Abstract
First-stage larvae of camallanid nematodes Procamallanus (Procamallanus) laeviconchus (Wedl, 1862) and Procamallanus (Procamallanus) sp. from naturally infected Distichodus niloticus (Hasselquist) and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell), respectively, from Lake Turkana, Kenya (new geographical records) are described, being for the first time studied by scanning electron microscopy. Larvae of both species are characterised by the presence of a dorsal cephalic tooth, four submedian cephalic papillae and a pair of amphids, and by the elongate tail with several terminal digit-like processes. The latter formations probably serve for the attachment of larvae to the substrate in water when the larvae attract copepod intermediate hosts by their movements; these structures, especially their numbers, may be of taxonomic importance in camallanid nematodes.
Highlights
The nematode genus Procamallanus Baylis, 1923 contains many species parasitizing freshwater, brackish-water and marine fishes and, less often, amphibians
The first-stage larvae used in this study were obtained from the uteri of broken nematode females dissected out from the stomachs of Distichodus niloticus (Hasselquist) (Citharinidae, Characiformes) and Clarias gariepinus (Burchell) (Clariidae, Siluriformes), collected in Lake Turkana, north-western Kenya, in 2008 and 2009
Since the adult specimens from the former host were morphometrically in accordance with the redescription of P. laeviconchus given by Moravec and Van As (2004), including the presence of a characteristic circumoral flange (Fig. 1), they were assigned to this species
Summary
The nematode genus Procamallanus Baylis, 1923 contains many species parasitizing freshwater, brackish-water and marine fishes and, less often, amphibians. Since the adult specimens from the former host were morphometrically in accordance with the redescription of P. laeviconchus given by Moravec and Van As (2004), including the presence of a characteristic circumoral flange (Fig. 1), they were assigned to this species. The morphology of adult specimens from the latter host was somewhat different and the characteristic circumoral flange was missing (Fig. 8); for the time being, this form is designated Procamallanus (Procamallanus) sp., even though further studies may show it represents a new species.
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