Adoral Polybrachykinety Research Articles

Description of eight Triplumaria species (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida) found in Asian elephants

Five new Triplumaria species were described from Asian elephants (T. avis, T. cryptopteron, T. takakoae, T. soichii, T. cataphracta) as well as three species described by Timoshenko and Imai (1995), namely T. asiatica, T. nucleocaudata, and T. ovina. The new species have distinct skeletal plate structures: T. avis and T. cryptopteron have the ventral wing, grooves lined with lobes, and posterior fin; T. takakoae, the dorsal oar-shaped stick; T. soichii, the ventral spine and dorsal turn back fringed with lobes; T. cataphracta, two rows of bollard-shaped lobes and two folds composed of a smooth edge and lobes. These eight Triplumaria species have various buccal infraciliary bands. Triplumaria avis, T. cryptopteron, T. asiatica, and T. nucleocaudata have the perivestibular polybrachykinety connected only to the right end of adoral polybrachykinety. Triplumaria takakoae and T. soichii have the perivestibular polybrachykinety that connects to both ends of adoral polybrachykinety and has a loop along the vestibular left slit. Triplumaria cataphracta and T. ovina have the vestibular polybrachykinety connected to the right end of the twisted adoral polybrachykinety. Triplumaria species are highly differentiated ciliates in elephants; 23 of the 28 species described so far have been found in Asian elephants.

Infraciliature of Eudiplodinium dilobum, E. rostratum and E. maggii

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the infraciliature of rumen ciliates, Eudiplodinium dilobum , E. rostratum , and E. maggii by using pyridinated silver carbonate impregnation method. The specimens of E. dilobum , E. rostratum , and E. maggii were obtained from the rumen contents of water buffaloes ( Bubalus bubalis ) in Kastamonu, Turkey. As the result of the investigation, Diplodinium -type infraciliature was detected in E. dilobum , E. rostratum, and E. maggii . The buccal infraciliature of E. dilobum , E. rostratum , and E. maggii was composed of two polybrachykineties and paralabial kineties. The adoral polybrachykinety encircled most of the circumference of the vestibular opening and the vestibular polybrachykinety extended along the dorsal wall of the vestibulum from the inner edge of the adoral polybrachykinety.

Three new Troglodytella and a new Gorilloflasca ciliates (Entodiniomorphida) from mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda

Four new species, Troglodytella gracilis, T. virunga, T. dolium, and Gorilloflasca longior were described from the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. The three Troglodytella species share a retractable adoral ciliary zone, four non-retractable ciliary arches, two broad skeletal plates, a skeletal rod plate, numerous longitudinal cortical grooves, and four contractile vacuoles. The anterior ciliary arch is the longest of the four arches, extending transversely on the left body surface. T. gracilis and T. virunga are characterized by an elongated body, a tail flap, and a wedge-shaped macronucleus. T. virunga can be distinguished from T. gracilis by a trifurcate dorsal lobe, three right lobes, and two ventral spines. T. dolium has a barrel-shaped body and a rod-shaped or boomerang-shaped macronucleus. The buccal infraciliature of the three Troglodytella is composed of an adoral polybrachykinety, a perivestibular polybrachykinety, and paralabial kineties. G. longior has a long flask-shaped body, a vestibulum, a frontal lobe, a posterior cavity, an ellipsoidal or peanut-shaped macronucleus, a contractile vacuole, non-retractable adoral and vestibular ciliary zones in buccal area, a cavity ciliary zone, and two longitudinal dorsal ciliary zones. The infraciliature of G. longior is the same as that of G. africana.

Infraciliature of Opisthotrichum janus, Epidinium ecaudatum, and Ophryoscolex purkynjei (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida)

We described the infraciliature of Opisthotrichum janus, Epidinium ecaudatum, and Ophryoscolex purkynjei, belonging to the family Ophryoscolecidae, from pyridinated silver carbonate impregnated specimens. The adoral polybrachykinety is C-shaped in Opi. janus, whereas it is spiral-shaped in Epi. ecaudatum and Oph. purkynjei. The vestibular polybrachykinety is slender and short in Opi. janus, whereas slender and long in Epi. ecaudatum and Oph. purkynjei. The paralabial kineties are composed of several short kineties along the adoral polybrachykinety. The dorsal polybrachykinety is displaced posteriorly. This study provides information on the diagnostic features of the subfamily Ophryoscolecinae to which Opi. janus, Epi. ecaudatum, and Oph. purkynjei belong. A C-shaped or spiral-shaped adoral polybrachykinety and slender vestibular polybrachykinety are the diagnostic features of the subfamily Ophryoscolecinae in addition to their general features of a cylindrical body, tubular vestibulum, dorsal ciliary zone considerably displaced posteriorly, well developed skeletal plates, and macronucleus beneath the right body surface. Opi. janus, Epi. ecaudatum, and Oph. purkynjei show the basic form of morphogenesis of the ciliature, similar to that in the subfamily Diplodiniinae, with four primordia developing into the oral and dorsal ciliature.

