Review of Papillostrongylus Johnston & Mawson, 1939 (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) from wallabies and kangaroos (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) using morphological and molecular techniques,with the description of P. barbatus n. sp.

The strongyloid nematode genus Papillostrongylus Johnston & Mawson, 1939, from kangaroos and wallabies, is reviewed using morphological and molecular methods. P. labiatus Johnston & Mawson, 1939 is re-described from material from the type-host, the black-striped wallaby Macropus dorsalis, from eastern Queensland, Australia, in which it is a relatively common parasite. Additional records from M. parryi and Thylogale thetis are confirmed and considered to represent examples of host-switching. A geographically disjunct population of the nematode species occurs in M. bernardus and Petrogale brachyotis in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, but assessment of its status requires additional material. Nematodes from M. rufus, M. giganteus, M. fuliginosus and M. robustus from inland regions of Australia, formerly attributed to P. labiatus, are here assigned to a new species, P. barbatus, distinguished by the presence of an external leaf-crown, larger size, by greater spicule length in the male and by a sinuous vagina in the female. Additional hosts of P. barbatus n. sp. are Petrogale assimilis and Pet. lateralis purpureicollis. Sequence analyses of the second internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA (ITS-2) also showed that P. barbatus n. sp. differed at 40 (16.7%) of the 240 alignment positions when compared with P. labiatus. Most of these interspecific sequence differences occurred in loops or bulges of the predicted precursor rRNA secondary structure, or represented partial or total compenstory base pair changes in stems.     

Phylogenetic relationships of rock-wallabies, Petrogale (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) and their biogeographic history within Australia

The rock-wallaby genus Petrogale comprises a group of habitat-specialist macropodids endemic to Australia. Their restriction to rocky outcrops, with infrequent interpopulation dispersal, has been suggested as the cause of their recent and rapid diversification. Molecular phylogenetic relationships within and among species of Petrogale were analysed using mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1, cytochrome b, NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2) and nuclear (omega-globin intron, breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene) sequence data with representatives that encompassed the morphological and chromosomal variation within the genus, including for the first time both Petrogale concinna and Petrogale purpureicollis. Four distinct lineages were identified, (1) the brachyotis group, (2) Petrogale persephone, (3) Petrogalexanthopus and (4) the lateralis-penicillata group. Three of these lineages include taxa with the ancestral karyotype (2n=22). Paraphyletic relationships within the brachyotis group indicate the need for a focused phylogeographic study. There was support for P. purpureicollis being reinstated as a full species and P. concinna being placed within Petrogale rather than in the monotypic genus Peradorcas. Bayesian analyses of divergence times suggest that episodes of diversification commenced in the late Miocene-Pliocene and continued throughout the Pleistocene. Ancestral state reconstructions suggest that Petrogale originated in a mesic environment and dispersed into more arid environments, events that correlate with the timing of radiations in other arid zone vertebrate taxa across Australia.     

New species of Wallabinema Beveridge, 1983 (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) and a redescription of W. gallardi (Johnston & Mawson, 1939) from Australian macropodid marsupials

Systematic Parasitology - Two new species of Wallabinema Beveridge, 1983 are described from the sacculated fore-stomachs of macropodid marsupials in Australia. Wallabinema petrogale n. sp. from the...     

A morphological and electrophoretic study of Rugopharynx zeta (Johnston & Mawson, 1939) (Nematoda: Strongyloidea), with the description of a new species,R. mawsonae,from the black-striped wallaby Macropus dorsalis (Marsupialia: Macropodidae)

Rugopharynx zeta (Johnston & Mawson) (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) is redescribed from the rock wallabies Petrogale penicillata penicillata, P. p. herberti, P. inornata and P. assimilis from Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Specimens formerly assigned to this nematode taxon from the wallabies Macropus dorsalis and M. parma are treated as a new species, R. mawsonae. R. mawsonae n. sp. differs from R. zeta in the shape of the dorsal ray, length of spicules, morphology of spicule tip, length of female tail and position of deirid. The morphological differences are supported by electrophoretic data. R. zeta and R. mawsonae n. sp. had fixed genetic differences at 45.0% of the 21 enzyme loci examined, while each differed at 38.1% and 45.0% of loci respectively from the morphologically distinct R. delta (Johnston & Mawson). The known host and geographical distributions of R. zeta and R. mawsonae n. sp. are reviewed.     

