Aptorchis megacetabulus n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) from the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira: Chelidae), in Australia

Aptorchis megacetabulus n. sp. is described from the intestine of the northern long-necked turtle, Chelodina rugosa (Pleurodira: Chelidae), in Northern Territory, Australia. This is the first helminth species reported from C. rugosa. This plagiorchioidean digenean differs from the 3 previously known species of Aptorchis in the relative size of the ventral sucker, overall body proportions, nature of the cirrus sac, and egg size. Comparison of approximately 2,700 bases of ribosomal DNA obtained from all known Aptorchis species strongly supports the status of Aptorchis megacetabulus n. sp. as a new species.     

Parallopharynxs pp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Plagiorchioidea) in iguanian lizards from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, including Parallopharynx matternae n. sp. in Chaetodon basiliscus (Squamata: Iguania: Corytophanidae)

We report 3 species of the digenean genus Parallopharynx, 1 previously undescribed, from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in northwestern Costa Rica. Parallopharynx gonzalezi, which was originally described in Basiliscus sp. and Ctenosoura similis from central Costa Rica, inhabits C. quinquecarinata; P. jonesi, originally described in Anolis lionotus (syn. Norops oxylophus) from Nicaragua, inhabits N. oxylophus, N. biporcatus, and Basiliscus basiliscus; and the new species, which inhabits B. basiliscus. Parallopharynx matternae n. sp. differs from all other members of the genus by having a metraterm extending posteriad from the genital pore to the posterior margin of the ventral sucker, whereas in P. arctus and P. gonzalezi, the metraterm never surpasses the midlevel of the ventral sucker and in P. jonesi it never passes the anterior margin of the ventral sucker, and by having an oral sucker that does not exceed 150 microm in diameter with a subsequent greater oral-ventral sucker width ratio ranging from 1:0.88-1.12 (averaging 1:1), whereas values range from 1:0.71-0.83 for P. gonzalezi and P. arctus, and from 1:0.59-0.68 for P. jonesi. Parallopharynx spp. possesses Y-shaped excretory vesicles with a long central stem and short arms bifurcating immediately posterior to the ovary; similar to those found in members of the Telorchiidae. Additional similarities in the relative positions of the gonads and the structure of the cirrus sac and metraterm indicate a close relationship between Parallopharynx and members of the Telorchiidae.     

Description of Auriculotrema lechneri n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Choanocotylidae), a parasite of freshwater turtles (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) from Queensland,Australia

Auriculotrema lechneri n. gen., n. sp. is described from the small intestine of Emydura krefftii and Elseya latisternum from northern Queensland, Australia. The new species strongly resembles species of Choanocotyle in body shape, ventral incision of the oral sucker, structure of the cirrus sac, and location of the genital pore. The distinctive taxonomic feature is the presence of 2 winglike projections extending beyond the lateral margins of the oral sucker, in contrast to the extremely large, expanded oral sucker diagnostic of Choanocotyle spp. Auriculotrema n. gen. is the second genus included in the formerly monotypic Choanocotylidae Jue Sue and Platt, 1998.     

Neosychnocotyle maggiae, n. gen., n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Aspidogastrea) from freshwater turtles in northern Australia

Neosychnocotyle maggiae, n. gen., n. sp., (Aspidogastrea) is described from the pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta, and reported from the Victoria River red-faced turtle, Emydura victoriae, all from the Daly River, Northern Territory, Australia. Neosychnocotyle n. gen. is differentiated from all aspidogastrean genera but one by the absence of a cirrus sac. The similar Sychnocotyle also lacks a cirrus sac, but Neosychnocotyle n. gen. differs from the former genus by possessing a narrow, tapered anterior end, a ventral disk that covers the posterior end of the body, a genital pore that is displaced anteriorly, and a vas deferens that is less convoluted and less robust. Analysis of ribosomal DNA sequences demonstrates substantial sequence variability between representatives of Sychnocotyle and Neosychnocotyle maggiae, n. gen., n. sp. It is possible that this new parasite may reach sexual maturity only in C. insculpta. This is only the second aspidogastrean species reported from Australian freshwater turtles.     

