Alae In Males Research Articles

A New Species of Cosmocerca Diesing, 1861 (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in Elachistocleis haroi Pereyra, Akmentins, Laufer, and Vaira, 2013 (Amphibia: Microhylidae) from South American Chaco.

Cosmocercids are common nematodes that parasitize the digestive tract and lungs of amphibians and reptiles around the world. They are commonly found in leptodactylid and bufonid anurans in South America, primarily in Brazil and Argentina. This paper describes a new species of genus Cosmocerca based on specimens collected in a microhylid from the Dry Chaco ecoregion. A total of 18 specimens of Elachistocleis haroi were collected in October 2011 in Chaco province and in December 2021 and March 2022 in Formosa province, Argentina, both areas of the Dry Chaco ecoregion. The morphology of the nematodes was studied in detail using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. One hundred and fifty-one nematodes were collected from the large intestines of E. haroi. Based on the morphology of the caudal papillae (rosette papillae and plectanes), the presence of two spicules and the absence of caudal alae in males, and the presence of two prodelphic ovaries in females, these specimens were allocated to the genus Cosmocerca. However, they presented unique characteristics that differentiate them from all known species. Cosmocerca wichiorum sp. nov. is similar to C. archeyi, C. australis, C. sardiniae, C. zugi, and C. leytensis by having four pairs of plectanes, but can be easily distinguished from all of them by the type, number, and arrangement of the precloacal (non-plectanes), adcloacal and postcloacal papillae, by the length of the spicules and by its different zoogeographical distribution. This is the 14th species of the genus Cosmocerca described in South America and the first one for the microhylid E. haroi from the Dry Chaco ecoregion.

New species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae), parasite of Leptodactylus melanonotus in Western Mexico, and new records for this species and Incilius marmoreus (Amphibia)

Specimens of the amphibian species Leptodactylus melanonotus and Incilius marmoreus were collected in several localities in Colima State, Mexico, from July to October 2021. An undescribed species of nematode of the genus Cosmocerca was found in the intestine of L. melanonotus. The new species differs from every other species assigned to this genus by the combination of the following characters: absence of lateral alae in males, 5 plectanes, spicules size, and gubernaculum size and shape. This is the 39th species included in the genus worldwide and it is the second described in Mexico. Six helminth species were collected during this study: Rauschiella poncedeleoni, Cosmocerca colimense n. sp., Oswaldocruzia subauricularis, and Rhabdias sp. of L. melanonotus; Aplectana incerta and Oswaldocruzia pipiens of I. marmoreus.

Two new species of Neofoleyellides (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) parasitising anuran amphibians in South Africa.

The genus Neofoleyellides was recently erected for a single species, Neofoleyellides boerewors from bufonid hosts in South Africa. In present study, we discovered two undescribed species of Neofoleyellides, namely N. steyni n. sp. and N. martini n. sp. parasitising frogs Amietia delalandii and Leptopelis natalensis, respectively. Both species differ from N. boerewors and between each other in shape and relative length of oesophagus, size of spicules, arrangement of genital papillae and morphology of caudal alae in males. Phylogenetic analysis based on concatenated fragments of the 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (18S rRNA) and the Cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) genes confirmed both species as Neofoleyellides sister to Icosiellinae and Oswaldofilariinae.

Parapharyngodon hugoi n. sp., a new nematode (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) of the tree frog Trachycephalus typhonius (Linnaeus) from the Brazilian Pantanal, including a key to the congeners from amphibians of the American continent.

A new nematode Parapharyngodon hugoi n. sp. (Oxyuroidea: Pharyngodonidae) is described parasitising the large intestine of the tree frog Trachycephalus typhonius (Linnaeus) (Anura: Hylidae) from the wetlands of Pantanal, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The new species exhibits a unique structure of the posterior cloacal lip in males, which is supported by a rigid V-shaped structure. Parapharyngodon hylidae parasitic in hylid frogs, including T. typhonius, from Mexico, is the most similar congener to P. hugoi n. sp. but is distinguished from the new species by the presence of a gubernaculum (vs absence), by the lateral alae in males ending far anterior to cloacal opening (vs near to it) and because in gravid females the ovaries encircle the oesophageal corpus. Additionally, the new species differs from its congeners as well as from species of Thelandros Wedl, 1862, a very closely related genus, by the combination of features such as spicule length, number of caudal papillae, morphology of the anterior cloacal lip, which is echinate, and position of ovaries. The geographical distribution of hosts seems to play an important role in the speciation process of Parapharyngodon spp.; however, due the lack of molecular data this issue along with the validity of both Thelandros and Parapharyngodon are still questions to be solved in the future, after improvement of the genetic database. A key to the species of Parapharyngodon parasitic in amphibians from the American continent is provided.

