Zoogonidae (Digenea) from southern Great Barrier Reef fishes with a description of Steganoderma (Lecithostaphylus) gibsoni n. sp.

Two species of the Zoogonidae are recorded from Heron Island on the southern Great Barrier Reef. Steganoderma (Lecithostaphylus) gibsoni n. sp. is described from the intestine of Abudefduf whitleyi (Pomacentridae). The new species is distinguished by the combination of the following: pedunculate ventral sucker, caeca extending well past testes, presence of two-chambered internal seminal vesicle, vitelline follicles extending only to anterior margin of testes, and testes close to ventral sucker. Zoogonus pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1939 is recorded from Lethrinus atkinsoni (Lethrinidae). This species has been recorded previously only from a sparid from Japan. A new combination, Steganoderma (Lecithostaphylus) fugus (Zhang, Qiu & Li, 1986), is made.     

A STUDY OF THE SPECTACLED WEAVER

New species of haematozoa, namely Leucocytozoon ugwidi sp. nov. from the Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis and Haemoproteus skuae sp. nov. from the Subantarctic Skua Catharacta antarctica, are described. These are the first species to be recorded from the families Phalacrocoracidae and Stercorariidae, respectively.     

A new species of Lernanthropus De Blainville, 1822 (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae) parasitic on Menticirrhus ophicephalus (Jenyns) (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) from the Peruvian coast

Lernanthropus huamani n. sp. (Copepoda: Lernanthropidae), a parasite of the Peruvian sciaenid fish Menticirrhus ophicephalus (Jenyns), is described and illustrated. The new species differs from all other species of Lernanthropus by a combination of characters, including the dorsal plate, legs and other appendages. L. guacoldae Villalba & Fernández, 1984 is considered a synonym of L. pacificus Oliva & Duran, 1982.     

Syntopic occurrence of new species ofPolystoma andMetapolystoma (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) inPtychadena porosissima in South Africa

Polystoma sodwanensis n. sp. andMetapolystoma porosissimae n. sp. are described as new species of the Polystomatidae parasitic in the urinary bladder of adultPtychadena porosissima collected in northern Natal, South Africa. Of 26 frogs examined, 11 host individuals were infected with one of the two parasite species, while in five both parasite species occurred. This is the first record of two different genera of polystomatids occurring together in one host species and the first record ofMetapolystoma in South Africa. The exceptional nature of the reported double infection is discussed in terms of host specificity within the Polystomatidae. Relevant information is given on the ecology and distribution of the host,Ptychadena porosissima.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Parasite Pressure and its Effects on Blood Parameters in a Stable and Dense Population of the Endangered Lesser Grey Shrike

The risk that pathogens and parasites pose to endangered species is increasingly evident. Nonetheless, this is frequently overlooked when considering causes of decline of species and conservation practices. Here, we study the ecto and haemoparasites of adult and nestling Lesser grey shrikes Lanius minor from a dense and stable breeding population in central Europe and their effect on host blood parameters. We found three species of haemoparasites (Haemoproteus sp., microfilariae tentatively assigned to the family Splendidofilariae and Trypanosoma sp.) and two ectoparasite taxa (Menacanthus camelinus and feather mites – Acarina-). Our data suggest that the studied population, located in an area with traditional and extensive farming, is not under a strong parasite pressure. Despite this, indirect measures of immunocompetence (haematocrit and sedimentation rate) showed an association between haemoparasites and health status: while haematocrit did not differ between parasitised and non-parasitised individuals, adult shrikes with haematozoa had significantly lower sedimentation rates than did non-parasitised birds.     

The Indian triatomine genus Linshcosteus (Reduviidae)

The Indian genus Linshcosteus is revised and a key provided to the three species L.carnifex Distant; L.confumus sp.n.; L.costalis sp.n. One or both of the new species described here is the host of the egg parasite Gryon linshcostei Masner (Scelionidae) which may be used in the biological control of the Triatoma vectors of Chagas' disease in South America.     

