Area Rugosa Research Articles

New data on the morphology of Ascarophis parupenei (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae), an intestinal parasite of the marine fish Parupeneus indicus in the Indian Ocean, revealed by SEM.

Scanning electron microscopy studies of three paratype specimens (two males and one female) of Ascarophis parupenei Moravec, Orecchia & Paggi, 1988, an intestinal parasite of the marine fish Parupeneus indicus (Shaw) in the Indian Ocean, made it possible to redescribe in detail the cephalic structures of this nematode as well as the morphology of the male caudal end. The presence of non-bilobed sublabia, phasmids in both males and females, bifurcated deirids, well-developed precloacal cuticular ridges (area rugosa) and a ventral median caudal protuberance in the male are reported in this species for the first time. The general morphology and measurements of A. parupenei somewhat resemble those of Rasheedia novaecaledoniensis Moravec & Justine, 2018 described from the same host species (P. indicus) from off New Caledonia, but both species clearly differ from each other by the shape and structure of pseudolabia and the anterior portion of the digestive tract, belonging thus to different nematode families (Cystidicolidae and Physalopteridae, respectively).

Co-infection with filarial nematodes in Sapajus macrocephalus and Cebus albifrons (Primates: Cebidae) from the Peruvian Amazon.

Dipetalonema caudispina (Molin, 1858) and D. gracile (Rudolphi, 1809) (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) are two of six known species of filarial nematodes that parasitize Neotropical non-human primates. Adult filariae were collected from the thoracic and abdominal cavities of 38 of 44 specimens of Sapajus macrocephalus (Spix, 1823) and nine of ten specimens of Cebus albifrons (Humboldt, 1812) (Primates: Cebidae), distributed in the Yavarí-Mirín river basin and used locally for human consumption. Co-occurrence of D. caudispina and D. gracile is reported for the first time, with a prevalence of 18.5% (10 of 54 hosts examined). Our finding of D. caudispina and D. gracile in cebids from the Peruvian Amazon constitutes a new geographical record for both filariae, two new host records for D. caudispina, and the first report of D. gracile in S. macrocephalus. In addition, we provide morphometric data for D. caudispina, complementing the original description, as well as scanning electron microscopy details on the structure of the area rugosa and number of caudal papillae in males.

Redescription and genetic characterization of Cystidicoloides vaucheri, including first description of male and current status on the phylogeny of Cystidicolidae (Nematoda: Habronematoidea).

Cystidicoloides vaucheri collected in the stomach of the redtail catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus from River Acre, State of Acre, Brazil is redescribed, including the first description of males and the first genetic characterization based upon 18S and 28S genes of the rRNA. Newly collected females were biometrically smaller than those reported in the original description, but similar morphology shared by the two samples revealed that they belong to the same species. Scanning electron micrographs showed the accurate structure of the cephalic region, described here in detail. Furthermore, the morphology of males completed the specific diagnosis, strengthening the validity of the species. The three other congeners differ from C. vaucheri mainly as follows: in C. dlouhyi the area rugosa is absent, the cephalic structures in C. fischeri are completely distinct, and in both species the spicules have membranous outgrowths, absent in C. vaucheri. Despite the dubious generic assignment of C. izecksohni, it differs from C. vaucheri in several biometrical and morphological features. Because of data availability, only sequences of the 18S were used for phylogenetic reconstructions. Results showed that the genus Ascarophis and the families Cystidicolidae and Physalopteridae are not monophyletic. Cystidicoloides vaucheri formed an independent branch clustering with representatives of Cystidicolidae, confirming its validity. The inclusion of Salmonema and Spinitectus within Cystidicolidae should be reviewed, since they formed an assemblage with species from Rhabdochonidae. In fact, current classification of some taxa belonging to Habronematoidea, Physalopteroidea and Thelazioidea need to be re-evaluated, mainly based on molecular data from different genes.

First Record of Dicheilonema Ciconiae (Nematoda, Diplotriaenoidea) From Ciconia Nigra (Aves, Ciconiidae) in Ukraine

Abstract Five specimens of a parasitic nematode Dicheilonema ciconiae (Schrank, 1788) were collected from black stork, Ciconia nigra Linnaeus, in Kyiv Zoological Park. Identification of the nematodes was confirmed by morphological examination of the specimens collected. The ornamentation of the body cuticle in caudal region of males (area rugosa) is first described in D. ciconiae.

