrastructural analysis of infected midgut epithelial cells of adult C. felis. The term "multiple division by vacuolation" is proposed for describing sporogony as it occurs in this species and certain related species of microsporidia. The probable mode of transmission and apparent absence of merogony are discussed.     

Revision of the amphiamerican Neotetraonchus Bravo-Hollis, 1968 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae), with a description of N. vegrandis n. sp. from the gill lamellae of the blue sea catfish Ariopsis guatemalensis (Siluriformes: Ariidae) off the Pacific Coast of Mexico

Neotetraonchus Bravo-Hollis, 1968 is revised and reassigned to the Dactylogyridae Bychowsky, 1933 based on examinations of specimens representing four species from the gill lamellae of sea catfishes (Ariidae). The monotypic Neotetraonchidae Bravo-Hollis, 1968 is placed in synonymy with the Dactylogyridae. Neotetraonchus bychowskyi Bravo-Hollis, 1968 (type-species), is redescribed from the tete sea catfish Ariopsis seemanni (Günther) (type-host) in the eastern Pacific Ocean off Panama (new geographical record). Neotetraonchus vegrandis n. sp. is described from the blue sea catfish A. guatemalensis (Günther) off the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Neotetraonchus bravohollisae Paperna, 1977 is redescribed from the hardhead sea catfish A. felis (L.) in the Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula. Neotetraonchus felis (Hargis, 1955) Paperna, 1977 is redescribed from A. felis in the Gulf of Mexico off Mississippi and the Yucatan Peninsula (new geographical record). Morphological similarities between species of Neotetraonchus suggest the likely presence of geminate species pairs flanking the Isthmus of Panama.

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High phylogenetic diversity of the cat flea (Ctenocephalides felis) at two mitochondrial DNA markers

The cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) (Bouché), is the most common flea species found on cats and dogs worldwide. We investigated the genetic identity of the cosmopolitan subspecies C. felis felis and evaluated diversity of cat fleas from Australia, Fiji, Thailand and Seychelles using mtDNA sequences from cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) and II (cox2) genes. Both cox1 and cox2 confirmed the high phylogenetic diversity and paraphyletic origin of C. felis felis. The African subspecies C. felis strongylus (Jordan) is nested within the paraphyletic C. felis felis. The south East Asian subspecies C. felis orientis (Jordan) is monophyletic and is supported by morphology. We confirm that Australian cat fleas belong to C. felis felis and show that in Australia they form two distinct phylogenetic clades, one common with fleas from Fiji. Using a barcoding approach, we recognize two putative species within C. felis (C. felis and C. orientis). Nucleotide diversity was higher in cox1 but COX2 outperformed COX1 in amino acid diversity. COX2 amino acid sequences resolve all phylogenetic clades and provide an additional phylogenetic signal. Both cox1 and cox2 resolved identical phylogeny and are suitable for population structure studies of Ctenocephalides species.     

Manglietia sapaensis N. H. Xia & Q. N. Vu sp. nov. (Magnoliaceae) from Vietnam

A new species of the family Magnoliaceae, Manglietia sapaensis N. H. Xia & Q. N. Vu from Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, is described and illustrated. The well marked species appears to be most closely related to M. garrettii Craib, but differs in being a smaller tree, with shorter petioles not pulvinate at base, leaf‐lamina oblong to oblong‐elliptic, white flowers, and pubescent gynoecium.     

Detection of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. in Ctenocephalides felis fleas from free‐ranging crab‐eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous)

