Dentiphilometra monopteri n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the abdominal cavity of the ricefield eel Monopterus albus in China

A new genus and species of philometrid nematode Dentiphilometra monopteri n. gen., n. sp., are described on the basis of the specimens found in the abdominal cavity of the ricefield eel (swamp-eel) Monopterus albus (Zouiev) from Liangzi Lake (the Yangtze River drainage system), Hubei Province, in central China. Dentiphilometra, assigned to the Philometrinae, differs from other genera of this subfamily mainly in the presence of a sclerotized oral ring armed on its inner surface by numerous small peribuccal teeth in the gravid female. The new species is characterized by minute cephalic papillae, a greatly developed anterior esophageal bulb separated from the cylindrical part of the esophagus, anterior extention of the esophageal gland anterior to the nerve ring, and by large caudal projections in females and equal spicules 0.051-0.096 mm long in males. This is the second philometrid species recorded from fishes of the Synbranchiformes.     

Spirocamallanus cricotus sp. n. and S. halitrophus sp. n. (Nematoda: Camallanidea) from fishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico

Spirocamallanus cricotus sp. n. (= S. pereirai, in part) and S. halitrophus sp. n. are described from marine fishes of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Spirocamallanus cricotus has a ledge anterior to the basal ring in the buccal capsule, similar spicules with a ratio of 1:1.4 to 2.1, 3 pre- and 5 postcloacal papillae, and 8 rectal glands in the female; S. halitrophus lacks the ledge and possesses dissimilar spicules with a ratio of 1:1.3 to 1.8, 3 pre- and 6 postcloacal papillae, and 4 rectal glands in the female.     

Three new species of philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) from centrarchid fishes in the USA

The following 3 new species of the Philometridae (Nematoda: Dracunculoidea) are described from freshwater centrarchid fishes (Centrarchidae: Perciformes) from eastern North America on the basis of museum and newly collected specimens: Philometra orbitalensis n. sp. and Philometroides aphanonaris n. sp. from the oculo-orbits and subcutaneous tissues of the head, respectively, of the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, and Philometroides wellborni n. sp. from the oculo-orbits of the bluegill Lepomis macrochirus (type host) and the redbreast sunfish Lepomis auritus. Whereas P. wellborni is described from both males and gravid females, the males of P. aphanonaris and P. orbitalensis remain unknown. The type locality of all 3 species is the West Point Reservoir, Alabama-Georgia; P. aphanonaris and P. wellborni have also been recorded from the Santee River in South Carolina. In contrast to other Philometra spp. parasitizing North American freshwater fishes, the gravid females of P. orbitalensis are characterized by large cephalic papillae of the external circle, yellowish body color, location (oculo-orbits) in the host, and by the host type (Centrarchidae). Philometroides aphanonaris and P. wellborni differ from North American congeners from freshwater fishes in the absence of esophageal teeth or a different embossment of the caudal end in gravid females; P. wellborni differs from P. aphanonaris in the absence of cuticular bosses from the caudal end of gravid females and in some other features (extent of embossment, body color, location, and host type).     

Steinernema akhursti sp. n. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) from Yunnan, China

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, herein described as Steinernema akhursti sp. n., was recovered from soil samples collected from Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of China. Both morphological and molecular data show congruently that S. akhursti sp. n. belongs to the Steinernema feltiae group. It can be separated from all described Steinernema species by the combined morphological and morphometrical characters of various stages of the nematodes. For the first generation male, the new species can be recognized by spicule length 90 +/- 4.6 microm, spicule tip blunt with an aperture on the ventral side, gubernaculum with a long and needle-shaped cuneus, and tail conoid with a prominent mucron on the tip and a concave on ventral side. For the infective juvenile, the combination of the following characters: body length 812 +/- 19 microm, distance from anterior end to excretory pore 59 +/- 1.5 microm, tail length 73 +/- 2.9 microm, E% 77 +/- 4.5, lateral field with six evenly distributed and identical ridges at the middle body portion, and tail with long and slightly constrict hyaline portion can be used to separate the new species from other nematodes. For the female, the new species is characterized by: tail conoid with a short mucron and slightly swelling anal portion and a symmetrical, slightly protruding vulva with conspicuous double-flapped epiptygma. The nematode can be separated from other described species of Steinernema by DNA sequences of either a partial 28S rDNA or the internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA and from the closely related species S. feltiae and Steinernema oregonense by cross-breeding tests.     

Female morphology and systematic status of Philometroides cyprini (Nematoda: Philometridae), a parasite of carp

Gravid females of Philometroides were found under the scales of stock carp Cyprinus carpio L. imported from Lithuania to the Czech Republic in the spring of 1997 and kept in a quarantine pond. These specimens and those obtained from pond-cultured carp in Russia (Moscow district) were used for detailed morphological studies, including scanning electron microscopy. The results confirm that the valid name of this parasite is Philometroides cyprini (Ishii, 1931), whereas Philometra lusii Vismanis, 1962, Philometra schikhobalowae Belous, 1965, Philometra lusiana Vismanis, 1966 and Philometroides lusiana (Vismanis, 1966) Ivashkin et al., 1971 are its junior synonyms. P. cyprini, the agent of a serious disease of carp, seems to have been originally distributed in east Asia, from where it was introduced into Europe in the early 1960s.     

