Two new genera,shape Provitellus and shape Ovipusillus,and four new species of Monorchiidae (Digenea) from carangid fishes of Queensland,Australia

Two new genera and four new species of monorchiid digeneans are described from the Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay, Queensland. Provitellus turrum n. g., n. sp. from Pseudocaranx dentex and Trachinotus coppingeri is characterised by the presence of vitelline follicles in the forebody, a single testis, a unipartite terminal organ and filamented eggs. Ovipusillus mayu n. g., n. sp. from Gnathanodon speciosus is characterised by the presence of two testes, vitelline follicles overlapping the ventral sucker and a large, complex cirrus-sac that contains a coiled eversible ejaculatory duct joined by the pars prostatica halfway along its length. Paramonorcheides pseudocaranxi n. sp. from Pseudocaranx dentex differs from other species described in this genus in the longer flatter forebody, entire ovary and the well-developed cirrus-sac. Chrisomon gaigai n. sp. from Trachinotus coppingeri and T. botla is characterised by the unflattened forebody and transversely oval pharynx. Chrisomon is redefined to include species of Lasiotocus with a vitellarium composed of clusters of tubular acini, creating the following new combinations: C. albulae n. comb. for L. albulae Overstreet, 1969, C. ulua n. comb. for L. ulua Yamaguti, 1970 and C. weke n. comb. for L. weke Yamaguti, 1970. The diagnosis of Lasiotocus is amended accordingly and the new combinations, L. polynemi n. comb. and L. sunderbanensis n. comb., are created for C. polynemi Dutta, Hafeezullah & Manna, 1994 and C. sunderbanensis Dutta, Hafeezullah & Manna, 1994, respectively. Extrapolation of our collection data suggests that there may be as many as 80 species of monorchiids infecting carangid fishes in Australia and 180 species infecting carangids in all oceans of the world. The latter figure greatly exceeds the number of monorchiids described from all host families to     

Notogaeanemertes folzae gen. n., sp. n., an additional ecologically restricted hoplonemertean from New Zealand

Notogaeanemertes folzae gen. n., sp. n., a monoecious and ovoviviparous hoplonemertean, is described from the supra-littoral at Kaikoura, New Zealand. It shares more characters with group I terrestrial nemerteans than with group II which brings into question the significance of certain features in the systematics of semiterrestrial/terrestrial nemerteans.     

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.     

A new species of Podocotyloides Yamaguti, 1934 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from a Western Australian temperate marine fish

A new species of Podocotyloides is described from Sillago bassensis caught off the coast of Western Australia. This is the second report of a species of this genus from Australian waters but the first of a new species. P. victori n. sp. is one of four species whose vitelline follicles extend into the forebody. It is distinguished from the other three species with vitelline follicles in the forebody by its relatively shorter forebody, smaller eggs and bipartite seminal vesicle. Pedunculotrema Fischthal & Thomas, 1970 is reduced to synonymy with Podocotyloides Yamaguti, 1934.     

A New Aerobic Gram-Positive Bacterium with a Unique Ability to Degrade ortho- and para-chlorinated Biphenyls

Strain B51 capable of degrading polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) was isolated from soil contaminated with wastes from the chemical industry. Based on its morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the strain was identified as a Microbacterium sp. Experiments with washed cells showed that strain B51 is able to degrade ortho- and para-substituted mono-, di-, and trichlorinated biphenyls (MCB, DCB, and TCB, respectively). Unlike the known PCB degraders, Microbacterium sp. B51 is able to oxidize the ortho-chlorinated ring of 2,2-DCB and 2,4-DCB and the para-chlorinated ring of 4.4-DCB. The degradation of 2,4-DCB and 4,4-DCB was associated with the accumulation of 4-chlorobenzoic acid (4-CBA) in the medium in amounts comprising 80–90% of the theoretical yield. The strain was able to utilize 2-MCB, 2,2-DCB, and their intermediate 2-CBA and to oxidize the mono(ortho)-chlorinated ring of 2,4,2-TCB and the di(ortho-para)-chlorinated ring of 2,4,4-TCB. A mixed culture of Microbacterium sp. B51 and the 4-CBA-degrading bacterium Arthrobacter sp. H5 was found to grow well on 1 g/l 2,4-DCB as the sole source of carbon and energy.     

