Spinitectus osorioi n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from Chirostoma spp. (Osteichthyes: Atherinidae) in Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México.

Spinitectus osorioi (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) is described from the freshwater atherinids Chirostoma estor and Chirostoma attenuatum from Lake Pátzcuaro in the Mesa Central, Michoacán State, México. This nematode is characterized by a conspicuous protuberance on the ventral surface of the distal end of the long spicule that distinguishes it from its congeners in North America and in the neotropics. In addition, the species can be readily distinguished from 4 of the 5 nominal species of North American freshwater Spinitectus by the absence of either a terminal barb or heel on the short spicule and from Spinitectus mexicanus by the spination. Previous records of Spinitectus carolini from Chirostoma spp. in México (Lakes Pátzcuaro and Zirahuén) refer to S. osorioi, and the species appears to be specific to Chirostoma spp. The geological history of the Mesa Central drainages and the historical biogeography of freshwater atherinids in this region suggest that the origin of S. osorioi may be associated with either the marine history of their hosts or with host-switching from more distantly related freshwater hosts after colonization of freshwater environments by atherinids.     

Spinitectus mexicanus n. sp. (Nematoda : Cystidicolidae) from the intestine of the freshwater fish Heterandria bimaculata in Mexico

A new nematode, Spinitectus mexicanus n. sp., is described on the basis of the specimens recovered from the intestine of Heterandria bimaculata (Heckel) (Poeciliidae, Cyprinodontiformes) from 3 rivers of the Papaloapan River basin (type locality La Basura River), Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz State, Mexico. It differs from its congeners mainly in having the spination of the cuticle separated into 4 longitudinal sectors, each with posteriorly diminishing numbers of larger spines at the anterior part of body. It is the first species of Spinitectus described from a poeciliid fish and the second reported from freshwater fishes in Mexico.     

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.     

A new entomopathogenic nematode, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Steinernema robustispiculum</Emphasis> n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), from Chumomray National Park in Vietnam

Steinernemar robustispiculum n. sp. (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) was isolated from woodland in Chumomray National Park, Sason, Sathay, Kontum, Vietnam. Its morphology, morphometrics, cross-hybridisation and the ITS-rDNA sequence analysis revealed that S. robustispiculum clearly differs from other known Steinernema spp. As in the cases of S. intermedium (Poinar, 1985), S. robustispiculum has very robust spicules, but it can be distinguished by the longer tail of the infective juvenile, lower E%, shorter spicules, the shape of the spicules, the number of genital papillae in the caudal region and the presence of a mucron on the male tail. S. robustispiculum has a lateral field resembling that of S. sangi Phan, Nguyen & Moens, 2001, but can be distinguished by a higher E%, higher D%, smaller length to width ratio of the spicules and the morphology of both the spicule head (manubrium) and the dorsal lobe of the spicule. The morphometrics of infective juveniles of S. robustispiculum are similar to those of S. monticolum Stock, Choo & Kaya, 1997; these species can be distingusihed by the position of the excretory pore, the smaller length to width ratio of the spicules, and the length and morphology of the spicule head (manubrium). The phylogenetic relationships within Steinernema Travassos, 1927, including the newly sequenced Vietnamese species S. robustispiculum n. sp., S. loci Phan, Nguyen & Moens, 2001, S. thanhi Phan, Nguyen & Moens, 2001 and S. sangi, are presented based on analyses of the ITS-rDNA. The ITS RFLP profiles obtained from 17 different restriction enzymes are also presented.     

Ultrastructural Aspects of Spicule Formation in the Solitary Ascidian Herdmania momus (Urochordata,Ascidiacea)

The solitary stolidobranch ascidian Herdmania momus contains numerous calcium carbonate spicules in its tunic and body tissues. The slender body spicules form inside complex sheaths in the body wall and branchial basket, where they remain for the life of the animal. The much smaller tunic spicules form inside the tunic blood vessels and then migrate to the tunic surface, where they become anchored by their spiny base. This paper is an ultrastructural investigation of the formation of the body spicules; the tunic spicules, which apparently form quite differently, will be the focus of a future study. The body spicules are composed of rows of closely packed acicular spines which form completely extracellularly. The spine tips are covered by flattened, highly pseudopodial sclerocytes bound together by tightly interdigitating cell processes. The basal regions of contiguous spines are covered by very thin sclerocyte cell processes. An organic matrix is present within the spines; its exact nature is not clear. A very dense extracellular inter-spine matrix is located between the spine tips and the contiguous basal regions. Presclerocytes within the sheaths between the spicules are probably responsible for formation of the extracellular structures of the sheaths. The presclerocytes appear to aggregate and transform into sclerocytes at the apical end of the spicule. New spines are added at the apical end of the spicule as well as between larger spines. Comparisons are made between body spicule formation in H. momus and skeletogenesis in echinoids.     