Gorilloflasca africana n.g., n.sp., (Entodiniomorphida) from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda

A new entodiniomorphid ciliate species, Gorilloflasca africana n. g., n. sp. was described from the Virunga mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in Rwanda. It is characterized by a flask-shaped body, a long tubular vestibulum, a round frontal lobe, a large posterior cavity, an ellipsoidal or peanut-shaped macronucleus and a single contractile vacuole. G. africana has the adoral and the vestibular ciliary zones in the buccal area. The adoral ciliary zone is non-retractable, encircling the vestibular opening. The vestibular ciliary zone extends posteriorly in the vestibulum. The somatic ciliary zones are the cavity ciliary zone in the posterior cavity along the ventral side of its opening and two longitudinal ciliary zones on the dorsal body surface. The buccal infraciliary bands of G. africana are a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a stick-shaped vestibular kinety band, and paralabial kineties. The anterior region of the vestibular kinety band is composed of short kineties whereas, kineties in the remaining region are longitudinal. The somatic infraciliary bands are a cavity polybrachykinety and two longitudinal polybrachykineties. Gorilloflasca is a member of the family Blepharocorythidae based on the non-retractable adoral ciliary zone, the frontal lobe, the large posterior cavity and the vestibular longitudinal kineties.

Rumen Ciliate Biota of Domestic Cattle (Bos taurus taurus) in İstanbul, Turkey and Infraciliature of Metadinium medium (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae)

The species composition and distribution of ciliates were investigated in the rumen contents of 15 domestic cattle (Bos taurus taurus L.) living in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. Thirty-five species and 13 morphotypes belonging to 13 genera were identified. The density of rumen ciliates in cattle was 31.8 (± 21.3) × 104 cells ml−1, and the mean number of ciliate species per host was 12.9 ± 4.4. Of the ciliate species, Dasytricha ruminantium, Entodinium simulans, and Isotricha prostoma were the most abundant, each with a prevalence of 93.3%, whereas Diplodinium anisacanthum, D. dogieli, D. rangiferi, Enoploplastron triloricatum, Metadinium medium, and Ostracodinium munham were detected only in one animal (6.7% prevalence). Eodinium posterovesiculatum m. bilobosum and D. dogieli are new host records for cattle in Turkey. The infraciliature of M. medium (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae) was examined and detected for the first time. The buccal infraciliature of M. medium was composed of three polybrachykineties, a kinety loop, and paralabial kineties. A large dorso-adoral polybrachykinety, a gentle S-shaped curved vestibular polybrachykinety, and a kinety loop between the dorso-adoral polybrachykinety and adoral polybrachykinety were characteristics. Because of these features, M. medium-type buccal infraciliature was between the Ostracodinium gracile-type buccal infraciliature and the Ostracodinium mammosum-type buccal infraciliature.

Prototapirella ciliates from wild habituated Virunga mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) in Rwanda with the descriptions of two new species

The morphology of Prototapirella fosseyi n. sp., P. rwanda n. sp. and P. gorillaeImai, Ikeda, Collet, and Bonhomme, 1991 in the Entodiniomorphida were described from the mountain gorillas, Gorilla beringei beringei, in Rwanda. The ciliates have a retractable adoral ciliary zone, four non-retractable ciliary tufts in four caudalia, and one broad skeletal plate beneath the body surface. P. rwanda has a dorsal lobe and ventral lobes in two rows whereas P. fosseyi has no lobes. These two new species have an elongated body, a flat tail flap leaning to the ventral, a macronucleus with a tapering anterior end, a round posterior end and a shallow depression on the dorsal side, a micronucleus lying near the anterior end of macronucleus, a thin left region of the skeletal plate, a distinct skeletal rod plate, and four contractile vacuoles. P. gorillae has some variations in the nuclei and the skeletal plate. The infraciliary bands of three Prototapirella species were the same as some Triplumaria species; a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a slender perivestibular polybrachykinety, and paralabial kineties in their retractable adoral ciliary zone and short lateral polybrachykineties in their four caudalia. The perivestibular polybrachykinety is joined only to the right end of adoral polybrachykinety.