Influence of light on growth and pigmentation of the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma

Light and antimycin markedly affected growth and carotenoid synthesis by Phaffia rhodozyma. Exposure of the yeast to high light intensities on agar plates resulted in growth inhibition and decreased carotenoid synthesis. The carotenoid compositions of the yeast were also notably changed by light. -zeacarotene increased, whereas -carotene and xanthophylls decreased including astaxanthin, phoenicoxanthin, and 3-hydroxy-3, 4-didehydro-,-caroten-4-one (HDCO). In liquid medium, growth of the wild-type strain (UCD-FST-67-385) was inhibited by antimycin, but this inhibition was relieved by exposure to light. Light also stimulated carotenoid synthesis about twofold in these antimycin-treated cells. Light may have rescued growth by induction of an alternative oxidase system which facilitated electron disposal when the main respiratory chain was inhibited by antimycin. Isolation and characterization of the oxidase enzymes should be useful in strain development for increased carotenoid production.Abbreviations DCIP 2,6-dichlorophenol-indophenol - HDCO 3-hydroxy-3, 4-didehydro-,-caroten-4-one, PG-n-propyl gallate - SHAM salicylhydroxamic acid - TTFA thenoyltrifluoroacetone     

Five new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from lizards

Five new species of Eimeria are described from lizards. Eimeria baltrocki n. sp. was found in the berber skink, Eumeces schneideri, from Egypt. The oöcysts are cylindroidal, averaging 38 × 18.3 m, with a single thick oöcyst wall. Most oöcysts possess a single polar granule; a micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 11.5 × 8.1 m, each with a large, globular sporocyst residuum; the Stieda body is absent. Eimeria anolidis n. sp. is described form the common anole, Anolis carolinensis, from Florida, USA. The oöcysts are cylindroidal and average 31 × 15.8 m with a thick, single-layered oöcyst wall. Two polar granules are usually present; a micropyle and oöcyst residuum absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 9.4 × 7.5 m with a globular sporocyst residuum; the Stieda body is absent. Eimeria guyanensis n. sp is recorded in the ameiva, Ameiva ameiva, from Guyana, South America. The oöcysts are spherical to subspherical, average 19.0 × 17.8 m and possess a thick, single-layered oöcyst wall. Numerous polar granules are present (n > 5); a micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are spherical to subspherical, average 7.5 × 7.8 m and possess a compact globular sporocyst residuum; the Stieda body is absent. Eimeria phelsumae n. sp. was recovered from the giant day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis, from Madagascar, which harboured a simultaneous infection of E. brygooi. The oöcysts measured 32 × 15 m and are cylindroidal without polar granules, a micropyle or oöcyst residuum, or a Steida body. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 9.8 × 7 m, with a loosely clumped, granular sporocyst residuum; the Steida body is absent. Eimeria leiocephali n. sp. was discovered in the faeces of the ornate ground iguana, Leiocephalus barahonensis, from Haiti. The oöcysts are spherical to subspherical, 21 × 19 m, and contain a number of polar granules (n > 5); a micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are spherical, 8 m in diameter and lack a sporocyst residuum. Eimeria turcicus and E. lineri were found in faeces of Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus from the host's country of origin, Turkey.     

A new species of Sciadiocara Skrjabin, 1916 (Nematoda: Acuariidae) parasitic in shorebirds in Argentina

In the present paper we describe a new species of the genus Sciadiocara from Haematopus palliatus from the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37°46S, 57°27W), Argentina. We provide two host records (H. palliatus and Larus dominicanus) for the genus, both from Buenos Aires province, Argentina. S. haematopodi n. sp. closely resembles S. legendrei Petter, 1967. The new species can be distinguished by the morphology of the distal end of the left spicule, the shorter length of the right spicule, the number of pre- anal papillae and the ratio of the length of the vagina vera to the length of the vagina uterina.     