Steinernema sichuanense n. sp. (Rhabditida, Steinernematidae), a new species of entomopathogenic nematode from the province of Sichuan, east Tibetan Mts., China

Steinernema sichuanense n. sp. is characterized by male, female and IJ. For male, the spicules are robust with prominent rostrum; gubernaculum has blunt anterior end; cuneus is arrow-shaped, pointed posteriorly. Second-generation male has a prominent mucron. For female, tail usually has one to four papillae-like projections on tail tip; post anal swelling is absent. For IJ, body length is about 710 microm; lateral field has six ridges; the formula of lateral field is 2, 5, 6, 4, 2 with two prominent submarginal ridges; tail usually has a dorsal depression. In Steinernema affine/intermedium group, the IJ of S. sichuanense n. sp. differs from S. affine by its absence of the internal tail spine; differs from Steinernema beddingi by its six ridges in lateral field compared to 4 for S. beddingi. For male mucron is absent in both generations of S. affine, S. intermedium and S. beddingi, whereas it is present in the second-generation of S. sichuanense sp. n. Morphology and morphometrics of spicules and gubernacula of the four species in S. affine/intermedium group are quite different based on SEM photographs. For female, the postanal swelling is absent in the first-generation of S. sichuanense n. sp. whereas S. affine and S. intermedium have slight swelling and S. beddingi has conspicuous swelling. The new species is further recognized by characterization of sequences of ITS and D2/D3 regions of the ribosomal DNA. The symbiotic bacterium associated to S. sichuanense belongs to the species Xenorhabdus bovienii.     

Tegumental ultrastructures of Echinoparyphium recurvatum according to developmental stages

The present study was performed to observe tegumental ultrastructure of Echinoparyphium recurvatum according to developmental stages. Worms (1, 3, 5 and 15-day old) were recovered from chicks experimentally infected with metacercariae from Radix auricularia coreana. One-day old worms were elongated and ventrally concave, and covered with peg-like tegumental spines except the adjacent areas of the head crown and excretory pore. Type I sensory papillae were distributed on the lip of the oral sucker, and grouped ciliated papillae were around the oral sucker. Peg-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the anterior surface of the ventral sucker level. The ventral sucker had an aspinous tegument and no sensory papillae. Tegumental spines on the posterior surface of the ventral sucker level were sparsely distributed and disappeared posteriorly. In 3 and 5-day old worms, the tegument around the oral sucker was aspinose and wrinkled concentrically. The ventral sucker had a wrinkled tegument and many bulbous papillae. Type I sensory papillae were distributed between the bulbous papillae. Tegumental spines were spade-shaped with a terminal tip. A total of 45 collar spines including 4 end group ones on both ventral corners was alternately arranged in 2 rows. The 15-day old worms were very stout and their tegumental spines were tongue-shaped without a terminal tip. From the above results, it is confirmed that the surface ultrastructure of E. recurvatum was generally similar to that of other echinostomatid flukes. However, some features, i.e., morphological change of tegumental spines and appearance of sensory papillae on the ventral sucker according to development, and number, shape and arrangement of collar spines, were characteristic, which may be of taxonomic and bioecological significance.     

Four species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Seriola dumerili (Risso) (Teleostei: Carangidae) in the western Mediterranean,including S. euzeti n. sp.

Four species of Stephanostomum are described from various sites in Seriola dumerili from off Corsica, France. S. ditrematis (Yamaguti, 1939), from the stomach, pyloric caeca and duodenum, has 36 circum-oral spines. S. seriolae Yamaguti, 1970 is considered a synonym of S. ditrematis. S. filiforme Linton, 1940, from the mid-intestine, has 43-46 circum-oral spines. S. petimba Yamaguti, 1970, from the rectum, has a 42 circum-oral spines. S. euzeti n. sp. has 49-51 circum-oral spines, and differs from worms with a similar anterior extent of the vitellarium and circum-oral spine number in details of the vitelline distribution and the distances between the gonads. Attention is drawn to the presence in the rectum of S. dumerili of sympatric species differentiated mainly on circum-oral spine number.     

