Cestodes of birds from the Ivory Coast. Species of the genus Anonchotaenia Cohn, 1990

Five taxa included in the cestode genus Anonchotaenia (Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae) have been found in various birds from the Ivory Coast (West Africa). The hosts belong to the families Hirundinidae and Corvidae. A. (Paranonchotaenia) prionopos n. sp., parasitic in Prionops plumata, and A. (P.) malaconoti n. sp, parasitic in Malaconotus blanchoti, are placed in a new subgenus named Paranonchotaenia, which is erected for the Anonchotaenia species showing genital ducts passing between the longitudinal excretory stems. A. (P.) prionopos is characterised by a rather short cirrus-pouch, six to seven testes, and an integumental cavity at the distal extremity of the cirrus-pouch in gravid proglottides. A. (P.) malaconoti differs from the former species mainly by the larger cirrus-pouch and a slightly greater number of testes. The other three species are A. longiovata, parasitic in Hirundo semirufa; A. globata, parasitic in Psadiloprocne obscura (the latter two species are recorded from new hosts and new geographical areas); and Anonchotaenia sp., parasitic in Hirundo rustica. It is assumed that the subgenus A. (Anonchotaenia) is rather a parasite of the Passerida and that the subgenus A. (Paranonchotaenia) tends to be parasitic in the Corvida.This paper is a part of the author's thesis.This paper is a part of the author's thesis.     

Pseudangularia gonzalezi n. sp. and Gibsonilepis swifti (Singh, 1952) n. g., n. comb. (Cestoda, Dilepididae) from the House Swift, Apus affinis (J.E. Gray) (Aves, Apodiformes) from Franceville, Republic of Gabon

Nine specimens of Apus affinis (J.E. Gray) were studied at Franceville, Haut-Ogooué Province, Republic of Gabon, for the presence of helminth parasites. Two cestode species of the family Dilepididae were recorded. Pseudangularia gonzalezi n. sp. is distinguished from the most similar species P. europaea Georgiev & Murai, 1993 by having elliptical cirrus-sac, longer vagina, longer rostellar sheath and greater diameter of suckers. An identification key to the species of the genus Pseudangularia Burt, 1938 is proposed. The present study is the first record of the genus Pseudangularia in the Afrotropical Region. Our study confirms that, in dilepidids with vaginal sclerites from swifts, breaking off the cirrus after copulation is a frequent phenomenon. The genus Gibsonilepis n. g. is erected as monotypic for Vitta swifti Singh, 1952 (originally described from the same host species in India) and Gibsonilepis swifti n. comb. is proposed. Gibsonilepis n. g. is distinguished from Vitta Burt, 1938 by its highly elongate rostellum, rostellar sheath much bigger than rostellum, relatively small rostellar hooks possessing strongly developed guard, disc-shaped suckers with weak peripheral musculature and flat or convex central part, long and well-expressed neck, highly lobed two-winged ovary (lobes rounded) and presence of a band consisting of rows of spine-like microtriches along posterior margin of each proglottis. This is the first record of G. swifti in the Afrotropical Region. The separation of G. swifti from the genus Vitta (parasites of swallows) suggests that, contrary to previous opinions, no dilepidid genera are shared by Apodidae (swifts) and Hirundinidae (swallows).     

Two new cestode species of the family Hymenolepididae Perrier, 1897 (Cyclophyllidea) from passerine birds in Ethiopia,with the erection of Citrilolepis n. g.

Systematic Parasitology - Two new cestode species of the family Hymenolepididae Perrier, 1897 are described from birds of the order Passeriformes at Wondo Genet, Ethiopia. Passerilepis zimbebel n....     

