Revision of the African species of the genus Cooperia Ransom, 1907 (nematoda,trichostrongylidae)

Summary Fourteen of the 20 species recorded from Africa are resdescribed and illustrated. Of the remaining six species, four, namely, Cooperia borgesi, C. hippotragusi, C. minor and C. reduncai are considered species inquirendae and one, C. africana, is a possible synonym of C. punctata. The validity of C. oncophora and C. surnabada is discussed. A key to 16 species is given.Part of a thesis approved by the University of London for the award of a Ph.D. degree.Part of a thesis approved by the University of London for the award of a Ph.D. degree.     

DNA evidence that Marshallagia marshalli Ransom, 1907 and M. occidentalis Ransom, 1907 (Nematoda: Ostertagiinae) from Svalbard reindeer are conspecific

The gastro-intestinal parasitic nematodes of ruminants Marshallagia marshalli and M. occidentalis are morphs of a single species according to indirect evidence. In this study, their taxonomic status and molecular identification were assessed more directly in isolates from the abomasal nematode community of Svalbard reindeer using genetic data. DNA sequences of the first and second internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal RNA genes were obtained from individual nematodes by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Both taxa contained virtually identical sequences of each ITS and shared most of the polymorphisms detected. A PCR assay based on ITS-2 sequences previously developed to identify M. marshalli and Ostertagia gruehneri, the second common species in this community, gave identical results for M. marshalli andM. occidentalis. Genetic data thus confirmed that M. marshalli andM. occidentalis are conspecific.     

A new species of the genusProbstmayria Ransom, 1907 (Nematoda: Atractidae) from the rhesus macaque,Macaca mulatta

Probstmayria nainitalensis n. sp. is described from the rectum of the rhesus macaque,Macaca mulatta, from Nainital, India. The new form consists of morphologically dissimilar spicules, spicular ratio 1:1.41–1.50, tip of shorter spicule elongate and blunt, six pairs of postanal papillae and a prominent gubernaculum in the male and didelphic ovaries and postequatorial vulva in the female. A key to the species is also furnished.