Microsomacanthus kaulobatroni n. sp. et Wardium neotropicale n. sp. parasites d' Himantopus melanurus du Paraguay

The authors describe and illustrate two hymenolepidid cestodes parasitising Himantopus melanurus (Aves) from Paraguay. Microsomacanthus kaulobatroni n. sp., 20–30 long × 0.6 mm wide, with 10 diorchoid hooks 33–38 µm long, three testes in a transverse row, short cirrus 20–28 µm long armed with very minute spines, a short vagina with a sphincter, and a multi-lobed ovary, with genital ducts similar to those of Hymenolepis himantopodis ( sensu Fuhrmann, 1906) but with rostellar hooks different from those of Tænia himantopodis Krabbe, 1869 sp. inq. Wardium neotropicale n. sp., 40-50 long x 0.9 mm wide, has campanulate proglottides, scolex with 10 aploparaksoid rostellar hooks 9 µm long, testes arranged in a triangle, a short cirrus pouch without a transverse retractor muscle, very short, unarmed cirrus, a short vagina with a sphincter (30–35 µm in diameter) but no retractor muscle, a multi-lobed ovary and a bipartite uterus. The shape of the hooks distinguishes this species from T. himantopodis Krabbe, 1869 and other aspects of its anatomy from other species of Wardium with hooks of a similar size. A single specimen of a third Hymenolepis (sensu lato) species (lacking the scolex) could not be identified.     

Pluviantaenia kassalensis n. g., n. sp. (Davaineidae), a new cestode from the Egyptian plover Pluvianus aegyptius (L.) in the Sudan

Pluviantaenia kassalensis n. g., n. sp. (Davaineidae), from the intestine of Pluvianus aegyptius (Charadriiformes, Glareolidae) in the Kassala area of the Sudan, differs from other davaineid cestodes in having an armed scolex with an inflated pseudorostellum terminating in two fan-shaped lobes, in the absence of suckers, the presence of a very large sucker-like genital atrium provided distally with a powerful sphincter, and the presence of a thin-walled cirrus-sac, smaller than the genital atrium, enclosing a robust, armed cirrus. The genital atrium cirrus-sac complex, but not the female organs, may be duplicated bilaterally and/or additional sets may occur in marginal or submarginal positions.     

Scyphophyllidium uruguayense n. sp. (Eucestoda: Tetraphyllidea) in Mustelus mento (Cope, 1877) (Chondrichthyes: Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) from La Paloma, Uruguay.

A new species of Scyphophyllidium inhabits Mustelus mento near La Paloma, Uruguay. It resembles Scyphophyllidium giganteum from the Atlantic Ocean and specimens identified as S. giganteum from California by having anapolytic strobilae 155-258 mm long, 250-300 craspedote proglottids, scoleces 1.2-1.4 mm wide, necks 34-41 mm long, immature and mature proglottids wider than long, gravid proglottids wider than long to longer than wide, genital pores averaging 28% of proglottid length from the anterior end, relatively flat ovaries with digitiform lobes reaching the lateralmost extent of the testicular field, vitellaria in 2 fields converging toward the proglottid midline, straight and short cirrus sacs, and postvaginal vas deferens. The bothridia of the new species have accessory bothridial suckers that are smaller than those of California specimens; European specimens reportedly lack accessory bothridial suckers. The new species possesses a uterine duct that joins the uterus at the level of the genital atrium and ventral osmoregulatory ducts medial rather than lateral to the dorsal ducts, an arrangement described for Californian but not European specimens. It differs from both European and Californian specimens by having longer cirri, more testes per proglottid, prominent scales covering the neck, and vaginae and uterine ducts coiled immediately preovarially. Pithophorus, Marsupiobothrium, and Scyphophyllidium may form a clade.     