Origin and evolution of African Polystoma (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) assessed by molecular methods

Among Polystomatidae (Monogenea), the genus Polystoma, which mainly infests neobatrachian hosts, is the most diverse and occurs principally in Africa, from where half the species have been reported. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that this genus originated in South America, and later colonised Eurasia and Africa. No mention was made on dispersal corridors between Europe and Africa or of the origin of the African Polystoma radiation. Therefore, a molecular phylogeny was inferred from ITS1 sequences of 21 taxa comprising two species from America, seven representatives from Europe and 12 from Africa. The topology of the phylogenetic tree reveals that a single event of colonisation took place from Europe to Africa and that the putative host carrying along the ancestral polystome is to be found among ancestral pelobatids. Percentage divergences estimates suggest that some presumably distinct vesicular species in unrelated South African anurans and some neotenic forms found in several distinct hosts in Ivory Coast, could, in fact, belong to two single polystome species parasitising divergent hosts. Two main factors are identified that may explain the diversity of African polystomes: (i), we propose that following some degree of generalism, at least during the juvenile stages of both hosts and parasites, distinctive larval behaviour of polystomes engenders isolation between parasite populations that precludes sympatric speciations; (ii), cospeciation events between Ptychadena hosts and their parasites are another factor of diversification of Polystoma on the African continent. Finally, we discuss the systematic status of the Madagascan parasite Metapolystoma, as well as the colonisation of Madagascar by the host Ptychadena mascareniensis.     

Rapid identification of Arabidopsis insertion mutants by non-radioactive detection of T-DNA tagged genes

To assist in the analysis of plant gene functions we have generated a new Arabidopsis insertion mutant collection of 90 000 lines that carry the T-DNA of Agrobacterium gene fusion vector pPCV6NFHyg. Segregation analysis indicates that the average frequency of insertion sites is 1.29 per line, predicting about 116 100 independent tagged loci in the collection. The average T-DNA copy number estimated by Southern DNA hybridization is 2.4, as over 50% of the insertion loci contain tandem T-DNA copies. The collection is pooled in two arrays providing 40 PCR templates, each containing DNA from either 4000 or 5000 individual plants. A rapid and sensitive PCR technique using high-quality template DNA accelerates the identification of T-DNA tagged genes without DNA hybridization. The PCR screening is performed by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by isolation and direct sequencing of DNA fragments of amplified T-DNA insert junctions. To estimate the mutation recovery rate, 39 700 lines have been screened for T-DNA tags in 154 genes yielding 87 confirmed mutations in 73 target genes. Screening the whole collection with both T-DNA border primers requires 170 PCR reactions that are expected to detect a mutation in a gene with at least twofold redundancy and an estimated probability of 77%. Using this technique, an M2 family segregating a characterized gene mutation can be identified within 4 weeks.     

Molecular systematics of Mesocestoides sPP (cestoda: mesocestoididae) from domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and coyotes (Canis latrans)

The genus Mesocestoides Vaillant, 1863 includes tapeworms of uncertain phylogenetic affinities and with poorly defined life histories. We previously documented 11 cases of peritoneal cestodiasis in dogs (Canis familiaris L.) in western North America caused by metacestodes of Mesocestoides spp. In the current study, DNA sequences were obtained from metacestodes collected from these dogs (n = 10), as well as proglottids from dogs (n = 3) and coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823 [n = 2]), and tetrathyridia representing laboratory isolates of M. corti (n = 3), and these data were analyzed phylogenetically. Two nuclear genetic markers, 18S ribosomal DNA and the second internal-transcribed spacer (ITS 2), were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA data recovered a monophyletic group composed of all samples of Mesocestoides spp., distinct from closely related outgroup taxa (Amurotaenia Akhmerov, 1941 and Tetrabothrius Rudolphi, 1819). Initial analysis of the ITS 2 data resolved 3 clades within Mesocestoides. Two proglottids from dogs formed a basal clade, a second clade was represented by tetrathyridial isolates, and a third clade included all other samples. Interpretation of these data from an apomorphy-based perspective identified 6 evolutionary lineages. We also assessed whether metacestodes from dogs (n = 4) are capable of asexual proliferation in laboratory mice. One tetrathyridial and 2 acephalic isolates from dogs proliferated asexually. Further investigation is warranted to determine which of the lineages represent distinct species and to determine the life history strategies of Mesocestoides spp.     