A revision of the akysid catfish genus Breitensteinia Steindachner with descriptions of two new species

The highly specialized akysid catfish genus Breitensteinia is revised; two new species are described. Breitensteinia cessator is described from Sumatra and western Borneo. It can be distinguished by its large, wide-set eyes and evenly scattered brown spots on the dorsal and pectoral fins. Breitensteinia hypselurus is described from western Borneo. It can be distinguished by its relatively tall neural spines on caudal vertebrae, smooth posterior edge of dorsal spine, short caudal peduncle, and fewer vertebrae. Breitensteinia insignis is sexually dimorphic.     

Scanning electron microscopy of the tegumental surface of adult Haplorchis pumilio (Looss)

The surface structure of adult Haplorchis pumilio from experimentally infected hamsters was studied in detail using scanning electron microscopy. Almost the entire surface of the worm was covered with scale-like spines regularly arranged in transverse rows. Most spines were pectinate. The size of the spines and the number of the teeth in each individual were largest in the spines around the middle region of the worm. The area surrounding the excretory pore was free of spines displaying a slightly wrinkled appearance. Many ciliated papillae were present on the anterior two-thirds of the body. The papillae on the oral sucker were more abundant than those elsewhere. The body papillae were distributed in a bilaterally symmetrical arrangement, appearing in groups, pairs or singly between the spines.     

Redescriptions of Haemonchus mitchelli and Haemonchus okapiae (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) and description of a unique synlophe for the haemonchinae

In the course of a revision of Haemonchus Cobb, 1898 (Nematoda), commonly referred to as large stomach worms, significant new morphological information was discovered that allows the recognition of 2 species believed for more than 50 yr to be synonymous. Both species, Haemonchus mitchelli Le Roux, 1929, from the eland Taurotragus oryx and other African ruminants and H. okapiae van den Berghe, 1937, from the okapi Okapia johnstoni, have a synlophe of 42 ridges, but the synlophe of H. mitchelli is longer than that of H. okapiae. The distal tip of the left spicule of H. mitchelli bears a barb that is about twice as long as the short barb and half as long as the long barb on the right spicule. In contrast, the barb on the left spicule of H. okapiae is similar in size to the short barb and about 25% as long as the long barb of the right spicule. The dorsal ray of H. mitchelli is bifurcated distally for 25-39% (32%) of its length and its stem is expanded proximally, but the dorsal ray of H. okapiae is bifurcated 37-50% (42%) and its stem is of uniform thickness.     

Steinernema aciari sp. n. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae), a new entomopathogenic nematode from Guangdong, China

A new species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema aciari sp. n. was described. It was recovered from a soil sample collected from Haimen town, Shantou district in the eastern coast of Guangdong province, the People's Republic of China during a survey for entomopathogenic nematodes. S. aciari sp. n. belongs to the Steinernema glaseri group. It can be separated from all described Steinernema species by the combined morphological and morphometrical characters of various stages of the nematodes. For male, the new species can be recognized by spicule length (86+/-6.3 microm); spicule tip blunt with a hook-like structure; gubernaculum with a short and Y-shaped cuneus and corpus well-separated posteriorly. For infective juvenile, the combination of the following characters: body length (1113+/-68 microm), distance from anterior end to excretory pore (95+/-3.7 microm), tail length (78+/-5.2 microm), and E % (123+/-7) can be used to differentiate the new species from other nematodes. For female, the tail (conoid with a long mamillate terminus and a distinct postanal swelling) and vulva (slightly protruding from body surface with conspicuous double flapped epiptygma) shapes can be used as diagnostic characters for the new species. The new species can also be distinguished from other Steinernema species by DNA sequences of either a partial 28S rDNA or the internal transcribed spacer regions of rDNA, and from the close related species S. glaseri, Steinernema longicaudum CWL05, and Steinernema guangdongense by cross-breeding test.     

Tegumental ultrastructure of adult Gynaecotyla squatarolae (Digenea: Microphallidae)

Gynaecotyla squatarolae (Digenea: Microphallidae) adult flukes were recovered from experimental chicks at day 4-6 post-infection and their tegumental ultrastructure was observed with a scanning electron microscopy. They were pyriform in shape, and their anterior halves were concaved ventrally. The whole body surface was covered with tegumental spines, which were wide and 16-17 digitated between oral and ventral suckers. The density of spines and number of digits decreased posteriorly. The oral sucker was subterminal and the excretory pore was at the posterior end of the worm. Two ventral suckers were similar in appearance and protruded near midline of the worm. The genital atrium was dextral to the small ventral sucker. The dorsal surface was covered with tegumental spines, but the spines were sparser than on the ventral surface. On the middle portion of the dorsal surface, a small opening presumed to be the Laurer's canal was seen. From these findings, it has been confirmed that the adult G. squatarolae has unique characteristics in the surface ultrastructure.     