Madagascar: an unexpected hotspot of social Anelosimus spider diversity (Araneae: Theridiidae)

Abstract. The spider genus Anelosimus Simon, 1891 (Theridiidae) currently contains over forty described species, found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate areas. American Anelosimus are all social, a rare trait among spiders, but social behaviour has not been reported for Anelosimus species elsewhere. Old World Anelosimus are poorly known, both behaviourally and taxonomically, and no Anelosimus species have yet been described from sub-Saharan Africa or Madagascar. Based on a preliminary phylogenetic analysis we predicted sociality in an undescribed Madagascar species because it grouped among social New World species. An expedition to Madagascar then found no less than five undescribed periodic-social (subsocial) Anelosimus species in Périnet reserve. A sixth species from the same locality is known from museum specimens and the Anelosimus diversity of Périnet is comparable with the most diverse single locality in the Americas. Subsocial species play a key role in understanding the evolution of permanent sociality (quasisociality). This increased pool of available subsocial study species demonstrates the utility of phylogenies as predictors of traits in species thus far unstudied. Here, A. andasibe sp.n. , A. may Agnarsson sp.n. , A. nazariani sp.n. , A. sallee sp.n. , A. salut sp.n. and A. vondrona sp.n. are described. Anelosimus locketi Roberts, 1977 from Aldabra Atoll is a junior synonym of A. decaryi ( Fage, 1930 ) comb.n. from Madagascar. Preliminary data on the behaviour of the new species are given, indicating a level of sociality similar to the American A.‘arizona’¹. The phylogenetic analysis supports the monophyly of the Madagascar group and places it as sister to a clade containing the eximius lineage from the Americas, and a pair of undescribed Tanzanian species.     

Diplectanids infesting the gills of the barramundi Lates calcarifer (Bloch) (Perciformes: Centropomidae), with the proposal of Laticola n. g. (Monogenoidea: Diplectanidae)

Four species of the Monogenoidea, Laticola lingaoensis n. sp., L. latesi (Tripathi, 1957) n. comb. [previously Pseudorhabdosynochus latesi (Tripathi, 1957) Kritsky & Beverley-Burton, 1986], L. paralatesi (Nagibina, 1976) n. comb. [previously Diplectanum paralatesi Nagibina, 1976] and Diplectanum penangi Liang & Leong, 1991, are reported from the gills of Lates calcarifer (Centropomidae) from the South China Sea (new geographical records for L. latesi and D. penangi). Collections from off Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, Australia, represent a new geographic record for L. paralatesi; Chilka Lake, Orissa, India, is established as the type-locality for L. latesi. Laticola n. g. (Diplectanidae) is proposed for species with a spoon-shaped copulatory organ with two to four concentric incomplete ridges in the base. Laticola lingaoensis, the type-species of Laticola, is described, and L. latesi and L. paralatesi are redescribed based on specimens from the South China Sea. Pseudorhabdosynochus monosquamodiscusi Balasuriya & Leong, 1995 and Pseudorhabdosynochus yangjiangenesis Wu & Li, 2005 are considered junior subjective synonyms of L. latesi and L. paralatesi, respectively.     

Paranucleospora theridion n. gen., n. sp. (Microsporidia,Enterocytozoonidae) with a Life Cycle in the Salmon Louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis,Copepoda) and Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar)

ABSTRACT. Paranucleospora theridion n. gen, n. sp., infecting both Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and its copepod parasite Lepeophtheirus salmonis is described. The microsporidian exhibits nuclei in diplokaryotic arrangement during all known life‐cycle stages in salmon, but only in the merogonal stages and early sporogonal stage in salmon lice. All developmental stages of P. theridion are in direct contact with the host cell cytoplasm or nucleoplasm. In salmon, two developmental cycles were observed, producing spores in the cytoplasm of phagocytes or epidermal cells (Cycle‐I) and in the nuclei of epidermal cells (Cycle‐II), respectively. Cycle‐I spores are small and thin walled with a short polar tube, and are believed to be autoinfective. The larger oval intranuclear Cycle‐II spores have a thick endospore and a longer polar tube, and are probably responsible for transmission from salmon to L. salmonis. Parasite development in the salmon louse occurs in several different cell types that may be extremely hypertrophied due to P. theridion proliferation. Diplokaryotic merogony precedes monokaryotic sporogony. The rounded spores produced are comparable to the intranuclear spores in the salmon in most aspects, and likely transmit the infection to salmon. Phylogenetic analysis of P. theridion partial rDNA sequences place the parasite in a position between Nucleospora salmonis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi. Based on characteristics of the morphology, unique development involving a vertebrate fish as well as a crustacean ectoparasite host, and the results of the phylogenetic analyses it is suggested that P. theridion should be given status as a new species in a new genus.     