Endoparasites of fat-tailed mouse opossums (Thylamys: Didelphidae) from northwestern Argentina and southern Bolivia, with the description of a new species of tapeworm

The parasite fauna of 2 species of fat-tailed mouse opossums from northwestern Argentina is herein presented. Five species of helminths were found, i.e., Pterygodermatites kozeki, Hoineffia simplispicula, Oligacanthorhynchus sp., and a new species of tapeworm, Mathevotaenia sanmartini n. sp. (Cyclophyllidea: Anoplocephalidae). The new species is characterized by a calyciform scolex, relatively few testes (32), and a long cirrus sac; it occurs in fat-tailed mouse opossums at localities above 4,000 m. Those characters make it different from 6 species known to occur in marsupials from the New World, and from other species occurring in armadillos and bats. Didelphoxyuris thylamisis, H. simplicispicula, and Oligacanthorhynchus sp. appear to occur in marmosas from the Yungas region. In contrast, both P. kozeki and M. sanmartini n. sp. appear to occur exclusively in the Puna.     

Helicoductus thulakoceras n. g., n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) parasite de Charadrius marginatus (Aves: Charadrii) d'Afrique du Sud

The authors describe and illustrate Helicoductus thulakoceras n. g., n. sp., a parasite of Charadrius marginatus (Aves: Charadrii) from South Africa. This hymenolepidid cestode is 1.5-3 mm long, with a rostellum armed with 10 diorchoid hooks 75-80 m long (mean 77 m) and anomalous terminal genital ducts. One spine (10-15 m long) is inserted at the ventral extremity of the male genital pouch. An invaginated cirrus is absent. A non-retractable and non-invaginable external tube, 25-30 × 4-2.5 m, appears as a spiral, sclerotinised, spinous canal, which is non-retractable, non-invaginable and directed dorso-ventrally from the genital pouch to a second ventral canal parallel with the male genital pouch; the second canal is thin and spine-like (15-20 × 1.5 m) with a thick hyaline muff. These peculiar anatomical structures are discussed. They are considered to justify the erection of a new genus.     

Calixolepis thuli n. g., n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) from the wood duck Aix sponsa (Anatidae) in America

Calixolepis thuli n. g., n. sp. is described and figured on the basis of the specimens from the wood duck Aix sponsa (L.) (Anseriformes: Anatidae) from Cuba and the USA. The tapeworm is characterised by: (1) strobila of medium size; (2) deep genital atrium; (3) external accessory sac; (4) unilateral genital pores, with female genital ducts situated anterior to male ducts; and (5) the following characteristic structure of the male and female terminal genitalia: the genital pouch has a stylet and a goblet-like structure, the calix; a cirrus is absent; and the thick-walled copulatory part of the vagina forms vaginal vestibule distally which may open through a vaginal papilla into the genital atrium. Other morphological structures indicate a relationship with species of the genus Sobolevicanthus Spasskii & Spasskaya, 1954 or with Cladogynia Baer, 1938 (Hymenolepididae). The differences between the tapeworms from Cuba and the USA suggest the possible occurrence of various morphological forms of Calixolepis.     

Systematic relationships of hymenolepidid cestodes of rodents and shrews inferred from sequences of 28S ribosomal RNA

Haukisalmi, V., Hardman, L. M., Foronda, P., Feliu, C., Laakkonen, J., Niemimaa, J., Lehtonen, J. T. & Henttonen, H. (2010). Systematic relationships of hymenolepidid cestodes of rodents and shrews inferred from sequences of 28S ribosomal RNA. —Zoologica Scripta, 39, 631–641. This study attempts to elucidate systematic relationships of hymenolepidid cestodes of rodents (18 species), shrews (13 species) and bats (one species) using sequences of partial 28S ribosomal RNA, with special reference to the genus Rodentolepis. The main finding is the presence of four multispecies clades of hymenolepidid cestodes showing pronounced morphological variation and frequent colonizations between unrelated hosts. Neither the hymenolepidid cestodes of shrews nor rodents were monophyletic. Also, the genus Rodentolepis sensu Vaucher in Czaplinski & Vaucher (1994, Keys to the Cestode Parasites of Vertebrates. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International, Cambridge) is clearly non‐monophyletic. Although rostellar morphology is obviously a key feature on specific and generic levels, on higher systematic levels it seems to be a rather poor indicator of phylogenetic affinity in hymenolepidid cestodes. The presence of clades with more than one rostellar type (armed rostellum present, rudimentary unarmed rostellum present and rostellum absent) also conflicts with the proposed subfamilial and tribal classifications of hymenolepidid cestodes. The overall evidence suggests that the recent trend of splitting hymenolepidid cestodes into multiple genera will produce a more stable and practical classification than the earlier practice of favouring a few, morphologically variable genera. New classifications of hymenolepidid cestodes should, however, consider both morphological and molecular evidence.     