Nomimoscolex suspectus n. sp. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea: Zygobothriinae) with morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the genus

We describe a new species of Nomimoscolex from the Amazon siluriform fishes Brachyplatystoma filamentosum, B. flavicans and B. vaillanti. It differs from N. piraeeba in a lower mean number of testes, the paramuscular position of the vitelline follicles, the ovarian width/proglottis width ratio and the cirrus-pouch length/proglottis width ratio. Protein electrophoresis assays performed for 25 enzymatic systems showed that specimens of N. suspectus n. sp. from the three host species form a homogenous population which was genetically isolated from N. piraeeba and N. dorad. Moreover, the latter two species, synonymised by Rego (1991) because of their close morphological similarity, could be separated at eight loci. We thus restore N. dorad as a valid species. We finally examined the composition of the genus Nomimoscolex using DNA sequences from the 5.8S rRNA, ITS-2 and 28S rRNA nuclear ribosomal genes and a matrix of 24 morphological characters. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred for nine species of the genus, five members of other monticelliid genera and two outgroup species. The results of the phylogenetic analyses performed on morphological and molecular characters converged with those from allozyme studies and showed that N. suspectus, N. piraeeba and N. dorad clustered in a distinct clade that excluded other members of the genus. We therefore recognised them as an aggregate of species to reflect an isolation supported by both morphological and genetic data. Because relationships among the remaining Nomimoscolex representatives and other genera were generally poorly resolved, regardless of the database analysed, no action was taken to reorganise them into alternative groupings.     

Dynamics of activity and structure of the tonoplast vacuolar-type H+-ATPase in plants with differing CAM expression and in a C3 plant under salt stress

Summary Differences in the activity and structure of the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase (V-ATPase, EC 3.6.1.3) were investigated in the C₃/CAM intermediate plantKalanchoë blossfeldiana Poellnitz cv. Tom Thumb, with lower or higher expression of CAM, andHordeum vulgare cv. Carina, grown with or without 150 mM NaCl. InK. blossfeldiana ATP-hydrolysis and H⁺-transport activity were higher with higher expression of CAM than in plants with very weak CAM. This was mainly due to a larger amount of V-ATPase. Statistical analysis of the diameter of intramembrane particles (IMPs) on freeze-fractures of tonoplast vesicles showed that IMPs were larger in tonoplast vesicle preparations ofK. blossfeldiana with strong CAM expression (9.1 nm) than in preparations ofK. blossfeldiana with low CAM expression (7.3 nm). As there is evidence that the majority of IMPs on freeze-fractures of tonoplast vesicles corresponds to the V₀ domain of V-ATPase, the higher activity of V-ATPase inK. blossfeldiana with stronger CAM could be a result of additional structural changes in its membrane-integral domain. The higher activity of V-ATPase inK. blossfeldiana with stronger CAM is discussed in relation to the requirement for a higher proton pumping capacity for nocturnal malate accumulation in the vacuole. The ATP-dependent H⁺-pumping activity inH. vulgare was higher under salt stress than in control plants, while the rates of ATP-hydrolysis and the size of IMPs were not affected by the salt treatment. The data presented here indicate that different mechanisms might increase the transport capacity of V-ATPase to meet the higher requirements of secondary active transport related to CAM expression and adaptation to salt stress.Abbrevations ATP adenosine triphosphate - CAM crassulacean acid metabolism - IMP intramembrane particles - V-ATPase vacuolar proton-translocating adenosine triphosphatase - V₀ domain membrane-integral domain of V-ATPase - V₁ domain membrane-peripheral domain of V-ATPase Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Eberhard Schnepf on the occasion of his retirement     

Description of Proyseria petterae n. sp., with an amended generic diagnosis and a review of the species of Proyseria Petter, 1959 and Stegophorus Wehr, 1934 (Nematoda: Acuariidae)

Proyseria decora (Dujardin, 1845) (the type-species of the genus Proyseria Petter, 1959) is redescribed on the basis of specimens from Alcedo atthis (L.) (Coraciiformes: Alcedinidae) from Iran. P. petterae n. sp. is described from Corythornis vintsioides (Eydoux & Gervais) (Alcedinidae) from Madagascar by light and scanning electron microscopy. Proyseria sp. from Alcedo euryzona Temminck from continental Malaysia is described on the basis of a single male specimen. Stegophorus alcedonis Puqin, Yanyin & Guocal, 1991 from A. atthis in China is transferred to the genus Proyseria as P. alcedonis n. comb. The generic diagnosis of Proyseria is amended. Review of the species of the genera Proyseria and Stegophorus Wehr, 1934 is presented.