Emended Description of Litomosoides molossi (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) and First Records of Litomosoides Species Parasitizing Argentinean Bats.

: During a long-term study on biodiversity of bats in the Yungas and Entre Ríos provinces, 1,304 specimens of bats included in the families Noctilionidae, Phyllostomidae, Vespertilionidae, and Molossidae were collected and checked for filarioids. Litomosoides molossi Esslinger, 1973 was recovered from the thoracic and abdominal cavities of Molossus molossus (prevalence [P] = 6.4%); Litomosoides chandleri Esslinger, 1973 from Artibeus planirostris (P = 6.9%), Sturnira oporaphilum (P = 66.6%), Sturnira erythromos (P = 23.8%), Sturnira lilium (P = 7.2%), and Eumops perotis (P = 50%); and Litomosoides saltensis n. sp. was collected from Eptesicus furinalis (P = 1.7%). In this paper, we emend the description of L. molossi; describe a new species, Litomosoides saltensis n. sp., on the basis of 1 female specimen; and report for the first time L. molossi and L. chandleri parasitizing Argentinean bats, expanding the host and locality records. Litomosoides molossi exhibits a slender buccal capsule, with an anterior segment transparent, and the posterior chitinous portion displays 2 thickenings in the first third; possesses 1 dorsal prominent cephalic papilla and 4 labial papillae distributed around the mouth; cuticle with lateral punctuations all along the hypodermic chords in both sexes; and male with area rugosa and tail without cloacal papillae. In L. chandleri, the lateral punctuations are distributed on the posterior extremity of the body in both sexes. Litomosoides saltensis n. sp. displays a thick buccal capsule with a posterior segment well cuticularized, possessing 2 thickenings in the anterior half; 4 labial and 2 ventral cephalic papillae; a globular vulva located anterior to the esophagus-intestine junction; cuticle with lateral punctuations in the posterior extremity of the body; and tail with salient phasmids. We also provide a taxonomic key for the identification of the Litomosoides sp. of bat dwelling. Long-term studies and large sample sizes are needed to detect the presence of Litomosoides sp. in bats, in contrast to the findings in cricetid rodents, which seem to be more frequently collected.

Redescription of Chabaudacuaria multispinosa (Pérez Vigueras, 1938) n. g., n. comb. (Nematoda: Spirurida: Acuariidae) based on specimens from Ardea herodias L. and Nyctanassa violacea (L.) (Ardeidae) in Florida

Chabaudacuaria n. g. is erected, as monotypic, for C. multispinosa (Pérez Vigueras, 1938) n. comb. (Spirurida: Acuariidae) [syns Cheilospirura multispinosa Pérez Vigueras, 1938; Acuaria multispinosa (Pérez Vigueras, 1938) Yamaguti, 1961]. This species, a parasite of various ardeid birds, is redescribed by means of light and scanning electron microscopy based on material from great blue herons Ardea herodias L. and yellow-crowned night herons Nyctanassa violacea (L.) in Florida, USA. Chabaudacuaria n. g. resembles Acuaria Bremser, 1811, Cheilospirura Diesing, 1861, Skrjabinocerca Schikhobalova, 1930 and Xenocordon Mawson, 1982 in its straight cordons which do not anastomose. However, it can be distinguished from them by the didelphic-prodelphic uterus and the absence of caudal alae in the males. In the pattern of its cordons (consisting of a row of plates and a longitudinal ridge) and the absence of an area rugosa, the new genus is similar to Chevreuxia Seurat, 1918, Syncuaria Gil'bert, 1927, Aviculariella Wehr, 1931, Skrjabinocara Kurashvili, 1940, Decorataria Sobolev, 1949 and Desportesius Chabaud & Campana, 1949, which are characterised by anastomosing cordons. The didelphic-prodelphic female reproductive system of Chabaudacuaria is intermediate between the didelphic-amphidelphic uterus of Chevreuxia and the monodelphic-prodelphic uterus of Syncuaria, Aviculariella, Skrjabinocara, Desportesius and Decorataria. Therefore, the straight and non-anastomosing cordons are considered to be autapomorphic for Chabaudacuaria.