Diplaxine popovae gen. et sp. n., a new representative of the family Axinidae Unnithan, 1957 (Monogenoidea)]

A new species belonging to a new genus of Monogenoidea was found on the gills of Euleptorhamphus viridis from the Indian Ocean. The opisthohaptor of the new genus consists of two medially overlapping rows of clamps situated on a double fold along the oblique posterior margin of the body. Clamp are of Microcotyle type, their springs having accessory pieces. Three pairs of larval hooks are present. The genital atrium is armed with three groups of spines. The first group comprises spines surrounding the female aperture; the second one surrounds the cirrus in an incomplete circle; the third group consists of two lateral groups of spines arising from two muscular pad-like structures. Vagina armed with a chitionous spine opens on the right-hand side which is longer than the left-hand one. Behind the U-shaped ovarium vitellaria merge in an undifferentiated mass and completely cover the branches of the intestine and the testes. The new genus is close to the genera Chlamydaxine Unnithan, 1957 and Axine Abildgaard, 1794 differing from the former by an armed genital atrium and from the latter by two medially overlapping rows of clamps.     

A description of Cinclotaenia georgievi n. sp. (Cestoda: Dilepididae), a tapeworm from the dipper Cinclus cinclus (L.) (Passeriformes: Cinclidae)

Cinclotaenia sp., described originally by Georgiev & Genov (1985) from the dipper Cinclus cinclus (L.) in Bulgaria, has recently been identified from the same host in the Carpathian Mountains in the Slovak Republic. This tapeworm is considered to be a new species, which is named C. georgievi n. sp. It is characterised by: a scolex armed with 23-27 (predominantly 24-26) hooks in two rows; hooks 30.5-36 microm long, with a blade 10-13.5 microm long and resembling in shape the diorchoid hooks of hymenolepidids; irregularly alternating genital pores with simple genital atria; a slightly conical cirrus armed by small spines of up to 3 microm in length; 24-51 testes posterior to a bi-alate, branched ovary; a gravid uterus filled with egg packets; and eggs with filaments. C. georgievi n. sp. differs from the closely-related C. tarnogradskii (Dinnik, 1927) in the slightly higher number of rostellar hooks, which have longer blades, and a larger cirrus.     

Mathevolepis junlanae sp. n. (Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae: Ditestolepidini), a new cestode species from shrews of Far East

Mathevolepis junlanae sp. n. from shrews (Sorex spp.) of Far East is described given. The new species occupies an intermediate position between the Palaearctic species M. petrotschenkoi Spassky, 1948 (total number of proglottids--4) and M. skrjabini (Sadovskaya, 1965) (10-12 segments in a series) by the number of synchronously developing proglottids (2-4). The new species differs from M. larbi Karpenko, 1982 by the structure and measurements of copulative apparatus in proglottids. In M. larbi, vagina S-shaped, vagina length 0.147-0.154 mm, cirrus length 0.146-0.149 mm, and cirrus bursa reaching aporal excretory vessels. M. junlanae sp. n. has cirrus bursa slightly crossing center line of sexually mature proglottids, cirrus about half as long (0.084-0.092 mm), and smaller sac-shaped vagina (0.075-0.10 mm). The new species differs from the Nearctic representative M. macyi (Locker and Rausch, 1952) by lesser measurements of cirrus bursa (0.12-0.14 mm versus 0.4 mm) and a fewer number of proglottids in series (2-4 versus 5-7).     