Fleas are insects with a worldwide distribution that have been implicated in the transmission of several pathogens. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) and Bartonella spp. (Rhizobiales: Bartonellaceae) in fleas from free‐ranging crab‐eating foxes Cerdocyon thous (Linnaeus, 1766) (Carnivora: Canidae) from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. Fleas were collected manually from animals and used for the molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. and Bartonella spp. Twenty‐nine C. thous were sampled in six municipalities. Four foxes were parasitized by 10 fleas, all of which were identified as Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1935) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). DNA from Rickettsia felis Bouyer et al., 2001 and Rickettsia asembonensis Maina et al., 2016 were found in three and eight fleas, respectively. In four fleas, DNA of Bartonella sp. was identified. Phylogenetic analysis grouped Bartonella sp. together with other genotypes previously reported in C. felis worldwide. The scenario described in the present study highlights a Neotropical canid parasitized by the invasive cosmopolitan cat flea, which in turn, is carrying potentially invasive vector‐borne microorganisms. These findings suggest that C. felis is adapted to wild hosts in wilderness areas in southern Brazil, hypothetically exposing the Neotropical fauna to unknown ecological and health disturbances.     

Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis: introgressive hybridization?

In the present work, a comparative molecular study of Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis isolated from dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) from different geographical regions (Spain, Iran and South Africa) was carried out. We found morphological variations in C. felis that do not correspond with molecular differences. The Internal Transcribed Spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1, ITS2) and 18S rRNA partial gene, and cytochrome c‐oxidase 1 (cox1) mtDNA partial gene sequences were determined to clarify the taxonomic status of these two species, and to assess interpopulation variation and interspecific sequence differences. In addition, a comparative phylogenetic study with other species of fleas using Bayesian, Maximum Parsimony and Maximum Likelihood analysis was performed. The 18S rRNA partial gene fragment was useful neither to discriminate C. canis and C. felis nor to infer phylogenetic relationships at this level, whereas ITS1 and ITS2 assessed for specific determination in the genus Ctenocephalides. The cox1 mtDNA sequences of C. felis revealed three main haplotypes and we suggest that there has been introgression of C. canis cox1 mtDNA into C. felis by Wolbachia pipientis. Based on cox1 sequences, restriction mapping identified many endonucleases that could be used to delineate different haplotypes of C. felis and to differentiate C. felis and C. canis.     

Morphology and Infraciliature of Trochiliopsis australis N. Sp., Pelagohalteria viridis (Fromentel, 1876) N. G., N. Comb., and Strobilidium lacustris N. Sp. (Protozoa,Ciliophora)1

Three ciliate species from Australia and Norway were examined by silver impregnation, biometry, and scanning electron microscopy. Trochiliopsis australis n. sp. (order Nassulida, family Microthoracidae) differs from the single other known species of the genus, T. opaca, by its prominent ridges on the left side, the distinctly longer anterior segment of somatic kinety 2, and by the doubled total number of kinetosomes. Pelagohalteria n. g. (order Oligotrichida, family Halteriidae) differs from Halteria by the structure of the bristle complexes, which are composed of a vertically and a horizontally oriented row of kinetosomes. Two Halteria species belong to the new genus: P. viridis (Fromentel, 1876) n. comb., which is redescribed here, and P. cirrifera (Kahl, 1935) n. comb. Strobilidium lacustris n. sp. (order Oligotrichida, family Strobilidiidae) differs from its nearest relative, S. velox, by the smooth pellicle, the absence of symbiotic green algae, and by its larger size.     

Facieplatycauda pratti gen. n., sp. n. and Two New Species of Myxobolus (Myxosporida)*

Synopsis. Facieplatycauda pratti gen. n., sp. n. and Myxobolus kozloffi sp. n., from the Klamath Lake sucker, Catostomus luxatus (Cope), are described. The new genus is placed in the family Myxobolidae between Henneguya and Myxobolus. The spore valves beyond the sporoplasmic space are broad and long but not attenuated as an inverted triangle as in certain species of Myxobolus with tails, or of Henneguya with sometimes bifurcated tails. An organism resembling Myxobolus insidiosus (Wyatt & Pratt) was found in the muscle of the body of Salmo clarki (Richardson). Differences in spore structure and site of infection suggest this is a subspecies of the previous form which should be designated Myxobolus insidiosus clarki. A previously unreported species of Myxobolus from Cottus aleuticus (Gilbert) is also described.     

