Helminthoxys abrocomae n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyurida) from Abrocoma cinerea in Bolivia

A new pinworm parasite is described from Abrocoma cinerea, a caviomorph rodent of the superfamily Octodontoidea from the Andes of Bolivia. The new species, Helminthoxys abrocomae n. sp., possesses special secretory mamelons which we consider a synapomorphy of the genus Helminthoxys.Within Helminthoxys, the closest relatives are found in octodontoid rodents: H. gigantea occurs in Octodon degus in Chile and O. bridgesiin Argentina, and H. freitasi is a parasite of Thrichomys aperoides in Brazil. H. abrocomae n. sp. differs from both other species morphometrically in relation to different parts of the body in both sexes, particularly the size of the body, spicule, gubernaculum and eggs, by the presence of a rough cuticular area around the cephalic sensory papillae and by the possession of very well-developed cervical alae which are strongly curved dorsally. H. abrocomae n. sp. is the tenth nominal species described in Helminthoxys, all of them being parasites of caviomorph rodents.     

Aspidoderid nematodes from bolivian armadillos, with the description of a new species of Lauroia (Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae)

One nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) and 1 yellow armadillo (Euphractus sexcinctus) were necropsied in the field during an expedition to collect parasites of mammals in Bolivia. A total of 205 Aspidodera binansata Railliet and Henry, 1913 (Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae), and 40 specimens of Lauroia bolivari n. sp. (Heterakoidea: Aspidoderidae) were recovered from the cecum and large intestines of D. novemcinctus and E. sexcinctus. Aspidodera esperanzae Fujita et al., 1995, is proposed as a junior synonym of A. binansata based on the structure of the cordons on the hood. Lauroia bolivari n. sp. has an undercut cephalic cap and unequal spicules. It differs from other species in the genus in the shape of the cephalic cap and from Lauroia travassosi Proen?a, 1938, in the relative proportion of the spicules. This is the first record of a member of Lauroia Proen?a, 1938, for Bolivia.     

A revision of the augochlorine bee genus Chlerogas Vachal (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

The augochlorine bee genus Chlerogas Vachal is revised and the female is described for the first time. The genus is newly diagnosed and new characters discussed for its separation from other augochlorine genera. Seven new species are recognized– Chlerogas araguaensis, C. boliviensis, C. colombiensis, C. cyaneus, C. ttephos, C. tiara, and C. tozvnesi –in addition to two previously described species: C. chlerogas (Vachal) and C. hirsutipennis Cockerell. The group was previously only recorded from Peru, but is now known in Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. A key is provided for the identification of all species.     

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.     

New species of Cinclotaenia macy, 1973 (Cyclophyllidea: Dilepididae) from Cinclus leucocephalus tschudi (Passeriformes: Cinclidae) in Bolivia

Two new species of Cinclotaenia (Cyclophyllidea: Dilepididae) are described from the small intestine of Cinclus leucocephalus (Aves: Passeriformes: Cinclidae) collected in the Yungas region of Bolivia. Cinclotaenia minuta n. sp. is characterized by possessing a minute strobila with a maximum body length of 1.58 mm, consisting of 5-10 proglottids, 19-22 rostellar hooks with lengths from 16 to 17 microm, 12-17 testes per proglottid, and eggs forming packets without filaments. Cinclotaenia boliviensis n. sp. has bandlike strobila with a length up to 26 mm with 67-74 proglittids, 22 rostellar hooks with length 39-42 microm, 43-68 testes, and eggs forming packets possessing long filaments. The systematic position in Cinclotaenia of cestodes lacking filaments on the egg packets is confirmed. This is the first record of species of Cinclotaenia in dippers from Bolivia and also the first report of cestodes from Cinclus sp. in the Neotropical Region.     