Mathevotaenia niuguiniensis n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae: Linstowiinae) from the water-rat Parahydromys asper (Thomas) in Papua New Guinea, with a list of species of Mathevotaenia Akumyan, 1946

A new species of cestode, Mathevotaenia niuguiniensis n. sp. (Anoplocephalidae: Linstowiinae), is described from the hydromyine rodent Parahydromys asper (Thomas) in Papua New Guinea. This is the third species of the genus reported from the Australasian region. The new species differs from all congeners in rodents by having an elongate cirrus-sac, which crosses the osmoregulatory canals and extends into the medulla, compared with a short, ovoid cirrus-sac which does not penetrate into the medulla in congeners. It differs from the known Australian species, M. antechini (Beveridge, 1977) and M. nyctophili (Hickman, 1954), found in dasyurid marsupials and bats respectively, by lacking a complex of anastomosing osmoregulatory canals in each segment. A list of all known species of Mathevotaenia Akumyan, 1946, their host genera, host families and geographical distribution is provided. New combinations proposed in this report are: M. dipodomi (Bienek & Grundmann, 1973) n. comb. (transferred from Schizorchodes Bienek & Grundman, 1973), M. genettae (Ortlepp, 1937) n.comb., M. mephitis (Skinker, 1935) n. comb., M. pedunculata (Chandler, 1952) n. comb., M. wallacei (Chandler, 1952) n. comb. (transferred from Oschmarenia Spasskii, 1951) and M. oedipomidatis (Stunkard, 1965) n. comb. (transferred from Paratriotaenia Stunkard, 1965).     

The erection of Leporidotaenia n. g. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) for Anoplocephaloides spp. parasitising Leporidae (Lagomorpha)

Leporidotaenia n. g. is proposed for four cestode species parasitising Leporidae (Lagomorpha) which were previously considered as members of the genus Anoplocephaloides. The new genus is differentiated from Anoplocephaloides by the presence of a spinose covering on the tegument, the protrusible genital atrium, the massive cirrus-sac with highly developed musculature, the presence of a retractor muscle associated with the cirrus-sac, the posterior position of vaginal pore relative to the male orifice, the cirrus armed with long spines and its occurrence only in hosts of the family Leporidae (Lagomorpha). The genus includes: L. romerolagi (type-species), L. floresbarroetae, L. pseudowimerosa and L. wimerosa. the species (excluding L. floresbarroetae) are redescribed and figured and a differential key is presented. An attempt is made to explain the range of Leporidotaenia spp. in Central America and the western Palaearctic on the basis of the palaeozoogeography of rabbits and hares.     

Development of the genital ducts and spermathecae in the Rhyacodrilines rhyacodrilus coccineus and Monopylephorus rubroniveus (Oligochaeta, tubificidae).

The male genital duct in Tubificidae consists of a funnel, a vas deferens, an atrium, and, frequently, a copulatory structure. There may also be a diffuse or compact prostate gland in association with the duct. The morphogenesis of this duct is described for Rhyacodrilus coccineus and Monopylephorus rubroniveus (Rhyacodrilinae). The funnel and vas deferens in both species originate from peritoneal (mesodermal) cells in the posterior septum in the testis segment. The atrium in R. coccineus develops from a primary epidermal (ectodermal) invagination. A typical atrium is not formed in M. rubroniveus; the entire duct is of mesodermal origin. In the latter species, a shallow epidermal invagination occurs, into which both male ducts open, but it bears resemblance to a copulatory structure, which usually forms from a secondary invagination, rather than to a proper atrium. We therefore conclude that M. rubroniveus lacks an atrium. The copulatory structure is termed the male bursa. Both species have diffuse prostate glands that differentiate from peritoneal (mesodermal) cells surrounding the male duct. In R. coccineus the cells cover the atrium, whereas in M. rubroniveus they cover only a part of the vas deferens. The development of the spermathecae and female ducts is also examined. The spermatheca is of ectodermal origin in both studied species, i.e., it forms as an invagination of the epidermis. The female duct develops from peritoneal (mesodermal) cells in the posterior septum of the ovary segment. However, in M. rubroniveus the first sign of the duct disappears and a proper duct never develops.     