Redescription of Lemuricola (Madoxyuris) vauceli (Nematoda, Oxyuridae) from Eulemur fulvus (Primates, Lemuridae)

AbstractLemuricola (Madoxyuris) vauceli Chabaud, Brygoo et Petter, 1965 is redescribed on the basis of a re-examination of type and voucher specimens. Using both light and SEM microscopy, structures such as the cephalic papillae, details of the lateral alae, area rugosa and tail cuticular ornamentation, are described or redescribed with more precision. The detailed measurements of several male and female specimens are given in a table. In the original description, using light microscopy only, the authors had described 3 pairs of pedunculated papillae in the male of L. vauceli. The present study establishes the precise number, shape and disposition of the end of the male tail to include only two pairs of pedunculated papillae, 2 pairs of sessile papillae, and 1 pair of phasmids. As the same pattern was observed in all descriptions and recent redescriptions of species classified in the Enterobiinae, the present work confirms that the number and disposition of the caudal papillae observed in the subfamily is constant.

Litomosa chiropterorumOrtlepp, 1932 (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from a South African miniopterid: redescription,Wolbachiascreening and phylogenetic relationships withLitomosoides

69 Miniopterus notalensis, type host of the onchocercid Litomosa chiropterorum, were collected in caves in the Western Province and Gauteng Province, South Africa. The prevalence of these filariae was about 50 %. The microfilaria is folded, as in other Litomosa and an area rugosa composed of cuticular bosses is present in the male posterior region. L. chiropterorum is close to the species parasitic in other Miniopterus spp. and some Rhinolophus spp. from Africa, Madagascar and Europe; it is unique with the expanded anterior extremity and the four cephalic submedian bosses. The molecular analysis of L. chiropterorum, the first done with Litomosa species from a bat, supports the hypothesis that Litomosa and Litomosoides, which have an exceptionally large buccal capsule in common, form a group in which Litomosa has a basal position. Interestingly, L. chiropterorum does not harbour Wolbachia, as proved with immunohistological staining and PCR screening using the 16S rDNA gene as target. This is contrary to L. westi from rodents and the majority of the Litomosoides species parasitic in bats or rodents. The absence of Wolbachia in a filarioid group considered ancient based on traditional and molecular approaches opens interesting scenarios on the evolution of the endosymbionts spread through filarial lineages.

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.

Redescription of Cystidicoloides fischeri Based on Specimens From Piranhas in Brazil, and Erection of a New Genus (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae)

The cystidicolid nematode Cystidicoloides fischeri (Travassos, Artigas and Pereira, 1928) is redescribed from specimens collected from the stomach of the San Francisco piranha, Pygocentrus piraya (Cuvier), and the white piranha, Serrasalmus brandtii (Lütken) (both Characidae, Characiformes) (new host records), from the Três Marias Reservoir, Upper São Francisco River, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The morphology of this type species of Cystidicoloides Skinker, 1931, studied with both light and scanning electron microscopy, is characterized by some taxonomically important, previously unreported features, such as the presence of a cephalic cuticular collarette, subdorsal and subventral cephalic spikes, cuticular tooth-like elevations inside the prostom, deirids, area rugosa, and details in the structure of the cephalic end. Heliconema izecksohni Fabio, 1982 is transferred to Cystidicoloides as C. izecksohni (Fabio, 1982) n. comb. Cystidicoloides uniseriata Valovaya and Valter, 1988 is considered a species inquirenda with uncertain generic appurtenance. The presence of subdorsal and subventral cephalic spikes and the collarette are characteristic of Cystidicoloides, comprising only species parasitizing Neotropical fishes. The species from salmonids in the Holarctic, hitherto reported mostly as Cystidicoloides ephemeridarum (Linstow, 1872), belongs to a different, newly erected genus, for which the name Salmonema n. gen. (type species S. ephemeridarum) is now proposed. Cystidicoloides prevosti (Choquette, 1951) is transferred to Salmonema as S. prevosti (Choquette, 1951) n. comb. Sterliadochona ssavini Skryabin, 1948 and Sterliadochona Skryabin, 1948 are considered as species inquirenda and a genus inquirendum, respectively. A key to species of Cystidicoloides is provided.