Nematode parasites of the turtle Pelusios sinuatus (pelomedusidae: Pleurodira) from southern Africa

Summary Two nematode parasites are described from the turtle Pelusios sinuatus of southern Africa. Camallanus chelonius n. sp. (Camallanoidae) is easily distinguished from other species reported from Africa in possessing less than 10 smooth ridges in the buccal valves. It most closely resembles a group of seven species described from Indian amphibians but may be differentiated from these by a combination of characters: shape of the female tail and distal end of the spicules, male caudal papillae, presence or absence of small barbs between the bases of the buccal valve ridges. C. chelonius is intermediate in cephalic morphology between other Camallanus spp., which are all restricted to fish and amphibian hosts, and the genus Serpinema reported only in turtles. Falcaustra pelusios n.sp. (Cosmocercoidea) is the first species of the genus reported in pelomedusid turtles. It is easily distinguished from all other species by the presence of two large and complex cheilostomal rings in the cephalic end, a very short male tail, large gubernaculum, relatively short thick spicules and large number (more than 50 pairs) of subventral preanal muscle cells posterior to the sucker. ac]19810907     

A new species of Syphacia (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Akodon azarae (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Argentina

Eight species of Syphacia (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) have been reported from South America in rodents of the Sigmodontinae, only 1 of which has been recorded in Argentina. Syphacia (Syphacia) carlitosi n. sp. is described from the ceca of Akodon azarae bibianae and Akodon azarae hunteri (Sigmodontinae: Akodontini) captured in 3 provinces in the northeast region of Argentina. The new species is differentiated principally by the shape of the cephalic plate; distribution of submedian papillae and amphids; presence, extent, and shape of cervical alae in females; absence of lateral alae; absence of deirids; spicular and gubernaculum length; shape and structure of accessory hook of gubernaculum; and distance of mamelons, excretory pore, and vulva from the anterior extremity. This is the second record of Syphacia parasitizing rodents of the tribe Akodontini.     

Description of a new diphyllidean parasite of triakid sharks from the deep Red Sea

Specimens of Echinobothrium diamanti n. sp. (Cestoda: Diphyllidea) were recovered from the spiral intestine of Iago omanensis and Mustelus mosis (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae), in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea. The new species can be distinguished from all other species in Echinobothrium by the presence of a conspicuous vaginal sphincter. Echinobothrium diamanti possesses a corona of spines between the apical armature and the bothria, as in Echinobothrium notoguidoi, Echinobothrium musteli, and Echinobothrium scoliodoni, also parasites of sharks. However, E. diamanti possesses more testes per proglottid than E. notoguidoi and E. scoliodoni, and it is larger and has more spines per column on the cephalic peduncle than E. musteli and E. notoguidoi, and it also has circum-medullary vitelline follicles rather than distributed in lateral columns. Echinobothrium diamanti is the first species of diphyllidean reported from the triakid genus Iago.     

Trichostrongylina (Nematoda) parasitic in Phyllotis sp. (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) from Argentina, with description of three new species

The Trichostrongylina parasitic in the leaf-eared mouse Phyllotis sp. (Sigmodontinae) from the Province of Catamarca, Argentina are studied. Three new species of Stilestrongylus Freitas, Lent and Almeida, 1937 (Heligmosomoidea: Heligmonellidae: Nippostrongylinae) are described. Stilestrongylus andalgala n. sp. is distinguished from the most closely related species S. moreli Diaw, 1976 parasitic in Auliscomys boliviensis from Bolivia, by the absence of a common trunk of right rays 2 and 3, by left ray 4 shorter than ray 5, and by the shape of the female tail, without a mucron. Stilestrongylus catamarca n. sp. is distinguished from all the other species in the genus by hypertrophied rays 2, larger than rays 3, and from the closely related species Stilestrongylus barusi Durette-Desset, 1971, parasitic in Sigmodontomys alfari from Colombia, by right ray 4 longer than ray 5 and left ray 4 shorter than ray 5, by a larger spicule length/body length ratio (22.6% vs. 7.2%), and by the presence of a mucron on the female tail. Stilestrongylus gracielae n. sp. most closely resembles Stilestrongylus azarai Durette-Desset and Sutton, 1985, parasitic in Akodon azarae and in Graomys griseoflavus, and Stilestrongylus franciscanus Digiani and Durette-Desset, 2003, also parasitic in G. griseoflavus, both from Argentina. These latter differ from the new species by the right lobe of the caudal bursa: in S. azarai rays 4, 5 and 6 arise at same level from their common trunk and in S. franciscanus right rays 4 and 5 diverge at their distal extremity. Lamanema chavezi Becklund, 1963 (Molineoidea: Molineinae), a parasite of South American camelids, is reported in rodents for the second time.     