De quelques Hymenolepididae (Cestoda) d'oiseaux Charadrii d'Alaska,dont Nadejdolepis bealli n. sp., parasite de Calidris alpina

Nadejdolepis bealli n. sp. a parasite from Calidris alpina in Alaska (USA), is described and illustrated. It is 3-4 cm long and has: rostral nitiduloid hooks 95-96 m long, with the blade a little longer than the handle; three testes in a symmetrical triangle; a cirrus-sac 175 m long, not crossing the median line; a cirrus borne on an unarmed basal bulb, 25 m long when evaginated, and armed with numerous, compact and very thin spines 1 m long; a short (25 m) membranous and tubular vagina with neither a sclerotinoid section nor a sphincter; and a pyriform seminal receptacle. The species is differentiated from the other species of the genus with rostral hooks of comparable length by the configuration of the male and female genital ducts; they have no equivalent particularly in the shortness of the evaginated cirrus and the type of spines with which it is armed. Mention is also made of the presence of Nadejdolepis paranitidulans (Golikova, 1959) and Wardium amphitricha (Rudolphi, 1819) from the same host in Alaska.     

Monogenea of Chinese marine fishes. X. A new species and two new records of the Axinidae from fishes of the South China Sea

This paper reports a new species and two new records of the Axinidae collected from fishes of the South China Sea. Loxuroides fungilliformis n. sp. was obtained from the gills of Hemirhamphus guoyi collected at Zhapo (21°34N, 111°49E). The new species is similar to L. sasikala (Unnithan,1957) Price, 1962 in the structure of the cirrus and genital atrium, but differs from the latter in the shape and number of the spines of its genital atrium and cirrus. Both L. sasikala and Axine tripathii Price, 1962 are recorded for the first time off China.     

Studies on the Ultrastructure of the Genital Organs in Proseriata (Turbellaria). I. Cirrifera aculeata (Ax) (Coelogynoporidae)

The genital organs in adult specimens of Cirrifera aculeata have been studied by transmission electron microscopy. The male copulatory organ is of the conjuncta-duplex type provided with a spiny cirrus. The structure of the epithelia lining the different parts of the genital organs is described. The cirrus spines and the spines in the genital atrium are shown to be intracellular specializations. The structure and location of the cirrus spines in the Proseriata studied so far are discussed.     

The helminth parasites of the lesser flamingo,Phoeniconaias minor (Geoffroy), from Lake Nakuru,Kenya, including a new cestode,Phoenicolepis nakurensis n.g., n.sp.

Summary Seven species of cestodes and two of nematodes are reported from Phoeniconaias minor from Lake Nakuru, Kenya. Phoenicolepis nakurensis n.g., n.sp. (Hymenolepididae) is characterized by the size and shape of the hooks, scolex and strobila, structure of the terminal genital ducts, presence of an accessory sac, external seminal vesicle and stylet, and absence of an internal seminal vesicle. Gynandrotaenia stammeri. Cladogynia phoeniconaiadis, Flamingolepis tengizi, F. dolguschini and Striatofilaria phoenicopteri are redescribed; all except C. phoeniconaiadis are new for this host and for Kenya. ac]19800210Abbreviations as accessory sac - c cirrus - cs cirrus sac - esv external seminal vesicle - g gland cells - gs glandular sheath - isv internal seminal vesicle - md muscular duct - Mg Mehlis' gland - o ovary - pg prostate gland cells - s stylet - sr seminal receptacle - u uterus - v vagina - vd vas deferens - vg vitelline gland