A New Oxyurid Genus and Species From Gracilinanus agilis (Marsupialia: Didelphidae) in Brazil

A description is provided for Gracilioxyuris agilisis n. g., n. sp. found in the cecum of Gracilinanus agilis Burmeister, 1854 (Gardner, 2005) (Didelphidae) in Brazilian Pantanal. The new species can be distinguished from Didelphoxyuris thylamisis by a dome-shaped anterior end, a weakly developed cephalic vesicle, males with no postcloacal ornamentation, and operculate eggs with 3 longitudinal ridges. Gracilioxyuris n. g. is characterized by a small and apical oral opening and double-crested lateral alae. Males possess an area rugosa as a ventral, keellike elevation with transverse striations, 4 pairs of genital papillae, the first and second pairs of which are adanal, and a third minute pair just posterior to cloacal aperture; the last pair are at the caudal end with no tail tip. Females possess a thick muscular vagina, a didelphic genital tract, and operculated eggs with ridges.

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.

A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF ACUARIOID NEMATODE (ACUARIIDAE: SEURATIINAE) IN PETRELS PTERODROMA EXTERNA AND P. NEGLECTA FROM THE JUAN FERNÁNDEZ ISLANDS, CHILE

A new genus and species of Seuratiinae is described based on adults recovered from the Juan Fernández and Kermedec Petrels (Pterodroma externa and P. neglecta) from the Juan Fernández Islands of Chile (south Pacific). Navonia pterodromae n. gen., n. sp. is distinguished from the other genera and species in Seuratiinae by the combination of the following characters: (1) cordons arising from commissures of buccal lips originating a finely denticulate collarette divided into 2 lateral lobes, and detached from underlying cuticle; (2) inconspicuous simple to bicuspid deirids; (3) presence of area rugosa; and (4) presence of a large left spicule in the male. It is also distinguished from some genera and species in this subfamily by the presence of a lateral furrow. Seuratia shipleyi was also recorded from P. externa. These are the first records of helminths in these 2 hosts and the first records of Seuratiinae from Chile.

New data on the morphology of Spinitectus oviflagellis Fourment, 1884 (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the pyloric caeca of Macrourus berglax (Macrouridae) in the eastern Greenland Sea

Specimens of a little-known nematode, Spinitectus oviflagellis Fourment, 1884, the type-species of Spinitectus Fourment, 1884, were collected mainly from the pyloric caeca of a marine deep-water fish, the onion-eye grenadier Macrourus berglax Lacépède (a new host record), in the eastern Greenland Sea, North Atlantic Ocean. Studies using light and scanning electron microscopy revealed some taxonomically important, previously unreported features of S. oviflagellis, such as the detailed structure of the cephalic end, the position of the excretory pore and the presence of ventral pre-anal cuticular ridges (area rugosa) in the male, which indicated a certain degree of intraspecific biometrical variability in this species. S. oviflagellis is compared with similar congeneric species parasitising marine fishes.

First report ofLitomosaspp. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from malagasy bats; review of the genus and relationships between species

The presence of the filarial genus Litomosa in Malagasy bats is demonstrated by the finding of L. goodmani n. sp. from Miniopterus gleni and Litomosa sp. (male unknown) from M. manavi, both in the Special Reserve of Ankarana. These materials are compared to the 22 Litomosa species, including two Indian species originally placed in the genus Litomosoides, L. fotedari (Gupta and Trivedi, 1989) n. comb. and L. tewarii (Gupta and Trivedi, 1989) n. comb., and the new taxon L. seurati n. sp. (= L. beaucournui Bain, 1966 pro parte), type-host Rhinolophus ferrum-equinum, Algeria, distinguished by the narrow area rugosa and the female caudal extremity with two conspicuous points, instead of several small ones. The Malagasy material belongs to a group of species close to the type, L. filaria, which have a male area rugosa composed of cuticular bosses and microfilariae folded within the sheath, and which are parasitic in Vespertilionidae, Hipposideridae and Rhinolophidae from Africa and Europe. The two Malagasy species resemble L. seurati n. sp., L. beshkovi Jancev, 1971, L. chiropterum Ortlepp, 1932, L. adami Petit, 1980 and L. ottavianii Lagrange et Bettini, 1948, with the enlarged third segment of the buccal capsule. L. goodmani n. sp. is distinct with its small size and female caudal extremity with a single point, which is suppressed in old mature worms; the females of Litomosa sp. have two conical points. Relationships among Litomosa species appear to be dependent upon both the chiropteran host groups and the geographical region.