Oxyuricassis coronatus n. gen. n. sp. and O. hexaspinatus n. sp. (Oxyurida: Pharyngodonidae): Parasites of Lasiancistrus saetiger (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) in Freshwater Rivers of the Brazilian Amazon.

A new nematode genus is described from intestines of Lasiancistrus saetiger Ambruster from freshwater rivers in the Brazilian Amazon. Oxyuricassis n. gen. is characterized by a cephalic cone, small buccal cavity, long esophagus with a well-developed isthmus, and a conical tail with spines. Two new species are described: Oxyuricassis coronatus n. sp. is characterized by the absence of lateral alae, a conical tail with truncated extremity with spine-like sclerotized projections around the tail tip, and caudal alae in males expanded. Oxyuricassis hexaspinatus n. sp. is characterized by lateral alae, a conical tail with tapered extremity, with 2 pairs of proximal spines at the posterior extremity of the tail, 1 dorsal pair and 1 ventral pair, plus a pair of lateral spines that vary in position between sexes, and male of O. hexaspinatus has narrow caudal alae. Both species were found co-parasitizing all of the analyzed host specimens.

Spinicauda sumatrana sp. nov. (Nematoda: Heterakidae) from Ludeking's Crested Dragon, Lophocalotes ludekingi (Agamidae), from the Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra.

Spinicauda sumatrana sp. nov. is described from the large intestine of Ludeking's Crested Dragon, Lophocalotes ludekingi (Agamidae) from the Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra. The new species is assigned to Spinicauda based on the presence of off-set lips in both male and female and a ventrally directed sucker combined with the absence of caudal alae in males. It is the 17th species assigned to the genus and differs from all congeners in the combination of spicule length, presence of a gubernaculum, presence of a tail filament and fourteen pairs of caudal papillae.

A New Syphacia Species (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) Collected from Bunomys spp. (Rodentia: Muridae) in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Syphacia (Syphacia) rifaii sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyuridae) is described from endemic Bunomys chrysocomus and Bunomys prolatus (Rodentia: Muridae) on Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. The new species is closest morphologically to Syphacia (Syphacia) sulawesiensis , parasitic in Rattus xanthurus from Sulawesi Island, by having large vesicular lateral alae in males, but is readily distinguished by having a smaller body, a round cephalic plate in both sexes, the absence of lateral alae in females, a longer relative distance between excretory pore and vulva, and smaller eggs. Syphacia (S.) rifaii is surmised to be a specific parasite of Bunomys spp. and has evolved from a common ancestor with S. (S.) sulawesiensis on Sulawesi Island.

A New Genus of Cystidicolid Nematode From the Stomach of Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) in Patagonia (Argentina)

During a parasitological survey of Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns) from Patagonian Andean Lakes, specimens of a new species of nematode were collected from the stomach of fish and studied by light and scanning electron microscopy. This species is described as the only member of a newly proposed genus of Cystidicolidae by having oral opening dorsoventrally elongated, 2 lateral pseudolabia, 4 cephalic papillae, stoma (vestibule) elongated, esophagus divided into anterior muscular and posterior glandular sections, and caudal alae in males. Placonema n. gen. (Habronematoidea, Cystidicolidae) is characterized by the combination of the following features: oral opening dorsoventrally elongated demarcated by 4 sclerotized plates and 2 well-developed pseudolabia projected to the buccal cavity, each pseudolabium with conspicuous, conical, anterior protuberances. Four cephalic papillae and deirids simple. Male with caudal alae, area rugosa absent, 4 pairs of preanal papillae, unpaired papilla present on anterior cloacal lip, and 6 pairs of postanal papillae. Larvigerous eggs without filaments. Placonema pataguense n. gen. n. sp. infects the stomach of G. maculatus from Lake Patagua (Patagonia, Argentina) and is the first species of Cystidicolidae described from G. maculatus.