New genus and species of Aporocotylidae (Digenea) from a basal actinopterygian, the American paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, (Acipenseriformes: Polyodontidae) from the Mississippi Delta

Acipensericola petersoni n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) infects the heart of the American paddlefish Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792) in the Mississippi Delta. It has robust, spike-like body spines arranged in ventrolateral transverse rows; a bowl-shaped anterior sucker centered on the mouth and having minute spines on the inner anteroventral surface only; a pharynx; an inverse U-shaped ceca extending to near the posterior body end; intercecal testes comprising a pre-ovarian testicular column plus a single testis posteriorly; an extensively lobed ovary located medially and immediately posterior to the testicular column; a spherical ootype that is intercecal and post-ovarian; a Laurer's canal; and a common genital pore. The new species is the first-named aporocotylid collected from a basal actinopterygian. It resembles the chondrichthyan aporocotylids Chimaerohemecus trondheimensis, Orchispirium heterovitellatum, and Hyperandrotrema cetorhini in having an inverse U-shaped ceca, but it is morphologically most similar to the anguilliform aporocotylid Paracardicoloides yamagutii in having that feature plus a comparable anterior sucker, a single testis posteriorly, an intertesticular ovary, and a common genital pore. Sequence data for the complete small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S) do not refute its membership within Aporocotylidae nor its affinity to 1 of those aforementioned aporocotylids: A. petersoni was basal to the few teleost aporocotylids analyzed, and C. trondheimensis was the only taxon basal to A. petersoni. We regard the specimens of Spirorchis sp. previously reported from the shortnose sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum Lesueur, 1818 as congeneric with the new species.     

The Jeju weasel, Mustela sibilica quelpartis, a new definitive host for Gnathostoma nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941

Adult gnathostomes were discovered in the stomach of the Jeju weasel, Mustela sibilica quelpartis, road-killed in Jeju-do (Province). Their morphological characters were examined to identify the species. Total 50 gnathostome adults were collected from 6 out of 10 weasels examined. In infected weasels, 4-6 worms were grouped and embedded in each granulomatous gastric tumor, except 1 weasel. Male worms were 25.0×1.4 mm in average size, and had a tail with pedunculate papillae, a spicule, and minute tegumental spines. Females were 40.0×2.5 mm in average size, and had a tail without tegumental spines. Pointed and posteriorly curved hooklets were arranged in 8-10 rows on the head bulb. Tegumental spines were distributed from behind the head bulb to the middle portion of the body. The spines were different in size and shape by the distribution level of the body surface. Fertilized eggs were 65.5×38.9 μm in average size, and had a mucoid plug at 1 pole. These gnathostomes from Jeju weasels were identified as Gnathostoma nipponicum Yamaguti, 1941. By the present study, it was confirmed for the first time that G. nipponicum is distributed in Jeju-do, the Republic of Korea, and the Jeju weasel, M. sibilica quelpartis, plays a crucial role for its definitive host.     

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.     

The gnathobasic spine microstructure of recent and Silurian chelicerates and the Cambrian artiopodan Sidneyia: Functional and evolutionary implications