Spinitectus macrospinosus n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus in southern Manitoba and its distribution in other Ictalurus spp.

Spinitectus macrospinosus n. sp., a parasite of the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, from the Red and Assiniboine rivers in southern Manitoba, Canada, is characterized by spines reaching a maximum length of 21.8-26.8 microm (means for males and females, respectively) in the anterior esophageal region, arranged in 4 sectors in the anterior region of the body. Spines in this region of the body increase in size and decrease in number (from a maximum of 6 to 3 per sector). The combination of spine length, number, and arrangement and the position of the excretory pore (between spine rows 6 and 7) readily distinguishes it from all its North American congeners, including the species it is most similar to, S. carolini. It is different from S. gracilis and S. acipenseri in having a posteriorly directed vagina, an excretory pore between spine rows 6 and 7, a longer stoma, a right spicule with a terminal ventral barb, and a heart-shaped caudal mucron. Spinitectus macrospinosus is similar to other North American species of Spinitectus, e.g., S. carolini, S. micracanthus, S. mexicanus, S. osorioi, and S. humbertoi, in having the anterior rows of spines arranged in 4 sectors. It is also similar to S. micracanthus and S. carolini in possessing a relatively long stoma, a posteriorly directed vagina, a right spicule with a terminal ventral barb, and a heart-shaped caudal mucron. Furthermore, it is similar to S. carolini in possessing an "area rugosa" with 2 rows of precloacal cuticular cleats. In southern Manitoba, S. macrospinosus appears to mature only in the channel catfish. Reexamination of museum specimens revealed that the nematode also is found in I. furcatus in Kentucky Lake (Kentucky-Tennessee) and in I. lacustris in Lake Texoma (Oklahoma-Texas).

Monodelphoxyuris dollmeiri n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyurida) from Monodelphis emiliae in Peru.

Monodelphoxyuris dollmeiri n. g., n. sp. is described from the caecum of Monodelphis emiliae (Thomas) (Marsupiala: Monodelphidae) collected in the eastern region of the Andes of Peru. M. dollmeiri n. sp. differs from the closest pinworm described from marsupials in the Neotropics (Didelphoxyuris thylamisis Gardner & Hugot, 1995) in having operculate eggs and males that possess a tip prolonged of tail and a different kind of area rugosa. Several other species of pinworms have been described from marsupials in Australia, but all are characterised by possessing of a buccal capsule that is strongly cuticularised with interradial lamellae. These structures are lacking both in M. dollmeiri and D. thylamisis. Monodelphoxyuris n. g. is characterised by a mouth opening into a depression and lateral alae composed of two longitudinal crests. Males possess an area rugosa composed of six ventral sagittal mamelons, a caudal extremity prolonged by a robust tip of the tail which is directed backwards, four pairs of genital papillae (two pairs lateral adanal and sessile, one pair just posterior to the spicule aperture, and the last pair at posterior extremity and pedunculate). Females possess an opisthodelphic uterus, a reflected ovary and operculate, unembryonated, oval eggs.

The African Carnoyidae (Nematoda: Rhigonematida). 5. Three new species of Brumptaemilius Dollfus, 1952 and remarks on B. seychellarum Adamson, 1987