Redescription of Triplumaria selenica (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida) and its phylogenetic position based on the infraciliary bands and 18SSU rRNA gene sequence

Triplumaria selenica Latteur, Tuffrau and Wespes, 1970 was redescribed from pyridinated silver carbonate-impregnated specimens. Triplumaria selenica has a slit of the vestibular opening extending posteriorly along the left side of the vestibulum. The wide C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety extends along the ventral side of the vestibular opening. The narrow perivestibular polybrachykinety extends laterally along the dorsal side of the vestibular opening from the right end of the adoral polybrachykinety and forms a loop extending posteriorly along the vestibular slit to join to the left end of the adoral polybrachykinety. The 18SSU rRNA gene of T. selenica as well as those of six other entodiniomorphid species, Raabena bella, Blepharocorys curvigula, Entodinium longinucleatum, Eudiplodinium rostratum, Metadinium medium, and Ostracodinium gracile was sequenced. The neighbor joining and maximum parsimony phylogenetic trees were constructed to discuss the evolution of entodiniomorphs. Our results will support and extend Wolska’s hypothesis: the ancestral forms of blepharocorythids have evolved into ophryoscolecids and Cycloposthium species via the ancestor of Triplumaria.

Rumen ciliates from Tanzanian short horn zebu cattle, Bos taurus indicus, and the infraciliature of Entodinium palmare n.sp. and Enoploplastron stokyi ( )

Rumen ciliates of ten Tanzanian short horn zebu cattle were examined. A total of 15 genera and 46 species were identified, including a new Entodinium species. The ciliate density was 22.2×10 4 ml −1. The number of species per host and the diversity index showed high values, 33.8 and 2.80, respectively. Rumen ciliates had a low percentage composition of the genus Entodinium (7.0–25.0%) and a slightly higher percentage composition of the genera, Eudiplodinium (19.3%), Diplodinium (14.1%), and Ostracodinium (13.1%). Entodinium palmare n.sp., Eudiplodinium kenyensis, and Enoploplastron stokyi were found in all cattle examined. The former two species have been found only in African zebu cattle. Entodinium palmare n. sp. has a characteristic right surface of the body like the “palm of a hand” because of the concave part on the postero-dorsal part of the body, and has the same pattern of infraciliary bands as in other Entodinium species. Enoploplastron stokyi has a characteristic pattern of infraciliary bands analogous to those of Epidinium ecaudatum and Ostracodinium mammosum; with the right side of the adoral polybrachykinety gradually tapering and a slender short vestibular polybrachykinety.

Two new entodiniomorphid Triplumaria ciliates from the intestine of the wild African white rhinoceros

Two new species of Triplumaria in the order Entodiniomorphida, T. alluvia n. sp. and T. grypoclunis n. sp., are described from the large intestine of the wild African white rhinoceros. T. alluvia has three bud-shaped caudalia, one broad skeletal plate with a wavy left dorsal edge, and an axe-shaped tail flap. T. grypoclunis has three short arched caudalia, two broad skeletal plates, and a pointed and ventrally curved tail flap. These two new species have a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a slender perivestibular polybrachykinety, and paralabial kineties in their retractable adoral ciliary zone. In T. alluvia, the perivestibular polybrachykinety is joined to both ends of the adoral polybrachykinety and paralabial kineties along the ventral side of the adoral polybrachykinety, showing the same arrangement as in Cycloposthium species. In T. grypoclunis, the perivestibular polybrachykinety is joined only to the right end of the adoral polybrachykinety and paralabial kineties along the left ventral side of the adoral polybrachykinety, showing an arrangement analogous to the Tripalmaria species.

New entodiniomorphid ciliates from the intestine of the wild African white rhinoceros belong to a new family, the Gilchristidae

Gilchristia artemis n.g., n.sp. and Digilchristia draconis n.g., n.sp. in the order Entodiniomorphida are described from the large intestine of the African white rhinoceros, and a new family Gilchristidae is proposed to contain them. These new species have a C-shaped adoral polybrachykinety, a slender vestibular polybrachykinety, and paralabial kineties along the ventral side of the adoral polybrachykinety in their retractable adoral ciliary zone, showing the same arrangement as in the rumen ciliates in the family Ophryoscolecidae. G. artemis has two skeletal plates and D. draconis one plate. In both species the dorsal skeletal plate is bow-shaped, folded in half longitudinally, twisting in the anterior part, and lying along the dorsal left side of the macronucleus. The second plate of G. artemis is slender and lies along the ventral side of the macronucleus. G. artemis has three ciliary arches and D. draconis has four arches along the dorsal and ventral sides of the body. Their arches are long and non-retractable, closely resembling those of ciliates in the families, Spirodiniidae and Cycloposthiidae, and are not analogous to the single retractable ciliary arch of the rumen ciliates in the family Ophryoscolecidae.