Description of Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. (Digenea: Dicrocoeliidae) from the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (Insectivora: Erinaceidae)

A new hepatic dicrocoeliid species, Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. (Digenea, Dicrocoeliidae), is described from the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (L.) (Insectivora, Erinaceidae). An infected host was found in the Mediterranean island of Elba (Italy), and more than 60 individuals were isolated from the biliary ducts. The holotype and 55 paratypes were examined. Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. differs from congeneric species found in mammal hosts by having well-developed lappets in the ventral sucker, a sloping uterus between anterior testis and acetabulum, no overlap between vitellaria, and metrical features in the body size, sucker diameters, cirrus sac, and size of eggs. The only other Brachylecithum species of erinaceids in Europe and Africa, Brachylecithum aetechini Dollfus, 1951, differs from the new species in the above-mentioned morphological characters, greater dimensions of the body, and oral sucker, pharynx, cirrus sac, and egg dimensions. The presence of B. mackoi n. sp. in Elba Island is discussed in the light of apparent host specificity of erinaceid dicrocoeliids and geographical distribution of Palearctic and Ethiopian Erinaceidae.     

Two new species of Choanocotyle Jue Sue and Platt, 1998 (Digenea: Choanocotylidae) from an Australian freshwater turtle (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae)

Choanocotyle hobbsi n. sp. and Choanocotyle juesuei n. sp. are described from the small intestine of the oblong turtle Chelodina oblonga from the vicinity of Perth, Western Australia. These are the third and fourth species referred to Choanocotyle. Choanocotyle hobbsi is most similar to Choanocotyle nematoides but differs in the size and shape of the oral sucker and the absence of a median loop in the cirrus sac. Choanocotyle juesuei is most similar to Choanocotyle elegans but differs in the size of the oral sucker and other morphometric criteria. Comparative analysis of the sequences of different nuclear ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid regions of C. nematoides and C. hobbsi has confirmed that they are closely related but distinct species.     

A new species of Petasiger (Digenea: Echinostomiformes: Echinostomatidae) in the brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis, (Aves: Pelecaniformes: Pelecanidae), from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

A new species of Petasiger inhabits Pelecanus occidentalis, from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The new species most closely resembles Petasiger novemdecim Lutz 1929 and Petasiger caribbensis Nassi, 1980 by having 19 circumoral spines and vitelline follicles confluent between the ventral sucker and gonads. The new species differs from both of these species by having a cirrus sac that is anteroposteriorly elongate and that reaches posteriorly to the midventral sucker, an ovary and Mehlis' gland that overlap the anterior testis dorsally, a uterus that lies dorsal to the ventral sucker, and a dextromedial genital pore. In P. novemdecim and P. caribbensis the cirrus sac is round and does not extend posteriorly to the anterior margin of the ventral sucker, both the ovary and Mehlis' gland are anterior to the anterior testis, the uterus runs lateral to and not dorsal to the ventral sucker, and the genital pore opens medially and sinistromedially, respectively.     

A new dicrocoeliid from the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Rodentia: Microtidae) from Poland

A new dicrocoeliid trematode, Brachylecithum glareoli n. sp., is described from the biliary ducts of the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, in southwest Poland. This is the first dicrocoeliid species described in rodents from Poland. It is characterized mainly by the maximum body width at the level of the vitellaria; large, longitudinally oval testes; round, or transversely oval, ovary that is smaller than the testes; vitellaria located in the midbody; cirrus sac dorsally overlapping ventral sucker, but never reaching beyond half of its length; and large, distinctly elongated eggs.     

Change in rank of Megaperidae (Trematoda) to Megaperinae within the Apocreadiidae and description of Haintestinum amplum n. g., n. sp.