Alcataenia atlantiensis n. sp. (Dilepididae) from the razorbill (Alca torda Linnaeus) in the eastern North Atlantic basin

A new species of Alcataenia is described from razorbills Alca torda Linnaeus from the southern region of the North Sea in the coastal waters of Belgium. It differs from known species of the genus in having 18–20 rostellar hooks measuring 63–74 m in length. Other attributes include a cirrus-sac 145–228 m in length, 36–49 testes and a vitelline gland measuring 114–202 × 59–112 m. This is the first species of Alcataenia described from razorbills and appears to be the only member of the genus which is endemic to the North Atlantic basin.     

Stimulation of direct embryogenesis from mesophyll protoplasts of Medicago sativa

Mesophyll protoplasts of Medicago sativa were exposed to low voltage electrical fields immediately following isolation. Several exposure times and voltages were utilized. At the lower doses, protoplast aggregation and subsequent embryogenesis were stimulated. A clone of Rangelander, which was directly-embryogenic (i.e. embryos were derived from single mesophyll protoplasts without an intervening callus phase), was induced to form embryos in all samples exposed to the lowest level electrical fields, while unexposed controls formed few or no embryos. A clone of Regen S, which was previously not directly-embryogenic, was induced to follow the Rangelander pattern of development and to produce early globular embryos.Plant Research Centre Contribution No. 1013     

New and described species of nematodes from shorebirds (Charadriiformes) collected in spring in Iceland

The following were found in shorebirds collected during late April and early May shortly after their arrival in Iceland. Voguracuaria lankesteri n. g., n. sp. was found in the oesophagus of eight of 20 whimbrels Numenius p. phaeopus. The new genus resembles Syncuaria, but males have an area rugosa and small caudal alae, females are didelphic and the vulva is distant from the anus. Also, Syncuaria spp. occupy the gizzard rather than the oesophagus. Skrjabinocerca europaea n. sp. was found in the oesophagus of six of 22 ringed plovers Charadrius h. hiaticula (type-host) and in one dunlin Calidris alpina schinzii. The new species is readily distinguished by the presence of a cuticular flange at the distal end of the left spicule, its slightly recurrent cordons and its longer right spicule. Skrjabinocerca prima previously reported from American avocets Recurvirostra americana in North America is recognised as a distinct species and named S. americana n. sp. Ancyracanthopsis shikhobalovi found in the gizzard of whimbrels and Viktorocara charadrii found in the gizzard of ringed plovers are redescribed. Other nematodes found in the birds were Chevreuxia revoluta, Cosmocephalus capellae, C. obvelatus, Echinuria sp., Streptocara sp., Ancyracanthopsis parvialatus, Schistorophus cornutus, S. cirripedesmi, Sciadiocara bihamata, Viktorocara limosae, Microtetrameres sp., Tetrameres sp., Stellocaronema skrjabini and Porrocaecum semiteres.     

Three new,non-fermenting,and nitrate-negative Candida species isolated from decayed wood in the evergreen rainy Valdivian forest of southern Chile

Three unusual species of yeasts have been isolated from decayed wood palo podrido (12) in the evergreen rainy Valdivian forest of southern Chile. According to their morphological characteristics, they were assigned to the genus Candida Berkhout (8). They differ from all recently accepted Candida species, and are described and illustrated with the names of Candida antillancae, Candida bondarzewiae, and Candida castrensis.     

Five new species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from Madagascan chameleons (Sauria: Chamaeleonidae)

Coprological examination of 19 Madagascan chameleons of the genera Furcifer and Brookesia revealed the presence of five new coccidian species. Isospora brygooi n. sp. from Furcifer pardalis has spherical to subspherical oöcysts with a slightly pitted wall, 20.7 (17–24.5) × 19.3 (16–23) m and broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts, 12.2 (11.5–13) × 8.1 (8–8.5) m, with Stieda and substieda bodies. Oöcysts of Eimeria glawi n. sp. from Furcifer pardalis are cylindrical to ellipsoidal, 27.7 (26–29.5) × 18.4 (17–19) m, with ellipsoidal sporocysts, 7.3 (6.5–8) × 5.2 (5–5.5) m. E. vencesi n. sp. described from F. pardalis has spherical to subspherical oöcysts, 14.3 (13–15.5) × 13.0 (12–13) m, with small granules, one to three globular polar granules and ellipsoidal sporocysts, 7.3 (6.5–8) × 5.2 (5–5.5) m. E. worthi n. sp., described from Furcifer oustaleti has spherical oöcysts, 17.9 (17.5–19.0) × 15.0 (14.5–16.0) m without a polar granule and ellipsoidal to cylindroidal sporocysts, 8.2 (7.0–9.5) × 5.8 (5.0–6.5) m. Oöcysts of E. brookesiae n. sp. from Brookesia decaryi are cylindrical, 25.6 (23–27) × 15.0 (13–16) m with ellipsoidal sporocysts, 10.1 (9–11) × 6.9 (6–7) m. Endogenous development of E. vencesi is confined to the intestine, while that of E. glawi occurs in the gall-bladder.     

