Morphological description and phylogenetic assessment of 28S rRNA for Thelandros chalcidiae sp. nov. from Chalcides ocellatus

Molecular Biology Reports - Thelandros is a genus of oxyurid nematodes which parasitize both omnivorous and herbivorous hosts. Thelandros chalcidiae sp. nov. is a new taxa described from the large...     

Modification of the anal tape method for detection of pinworms in rodents

A modification of Graham's anal tape technique for detection of oxyurid worm eggs involves a coverslip or microscope slide covered with a thin layer of adhesive. The worm eggs stick to the adhesive and can be directly observed under the microscope.     

Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) parasite of Podarcis sicula (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy

A new species of an oxyurid nematode is described from the large intestine of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque. 1810) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy. Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by a combination of morphological and metrical characters, including a spined tail in males and females, absence of a spicule in males, arrangement of the last pair of the male caudal papillae, vulva location, and egg morphology. The species most similar to S. aloisei n. sp. is Spauligodon caspius Annayev, 1987, described from Tenuidactylus (=Gymnodactylus) caspius in Turkmenistan. Tail length and location of the excretory pore and vulvar opening separate S. caspius from S. aloisei n. sp. This article increases the number of species of this genus from reptiles in the Paleartic Realm to 19.     

Gastro-intestinal helminths of donkeys in Burkina Faso

Thirty adult donkeys from Burkina Faso were necropsied and their gastro-intestinal worm burdens counted and determined. The strongylids were the most abundant species with a prevalence of 100% for Strongylus vulgaris. Four species of Strongylus, two of Triodontophorus and six of the Cyathostominae were recovered. All of the animals were also infested with habronematid nematodes, but oxyurid and ascaridid nematodes were found in low numbers. In addition to the nematodes, the paramphistomid trematode Gastrodiscus aegyptiacus and the anoplocephalid cestode Anoplocephala magna occurred in varying numbers. Faecal egg-counts from 131 donkeys ranged between 100 and 9,200 for strongylid eggs.     

Body size evolution of oxyurid (Nematoda) parasites: the role of hosts

Studying the diversification of body size in a taxon of parasites allows comparison of patterns of variation observed in the parasites with patterns found in free-living organisms. The distributions of body size of oxyurid nematodes (obligate parasites of vertebrates and invertebrates) are lognormally right-skewed, except for male oxyurids in invertebrates which show left-skewed distributions. In these parasitic forms, speciose genera do not have the smallest body sizes. Parasite body size is positively correlated with host body size, the largest hosts possessing the largest parasites. This trend is shown to occur within one monophyletic group of oxyurids, those of Old World primates. Comparative methods are used to take account of the effects of phylogeny. The use of multiple linear regression on distance matrices allows measurements of the contribution of phylogeny to the evolution of body size of parasites. Evolution of body size in female pinworms of Old World primates appears to be dependent only on the body size of their hosts. The tendency of parasite body size to increase with host body size is discussed in the light of the evolution of life-history traits.     

Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in North America. I. The Colorado checkered whiptail (Cnemidophorus tesselatus)

Eleven of 27 (41%) parthenogenetic Colorado checkered whiptails (Cnemidophorus tesselatus) from four counties of western and southwestern Texas were infected with one or more helminths. These included a linstowiid cestode (Oochoristica sp.), a larval spirurid nematode (Physaloptera sp.) and two species of oxyurid nematodes (Parathelandros texanus and Pharyngodon warneri). This note, the first in a series of reports on helminths of Cnemidophorus spp., represents the first record of parasites from C. tesselatus.     

Syphacia longaecauda n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) syphacinea from Melomys spp. (Muridae: Hydromyinae) from Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, Indonesia

A new oxyurid nematode Syphacia (Syphacia) longaecauda n. sp. is described from the caecum and colon of the hydromyine rodents Melomys monktoni (type host) and M. rubex from Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya, Indonesia. Syphacia longaecauda has an oval, laterally extended, relatively large cephalic plateau and can be distinguished from other species of Syphacia with similar characters by, amongst other features, tail length. The significance of the distribution of S. longaecauda, apparently restricted to New Guinea, is discussed.     