Haintestinum amplum n. g., n. sp. is described from the scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricornis, collected in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico off Florida, USA. The new species is relatively large and shares characters of the Apocreadiidae and Megaperidae but conforms to the diagnosis of neither. It belongs in a new genus possessing a pharynx with lobed anterior margin and intestine terminating in paired ani, like in megaperids, and, when compared with apocreadiids, it shares important anatomical features, including an I-shaped excretory vesicle, canicular seminal vesicle, eye-spot remnants, and pretesticular uterus and lacks a cirrus and cirrus sac. The H-shaped intestine and large funnel-shaped oral sucker without a U-shaped sphincter encircling half the anterior aperture are the most notable diagnostic characters of the new monotypic genus. Additionally, the phylogenetic position of the Megaperidae is investigated for the first time, using analysis of partial 28S rDNA gene sequences from H. amplum, two species in the Megapera, Thysanopharynx elongatus, and previously published 28S sequences of species from members of the Apocreadiata, Haploporoidae, Lepocreadiata, and Opisthorchiata. The resulting analysis demonstrated a close relationship among the new genus and the three species of megaperids, and the megaperids were most closely allied with Schistorchis zancli of the apocreadiids. Moreover, we now consider Megaperidae as the subfamily Megaperinae within the Apocreadiidae.     

Baiohelmins elegans n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Nanophyetidae) from the Australian water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster

A new genus and species of nanophyetid,Baiohelmins elegans, is described from the intestine of the Australian water rat,Hydromys chrysogaster Geoffroy, 1804 in North Queensland. The new genus differs from previously described forms by the combination of the following characters: vitelline follicles restricted to a small group posterior to each testis, cirrus pouch present and caeca not extending posterior to the ventral sucker.     

Tinamutrema canoae n. gen. et n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Strigeiformes: Brachylaimidae) in Crypturellus cinnamomeus (Aves, Passeriformes, Tinamidae) from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

We propose Tinamutrema as a new genus for Brachylaima centrodes (Braun, 1901) Dollfus, 1935 and for T. canoae, as a new species inhabiting tinamus in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Specimens from Costa Rica resemble B. centrodes in having an elongate body, pretesticular genital pore and terminal genitalia, intercecal uterine loops occupying all available space between the anterior testis and the intestinal bifurcation, an oral sucker width:pharynx width ratio of approximately 1:0.55, an oral sucker:ventral sucker width ratio of approximately 1:1, and vitelline follicles extending into the forebody closer to the pharynx than to the anterior margin of the ventral sucker and by living in the cloaca. They differ from B. centrodes in having vitelline follicles that do not extend as far anteriorly as those in B. centrodes, which extend anteriorly to the level of the anteriormost extent of the cecal "shoulders," dense tegumental spination as opposed to sparse or no spination, relatively smaller cirrus with fewer spines, longer and more sinous pars prostatica, and forebody averaging 36% of total body length (TBL) as opposed to 42% TBL. Both species differ from other members of the Brachylaimidae in possessing a spinose cirrus and a cirrus sac containing both the cirrus and the pars prostatica. Preliminary phylogenetic assessment suggests that these traits are plesiomorphic, and thus the species are basal to the rest of the Brachylaimidae, whose diagnosis we emend accordingly.     

A phylogenetic study of Lepidapedoides Yamaguti, 1970 (Digenea) with a key and descriptions of two new species from Western Australia

Two new species of the genus Lepidapedoides are described from the aulopodid teleost Aulopus purpurissatus from south-western Australia. Both are distinguished from other Lepidapedoides spp. by their pedunculate ventral sucker. Lepidapedoides pistoris n. sp. and L. elongatrium n. sp. are distinguished by the possession of a narrow, elongate form, a long ventral sucker to ovary distance, the vitellarium reaching only to the posterior level of the cirrus-sac, the cirrus-sac length and the deep genital atrium with the metraterm entering distally to its base in L. elongatrium. A key to species of the genus is given. A character matrix is included for the genus. Poorly resolved phylogenetic trees indicate two main lineages in the genus. The two new species described here are resolved as sister taxa. The new combination Lepidapedoides freitasi (Kohn &; Fernandes, 1970) is formed for Acanthocolpoides freitasi.     