Rhabdias paraensis sp. nov.: a parasite of the lungs of Rhinella marina (Amphibia: Bufonidae) from Brazilian Amazonia

The nematode parasites of Rhinella marina include species of the genus Rhabdias (Rhabdiasidae: Rhabditoidea). The present study describes Rhabdias paraensis sp. nov., which parasitizes the lungs of R. marina in Brazilian Amazonia. Of the more than 70 known species of this genus, 18 are parasites of bufonids, of which, eight are Neotropical. The new species described here is similar to Rhabdias alabialis in the absence of lips is different by the presence of conspicuous cephalic papillae. We describe details of the four rows of pores, which are distributed equally along the whole of the length of the body and connected with hypodermal cells, using histology and scanning electron microscopy. Other histological aspects of the internal structure of this nematode are also described.     

The notodelphyid Genus Doroixys Kerschner, 1879 (Crustacea: Copepoda: Cyclopoida), with the Description of a New Species from the Russian Far East

Doroixys simplex n. sp. is described from material collected from a tunicate of the genus Ciona, collected on the North Pacific coast of Russia. This is the fourth species of the genus and the first for which the male has been found. The new species differs from congeners most noticeably in the absence of posterolateral processes from the rear margin of the dorsal cephalic shield. A key to species is provided.     

Two new heterakid (Nematoda) species from Kinixys erosa (Schweigger, 1812), (Chelonii: Testudinidae) in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Two species of Africana Tavassos, 1920 (Africana kinixysae n. sp. and Africana congoensis n. sp.) are described from Kinixys erosa (Schweigger, 1812) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed morphological differences in the structure of the male caudal end and cephalic end, which helped to differentiate these new species from the other species of the genus, and from each other. A key for determination of all species in the genus is provided.     

Unequal transmission of mitochondrial haplotypes in natural populations of field mice with XY females (genus Akodon)

In species with fertile XY females, such as South American field mice (genus Akodon), there are two types of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), one passing from XX females and one from XY females. The XX mothers pass their mtDNA to their XX daughters. The XY mothers, however, produce both XX and XY daughters. Because of this breeding scheme, the XY mtDNA remains isolated whereas the XX lineage is continuously invaded by XY mtDNA haplotypes. Using a set of recursion equations, I predicted that XY mtDNA haplotypes should rapidly spread through entire populations composed of both XX and XY females. I examined patterns of nucleotide polymorphism and divergence from the mtDNA control region as well as phylogenetic patterns for evidence of an mtDNA sweep. I compared patterns in two sister species, Akodon boliviensis and Akodon azarae, that are composed of 35% and 10% XY females, respectively. Akodon boliviensis XY females are found in all clades of a phylogenetic mtDNA tree consistent with the spread of mtDNA haplotypes. In addition, A. azarae mtDNA haplotypes showed no deviations from neutrality. These results, in combination with high levels of mtDNA nucleotide diversity in XY females, suggest an ancient origin (>10(4) generations) of XY females in both A. boliviensis and A. azarae.     

Syngnathinema californiense n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) from the circulatory system of the bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus in California.

A new dracunculoid nematode Syngnathinema californiense, n. gen., n. sp., is described from gravid female parasites found inside the heart of wild-caught Bay pipefish Syngnathus leptorhynchus; histologically it was recorded from different sites of the host circulatory system (sinus venosus, atrium, and renal and hepatic veins). The new genus is characterized by the structure of the cephalic end (large oral aperture with a narrow peribuccal ring surrounded by 10 papillae in 2 circles, large circular amphids), division of the esophagus into muscular and glandular portions, location of the well-developed vulva posterior to the esophagus, monodelphic female reproductive organs, and the sharply pointed tail. Because males remain unknown, the genus is provisionally assigned to the Daniconematidae.     