Identification of new enzyme activities of several strains of Thermus species

New thermostable enzyme activities of seven Thermus strains were compared using the API ZYM system. All the strains exhibited high levels of - and -glycosidases, esterase (C₄) and esterase-lipase (C₈) activities intracellularly. Only T. thermophilus HB8 (ATCC 27634) showed -glucosidase and esterase activities in the supernatant. According to the intensity of -galactosidase activity, Thermus strains were divided in three groups. Group 0, which showed a weak -galactosidase activity, included Thermus spp. ATCC 31674 (T351) and 27978 (X-1) as well as T. thermophilus ATCC 27634 (HB8). Group I which consisted of T. aquaticus ATCC 25104 (YT-1), ATCC 25105 (Y-VII-51B) and Thermus sp. ATCC 27737 (T2), had a specific activity of approximately 40.0 U mg^–1 and galactose as inducer. T. aquaticus ATCC 31558 (group 2) was particularly effective for -galactosidase production (2840 U) with a specific activity of 98 U mg^–1. For each strain, galactose (0.5%) was a better inducer of -galactosidase production than lactose (1%). The detection of -galactosidase activity was dependent on the derivative chromogenic substrates used (naphthyl or nitrophenol coupled to sugar). Oligosaccharides were synthesized from cellobiose, lactulose, maltose or lactose as substrates at high temperature in some strains of Thermus.     

Coccidian parasites of four Panamanian lizard species

Eight species of coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are reported from Panamanian lizards. –Eimeria randolphi n. sp. is a biliary parasite of –Gymnopthalmus speciosus (Gymnopthalmidae) with cylindrical oöcysts, 29.1 × 16.8 m (25.0–31.5 × 15.0–18.5), an oöcyst length/width index (shape-index, SI) of 1.73 (1.46–2.07) and no polar granule or oöcyst residuum. Ovoidal sporocysts are 9.5 × 7.8 m (9.0–10.5 × 7.0–8.5), with an SI 1.21 (1.06–1.43), a sporocyst residuum and no Stieda body. –E. gymnopthalmi n. sp., an intestinal parasite of –G. speciosus, has round to oval oöcysts of 22.4 × 20.5 m (21–24 × 18–23), an SI of 1.09 (1.00–1.28) and no polar granule or oöcyst residuum. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 8.9 × 7.7 m (8–10 × 7–9), with an SI of 1.16 (1.06–1.29), a prominent sporocyst residuum and no Stieda body. –E. lepidophymae n. sp. parasitises the gall-bladder of –Lepidophyma flavimaculatum (Xantusiidae) and has cylindrical oöcysts of 36.7 × 18.5 m (34.0–40.0 × 16.0–20.5), an SI of 1.99 (1.79–2.31) and no polar granule or oöcyst residuum. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 10.3 × 8.8 m (9.0–11.0 × 8.0–9.5 m), with an SI of 1.17 (1.06–1.29), a sporocyst residuum and no Stieda body. –E. limifronsi n. sp. parasitises the intestine of –Anolis limifrons (Polychrotidae). Oöcysts are oval, 22.5 × 16.0 m (20.0–26.0 × 14.5–17.5), an SI of 1.41 (1.18–1.73) and no polar granule or oöcyst residuum. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 8.4 × 7.5 m (7.5–9.0 × 7.0–8.5), an SI of 1.13 (1.00–1.29), a small sporocyst residuum and no Stieda body. –Isospora limifronsi n. sp. parasitises –A. limifrons and has oval to round oöcysts with a rough, pitted wall, 24.5 × 22.4 m (20–27 × 19–25), an SI of 1.09 (1.00–1.23) and no oöcyst residuum or polar granule. Ovoidal sporocysts are 14.7 × 10.2 m (13–17 × 9–13), with an SI of 1.44 (1.27–1.58), a central sporocyst residuum, Stieda body and a prominent, homogeneous sub-Stieda body. –Anolis limifrons is also parasitised by –I. achiotensis n. sp. The oval to round oöcysts are 22.0 × 19.8 m (20–24 × 18–22.5), with a smooth wall, an SI of 1.11 (1.05–1.25) and no oöcyst residuum or polar granule. Sporocysts are ovoidal, 12.6 × 9.5 m (11–14.5 × 7.5–11), have an SI of 1.32 (1.10–1.60), a small central residuum often hidden by sporozoites, and no Stieda or sub-Stieda body. –I. gonatodi n. sp., from –Gonatodes albogularis fuscus, has oval to round oöcysts 23.0 × 21.8 m (20–25 × 19–24), an SI of 1.06 (1.00–1.16) and a variably present oöcyst residuum. Sporocysts, 12.0 × 9.6 m (10–14 × 9–11), with an SI of 1.25 (1.10–1.44), have no Stieda or sub-Stieda body. A sporocyst residuum comprised of loosely adherent or scattered, irregular granules is present. Panamanian –Gonatodes albogularis fuscus are also parasitised by –I. albogularis.     