Coprological Surveys of Alouatta pigra at Two Sites in Belize

Fecal samples were collected from black howler monkeys (Alouatta pigra) in north central Belize and analyzed for evidence of endoparasite life stages. At least six types of endoparasites were found in Alouatta pigra fecal samples collected in the Lamanai Archaeological Reserve and the Community Baboon Sanctuary in 1999. These include a digenean trematode, an oxyurid nematode, a strongyle-type nematode, an ascarid presumed to be Ascaris sp., Entamoeba coli and Iodamoeba bütschlii. Higher trematode prevalence was found in adult Alouatta pigra compared to juveniles and higher prevalence of nematode larvae in all animals was found in the wet season compared to the dry season.     

Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in North America. III. The Chihuahuan spotted whiptail (Cnemidophorus exsanguis)

Twenty-four of 87 (28%) parthenogenetic Chihuahuan spotted whiptails (Cnemidophorus exsanguis) from nine counties of New Mexico and seven counties of Texas were infected with one or more endoparasites. These included a linstowiid cestode (Oochoristica bivitellobata) in seven (8%), a larval spirurid nematode (Physaloptera sp.) in nine (10%) and an oxyurid nematode (Pharyngodon warneri) in 10 (11%). This note, the third in a series of reports on helminths of Cnemidophorus spp., documents parasites in C. exsanguis for the first time.     

Helminth parasites of unisexual and bisexual whiptail lizards (Teiidae) in North America. II. The New Mexico whiptail (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus)

Twelve of 61 (20%) unisexual New Mexico whiptails (Cnemidophorus neomexicanus) from three counties of central New Mexico (USA) and two counties of extreme southwestern Texas (USA) were found to be infected with one or more endoparasites. These included a linstowiid cestode (Oochoristica bivitellobata) in seven (11%), a larval spirurid nematode (Physaloptera sp.) in three (5%), an oxyurid nematode (Pharyngodon warneri) in two (3%) and an unidentified acanthocephalan cystacanth in a single (2%) lizard. This report constitutes the first record of helminths from C. neomexicanus.     

Evaluation of a timed and repeated perianal tape test for the detection of pinworms (Trypanoxyuris microon) in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae)

The purpose of this project was to determine if the detection of pinworm infections in owl monkeys (Aotus nancymae) could be improved by performing perianal tape testing at specific times of the day and/or by performing repeated sampling. Eight Aotus known to be infected with pinworms were sampled at four selected time points (06:00, 12:00, 18:00 and 24:00 hours) over the course of a 3-week period. Samples were examined microscopically and oxyurid eggs were quantified. Results revealed no significant differences in time points, but did indicate that repeated sampling significantly improved pinworm egg detection. Results also determined that Aotus housed with an infected cage mate are at an approximately 14-times greater risk of being infected than animals housed without an infected cage mate. Lastly, results indicated no significant difference between peripheral eosinophil and basophil numbers from infected and clean animals.     

Sexual size dimorphism in parasitic oxyurid nematodes

As in many invertebrates, female oxyurids are larger than male. Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of oxyurid nematodes (the hosts of which are both invertebrate and vertebrate), is investigated regarding body size of both host and parasite. SSD of parasites appeared to be weakly, but not significandy, correlated with invertebrate and vertebrate host body size. However, this study reveals a different pattern for SSD with respect to either type of host. SSD does not increase in tandem with body size in vertebrate parasites either at the level of species or genus. SSD is much more pronounced in Syphaciidae than in Heteroxynematidae, two families of vertebrate parasites exhibiting different modes of transmission (members of the Syphaciidae are transmitted through perianal contamination). SSD is investigated in one monophyletic group of parasites of primates, for which a phylogeny is known. Independent comparisons method is used and we find that the body size of female parasite is strongly correlated with that of the male. The hypoallometry (slope<1) of the relationship suggests that the SSD is not linked to an increase of parasite body size. Moreover, there is no influence of host body size on parasite SSD. The pattern in parasites of invertebrates is different. First, SSD has been found to increase with parasite body size in two groups of invertebrate parasites: the oxyurids of Dictyoptera and Coleoptera. Second, female body size of invertebrate parasites is not correlated with male body size either at genus or species level. Finally, the evolution of SSD is discussed in relation to the demographic patterns of invertebrate parasites and the haplodiploid mode of reproduction of these parasitic nematodes.     