Three species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Skrjabinelazia</Emphasis> Sypliaxov, 1930 (Nematoda: Seuratidae) parasitic in Gekkonidae and Lacertidae from South Africa,Europe and Australia

Skrjabinelazia Sypliaxov, 1930 comprises 10 species distinguished by several characters typical of the genus including, among the most important, the presence/absence of spicules, cuticle ornamentation and vesicles, head-shape, the presence/absence of a leaflet crown in the buccal cavity, female tail-shape and male cone-shape. The three samples studied are new species: S. boomkeri n. sp., a parasite of Pachydactylus turneri, Gekkonidae, from South Africa (Klaserie Reserve); S. vozae n. sp., a parasite of Lacerta vivipara, Lacertidae, from France (Cévennes), which is close to two lacertid parasites, S. taurica Sypliaxov, 1930 and L. hoffmanni Li, 1934, respectively from the Crimea and North China (Peking); and S. mawsangelae n. sp. (male unknown), a parasite of Christinus marmoratus, Gekkonidae, from Australia (Pearson Island), which is, surprisingly, distinct from Skrjabinelazia sp. of Angel & Mawson (1968) from the same host in another region (North of Adelaide) of South Australia. Two main groups are distinguished in Skrjabinelazia: the species with spicules which are parasitic in the Lacertidae, and the species with a gubernaculum only which are parasitic in the Gekkonidae. The unique species described from the Iguanidae, S. intermedia (Freitas, 1940) from Brazil (Para), also without spicules, seems to be derived from gekkonid parasites, as it also has an evolved oesophagus with a glandular region, unlike the simple oesophagus seen in the larval stages of Skrjabinelazia.     

Babesia ugwidiensis,a new species of Avian piroplasm from Phalacrocoracidae in South Africa

A new species of haematozoa, Babesia ugwidiensis sp. nov. from a cormorant is described. This is the first species of piroplasm to be recorded from the Phalacrocoracidae and the relationship of this parasite to other Babesia spp. from marine hosts is discussed.     

Ceratomyxa hungarica n. sp. and Chloromyxum proterorhini n. sp. (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) from the freshwater goby Proterorhinus marmoratus (Pallas)

When studying the parasite fauna of freshwater gobies Proterorhinus marmoratus collected from the reaches of the River Danube around Budapest, two species of Myxosporea were recovered, a renal and a gall-bladder form. Previously no myxosporeans had been reported from this fish species. The spores and pseudoplasmodia of the parasite described as Ceratomyxa hungarica n. sp. were found in the convoluted tubules of the kidney and in the cavity of Bowman's capsule. The pseudoplasmodia were loosely attached to the wall of the tubules, causing their distention. Within each pseudoplasmodium two spores were formed. In the case of Chloromyxum proterorhini n. sp. only spores floating freely in the contents of the gall-bladder were found. Since Ceratomyxa species are typically marine fish parasites, Proterorhinus marmoratus, a fish species which has adapted to freshwater, appears to have retained some of its marine myxosporean fauna.     

Some remarks on parasitic infections of the invasive Neogobius spp. (Pisces) in the Hungarian reaches of the Danube River, with a description of Goussia szekelyi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae)

During a survey of the parasite fauna Neogobius spp., which only recently invaded Hungarian reaches of the Danube River upstream from Budapest, it was found that Neogobius melanostomus and N. fluviatilis had become common species. Neogobius kessleri was less frequent and the previously widespread Proterorhinus marmoratus was drastically reduced. The parasite fauna of the newcomer fish species was characterized by ubiquitous parasites of a wide host range, such as the trematode Nicolla skrjabini, the metacercariae of Metagonimus yokogawai and Apatemon cobitidis, the larval stages of the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis and the nematode Rhaphidascaris acus, the glochidia of an Anodonta sp. (Mollusca) and the ciliophoran Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. The specific parasites of Neogobius spp. were represented by three intestinal coccidia: Eimeria daviesae, Goussia kessleri, and a new species described here as Goussia szekelyi sp. n. This survey showed that the rapid invasion of Ponto‐Caspian gobies in the northern Danube caused important changes in the fish fauna composition of the Danube River and enriched the parasite fauna of Hungarian fishes.     