Progamotaenia capricorniensis sp. nov. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) from wallabies (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from Queensland, Australia

Progamotaenia capricorniensis sp. nov. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) is described from the wallabies Macropus dorsalis (Gray, 1837) and Petrogale assimilis Ramsay, 1877 from Queensland, Australia. The new species is characterised by a fimbriated velum composed of 26-32 digitiform to triangular projections on each side of the proglottis, paired uteri and 140-190 testes distributed in a single band across the medulla. Minor variation occurs in the distribution of the testes. The above characters distinguish the new species from its most closely related congeners P. lagorchestis (Lewis, 1914), P. proterogyna (Fuhrmann, 1932), P. spearei Beveridge, 1980 and P. villosa (Lewis, 1914). P. capricorniensis appears to exhibit a highly disjunct distribution within its usual host, M. dorsalis.     

Oochoristica chalcidesi n. sp. (Eucestoda: Linstowiidae) from the ocellated skink, Chalcides ocellatus (Forskal, 1775) in the United Arab Emirates

Five out of ten ocellated skinks (Chalcides ocellatus) examined in Dubai between 2007 and 2010 were infected with cestodes of the genus Oochoristica. Out of the 36 collected tapeworms seven specimens were used to describe a new species. Oochoristica chalcidesi n. sp. belongs to the group of species with 25 to 35 testes arranged in two clusters. The lobes of the ovary are subdivided into 4-5 lobules in a similar way as O. ubelakeri described from Agama atra in Namibia. Both species differ in the presence of a neck, a lower number of mature segments in O. chalcidesi n. sp. and a different position of the cirrus pouch in relation to the ovary, as well as in the distribution of uterine capsulae in gravid segments.     

New species of Macropostrongyloides Yamaguti, 1961 (Nematoda: Strongylida) and the redescription of Ma. baylisi (Wood, 1930) from Australian macropodid marsupials

Specimens of four genetically distinct groups of Macropostrongyloides baylisi Wood, 1930 were analysed morphologically. Each genotype was found to represent a morphologically distinct species: Ma. baylisi from Osphranter robustus woodwardi (Thomas) and Osphranter robustus erubescens (Sclater); Ma. spearei n. sp. from Osphranter robustus robustus (Gould) and O. r. erubescens; Ma. mawsonae n. sp. from Macropus giganteus Shaw and Ma. woodi n. sp. from Osphranter rufus (Desmarest). The new species described here are differentiated primarily by several male-specific features that have been overlooked in previous taxonomic revisions. These features include striations on the terminal part of the spicule ala, the papillae surrounding the genital cone and the bursal striations. Furthermore, scanning electron photomicrographs have revealed greater details of previously undefined structures within the buccal cavity that warrant further investigations.

     

Biochemical and morphological observations on the wallaroos (Macropodidae: Marsupialia) with a suggested new taxonomy