A parasitological survey on the feces of pygmy chimpanzees,Pan paniscus,at Wamba,Zaïre

A parasitological examination was carried out on the feces of pygmy chimpanzees,Pan paniscus, in Zaïre, Africa. Of a total of 390 feces, 99.0% containedTroglodytella sp. trophozoites, 45.1% dicrocoeliid trematode eggs, 21.0%Capillaria sp. eggs, 3.3%Trichuris sp. eggs, 52.9%Strongyloides sp. eggs, 17.9%Oesophagostomum sp. eggs, 21.0% hookworm-like nematode eggs and 6.2% oxyurid eggs. No zoonotic protozoan was found. This is the first survey on the parasites of the pygmy chimpanzees in their natural habitat.     

Septal lesions: effects on lordosis behavior and pattern of gonadotropin release

Septal lesions increase behavioral responsiveness to estrogen of male, female, and androgen-sterilized female (ASF) rats as measured by lordosis behavior. Male and ASF animals normally show low levels of female sexual receptivity when compared to normal female rats. However, the level of female sexual behavior in male and ASF rats with septal lesions is comparable to that of highly receptive female rats. Progesterone facilitates the estrogen-induced female sexual behavior of female, but not male or ASF, animals. Andrenalectomy had no effect on the increased behavioral sensitivity to estrogen induced by septal lesions. Amygdala lesions, comparable in size to septal lesions, did not facilitate female sexual behavior. The male or female pattern of gonadotropin release is not affected by septal lesions, indicating a disassociation between the regulation of gonadotropin release and sexual behavior. Since septal lesions facilitate lordosis behavior in rats, the septal region appears to exert a tonic inhibition on female sexual behavior.     

Ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus lesions disrupt olfactory mate recognition and receptivity in female ferrets

Previous research showed that ferrets of both sexes rely on the perception of conspecifics' body odors to identify and motivate approach towards opposite-sex mating partners, and exposure to male body odors stimulated Fos expression in an olfactory projection circuit of female, but not male, ferrets that terminates in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH). We asked whether the female-typical preference of ferrets to approach male as opposed to female body odors in Y-maze tests would be disrupted by VMH lesions. Sexually experienced female ferrets were ovo-hysterectomized prior to receiving bilateral electrolytic lesions of the VMH, the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (POA/AH) or a sham operation. Subsequently, while receiving estradiol benzoate, females that received either complete or partial bilateral lesions of the VMH approached volatile odors from an anesthetized male on significantly fewer trials than females given POA/AH lesions or a sham operation. Both groups of ferrets with VMH lesion damage reliably discriminated between volatile anal scents as well as urinary odors from the 2 sexes in home cage habituation/dishabituation tests, suggesting that their odor-based sex discrimination remained intact. Females with complete bilateral VMH lesions showed significantly lower acceptance of neck gripping from a stimulus male (receptivity) and more aggression towards the male than all other groups of female subjects. Estrogen-sensitive neurons in the VMH appear to play a central role in female-typical neural processing of odor inputs leading to a preference to seek out a male sex partner, in addition to facilitating females' sexual receptivity.     

A new species of Syphacia (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) from Calomys laucha (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in an agroecosystem of central Argentina

A new oxyurid nematode Syphacia hodarae n. sp. is described from the cecum and rectum of the cricetid rodent Calomys laucha Fischer, 1814 (Sigmodontinae, Phyllotini), captured in an agroecosystem of central Argentina. The new species is distinguished from other members of the genus mainly by the shape of the cephalic plate, presence of cervical alae in females, absence of lateral alae, and absence of deirids. Some characters are shared with Syphacia carlitosi, a parasite of Akodon azarae from the wetlands in Argentina. However, S. hodarae can be differentiated from this species by the absence of ornamentation on the accessory hook of the gubernaculum, length of spicule and gubernaculum, size of the eggs, and distance to the vulva from the anterior end. This is the first record of a Syphacia species from the tribe Phyllotini in Argentina, and the first time a Syphacia species is reported from C. laucha .     