A New Species of Heteromyoxyuris (Nematoda: Oxyuridae), Parasite of Perognathus flavus (Rodentia: Heteromyidae) From Mexico

Heteromyoxyuris otomii n. sp., which inhabits the intestinal caecum of Perognathus flavus (Heteromyidae), in Zaragoza, Hidalgo, Mexico, is described. This new species differs from the 2 other congeneric species in the morphology and length of lateral alae in males. Heteromyoxyuris deserti has simple lateral alae located at both sides of the body, whereas in the new species, these structures are double at both sides; in contrast, lateral alae of Heteromyoxyuris longejector begin at the posterior half of the body, whereas they arise in the first third in the new species. Heteromyoxyuris longejector was found in 2 new host species, i.e., Perognathus amplus and Chaetodipus hispidus. This record represents the first record for the species in Mexico, increasing its geographic distribution.

Monanema Australe SP. NOV. (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) from the Lungs and Liver of Native Rodents in North Queensland

Monanema australe sp. nov. is described from the lungs, hepatic blood vessels and lymphatics of the fawn-footed melomys, Melomys cervinipes (Gould, 1852) and from the latter two anatomical sites of the giant white-tailed rat, Uromys caudimaculatus (Krefft, 1867), in north Queensland. Microfilariae of this species have previously been reported in the blood of these hosts and of the grassland melomys, Melomys burtoni (Ram-say, 1887); similar but much longer microfilariae are here recorded from blood films of the black-footed tree rat, Mesembriomys gouldii (Gray, 1843). The species is distinguished from congeners by the size of males and females, the presence of cuticular rugosities on the ventral surface of the body and fine, narrowly-spaced transverse cuticular annulations in both sexes, the length of the spicules, the presence of small caudal alae in males bearing ornamentation only on the proximal (= median) surface of each ala and a pre-cloacal area rugosa. Species belonging to the genus Monanema are now known to occur in sciurids in North America, murids and gerbils in Africa and murids in Australia; all are associated with blood and lymphatic vessels.

Echinocephalus janzeni n. sp. (Nematoda: Gnathostomatidae) in Himantura pacifica (Chondrichthyes: Myliobatiformes) from the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and Mexico, with Historical Biogeographic Analysis of the Genus

Echinocephalus janzeni n. sp. in the stingray, Himantura pacifica, is described from the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Costa Rica and southern Mexico. On the basis of the presence of 6 postanal caudal papillae, and modified annules anterior to the caudal alae in males, E. janzeni is most similar to Echinocephalus daileyi and Echinocephalus diazi. Specimens of E. janzeni are distinguished from those of E. daileyi by bilobed caudal alae and long cervical sacs that extend up to 65% of the length of the esophagus; E. janzeni is differentiated from E. diazi by the number of rows of cephalic spines (30-38 vs. 26-27), arrangement of the postanal caudal papillae, 3 rather than 2 preanal papillae, relative position and distance between the anus and vulva (395-460 microm vs. 70 microm), the digitiform female tail with a terminal cuticular fold, and the length of the female tail (450-480 microm vs. 270 microm). Cladistic analysis of the 10 Echinocephalus spp. resulted in a single most parsimonious tree (consistency index=0.893) and placed E. janzeni in a highly derived subclade where E. daileyi is the sister species of E. diazi + E. janzeni. Historical biogeographic analysis of hosts and parasites provides support for origins in the Pacific rather than the Atlantic for the potamotrygonid stingrays.

Gastrointestinal Nematodes in the Lizard Genera Tiliqua and Cyclodomorphus (Scincidae) in Western-Australia

Nine species of nematode were recovered from the gastrointestinal tract of 82 lizards in the genus Tiliqua and 41 lizards in the genus Cyclodomorphus (Scincidae) in Western Australia. Parapharyngodon fitzroyi, sp. nov. possesses lateral alae in males and a prominent postanal cone bearing two very small papillae. There is no sclerotised V-shaped accessory piece, and the spicular pouch opens immediately posterior to the anus. The female's tail is rounded with a small slightly posteriorly-directed terminal spike. This nematode possesses some characteristics of Thelandros, and it is suggested that the taxonomic criteria differentiating these two genera have yet to be clarified. P. fitzroyi occurred at low prevalence and generally low intensity in Tiliqua multifasciata and Cyclodomorphus branchialis in the centre and north of the State. Thelandros trachysauri exhibited morphological variability, with two spicule lengths in males, and a wide range in tail lengths in the female. This species predominated at high intensity in Tiliqua rugosa in the south ana west, and Pharyngodon tiliquae occurred at high intensity and prevalence in Tiliqua occipitalis.,Tiliqua multifasciata and Cyclodomorphus branchialis throughout the State. Despite extensive sympatry between two pairs of these oxyurid species, and a limited area of sympatry between all three, these nematodes did not occur concurrently in the same individual to any significant extent. Abbreviata antarctica occurred at high prevalence and intensity in T. occipitalis in the south and west of the State. Encysted physalopterid larvae were only seen in the stomachs of T. multifasciata, in central and northern areas. Other species recorded were Abbreviata tumidocapitis (larva only), Kreisiella lesueurii, Pseudorictularia disparilis, Physalopteroides filicauda and Maxvachonia brygooi. Differences in the nematode communities in these four lizard species can be related to host diet, geographical range of host and of nematode (possible environmental constraints on the free-living stages), and perhaps inherent insusceptibility to infection.