Nematodes found in Nile crocodiles in the Kruger National Park,South Africa,with redescriptions of Multicaecum agile (Wedl, 1861) (Heterocheilidae) and Camallanus kaapstaadi Southwell & Kirshner, 1937 (Camallanidae)

Sixteen Nile crocodiles were collected in the Kruger National Park, South Africa and vicinity during 2010 and 2011. A total of 11 nematode species representing six families were recovered. Heterocheilids were the dominant group, comprising five species, with Dujardinascaris madagascariensis (Chabaud & Caballero, 1966) being the most prevalent (75%), followed by Ingwenascaris sprenti Junker & Mutafchiev, 2017 (68.8%), which was also the second most numerous nematode. While less prevalent (31.3%), Typhlophoros kwenae Junker & Mutafchiev, 2017 was the most abundant species. Micropleura huchzermeyeri Junker & Mutafchiev, 2017 (Micropleuridae) was collected from five crocodiles and Crocodylocapillaria sp. (Capillariidae) occurred in a single host. Three nematodes, Camallanus kaapstaadi Southwell & Kirshner, 1937, Spirocamallanus sp. (both Camallanidae) and Ascarophis sp. (Cystidicolidae), are considered accidental infections, likely ingested with the hosts’ prey. Our findings of D. dujardini (Travassos, 1920), D. madagascariensis and Multicaecum agile (Wedl, 1861) in South Africa constitute new geographical records. Crocodylocapillaria sp. represents a new host and geographical record, while T. kwenae, I. sprenti and M. huchzermeyeri have been described as new species during the course of this survey. Multicaecum agile is here redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Previously undescribed morphological characters of C. kaapstaadi, typically a parasite of Xenopus spp. (Amphibia: Pipidae), but here found in two Nile crocodiles, are also presented.

     

Prevalence and anatomic site of Crassicauda sp. infection,and its use in species identification,in kogiid whales from the mid‐Atlantic United States

The parasitic nematode Crassicauda sp. was initially described in kogiid whales from specimens collected within cervical tissues, uncommon sites of infection for this parasite. Crassicauda sp. has only been reported in Kogia breviceps to date, but no study has yet investigated a large sample of both kogiid species. A 15 yr record of 104 kogiid strandings (K. sima, n = 40; K. breviceps, n = 64) in North Carolina and Virginia, U.S.A. was used to determine the prevalence of Crassicauda sp. across species, within species across sex, and within sex across length and life history categories. Crassicauda sp. was confirmed to be a species‐specific parasite among kogiids infecting only K. breviceps (prevalence = 45%). Within K. breviceps, prevalence was similar (45%) in both immature and mature males, but increased from 10% in immature to 76% in mature females. This study confirmed the cervico‐thoracic distribution of the parasite, and identified a novel site of infection in a previously undescribed exocrine gland associated with the pigmented “false gill slit.” The species‐specific nature of Crassicauda sp. infection, the exocrine gland, and the distinct features of the false gill slit pigmentation associated with the gland, are all useful characters to identify kogiid species in the field.     