Gnathobasic spines are located on the protopodal segments of the appendages of various euarthropod taxa, notably chelicerates. Although they are used to crush shells and masticate soft food items, the microstructure of these spines are relatively poorly known in both extant and extinct forms. Here we compare the gnathobasic spine microstructures of the Silurian eurypterid Eurypterus tetragonophthalmus from Estonia and the Cambrian artiopodan Sidneyiainexpectans from Canada with those of the Recent xiphosuran chelicerate Limulus polyphemus to infer potential variations in functional morphology through time. The thickened fibrous exocuticle in L. polyphemus spine tips enables effective prey mastication and shell crushing, while also reducing pressure on nerve endings that fill the spine cavities. The spine cuticle of E. tetragonophthalmus has a laminate structure and lacks the fibrous layers seen in L. polyphemus spines, suggesting that E. tetragonophthalmus may not have been capable of crushing thick shells, but a durophagous habit cannot be precluded. Conversely, the cuticle of S. inexpectans spines has a similar fibrous microstructure to L. polyphemus, suggesting that S. inexpectans was a competent shell crusher. This conclusion is consistent with specimens showing preserved gut contents containing various shelly fragments. The shape and arrangement of the gnathobasic spines is similar for both L. polyphemus and S. inexpectans, with stouter spines in the posterior cephalothoracic or trunk appendages, respectively. This differentiation indicates that crushing occurs posteriorly, while the gnathobases on anterior appendages continue mastication and push food towards and into the mouth. The results of recent phylogenetic analyses that considered both modern and fossil euarthropod clades show that xiphosurans and eurypterids are united as crown-group euchelicerates, with S. inexpectans placed within more basal artiopodan clades. These relationships suggest that gnathobases with thickened fibrous exocuticle, if not homoplasious, may be plesiomorphic for chelicerates and deeper relatives within Arachnomorpha. This study shows that the gnathobasic spine microstructure best adapted for durophagy has remained remarkably constant since the Cambrian.     

Tetrameres (Tetrameres) megaphasmidiata n. sp. (Nematoda: Tetrameridae), a parasite of the two-banded plover, Charadrius falklandicus, and white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, from Patagonia, Argentina

Tetrameres (Tetrameres) megaphasmidiata n. sp. is described from the proventriculus of the two-banded plover, Charadrius falklandicus, and the white-rumped sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis, from Patagonia, Argentina. The new species shares with T. (T.) nouveli, T. (T.) paradisea, T. (T.) prozeskyi, T. paraaraliensis, T. (T.) cladorhynchi, and T. lobybicis the absence of the right spicule and the presence of 4 rows of somatic spines. Tetrameres (T.) megaphasmidiata n. sp. differs from the first 4 species mainly by its longer left spicule. The new species can be distinguished from T. (T.) cladorhynchi by the extension of the lateral alae, the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae, and the absence of polar filaments in the eggs. Tetrameres lobybicis differs from the new species by having shorter rows of dorsal spines and a different number and arrangement of the caudal papillae. This report is the first record of a species of Tetrameres in C. falklandicus and C. fuscicollis.     

Chaulioleptos haywardi n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae) from Filimanus heptadactyla (Perciformes: Polynemidae) of Moreton Bay, Australia

Here we describe the first species of sanguinicolid blood fluke (Trematoda: Digenea) from a polynemid fish. Chaulioleptos haywardi n. gen., n. sp. is described from Filimanus heptadactyla Cuvier, 1829 (Perciformes: Polynemidae), the sevenfinger threadfin from Sandgate, Moreton Bay (southeast Queensland, Australia). Chaulioleptos haywardi differs from existing sanguinicolid genera in the combined possession of the following 7 characters: 2 testes, an entirely postovarian uterus, a uterine chamber, separate genital pores, an H-shaped intestine with abbreviated anterior caeca, tegumental spines in incomplete ventro-marginal transverse rows that are continuous along the length of the body, and vitelline follicles that are tightly compacted and subsequently appear to form a solid branching mass occupying the area anterior to intestinal bifurcation and extending posteriorly to the level of the posterior margin of the anterior testis. Chaulioleptos haywardi is most closely related to Paracardicola Martin, 1960 and Adelomyllos Nolan and Cribb, 2004.     

Nematodes from Swainson's spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii and an Orange River francolin Scleroptila levaillantoides in Free State Province, South Africa, with a description of Tetrameres swainsonii n. sp. (Nematoda: Tetrameridae)

Five Swainson's spurfowl collected in Free State Province, South Africa, were examined for helminth parasites, and the nematodes Acuaria gruveli, Cyrnea parroti, Gongylonema congolense, Subulura dentigera, Subulura suctoria and a new Tetrameres species were recovered. Their respective prevalence was 100, 20, 80, 20, 20 and 20%. These nematodes are all new parasite records for Swainson's spurfowl, and Acuaria gruveli constitutes a new geographical record as well. A single specimen of Cyrnea eurycerca was found in an Orange River francolin, representing a new host and geographical record for this parasite. The new species, for which the name Tetrameres swainsonii is proposed, can be differentiated from its congeners by a combination of the following characters of males: two rows of body spines, a single spicule which is 1152-1392 microm long, and eight pairs of caudal spines arranged in two ventral and two lateral rows of four spines each. The single female has the globular shape typical of the genus.