Phaneropsolus spinicirrus n. sp. (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae), a human parasite in Thailand

Phaneropsolus spinicirrus n. sp., collected in a postpraziquantel treatment stool of a 44-yr-old woman from Kalasin Province in northeastern Thailand, is described. It is the second species of the genus Phaneropsolus Looss, 1899, found to parasitize a human host. It differs from the first species, Phaneropsolus bonnei Lie, 1951, in the presence of a short spinose cirrus and the structure and distribution of tegumental spines. The new species is most similar to Phaneropsolus perodictici Goodman and Panesar, 1986, isolated from the potto, Perodicticus potto, in Uganda because digeneans of both species have numerous spines on the cirrus. However, the new species differs from P. perodictici in having more conspicuous spines, the genital pore at the posterior border of the oral sucker or lateral to the pharynx, a body and internal organs of larger size, conical spines on the tegument, an ovoid to bilobed ovary and a large V-shaped excretory bladder. Phaneropsolus spinicirrus is distinguishable from other previously reported Phaneropsolus by possessing a spinose cirrus.     

Notocotylus primulus n. sp. (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) from the crested duck Lophonetta specularioides (Aves,Anatidae) from Patagonian coast,southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Species in the genus Notocotylus (Trematoda, Notocotylidae) are cosmopolitan parasites of mainly aquatic birds and, to a lesser extent, mammals. In this paper we describe Notocotylus primulus n. sp. parasitizing the Crested Duck, Lophonetta specularioides, from the Patagonian coast, southwestern Atlantic Ocean, based on morphological and molecular data. The new species could be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of several features; among them, the position of the genital pore that is prebifurcal and located close to the posterior margin of the oral sucker, a greater number of both ventral papillae and uterine loops, and a large cirrus sac. Molecular results of the ITS2 sequence support the location of this new species in the genus Notocotylus due to a close relationship with Notocotylus malhamensis (the lower genetic distance of the ITS2 sequences).     

A new cestode (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) in elasmobranchs from the Taiwan Strait

In total, 20 fanrays, Platyrhina sinensis (Rajiformes: Rhinobatidae), collected from the Taiwan Strait, were examined. A new phyllobothriid genus and species (Tetraphyllidea: Phyllobothriidae) was found and described. Biotobothrium platyrhina n. gen., n. sp. is assigned to the Rhinebothriinae Euzet, 1953, because it possesses 4 stalked bothridia that are each divided by septa into numerous small facial loculi but that lack apical suckers. The new genus and species is clearly different from any other in Rhinebothriinae in that each bothridium bears 2 sets of 5 small facial loculi, with 1 set located at each of the distal ends of the bothridium, rather than facial loculi throughout the entire distal surface of the bothridium, as is seen in all other genera in the subfamily. This character has not been previously reported for members of Rhinebothriinae. In addition, the testicular arrangement in the anterior quarter of the proglottid is unique. The posterior range of the vas deferens almost reaches the ovarian bridge, and the morphology of the cirrus sac and several other morphological characters are at variance with presently described species in the subfamily.     

