Foleyella philistinae sp. n. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from the Lizard, Agama stellio, in Lebanon, with Notes on Foleyella agamae (Rodhain, 1906)

Abstract

Foleyella philistinae sp. n. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) is described from the subcutaneous tissues and superficial muscle fascia of Agama stellio in Lebanon. It differs from other species of the genus parasitic in agamid and chamaeleonid lizards by a combination of characters including the shape and size of its right spicule, spicule ratio, lack of lateral alae, and microfilarial morphology. The status of Foleyella agamae (Rodhain, 1906) Yorke and Maplestone, 1926 is discussed and it is concluded that it is a distinct species rather than a synonym of F. candezei (Fraipont, 1882) Seurat, 1916. Examination of blood films from Agama stellio caught in Beit Mery, a mountain suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, showed 16 of 51 (30.3%) to contain sheathed microfilariae. Adult worms were found to belong to the genus Foleyella, which primarily comprises parasites of amphibia, but has several species found in reptiles. Witenberg and Gerichter (1944) reviewed the genus and synonymized several previously accepted species. In the same paper, they recorded microfilariae, but did not describe adults, of what they felt to be F. candezei (Fraipont, 1882) Seurat, 1916 from Agama stellio in Palestine. The most recent summary of the species parasitizing Agamidae and Chamaeleonidae is that of Brygoo (1963) who accepted as valid only F. candezei, F. furcata (Linstow, 1899) Witenberg and Gerichter, 1944, and F. brevicauda Chabaud and Brygoo, 1962. Examination of the present material shows sufficient variation from the above to merit description as new. Comparison of this species with related forms has further led to the conclusion that a formerly suppressed species, F. agamae (Rodhain, 1906) Yorke and Maplestone, 1926, should be considered as valid. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lizards were bled by removing one toe from the hind foot with a fingernail clipper. Blood taken into heparinized capillary tubes was exReceived for publication 3 May 1966. *This investigation was supported in part by Public Health Service Research Grant AI-05195 from the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. t Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. pressed into 2% aqueous formalin for subsequent staining in 1% Azur II in saline for 30 min. The microfilariae were removed by centrifugation, washed in saline, and mounted in paint-ringed mounts of the type described by Wharton (1959). Air-dried blood films were treated in one of three ways: fixation in Lavdowsky's fluid (AFA) for 30 min followed by staining in Harris' hematoxylin; fixation in 70% ethanol at 60 C for 30 min followed by hematoxylin (Fiulleborn, 1924); or fixation in absolute methanol for 3 min with subsequent staining in Giemsa. Adult worms were fixed in AFA at approximately 60 C and allowed to remain in fixative overnight at room temperature. The following day they were transferred to 70% ethanol containing 5% glycerin and brought into pure glycerin by gradual evaporation. Total length measurements were made by the method of Schacher (1966); all other measurements and drawings were made with the aid of a camera lucida and ocular micrometer. Observations of spicules was facilitated in a few specimens by partial digestion of the tail in 1:10 Clorox(, observing the process under a dissecting microscope, and then returning the tail to pure glycerin for final dissection and mounting. Foleyella philistinae sp. n. (Figs. 1-10) Description Onchocercidae (Leiper, 1911) Chabaud and Anderson, 1959; Dirofilariinae (Sandground, 1921) Chabaud and Anderson, 1959; Foleyella Seurat, 1917. (Description based on 10 males, 9 females.) Measurements are in microns unless otherwise indicated. Females viviparous, much longer than males. Body gradually attenuated toward both ends with more pronounced taper posteriorly. Head rounded, not set off from body. Cephalic papillae small, submedian, not projecting, in two circles of four each (Fig. 2) plus two lateral amphids at about level of inner circle of papillae. Stoma simple, round and shallow, inapparent from side view. Peristomal cuticle not thickened; body cuticle smooth or with fine transverse striations; lateral alae absent in both sexes; caudal alae present in