Abstract
Blood flukes (Spirorchiidae) of the genus Hapalorhynchus have not been reported previously from African turtles. H. beadlei n. sp. is described and figured from the side-necked turtle, Pelusios williamsi lutescens, in Uganda. Comparisons are made with all previously known species, and all of these are from North America. P. w. lutescens harbored immature specimens of Allassostomoides sp., also unreported from African turtles; these specimens are briefly described and figured. In 1958, a large furcocercus cercaria belonging to a family of turtle blood flukes, Spirorchiidae, was found in the snail Biomphalaria sudanica (Von Martens) along the margin of Lake Victoria near Kampala, Uganda. Cercariae were found subsequently on many occasions in the same snail host from other locations, but adult spirorchiids were not found in East African turtles until 1969. A side-necked turtle, Pelusios williamsi lutescens Laurent. (Syn. Pelusios nigricans), collected near Kampala, was found to be heavily infected with adult blood flukes of the genus Hapalorhynchus Stunkard, 1922. A second turtle of the same species, collected in 1970 from Queen Elizabeth National Park in southwestern Uganda, also harbored adult worms and many eggs of the same species of trematode. MATERIALS AND METHODS The turtles were decapitated. The blood drained into shallow pans containing decoagulant was examined for spirorchiids. When found, they were pipetted into dishes of saline. The plastron was removed from the turtle and internal organs, including heart, lungs, liver, and major blood vessels, were examined. Parasites were fixed in AFA. Some were removed prior to fixation and examined under moderate pressure from coverglasses or slide fragments I am grateful to Dr. Martin J. Ulmer for his helpful suggestions and constructive criticisms contributing to the final version of the manuscript. I am further indebted to Dr. Eric Edroma, Director, Uganda Institute of Ecology, Mweya, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and to the Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, for use of laboratories and other facilities. 2 Publication costs, in part, are being met by a grant from the Spencer-Tolles Fund of the American Microscopical Society. TRANS. AM. MICROSC. Soc., 106(1): 80-84. 1987. ? Copyright, 1987, by the American Microscopical Society, Inc. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.255 on Mon, 01 Aug 2016 06:06:42 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms VOL. 106, NO. 1, JANUARY 1987 to determine the relationships of organs in the living condition. Fixed and washed specimens were stained in paracarmine, dehydrated, cleared, and mounted. Measurements are based on 10 specimens.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call