Infraciliature and Morphogenesis in Three Rumen Diplodinium Ciliates, Diplodinium polygonale, Diplodinium leche, and Diplodinium nanum, Observed by Light Microscopy

Infraciliature and morphogenesis of three rumen ophryoscolecid ciliates, Diplodinium polygonale Dogiel, 1925, Diplodinium leche Imai et al., 1992, and Diplodinium nanum Imai, 1988, are described from pyridinated silver carbonate-impregnated specimens. These three species have two polybrachykineties in the buccal area and a polybrachykinety in the dorsal ciliary zone. The vestibular polybrachykinety (VP) of D. polygonale and D. leche arises from the dorsal extremity of the adoral polybrachykinety (AP) as in Entodinium species, extending toward the left in D. polygonale and toward the left posterior in D. leche. The VP of D. nanum arises from the inner side of the AP, separate from its dorsal extremity, as in other Diplodinium species and extends toward the left posterior. These series of the polybrachykinety arrangements in D. polygonale, D. leche, and D. nanum can be regarded as transitional forms in the evolution of an Entodinium-like ancestor to Diplodinium. Morphogenesis of these three Diplodinium species is not different from that of other Diplodinium species.

Descriptions of new Parentodinium ciliates in the family Parentodiniidae n. fam. from Hippopotamus amphibiusin comparison with some entodiniomorphs from horses and cattle

Descriptions of Parentodinium ostrea Thurston & Noirot-Timothee, 1973 and P. africanum Thurston & Noirot-Timothee, 1973 are revised on the basis of observation by pyridinated silver carbonate impregnation. Two new species, Parentodinium pediculum n. sp. and P. lituus n. sp., are also described. Based on the presence of caudal lobes, P. ostrea is divided into three forms, f. ostrea Thurston & Noirot-Timothee, 1973, f. euostrea n. f., and f. ablobum n. f. and P. pediculum is divided into two forms, f. pediculum n. f. and f. dorsale n. f. Until now, Parentodinium has been included in the family Cycloposthiidae. Because of its characteristic arrangement of infraciliary bands, a new family Parentodiniidae is proposed. Parentodinium ciliates are compared with five entodiniomorphid ciliates, Bundleia postciliata, Blepharocorys valvata, and Cycloposthium bipalmatum from the intestine of horses and Entodinium simplexand Eudiplodinium maggii from the rumen of cattle. Parentodinium has characteristic features intermediate between other entodiniomorphid families in both general and infraciliary morphology. Parentodinium has an ovoidal body laterally compressed, an ovoidal macronucleus varying in location, a micronucleus adhering to various sides of the macronucleus, and a single contractile vacuole in a posterior ventral location. Parentodium ostrea, P. africanum and P. pediculum have a cytoproctal ciliary tuft. Parentodinium has a characteristic arrangement of infraciliary bands distinct from other entodiniomorphid ciliates. The adoral polybrachykinety completely encircles the circumference of the vestibular opening. There are several vestibular kineties extending along the dorsal wall of the tubular vestibulum. Paralabial kineties are located at the right ventral side of the adoral polybrachykinety. Cytoproctal kineties run inside the cytoproct.

Infraciliary bands in the rumen ophryoscolecid ciliate Ostracodinium gracile (Dogiel, 1925), observed by light microscopy.

Morphological features of the rumen ciliate Ostracodinium gracile (Dogiel, 1925) are described from pyridinated silver carbonate-impregnated specimens. Ostracodinium gracile has a characteristic arrangement of infraciliary bands not present in other ophryoscolecid ciliates. Buccal infraciliature is composed of three polybrachykineties. The adoral polybrachykinety does not completely encircle the circumference of the vestibular opening, but arches ventrally from its right to left side. The dorsoadoral polybrachykinety extends laterally along the dorsal side of the vestibular opening. The vestibular polybrachykinety extends along the dorsal wall of the long tubular vestibulum. Dorsal infraciliature consists of the dorsal polybrachykinety that extends laterally along the dorsal side of the body. During binary fission, four primordia, that is ventral, right, left, and dorsal primordia, form in the stomatogenic field and develop into the adoral, dorsoadoral, vestibular, and dorsal polybrachykineties of the opisthe, respectively.