Amblosoma reelfooti n. sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimata Thapariellidae) from Viviparus intertextus in Tennessee and Thapariella prudhoei n. sp. from Lanistes sp. in Zaire

Abstract

A new species of trematode, Amblosoma reelfooti n. sp., from snails (Viviparus intertextus) at Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, U.S.A., is described based on morphology of the unencysted metacercariae. Adult Amblosoma occur in water birds, principally ducks (Anatidae); feeding experiments with chicks and mice were unsuccessful. The nearest genus to Amblosoma is Thapariella. Thapariella prudhoei n. sp. is established for Thapariella sp. from African snails (Lanistes sp.) in Zaire. A key is provided for the genera and species of the family. During a study of freshwater cercariae in snails at Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee, in 1947-1949 (Goodman, 1951), many individuals of Viviparus intertextus (Say) were infected with an undescribed metacercaria. Collections from the same locality in 1974-1977 revealed abundant V. intertextus with similar metacercariae. They conformed to the genus Amblosoma Pojmanska, 1972 from Viviparus viviparus in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS Snails were collected in 1947-1949 and 1974-1981 from shallow water along the Bayou du Chien, Walnut Log, near Samburg, Tennessee, adjacent to the no longer existent Reelfoot Lake Biological Station. Viviparus intertextus was found in abundance attached to the underside of logs. In the laboratory, the shells were removed and soft tissues placed in shallow dishes of water. Most of the metacercariae were loosely attached to the snail viscera and were found in the bottom of the dishes prior to dissection of the snails. Inside the snails, they were attached to the lung-heart-kidney-mantle region. Usually, no more than 1-3 metacercariae were found in a snail and often only a single metacercaria. They were examined alive compressed between glass slides to trace details of 1 I acknowledge assistance of Anderson University students (1977-1980) David Pistole and Mark Detweiler and belatedly the use of facilities at Reelfoot Lake Biological Station for summers 19471949. Research was supported by grants from Tennessee Academy of Science and the Station Director, Dr. C. L. Baker. Publication costs, in part, are being met by a grant from the SpencerTolles Fund of the American Microscopical Society. TRANS. AM. MICROSC. SOC., 109(3): 319-324. 1990. ? Copyright, 1990, by the American Microscopical Society, Inc. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.59 on Sun, 16 Oct 2016 04:24:02 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms TRANS. AM. MICROSC. SOC. the excretory system. Some were flooded with AFA while being flattened, stained, and mounted to study details other than the excretory system. Flame cell activity was enhanced by addition of neutral red or other vital dyes.