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp. (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) from the French Eocene amber

Macrosiagon deuvei n. sp., the second fossil representative of this extant genus of Ripiphoridae: Ripiphorinae: Macrosiagonini is described from the lowermost Eocene amber of Oise (France). The new species is compared with the extant species of the genus. Taxonomic position of other two fossil representatives of the family described from France by Perrichot et al. (2004) is discussed. The genus Paleoripiphorus Perrichot et al. 2004 is tentatively transferred from Ripiphorinae to Ripidiinae.     

Petraliellidae Harmer, 1957 (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) from Queensland,Australia

Several species of the family Petraliellidae were first described from the coast of Queensland, including the type species of Sinupetraliella, S. litoralis. These species are redescribed from type, or topotype specimens, and include Petraliella concinna, which has not been certainly found since its introduction in 1891; lectotype material is designated for P. buski and P. magna. Six other species are described from Queensland, P. crassocirca, P. dentilabris, P. dorsiporosa, Mucropetraliella bennetti, M. serrata and M. tuberosa. The species Mucropetraliella tuberosa is a new addition to the Queensland fauna and is described and illustrated here for the first time since its introduction in 1884. The characters of the family Petraliellidae are briefly discussed and the genera to which the Queensland species are assigned is reviewed. A taxonomic key to the ten Queensland petraliellid species described is also provided.     

Life Cycle of Cystoisospora felis (Coccidia: Apicomplexa) in Cats and Mice

Cystoisospora felis is a ubiquitous apicomplexan protozoon of cats. The endogenous development of C. felis was studied in cats after feeding them infected mice. For this, five newborn cats were killed at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after having been fed mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens of mice that were inoculated with C. felis sporulated sporocysts. Asexual and sexual development occurred in enterocytes throughout the villi of the small intestine. The number of asexual generations was not determined with certainty, but there were different sized merozoites. At 24 h, merogony was seen only in the duodenum and the jejunum. Beginning at 48 h, the entire small intestine was parasitized. At 24 h, meronts contained 1–4 zoites, and at 48 h up to 12 zoites. Beginning with 72 h, the ileum was more heavily parasitized than the jejunum. At 96 and 120 h, meronts contained many zoites in various stages of development; some divided by endodyogeny. The multiplication was asynchronous, thus both immature multinucleated meronts and mature merozoites were seen in the same parasitophorous vacuole. Gametogony occurred between 96 and 120 h, and oocysts were present at 120 h. For the study of the development of C. felis in murine tissues, mice were killed from day 1 to 720 d after having been fed 10⁵ sporocysts, and their tissues were examined for the parasites microscopically, and by bioassay in cats. The following conclusions were drawn. (1) Cystoisospora felis most frequently invaded the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice and remained there for at least 23 mo. (2) It also invaded the spleen, liver, brain, lung, and skeletal muscle of mice, but division was not seen based on microscopical examination. (3) This species could not be passed from mouse to mouse.     

Heptamegacanthus niekerki n. g., n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from the south-east African insectivore Chrysospalax trevelyani (Günther, 1875)

Heptamegacanthus niekerki n. g., n. sp. is described from the giant golden mole Chrysospalax trevelyani (Günther, 1875) from south-east Africa. It differs from other genera and species in the family mainly by its smaller size, and the number and greater size of hooks in the anterior ring. The family Oligacanthorhynchidae is briefly discussed and a host-parasite list is given for the family Chrysochloridae.     

New data on the family Caucasinidae N. Bykova (late Cretaceous-Miocene Foraminifers)

Caucasina oligocenica Chalilov (type species) and C. schischkinskayae (Samoilova) are shown to be separate species. The diagnoses of the genera Caucasina, Caucasinella, and Tergrigorjanzaella of the family Caucasinidae are revised and emended. Based on the structure of the test, aperture with the toothplate, and the radially crystalline wall, this family is assigned to the order Buliminida. The data on the species composition, geographical and stratigraphic distribution of the family Caucasinidae are expanded; the paleoecology of this group is revised. The diagnoses of the listed genera are emended and new species, Caucasina robusta, C. bogdanoviczi, C. maryensis, and Caucasinella bykovae are established.     