Sarcocystis inghami n. sp. (Sporozoa: Sarcocystidae) from the skeletal muscles of the Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana in Michigan

This report describes the newly identified Sarcocystis inghami n. sp. from the skeletal muscles of opossums (Mammalia: Didelphidae) that were collected from south central Michigan (42° 43-42° 79N, 84° 18-84°mathtype="display">6'W), USA. The new species is distinguished from all species described from North and South American opossums by the distinctive morphology of the villar protrusions on the cyst wall. Sarcocysts of S. inghami are microscopic, up to 700 m long and 110 m wide. The sarcocyst wall is up to 7 m thick, with long, stalked protrusions which average 5.5 × 1.2 m. These are constricted at the base, expanded laterally, rounded off distally and occasionally bifid. The villar protrusions have numerous microtubules without electron–dense bodies that extend from the tips into the granular layer. Bradyzoites are 10.7 × 4.3 (8––12 × 4––5) m. This is the second species of Sarcocystis sarcocyst described from the Virginia opossum in North America.     

Three species of Pycnadenoides Yamaguti, 1938 (Digenea: Opecoelidae), including two new species from temperate marine fishes of Australia

Pycnadenoides pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1938 and P. reversati n. sp. from Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) and P. invenustus n. sp. from Nemadactylus valenciennesi (Cheilodactylidae) are described from the temperate marine waters off south-west Western Australia and south-east Queensland. The difference in the anterior extent of the vitelline follicles observed in P. reversati n. sp. recovered from off south-east Queensland waters and the material from off Western Australia is discussed. P. reversati n. sp. is distinguished from P. pagrosomi mainly in the position of the genital pore and in the arrangement of the testes, and from P. invenustus n. sp. in the posterior extent of the cirrus-sac. P. reversati belongs to the group of species with a short cirrus-sac and P. invenustus to the group with the cirrus-sac reaching into the anterior hindbody.     

Heterochromatin banding in the genus Paris

The heterochromatin content of new accessions of the genus Paris have been studied using C banding and Q banding techniques. Supernumerary chromosomes in two accessions are shown to differ in their heterochromatin content. The results are related to previous cytogenetic work in the genus Paris.     

On a new species of Fabaeformiscandona KRSTIC, 1972 (Crustacea, Ostracoda) from China, with a preliminary checklist of Recent Chinese non-marine ostracods

Fabaeformiscandona danielopoli n.sp. isdescribed from the Chinese Lake Erhai, a freshwaterlagoon of the ancient saline lake Qinghai. The speciesbelongs to the acuminata-group of the genus andis characterized by the shape of both male and femalevalves and by the morphology of the female genitallobe and of lobe a in the hemipenis. The new speciesis quite rare in its type locality and might beendemic to the ancient Qinghai basin. A checklist ofRecent non-marine Chinese ostracods is offered inappendix.