Pseudocapillaria (Discocapillaria) margolisi n. subg., n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichuroidea) from freshwater fishes of West Bengal,India

A new nematode,Pseudocapillaria (Discocapillaria) margolisi n. subg., n. sp., from the freshwater fishesPuntius conchonius, P. sophore andAmblypharyngodon mola of West Bengal, India is described. The presence of a ventral lobe-like elevation with two papillae and the absence of a dorsal cuticular membrane on the male tail are referred to as distinguishing features of the new subgenus. The parasite is also characterised by small body size, short and non-annulated stichocytes, a distinctly expanded and folded lobular rim of the proximal end of the spicule, and eggs with protruding polar plugs, all features in which it differs distinctly from other species of the genusPseudocapillaria.     

Halalaimus algeriensis n. sp. (Nematoda) from the Sahara

During a trans-Saharan expedition in 1980 a number of samples were collected from stagnant and running fresh and slightly saline water bodies. One of them, collected from the Oued En-Namous in a small oasis yielded several interesting nematodes, among which was a newHalalaimus species described herein asHalalaimus algeriensis n. sp. It comes close toH. minusculus Tchesunov, 1978, but differs in tailshape, absence of males and habitat. It also resembles the marine speciesH. gracilis de Man, 1888, but differs in the relative length of the anterior setae, the absence of a lateral field and absence of males. The new species can be differentiated fromH. stammeri Schneider, 1940, the only fresh water species found hitherto, by its shorter body, more anterior and wider fovea, and the length and position of the anterior setae. The various juvenile stages can be separated on the basis of body length, foveal length and genital primordium.     

Hysterothylacium pseudotumbili n.sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from the marine fishes of Visakhapatnam, Bay of Bengal.

Hysterothylacium pseudotumbili n.sp. from the stomach and body cavity of marine fishes. Chrorinemus tol Couvier. Saurida undosquamis (Richardson), Lutianus russelli (Bleeker), Rastrilliger kanagurta (Cuvier) and Saurida pseudotumbili Dutt and Vidyasagar collected from Visakhapatnam (Bay of Bengal) is described and figured. A detailed examination has allowed us to erect a new species of Hysterothylacium to accommodate the worm. It shows remarkable differences from other known species of Hysterothylacium in respect of body measurements, the papillae on the lips arrangement, location of nerve ring and excretory pore, long intestinal caecum, position of vulva, number and arrangement of caudal papillae and size of the spicules. The new species is designated as Hysterothylacium pseudotumbili. Saurida pseudotumbili is the new host record. This is the first report of the genus in this host. Visakhapatnam coast is the new locality record.     

Mylonchulus sessus n.sp. (Nematoda: Mononchida) from Brunei

Summary Mylonchulus sessus n.sp. is described. It is close to M. sigmaturus and M. dentatus and was found in soil from around tomato from Brunei. It has an exceptionally well developed and differentiated female reproductive system which is rather unusual in Mylonchulus and, although close to M. sigmaturus and M. dentatus differs from both in having wider amphids and smaller submedian teeth.     

Trichodorus persicus n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichodoridae) from Iran

Trichodorus persicus n. sp. is described from the Caspian region of Iran, where it was found in woodland and orchard soil. Males of the new species usually have two ventral cervical papillae anterior to the excretory pore but posterior to the base of the onchiostyle; there are three ventromedian preanal supplements, the posterior one lying near the heads of the retracted spicules; the spicules are 51–61 m long with faint transverse striations distally. Females have two pairs of lateral body pores, large rounded sclerotized thickenings at the vulva and the vagina tapers inwards in lateral view.     

Xiphinema bacaniboia n.sp. (Nematoda: Dorylaimida) from Fiji

Summary Xiphinema bacaniboia n.sp. is described from rain forest in Fiji. Adult females are characterized by their spiral shape on heat death, slightly offset lip region, total stylet length of 270–292 m, post-median vulva, paired, opposed genital branches with greater development of the anterior one, absence of a Z organ and the presence of a broadly rounded tail, flattened ventrally with no blind canal. The species is differentiated from X. ingens Luc & Dalmasso, 1964, X. macrostylum Esser, 1966 and X. riocaquetae Hunt, 1982. ac]19830610     

Coslenchus capsici n. sp. (Nematoda: Tylenchidae) from India

Coslenchus capsici n. sp., from around the roots of Capsicum annuum at Kulu (H.P.), India, is characterized by a large number of cuticular ridges (17+17 + lateral fields), a smooth head with a well-sclerotized framework and a forwardly inclined vagina with swollen walls.     

Margolisianum bulbosum n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma (Pisces: Bothidae), in Mississippi Sound, USA

A new species of a philometrid nematode, Margolisianum bulbosum, is described from the subcutaneous tissue in the mouth (larvigerous females), head (males, ovigerous, and larvigerous females), and eye (preovigerous females) of the southern flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, from Mississippi Sound. It is placed in a new genus diagnosed by the combination of 8 large, paired but separate cephalic papillae; no inner cephalic papillae; an esophagus with a separate, muscular anterior bulb; a prominent mononuclear esophageal gland; and variable, irregularly distributed cuticular bosses in the females, as well as a vestigial rectum, particularly in larvigerous females. Some female specimens exhibit rows of lateral grooves and longitudinal ridges near the posterior end. Males have 2 small slightly subequal spicules, a barbed gubernaculum, 4 pairs of small cephalic papillae, and a bipartite hypodermal extension within a membranous cuticle on the posterior end. Males, ovigerous females, and larvigerous females appear to be present year round in this sporadic infection in Mississippi.