Extra-Intestinal Stages of Isospora felis and I. rivolta (Protozoa: Eimeriidae) in Cats*

SYNOPSIS. Evidence is presented that Isospora felis and I. rivolta invade the extra-intestinal tissues of cats. Kittens were fed sporocysts of I. felis and I. rivolta. At specific intervals the kittens were killed and suspensions of extra-intestinal tissues were fed to indicator kittens less than a day old. Oocyst production by the indicator kittens within the regular prepatent period was taken as evidence that coccidian stages were present in the inoculum consisting of extra-intestinal tissues of cats. Tissues of kittens infected with I. felis for 5–104 days were infectious to newborn kittens as follows: liver and spleen mixture 3 out of 5 times, mesenteric lymph nodes 4 out of 4 times, brain and muscle mixture 1 out of 5 times, lungs 1 out of 5 times. The prepatent period in kittens consuming oocysts of I. felis was 7-11 days; after consuming extra-intestinal tissues of kittens it was 4–8 days. Distinct coccidian stages unlike those present in the gut were found singly and in groups of 2–15 in lymphoreticular cells of mesenteric lymph nodes of 2 kittens infected for 2–4 days. Tissues of kittens infected with I. rivolta for 5–21 days were infectious to newborn kittens as follows: liver and spleen mixture 3 out of 5 times, mesenteric lymph nodes 1 out of 5 times, brain, muscle and lung mixture none of 5 times. The prepatent period in kittens consuming oocysts of I. rivolta or extra-intestinal tissues of cats was 5–7 days. Coccidian stages occurred singly or in pairs, intracellularly or free in the mesenteric lymph nodes of 3 out of 10 kittens infected for 1–8 days.     

On Chytridium braun,Diplochytridium N. G., and Canteria N. G. (Chytridiales)

Summary The operculate genus Chytridium Braun is emended and restricted to approximately 25 known species and several incompletely known members which lack an apophysis and develop much like species of Rhizophydium, insofar as the zoosporangium and absorbing or rhizoidal system are concerned, and form endobiotic or intramatrical resting spores. This interpretation corresponds fairly closely to Braun's diagnosis of the type species.A new genus, Diplochytridium, is established to segregate the former Chytridium species with an endobiotic or intramatrical apophysis or prosporangium and resting spores, which may develop sexually or asexually. Some of these species have a well-defined endo-exogenous alternation of growth and development in which the apophysis appears to function as a prosporangium. As interpreted here, Diplochytridium includes approximately 20 of the known species.Another new genus, Canteria, is created for a parasite of Mougeotia which Canter first described as a species of Phlyctidium but later found to develop endobiotic resting spores or zygospores by the fusion of conjugation tubes.     

British Bryological Society Expedition to Mulanje Mountain,Malawi. 17 Sematophyllaceae (Bryopsida): Part 1

Abstract

The family Sematophyllaceae is a difficult family to treat in Africa because of the large number of species described without any subsequent revision or monography and, despite the many collections mentioned in this paper, only two species had previously been identified from Malawi. A total of four species in four genera (Gammiella, Mρacrohymenium, Radulina and Wijkia) are recorded in this paper, all but one new to Malawi. The two remaining genera (Sematophyllum and Trichosteleum) present additional difficulties of identification, and will be dealt with separately.     

Revision of genus Melamphaes (Melamphaidae). II. Multi-Raker species: M. polylepis, M. falsidicus sp. nova, M. pachystomus sp. nova, M. macrocephalus, M. leprus

The second part of the publication is devoted to the Melamphaes species (family Melamphaidae), which are characterized by 20 and more rakers on the first gill arch, by seven soft rays in the ventral fin, by absence of a temporal spine, by 14–15 rays in the pectoral fin, and by 11 abdominal vertebrae. M. polylepis is characterized by circumtropical range (Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, western and central Pacific Ocean). Newly described species M. falsidicus is described from the northern Atlantic Ocean, where it was sampled between 34°N and 58°N. Before, this species was defined as M. microps. Another newly described species, M. pachystomus, is described along the Peruvian Coast. M. macrocephalus is redescribed. This species inhabits the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean (approximately between 30°N and 23°S). One of the studied specimens of M. macrocephalus was characterized by larger body size (SL = 128 mm) than was described before for this species. M. leprus is known currently by single findings from the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean (between 11°N and 4°S). This species was also found in the samples obtain in the Gulf of Guinea.     

