A New Cestode, Imparmargo baileyi (Dilepididae: Dipylidiinae), from the Eastern Wild Turkey

Abstract

Imparmargo baileyi gen. et sp. n. from the wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Vieillot, in West Virginia is characterized by regularly alternating genital pores, proglottid margins longer on the poral side, genital ducts passing between the osmoregulatory canals, singly encapsulated eggs, and small size. Ten species of cestodes in six genera have been reported from wild turkeys in the United States (Prestwood et al., 1973). During studies on the parasite fauna of eastern wild turkeys from two climax vegetative types in east-central West Virginia, an undescribed cestode was discovered. The cestode represents a new genus and species of the family Dilepididae. Specimens were relaxed and killed by chilling and preserved in a solution of 5% formalin and 2.5% acetic acid. Suitable specimens were stained with Reynolds' stain or Delafield's hematoxylin and prepared as whole mounts. Some tapeworms were serially sectioned at 6 / and stained with Delafield's hematoxylin and eosin. All drawings were made with the aid of a Wild drawing tube. Measurements, based on 25 adult specimens, are in microns unless otherwise stated; averages are followed by ranges within parentheses. The generic name, Imparmargo, is proposed to indicate the unequal margins of the proglottids. The species name, baileyi, is in honor of Mr. R. Wayne Bailey, whose efforts as a wildlife biologist are largely responsible for the restoration of the wild turkey in West Virginia. Imparmargo gen. n. Diagnosis Dilepididae, Dipylidiinae. Small cestodes with few proglottids. Rostellum tapering posteriorly, retractile, armed with regularly alternating circle of large hooks. Suckers unarmed. Craspedote proglottids wider than long except for the terminal gravid proglottid which is longer than wide. Immature and mature proglottids longer on poral Received for publication 27 June 1974. * This study was supported by the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (50 Stat. 917), Contract No. 14-16-0008-676, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, U. S. Department of the Interior; and by Grant No. T01-AI-00325, NIH, Public Health Service. side. Osmoregulatory canals undulating throughout length of strobila. Genital openings alternating regularly. Genital ducts passing between osmoregulatory canals. Testes not numerous. Vas deferens strongly convoluted in anterior portion of poral side of proglottid. Cirrus pouch large, extending beyond osmoregulatory canals. Cirrus unarmed. Ovary large, bilobed, in center of proglottid. Vitelline gland irregularly rounded, slightly poral, increasing in size in maturing proglottids. Seminal receptacle large, muscular, posterior to coils of vas deferens. Vagina posterior to cirrus pouch. Uterus breaks down into egg capsules each containing a single egg. Imparmargo baileyi sp. n. (Figs. 1-6) Description Small cestodes, 2.531 mm (1.275 to 3.400) long by 1.012 mm (0.725 to 1.325) wide. Strobila contains 5 (4 to 7) immature, 6 (3 to 9) mature, and 1 (0 or 1) gravid proglottids with a total of 12 (9 to 15) proglottids. Rostellum 107 (80 to 135) wide by 240 (180 to 290) long, markedly longer when everted. Rostellum armed with single row of 24 (22 to 26) hooks which alternate regularly. Adjacent hooks offset by 2 A. Hook length 49 (45 to 57). Suckers ellipsoidal, unarmed, 202 (160 to 280) long by 162 (125 to 230) wide. Craspedote proglottids 3 to 5 times as wide as long except for terminal gravid proglottid which is longer than wide. Aporal side of immature and mature proglottids one-half to three-fourths length of poral side. Osmoregulatory canals much closer to median line at junctions of proglottids. Genital openings alternate regularly. Male and female genital ducts pass between dorsal and ventral osmoregulatory canals. Testes not numerous, more frequently 16 or 18 (14 to 21) in number, 58 (39 to 84) in diameter, posterior and posterolateral to ovary. Testes most numerous on aporal side. Vas deferens strongly convoluted, overlapping seminal receptacle and cirrus sac. Cirrus pouch large, 125 (90 to 149) long by 36 (27 to 48) wide, crossing osmoregulatory canals. Cirrus with a small tuft of "hairs" projecting from the area around the genital pore. Ovary slightly poral with indistinct margins, occupying a large portion of mature proglottids. Vitelline gland overlapping ovary, 117