Balantidium grimi n. sp. (Ciliophora, Litostomatea), a new species inhabiting the rectum of the frog Quasipaa spinosa from Lishui, China.

Weishan Zhao,Shangong Wu,Wenxiang Li,Ming Li,Can Li,Runqiu Wang,Dong Zhang,Yingzhen Zheng,Guitang Wang,Hong Zou

doi:10.1051/parasite/2018031

Abstract

Balantidium grimi n. sp. is described from the rectum of the frog Quasipaa spinosa (Amphibia, Dicroglossidae) from Lishui, Zhejiang Province, China. The new species is described by both light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a molecular phylogenetic analysis is also presented. This species has unique morphological features in that the body shape is somewhat flattened and the vestibulum is “V”-shaped, occupying nearly 3/8 to 4/7 of the body length. Only one contractile vacuole, situated at the posterior body, was observed. The phylogenetic analysis based on SSU-rDNA indicates that B. grimi groups together with B. duodeni and B. entozoon. In addition, the genus Balantidium is clearly polyphyletic.

Highlights

The genus Balantidium Claparède & Lachmann, 1858 consists of many species inhabiting the digestive tract in a wide number of hosts from both invertebrate and vertebrate animals as endocommensals
Ninety-eight individuals of Q. spinosa were examined in the present study and 34 were found to be infected with Balantidium grimi
A new Balantidium species inhabiting Chinese anuran amphibians Quasipaa spinosa is recorded. This is the first report of Balantidium species in Q. spinosa

Summary

Introduction

The genus Balantidium Claparède & Lachmann, 1858 consists of many species inhabiting the digestive tract in a wide number of hosts from both invertebrate and vertebrate animals as endocommensals. 27 valid species have been reported in anuran amphibians, including B. amygdalli Bhatia & Gulati, 1927 [3], B. aurangabadensis Shete & Krishnamurthy, 1984 [34], B. bicavata Bhatia & Gulati, 1927 [3], B. claperedei Mahoon & Khan, 1986 [22], B. corlissi Shete & Krishnamurthy, 1984 [34], B. cyanophlycti Shete & Krishnamurthy, 1984 [34], B. duodeni Stein, 1867 [36], B. elongatum Stein, 1867 [36], B. entozoon Ehrenberg, 1838 [9], B. falciformis Walker, 1909 [40], B. ganapatii Shete & Krishnamurthy, 1984 [34], B. giganteum Bezzenberger, 1904 [2], B. gracile Bezzenberger, 1904 [2], B. helenae Bezzenberger, 1904 [2], B. honghuensis Li et al, 2013 [18], B. kirbyi Rodriguez, 1939 [31], B. megastomae

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Conclusion