Two discriminant functions were designed using skull measurements, one to discriminate Antilopine wallaroos ( antilopinus form) and Euros ( erubescens form) and one to discriminate Euros and Black wallaroos ( bernardus form). These three forms separated into different areas of a scatter-gram using the two discriminant functions as axes. Skull data from wallaroos not attributable to these forms fitted into the erubescens portion of the scattergram.
Northern wallaroos ( alligatoris form), which were indistinguishable from wallaroos from southern Australia on skull data, are sympatric with Antilopine and Black wallaroos in Arnhem Land. Here Antilopine and Northern wallaroos had different gene frequencies for three of the four blood proteins studied; Northern wallaroos being most like Euros and wallaroos elsewhere. The Black wallaroo, which is confined to Arnhem Land and is morphologically quite distinctive, had a different haemoglobin type to that of all other animals studied.
On the basis of the morphological and biochemical data presented, the wallaroos can be divided into three species— Macropus (Osphranter) antilopinus (Gould, 1842), the Antilopine wallaroo; Macropus (Osphranter) bernardus Rothschild, 1904, the Black wallaroo and Macropus (Osphranter) robustus Gould, 1841. M. robustus is divisible into four subspecies— M. robustus robustus the Eastern wallaroo; M. r. erubescens , the Euro; M. r. woodwardi , the Northern wallaroo and M. r. isabellinus , the Barrow Island wallaroo.     

Diversification and species boundaries of Rhinebothrium (Cestoda; Rhinebothriidea) in South American freshwater stingrays (Batoidea; Potamotrygonidae)

Background

Neotropical freshwater stingrays (Batoidea: Potamotrygonidae) host a diverse parasite fauna, including cestodes. Both cestodes and their stingray hosts are marine-derived, but the taxonomy of this host/parasite system is poorly understood.

Methodology

Morphological and molecular (Cytochrome oxidase I) data were used to investigate diversity in freshwater lineages of the cestode genus Rhinebothrium Linton, 1890. Results were based on a phylogenetic hypothesis for 74 COI sequences and morphological analysis of over 400 specimens. Cestodes studied were obtained from 888 individual potamotrygonids, representing 14 recognized and 18 potentially undescribed species from most river systems of South America.

Results

Morphological species boundaries were based mainly on microthrix characters observed with scanning electron microscopy, and were supported by COI data. Four species were recognized, including two redescribed (Rhinebothrium copianullum and R. paratrygoni), and two newly described (R. brooksi n. sp. and R. fulbrighti n. sp.). Rhinebothrium paranaensis Menoret & Ivanov, 2009 is considered a junior synonym of R. paratrygoni because the morphological features of the two species overlap substantially. The diagnosis of Rhinebothrium Linton, 1890 is emended to accommodate the presence of marginal longitudinal septa observed in R. copianullum and R. brooksi n. sp. Patterns of host specificity and distribution ranged from use of few host species in few river basins, to use of as many as eight host species in multiple river basins.

Significance

The level of intra-specific morphological variation observed in features such as total length and number of proglottids is unparalleled among other elasmobranch cestodes. This is attributed to the large representation of host and biogeographical samples. It is unclear whether the intra-specific morphological variation observed is unique to this freshwater system. Nonetheless, caution is urged when using morphological discontinuities to delimit elasmobranch cestode species because the amount of variation encountered is highly dependent on sample size and/or biogeographical representation.     

Shedding Light on the Microbial Community of the Macropod Foregut Using 454-Amplicon Pyrosequencing

Twenty macropods from five locations in Queensland, Australia, grazing on a variety of native pastures were surveyed and the bacterial community of the foregut was examined using 454-amplicon pyrosequencing. Specifically, the V3/V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was examined. A total of 5040 OTUs were identified in the data set (post filtering). Thirty-two OTUs were identified as ‘shared’ OTUS (i.e. present in all samples) belonging to either Firmicutes or Bacteroidetes (Clostridiales/Bacteroidales). These phyla predominated the general microbial community in all macropods. Genera represented within the shared OTUs included: unclassified Ruminococcaceae, unclassified Lachnospiraceae, unclassified Clostridiales, Peptococcus sp. Coprococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., Blautia sp., Ruminoccocus sp., Eubacterium sp., Dorea sp., Oscillospira sp. and Butyrivibrio sp. The composition of the bacterial community of the foregut samples of each the host species (Macropus rufus, Macropus giganteus and Macropus robustus) was significantly different allowing differentiation between the host species based on alpha and beta diversity measures. Specifically, eleven dominant OTUs that separated the three host species were identified and classified as: unclassified Ruminococcaceae, unclassified Bacteroidales, Prevotella spp. and a Syntrophococcus sucromutans. Putative reductive acetogens and fibrolytic bacteria were also identified in samples. Future work will investigate the presence and role of fibrolytics and acetogens in these ecosystems. Ideally, the isolation and characterization of these organisms will be used for enhanced feed efficiency in cattle, methane mitigation and potentially for other industries such as the biofuel industry.     