Heterocotyle whittingtoni n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) from the gills of the black-spotted whipray,Maculabatis toshi (Whitley) (Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae), collected in coastal waters of Queensland,Australia

Heterocotyle whittingtoni n. sp. (Monogenea: Monocotylidae) is described from the gills of the black-spotted whipray Maculabatis toshi (Whitley) (Dasyatidae) collected from Moreton Bay near Dunwich and Peel Island, and from the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria off Weipa, Queensland, Australia. Heterocotyle whittingtoni n. sp. has a single sinuous ridge surmounting the haptoral septa and the male copulatory organ lacks an accessory piece. The new species can be distinguished from the two other Heterocotyle species that have this combination of characters by the distal portion of the male copulatory organ which is slightly flared with uniquely thickened walls and by the morphology of the testis. The identity of the host of H. whittingtoni n. sp. is discussed. We confirm that the host of the monocotylids Dendromonocotyle lasti Chisholm & Whittington, 2005 and Monocotyle caseyae Chisholm & Whittington, 2005 originally identified as “Himantura sp.” was M. toshi.

     

Two new species of Acanthobothrium Beneden, 1849 (Tetraphyllidea: Onchobothriidae) from horn sharks in the Gulf of California,Mexico

Between 1993 and 1996, 26 individuals of two species of horn sharks were collected from the upper Gulf of California and their spiral intestines examined for onchobothriid tapeworms. Heterodontus francisci was found to host Acanthobothrium puertecitense n. sp. Based on the criteria of Ghoshroy & Caira (2001), this is a Category 4 species (with >15mm total length, >50 proglottids, >80 testes and a symmetrical ovary). It differs from the four Category 4 species previously reported from either the western Atlantic or eastern Pacific Oceans, including A. bajaense (emend.) which was described from H. francisci, in hook-shape, total length, number of proglottids, number of testes and number of columns of vitelline follicles. H. mexicanus was found to host Acanthobothrium santarosaliense n. sp., which, based on the criteria of Ghoshroy & Caira (2001) is a Category 3 species (with >15mm total length, >50 proglottids, >80 testes and an asymmetrical ovary). A. santarosaliense differs from the five Category 3 species previously reported from either the western Atlantic or eastern Pacific Oceans in its size, euapolytic nature, lack of dark matrix from the bases of the hooks, hook-shape, and distribution and number of testes. In addition to the difference in ovarian symmetry, A. puertecitense possesses fewer testes, fewer proglottids, is a shorter worm, possesses a more anterior genital pore and vitelline follicles which extend further forward anteriorly than in A. santarosaliense. This represents the first report of onchobothriids from H. mexicanus and the first report of onchobothriids from H. francisci in the Gulf of California. The apparent host-specificity of both new species should be viewed with caution until a greater sample of host individuals of both species can be examined. The fact that both new tapeworm species are known only from the Gulf is also considered to be a preliminary result, given the small sample of host individuals examined from these regions to date. This brings the total number of species of Heterodontus known to host Acanthobothrium to four and the total number of Acanthobothrium species described from heterodontiform sharks to five.     

Arthropod parasites of the red‐bellied squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus introduced into Argentina

The introduction of an exotic species usually modifies parasite–host dynamics by the import of new parasites or the exotic species' acquiral of local parasites. The loss of parasites may determine the outcome of an invasion if the introduced species is liberated from co‐evolved parasites in its range of invasion. In addition, an introduced species may pose sanitary risks to humans and other mammals if it serves as a reservoir of pathogens or carries arthropod vectors. The red‐bellied squirrel, Callosciurus erythraeus (Pallas) (Rodentia: Sciuridae), was introduced into Argentina in 1970, since when several foci of invasion have been closely associated with humans. Investigation of the parasitological fauna of C. erythraeus in Argentina will generate new information about novel parasite–host dynamics and may provide new insight into the reasons for the successful invasion of this species. The objective of this study was to describe the arthropod parasites of C. erythraeus in Argentina in comparison with previous studies of parasites of this species in its native habitat and in the ranges of its invasion. Occasional host–parasite associations with local arthropod parasites not previously described for C. erythraeus are reported; these include the mites Androlaelaps fahrenholzi (Ewing) (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) and Ornithonyssus cf. bacoti (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae), the flea Polygenis (Polygenis) rimatus Jordan (Siphonaptera: Rhopalopsyllidae) and the botfly Cuterebra Clark (Diptera: Oestridae: Cuterebrinae). Cheyletus sp. mites (Trombidiformes: Cheyletidae) were also found. The low prevalence and mean intensity of ectoparasite species may influence invasion dynamics.