Description of Capillaria forresteri sp.n. (Nematoda: Trichuridae) from the rice rat Oryzomys palustris in Florida, with notes on its ecology and seasonal variation

Capillaria forresteri sp.n. is described from the fundic stomach of the rice rat Oryzomys palustris in Florida. It can be differentiated from related mammalian Capillaria spp. with lateral caudal alae in males by a combination of the following characters: location in the host, short (40–55 μm) lateral alae distinctly separated from caudal alae, and spicule length (380–426 μm). Prevalences were not different between male and female rats, but subadult and adult rats were more commonly infected than juveniles. Rice rats from freshwater marshes had a much higher prevalence than those from salt water marshes. Over a 2-year-period, both prevalence and intensity showed spring–summer peaks and sharp declines in autumn. Other species of mammals trapped in the same marshes were not infected with C. forresteri. The possibility of a paratenic or intermediate host in the life cycle is suggested.

Pharyngodonidae (Oxyuroidea; Nematoda) of Agama yemenensis in Saudi Arabia: hypothesis on the origin of pharyngodonids of herbivorous reptiles

Five new species of pharyngodonid (Oxyuroidea) nematodes are described from the posterior gut of Agama yemenensis (Agamidae) in Saudi Arabia: Tachygonetria paradentata n.sp., a member of the ‘T. dentata’ complex, most closely resembles T. quentini Petter, 1966 from Testudo tentoria verreauxi from South Africa in the form and disposition of cephalic sense organs; it is distinguished by having caudal alae, an anterior anal lip in the male formed by two sharply-elbowed lobes and by the fact that the terminal spine on the caudal appendage of the male is much shorter than that in T. quentini. Alaeuris asirensis n.sp. is most similar to a species described as Thelandros sexlabiata Ortlepp, 1933 from Testudo tentoria verreauxi from South Africa: the last pair of caudal papillae in the male is subterminal, and there are six lips and a slight prevulvar swelling in the female. Males of the two species are easily distinguished by the presence of caudal alae and a longer caudal appendage in A. asirensis females are distinguished by the fact that lips are less developed in the new species. The fact that two such similar species cannot be included in the same genus reflects the need for a redefinition of Alaeuris. Thelandros agama n.sp. resembles T. alatus Wedl, 1862 from Uromastix sp. in North Africa in the cephalic structure of the female and in the shape of the peduncles supporting adanal papillae in males; the new species is distinguished by its longer spicule and by the presence of caudal alae and the absence of lips in males. T. masaae n.sp. resembles T. taylori Chatterji, 1935 and T. baylisi Chatterji, 1935 from Agama sp. and Uromastix sp. in India in that the peduncles supporting the caudal papillae in the male are elongate; it differs from both and from all other members of the genus in that the vulva is located at the end of a long tube-like exvagination of the body wall and the anterior anal lip of the male is simple rather than fringed. T. petterae n.sp. resembles T. taylori and T. baylisi in having well-developed caudal alae in males and six prominent lips in females; it is distinguished from both by its flask-shaped adanal peduncles in the male. Thelandros is redefined to include only those species in which the pre- and adanal papillae are pedunculate and the opening to the spicular pouch is markedly postanal. The nine genera of the Pharyngodonidae in herbivorous and omnivorous reptiles form an evolutionary line distinct from that in insectivorous reptiles. It is suggested that this line arose in tortoises in Laurasia in the Eocene, spread with these hosts to Africa, Madagascar and South America, and subsequently underwent evolutionary radiations in each of these regions. Pharyngodonids of A. yemenensis have a double origin: the Thelandros spp. probably evolved with agamids whereas species of Tachygonetria and Alaeuris are likely captures from tortoises. ac]19831111