New species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cloacina</Emphasis> von Linstow, 1898 (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) parasitic in the stomachs of wallaroos, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Osphranter</Emphasis> spp. (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from northern Australia

Three new species of the parasitic nematode genus Cloacina von Linstow, 1898 (Strongyloidea: Cloacininae) are described from the stomachs of wallaroos, Osphranter spp. (Marsupialia: Macropodidae), from northern Australia. Cloacina spearei n. sp. is described from O. robustus woodwardi (Thomas) and O. antilopinus (Gould) and is distinguished from congeners by the shape of the cephalic papillae, the shallow buccal capsule, the presence of an oesophageal denticle and the convoluted but non-recurrent vagina in the female. Cloacina longibursata n. sp. also from O. robustus woodwardi and O. antilopinus is distinguished from congeners by the elongate dorsal lobe of the bursa, with the origin of the lateral branchlets posterior to the principal bifurcation, in the features of the spicule tip, the lack of bosses lining the oesophagus and the absence of an oesophageal denticle. Cloacina crassicaudata n. sp., from the same two host species was formerly identified as C. cornuta (Davey & Wood, 1938). Differences in the cephalic cuticle (inflation lacking in the new species), the shape of the cephalic papillae, the dorsal oesophageal tooth and the spicule tips, as well as differences in the sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear ribosomal DNA, indicate that this is an independent species. The geographical distribution of this species is disjunct with populations in both the Northern Territory and Queensland. Possible reasons for the disjunct distribution are discussed.     

A New Family of Entodiniomorph Protozoa from the Marsupial Forestomach, with Descriptions of a New Genus and Five New Species

ABSTRACT. A unique group of entodiniomorph protozoa was found in forestomach contents from quokka ( Setonix brachyurus ), western grey kangaroo ( Macropus fuliginosus ), red kangaroo ( Macropus rufus ) and euro ( Macropus robustus erubescens ). A new genus, Macropodinium n.g., containing five new species, is described. Three species are described from forestomach contents of the quokka: Macropodinium baldense n. sp., Macropodinium moiri n. sp. and Macropodinium setonixum n. sp. A single species, Macropodinium ennuensis n. sp., is described from the red kangaroo and euro. The last species, Macropodinium yalanbense n. sp., is described in forestomach contents from the western grey kangaroo. At least three distinct features in the new genus are incompatible with any of the described families in the order Entodiniomorphida. On this basis, the new family Macropodiniidae has been created.     

Three new genera and six new species of lecanicephalideans (Cestoda) from eagle rays of the genus Aetomylaeus (Myliobatiformes: Myliobatidae) from northern Australia and Borneo