Systematic status of Laurotravassoxyuris bravoae Osorio-Sarabia, 1984 (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) [= Atractis bravoae (Osorio-Sarabia, 1984) n. comb.: Cosmocercidae]

Re-examination of type-specimens of the nematode Laurotravassoxyuris bravoae Osorio-Sarabia, 1984, originating from the type-host, Cichlasoma istlanum Jordan et Snyder, from Mexico, has shown that these do not belong to Oxyuroidea Cobbold, 1864; in fact, the specimens included in the type-series of L. bravoae belong to two different families of the Cosmocercoidea Railliet, 1916: the Atractidae Railliet, 1917 and the Cosmocercidae Railliet, 1916. Both forms are described. Since the holotype of L. bravoae belongs to the former family, this species is transferred to Atractis Dujardin, 1845 as A. bravoae (Osorio-Sarabia, 1984) n. comb., whereas the female nematodes, belonging to the latter family, cannot be explicitly assigned to a genus or a species (although they might be conspecific with Raillietnema kritscheri Moravec, Salgado-Maldonado & Pineda-López, 1993). A. bravoae is the first species of Atractis reported from fishes; its morphology differs distinctly from that in other congeners.     

Discheramocephalini,a new pantropical tribe of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae): description of new taxa and phylogenetic analysis

Abstract Two new genera and eight new species of featherwing beetles (Coleoptera: Ptiliidae) possessing a remarkable horizontal perforation of the mesoventral keel are described: Skidmorella vietnamensis sp.n. (Vietnam), S. memorabilis sp.n. (Indonesia), S. serrata sp.n. (Vietnam), Fenestellidium capensis gen. et sp.n. (South Africa, type species), F. kakamegaensis sp.n. (Kenya), Cissidium okuensis sp.n. (Cameroon), Dacrysoma usambarensis gen. et sp.n. (Tanzania, type species) and D. felis sp.n. (Madagascar). A phylogenetic analysis of 24 taxa and 37 parsimony‐informative characters supports the hypothesis of a single origin of the mesoventral perforation, thus uniting Discheramocephalus, Skidmorella, Africoptilium, Fenestellidium, Cissidium and Dacrysoma into a pantropically distributed clade, for which a new tribe Discheramocephalini (type genus Discheramocephalus) is proposed. Identification keys to Discheramocephalini genera and, in some cases, to species are provided. Each new species is illustrated with scanning electron microscopy images.     

Survey of flea infestation in cats in Spain

Fleas are a common cause of feline skin disorders as well as vectors of zoonotic diseases. This study evaluated the flea species infesting domestic cats in Spain and assessed factors influencing their distribution. Fleas from 217 cats from 57 localities in Spain were identified and associations between abundance, and host‐dependent, host habitat and environmental factors were examined. Variations in infracommunity and component community structure were also explored. Three species were present, of which Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) was the most abundant (98.4%), followed by Ctenocephalides canis (Curtis) (1.1%) and Pulex irritans (L.) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) (0.5%). Overall abundance and abundances of both C. felis and C. canis were higher on farms than in apartments, but overall flea abundance and abundances of both C. felis and C. canis were lower in rural than urban environments. Overall abundance and C. felis abundance were lower during the warmest months, and mean annual rainfall was positively correlated with overall, C. felis and C. canis abundances. No relationship between the number of species per cat and any host, habitat or physiographical variable was found. Species richness was not correlated with mean annual temperature or rainfall. Flea abundance was mainly associated with host habitat and environmental factors.