Medial Preoptic/Anterior Hypothalamic Lesions Induce a Female-Typical Profile of Sexual Partner Preference in Male Ferrets

In T-maze tests given to gonadectomized ferrets treated daily with estradiol benzoate (EB), females consistently prefer to approach and interact sexually with a stud male whereas male subjects, on average, prefer an estrous female. In the present experiment this sexually allomorphic pattern of partner preference was changed in males given lesions of the medial preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (mPOA/AH). Electrolytic lesions, which caused extensive bilateral damage to the mPOA/AH, including the sexually dimorphic male nucleus (MN) of the POA/AH, led males to shift their mean preference away from the estrous female to the stud male. Their postoperative profile of partner preference more closely resembled that of sham-operated females than that of sham-operated males or of males which sustained either partial or minimal bilateral damage to the mPOA/AH so as to spare the MN-POA/AH in one or both hemispheres. Males with extensive bilateral mPOA/AH lesions, like sham-operated females, showed an even stronger preference to approach the stud male during T-maze tests in which the subjects could smell, see, and hear the stimulus animals without physically interacting with them. After receiving testosterone propionate, male ferrets with either extensive or partial lesions of the mPOA/AH showed significant deficits in neck gripping and mounting performance in tests with either female or male stimulus animals which were sexually receptive after gonadectomy and EB treatment. The present results, coupled with those of a previous study using excitotoxic mPOA/AH lesions, suggest that the male-typical profile of preference for an estrous female depends on the functional integrity of sexually dimorphic mPOA/AH neurons and the reward engendered by coital interaction with such a female. When these neurons either are destroyed experimentally (as in male ferrets with extensive bilateral mPOA/AH lesions) or are absent (as in sham-operated females), subjects are attracted by distal (possibly chemosensory) incentive cues from a stud male.     

Sex dependent behavioral response to frontal cortical suction lesions in the rat

Previous reports indicate that male rats given right (but not left) frontal cortical suction lesions develop hyperactivity accompanied by cortical norepinephrine depletions. In this study, female rats given such lesions to either hemisphere developed bilateral cortical norepinephrine depletions but no hyperactivity. Right lesion male rats developed both catecholamine depletions and hyperactivity. Thus, the lateralized hyperactivity response to these cortical lesions is sex-dependent and may involve sex differences in subcortical neural pathways.     

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis is critical for sexual solicitation,but not for opposite-sex odor preference,in female Syrian hamsters

Successful reproduction in vertebrates depends critically upon a suite of precopulatory behaviors that occur prior to mating. In Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), these behaviors include vaginal scent marking and preferential investigation of male odors. The neural regulation of vaginal marking and opposite-sex odor preference likely involves an interconnected set of steroid-sensitive nuclei that includes the medial amygdala (MA), the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the medial preoptic area (MPOA). For example, lesions of MA eliminate opposite-sex odor preference and reduce overall levels of vaginal marking, whereas lesions of MPOA decrease vaginal marking in response to male odors. Although BNST is densely interconnected with both MA and MPOA, little is known about the role of BNST in female precopulatory behaviors. To address this question, females received either bilateral, excitotoxic lesions of BNST (BNST-X) or sham lesions (SHAM), and were tested for scent marking and for investigatory responses to male and female odors. Whereas SHAM females vaginal marked more to male odors than female odors on two days of the estrous cycle, BNST-X females marked at equivalent levels to both odors. This deficit is not due to alterations in social odor investigation, as both BNST-X and SHAM females investigated male odors more than female odors. Finally, BNST lesions did not generally disrupt the cyclic changes in reproductive behaviors that occur across the estrous cycle. Taken together, these results demonstrate that BNST is critical for the normal expression of solicitational behaviors by females in response to male odor stimuli.