New lecanicephalidean cestodes inhabiting the spiral intestine were investigated in 4 of the 6 known species of eagle rays of the genus Aetomylaeus Garman. Hosts examined consisted of 5 specimens of Aetomylaeus vespertilio from northern Australia, 5 of Aetomylaeus maculatus from Borneo, 10 of Aetomylaeus nichofii sensu stricto from Borneo, and 7 of Aetomylaeus cf. nichofii 2 from northern Australia. As a result of these new collections, 3 new genera and 6 new species of lecanicephalideans are formally described. Aetomylaeus vespertilio hosted the new genera and species Collicocephalus baggioi n. gen., n. sp. and Rexapex nanus n. gen., n. sp., as well as Aberrapex weipaensis n. sp. Aetomylaeus maculatus and A. nichofii sensu stricto hosted 3 new species of the novel genus Elicilacunosus , with the former eagle ray hosting Elicilacunosus sarawakensis n. sp. and the latter hosting both Elicilacunosus dharmadii n. sp. and Elicilacunosus fahmii n. sp. No new lecanicephalideans were described from A. cf. nichofii 2. Collicocephalus n. gen. is conspicuously unique among the genera of its order in possessing a large, retractable apical organ that, in cross-section, is transversely oblong, rather than round. Rexapex n. gen. is distinctive in its possession of an apical organ that bears 18 papilliform projections around its perimeter, and Elicilacunosus n. gen. is unlike any other known lecanicephalidean, or eucestode, in its possession of a region of musculo-glandular tissue along the midline of the dorsal and ventral surfaces of its proglottids, manifested externally as a tandem series of depressions. Among other features, A. weipaensis n. sp. differs from its congeners in its lack of post-ovarian vitelline follicles. All 6 new species were each restricted to a single species of Aetomylaeus . These records formally establish species of Aetomylaeus as hosts of lecanicephalideans. A summary of cestodes of myliobatid rays is presented.     

Intra-specific variation of Kudoa spp. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) from apogonid fishes (Perciformes), including the description of two new species, K. cheilodipteri n. sp. and K. cookii n. sp., from Australian waters

Kudoa spp. from the musculature and intestinal mucosa of species of the teleost family Apogonidae were examined for their taxonomic identity. Two novel species are characterised: Kudoa cheilodipteri n. sp. from the musculature of Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus Cuvier, Ostorhinchus cyanosoma (Bleeker) and O. aureus (Lacépède); and Kudoa cookii n. sp. from the submucosa of the intestines of O. cookii (Macleay) only. Both species are characterised using morphology, small subunit ribosomal DNA (SSU rDNA), large subunit ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA), and biological characters. Three new host records, O. cyanosoma, O. aureus and Apogon doederleini, and associated geographical, morphological and genetic data are also provided for Kudoa whippsi Burger & Adlard, 2010. Morphological and molecular intra-specific variation of all isolates assigned to K. whippsi is also examined. Phylogenetic analyses further support the idea that tissue tropism is a distinguishing character between morphologically similar species; species reported here display close relatedness to morphologically similar species infecting the same tissue within their hosts.     

Systematics of the Burmannia coelestis complex (Burmanniaceae)

Patterns of morphological variation in the Burmannia coelestis species complex are investigated, and three distinct species recognized. Burmannia coelestis sensu stricto (widespread in Asia, extending from eastern Nepal and Assam to New Guinea and northern Australia) possesses outer perianth lobes with conspicuous double margins running the entire lengths of the lobes. The name B. chinensis is revived for specimens from north-eastern India, southern China, northern Indochina and northern Thailand which possess outer perianth lobes with single margins or short double margins. A new species, B. filamentosa , is described from Guangdong province, China; it is distinctive in possessing narrow triangular outer and inner perianth lobes, and stamens with prominent filaments.     

Description of Paranoplocephala etholeni n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) in the meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus,with a synopsis of Paranoplocephala s. l. in holarctic rodents

Paranoplocephala etholeni n. sp., parasitizing the meadow vole Microtus pennsylvanicus in Alaska and Wisconsin, USA, is described. Paranoplocephala etholeni is morphologically most closely related to the Nearctic Paranoplocephala ondatrae (Rausch, 1948). Available data suggest that P. etholeni is a host-specific, locally rare species that may have a wide but sporadic geographical distribution in North America. The finding of P. ondatrae-like cestodes in Microtus spp. suggests that this poorly known species may actually be a parasite of voles rather than muskrat (type host). A tabular synopsis of all the known species of Paranoplocephala s. l. in the Holarctic region with their main morphological features is presented.