Tandem and centric fusions in the chromosomal evolution of the South American phyllotines of the genus Auliscomys (Rodentia, cricetidae).

The karyotypes of three of the four extant species of the genus Auliscomys (A. micropus, living in central [2n = 32, NF = 34] and southern [2n = 34, NF = 36, 37] Chile; A. sublimis [2n = 28, NF = 32] and A. boliviensis [2n = 22, NF = 32], which inhabit the Andean Altiplano) were analyzed. Comparisons of G-, C-, and AgNOR-banded karyotypes showed that extensive conservation of entire chromosomes and chromosomal regions had occurred during the evolution of this genus, with centromeretelomere tandem fusions and centric fusions probably being the most frequent chromosome changes. A chromosomal phylogeny, based on the chromosome homoeologies detected and parsimonious analysis of the nature and distribution of the inferred chromosomal changes, is proposed. This hypothetical phylogeny assumes that the ancestral telocentric karyotype would have undergone three consecutive tandem fusions, first originating the 2n = 32 (NF = 34) karyomorph exhibited by present-day specimens of A. micropus captured in central Chile and then the 2n = 28 (NF = 32) karyotype of A. sublimis. Subsequent centric fusions involving the tandem-fusion products would presumably have generated the 2n = 22 (NF = 32) A. boliviensis karyotype. Assuming some conditions related to early geographic distribution, this chromosomal phylogeny is in agreement with a paleogeographic model, which explains the present distribution of living Auliscomys species mainly on the basis of geologic and climatic events.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Transmission of Plasmodium fragile to Saimiri monkeys

Saimiri monkeys from Bolivia and Guyana were infected with the Nilgiri and Ceylon strains of Plasmodium fragile. Of 20 attempted sporozoite transmissions of the Ceylon strain involving 11 splenectomized Saimiri sciureus boliviensis, only 8 were successful, 2 by mosquito bite and 6 by intravenous injection of sporozoites dissected from salivary glands. Prepatent periods ranged from 18 to 30 days with a mean of 25.8 days.     

Agra, arboreal beetles of Neotropical forests: pusilla group and piranha group systematics and notes on their ways of life (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini, Agrina)

Revisions of two new species groups of the genus Agra Fabricius are presented with the following species described as new: pusilla group - Agra cruciariasp. n. (Brazil), Agra gracesp. n. (Ecuador,Perú), Agra maxsp. n. (Brazil), Agra minasianussp. n. (Brazil),Agra notpusillasp. n. (Brazil), Agra pseudopusillasp. n. (Brazil); piranha group - Agra cesp. n. (Perú), Agra risserisp. n. (Bolivia,Brazil), Agra maiasp. n. (Bolivia), Agra piranhasp. n. (Ecuador); Agra tiputinisp. n. (Ecuador). Species of these two groups have adults that are the smallest in the entire genus, although this does not indicate they are closely related based on other attributes. All species are Amazonian in distribution.     

Oldest cingulate skulls provide congruence between morphological and molecular scenarios of armadillo evolution

The cingulates of the mammalian order Xenarthra present a typical case of disagreement between molecular and morphological phylogenetic studies. We report here the discovery of two new skulls from the Late Oligocene Salla Beds of Bolivia (approx. 26 Ma), which are the oldest known well-preserved cranial remains of the group. A new taxon is described: Kuntinaru boliviensis gen. et sp. nov. A phylogenetic analysis clusters K. boliviensis together with the armadillo subfamily Tolypeutinae. These skulls document an early spotty occurrence for the Tolypeutinae at 26 Ma, in agreement with the temporal predictions of previous molecular studies. The fossil record of tolypeutines is now characterized by a unique occurrence in the Late Oligocene, and a subsequent 12 Myr lack in the fossil record. It is noteworthy that the tolypeutines remain decidedly marginal in the Late Palaeogene and Early Neogene deposits, whereas other cingulate groups diversify. Also, the anatomical phylogenetic analysis herein, which includes K. boliviensis, is congruent with recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. Kuntinaru boliviensis is the oldest confident calibration point available for the whole Cingulata.