Paraoistosomum novaeguineae n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea) from a New Guinea crocodile: a surprising relative of the enigmatic Oistosomum caduceus Odhner, 1902

Paraoistosomum novaeguineae n. gen., n. sp. is described based on specimens from the kidneys of a New Guinea crocodile Crocodylus novaeguineae collected in Papua New Guinea. The body shape and the topology of most internal organs of the new species are strongly reminiscent of Oistosomum caduceus Odhner 1902, the sole member of Oistosomum, a genus of unclear phylogenetic relationships and systematic position described from the Nile crocodile in Sudan in 1902 and never reported since then. At the same time, the new species has a number of significant differences from Oistosomum caduceus. Among them are much shorter intestinal ceca, a relatively larger ventral sucker, ovary anterolateral to ventral sucker (posterolateral in O. caduceus ), vitellaria arranged in 2 clusters of loosely organized follicles at the level of ventral sucker (2 narrow long lateral fields in O. caduceus ), much longer esophagus, and other characters. Most importantly, the new species has the genital pore situated at the anterior body end adjacent to the oral sucker, whereas O. caduceus has the genital pore in front of the ventral sucker. These dramatic differences suggest establishment of a new genus for the species from Papua New Guinea. The anatomy of P. novaeguineae n. gen., n. sp. suggests that these genera may not belong to the Plagiorchiidae, the current familial allocation of Oistosomum. Scarcity of material and lack of molecular data do not permit clarification of this problem at the present time.     

A new species of Plagioporus (Caudotestis) tyrrhenicus sp.n. and its 2 new parasitologic findings in Blennius pavo Risso, 1810]

In a survey of the helminth parasites of Blennius pavo Risso, 1810 three different species of digenea were collected. Plagioporus (Caudotestis) tyrrhenicus sp.n. is described, figured and compared with other species of the subgenus Plagioporus (Caudotestis) Issaitchikov, 1928. Plagioporus (Caudotestis) tyrrhenicus differs from P. (Caudotestis) azurionis Yamaguti, 1951 in the position of cirrus sac, in sucker ratio and size of the eggs; from P. (Caudotestis) sinitzini Mueller, 1934 for extent of excretory bladder and size of the eggs; from P. (Caudotestis) synagris Yamaguti, 1952 for size of the pharynx and oesophagus, extent of the vitellaria and size of the eggs. Lepocreadium album (Stossich, 1890) Stossich, 1904 is redescribed, figured and recorded for the first time in Blennius pavo. Deretrema sp. is figured and recorded for the first time in the same host.     

Bathycestus brayi n. gen. and n. sp. (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) from the deep-sea fish Notacanthus bonaparte in the northeastern Atlantic

Bathycestus brayi n. gen., n. sp. (Pseudophyllidea: Triaenophoridae) is proposed to accommodate a new cestode from a deep-sea fish, the shortfin spine eel Notacanthus bonaparte (Notacanthiformes: Notacanthidae), from the northeastern Atlantic. The new genus is placed in the Triaenophoridae because it possesses a uterine pore on the ventral surface, a marginal genital pore, and a follicular vitellaria. Bathycestus most closely resembles Eubothrioides, Fistulicola, Probothriocephalus, and Pseudeubothrioides, which have also an unarmed scolex, a single set of genital organs per proglottid, an unarmed cirrus, cortical vitellaria, and a compact rather dendritic ovary. It differs from these genera by combination of the following features: a sagittate scolex with a weakly developed apical disc and free posterior margins of bothria, no neck, a long cirrus sac, reaching to the median third of proglottids and angled anteromedially in its proximal part, the posterior position of the vagina in relation to the cirrus sac, the testes in 2 lateral fields confluent postovarially, circumcortical vitellaria continuous longitudinally, and unoperculate eggs. Bathycestus brayi n. sp. is the first cestode to be described from a deep-sea fish of the genus Notacanthus.     

套茎属、拟套茎属的分类简史及套茎属一新种记述(复殖吸虫亚纲,半尾科)

记述了新种棱皮龟套茎吸虫Elytrophallus dermochelysi sp.nov.对套茎属和其近缘属拟套茎属的分类历史作了回顾,讨论了所存在的分类问题及其渊源.套茎属的分类在历史上对于体表横纹环褶(plications)的有无这个特征有着不同的对待,存在一定的混乱,但目前此特征是区分两属最为可行的鉴别特征.对于两属吸虫其他的形态性状,本文亦作了综合讨论.