AbstractThree new species of the genus Brumptaemilius Dollfus, 1952 are described from the intestine of diplopods from Ghana and Ivory Coast. Brumptaemilius ultimus sp. n., from Ghana and Ivory Coast, is characterised by the huge spicules (731-894 μm long); numerous (105-136) transverse striae on the spicule shafts; the verrucose appearance of the tuberculate papillae; the blunt, peg-like spines on the posterior cloacal lip; the disposition and form of the rugosities; the very short male tail spike (0.3-0.5 times as long as the gubernaculum); lateral alae absent in both sexes and the exceptionally long female vagina. A spermatophore is apparently absent. B. verrucosus sp. n., from Ivory Coast, is characterised by relatively few tuberculate papillae with a minutely verrucose appearance; relatively long spicules (519-553 μm) with numerous (84-95) transverse striae; spicule shafts parallel and not wrapped around one another distally; gubernaculum 77-87 μm long; presence of subventral paracloacal fields of digitiform rugosities and male tail spike 0.6 (0.6-0.7) times as long as gubernaculum. In addition, the female lateral alae start in the isthmus region and terminate shortly before the anus, and a spermatophore is apparently absent, although a prominent copulatory plug was often seen occluding the vaginal lumen. Brumptaemilius ypoxystus sp. n., from Ivory Coast, is distinguished by features of the male copulatory apparatus and the area rugosa. It is characterised by having four staggered rows of subventral tuberculate papillae, each bearing a terminal corona of ca five to nine minute projections; a postcloacal field comprising transverse, imbricate rows of broad, conical spines; the form and disposition of the subventral fields of rugosities; rugose fields not extending as a ventral band anterior to the cloacal aperture; non-rugose ventral region on tail posterior to last pair of postcloacal papillae; spicules 306 (280-328) μm long with 40 (33-48) transverse striae; gubernaculum 102 (91-107) μm long; tail spike 0.5 (0.4-0.6) times as long as the gubernaculum; lateral alae absent in both sexes and presence of a spermatophore bearing a short peduncle penetrating the distal vagina. A population of B.seychellarum Adamson, 1987 is described from the Seychelles and the presence of a spermatophore recorded in the species for the first time. Useful characters for species diagnosis within the genus are briefly discussed.

The African Carnoyidae (Nematoda: Rhigonematida). 3. Four new species of Brumptaemilius Dollfus, 1952

Four new species of the genus Brumptaemilius Dollfus, 1952 are described from the intestine of various spirostreptid diplopods. B. antoinettae sp. n., from South Africa, is characterised by features of the male copulatory apparatus and area rugosa: two regular subventral rows of 75 (60-85) lobate, tuberculate papillae; postcloacal field of imbricate transverse rows of spines; form and disposition of subventral fields of rugosities; ventral region of tail non-rugose posterior to last pair of postcloacal papillae; spicules about 372 (338-390) μm long and with ca 44 (36-48) transverse striae; male tail spike ca 1.2 times as long as gubernaculum and female lateral alae terminating ca halfway between vulva and anus. B. imbricatus sp. n., from Zimbabwe and South Africa, is characterised by: the form of the male area rugosa, i.e., two subventral rows of tuberculate papillae bearing small lobe-like tips, a well developed postcloacal field of imbricate spines and rugosities not extending on to ventral region of subulate portion of tail; medium spicules 271 (259-287) μm long with 43 (38-49) transverse striae; subulate portion of tail rather long, 2.3 (2.1-2.6) times as long as gubernaculum; spermatophore present; lateral alae starting in anterior half of corpus in male and at anterior margin of corpus bulb in female. B. nigelus sp. n., from Nigeria and Togo, is characterised by: the form of the area rugosa, in particular that of the spine field array on the posterior cloacal lip, the extension of the rugose area on to the ventral region of the tail spike and tuberculate papillae with crown-like tips arranged as four, irregular rows anteriorly, becoming two, more regular rows posteriorly; relatively short spicule length of 215 (195-230) μm with 24 (21-29) transverse striae; subulate portion of male tail ca 1.7 times the gubernaculum length; presence of a spermatophore with a short, sinuate peduncle; lateral alae starting in vicinity of corpus/isthmus junction in both sexes. B. ugandae sp. n., from Uganda, is principally characterised by: features of the area rugosa, including the relatively few subventral tuberculate papillae arranged more or less in two rows, the shield-shaped field of imbricate spines on the posterior cloacal lip and the non-rugose ventral region at the base of the tail spike; subulate portion of male tail ca 1.6 (1.5-1.7) times the gubernaculum length; medium length spicules of 304 (266-331) μm with 21 (19-22) transverse striae; male lateral alae starting well posterior to the basal bulb and presence of a spermatophore with peduncle inserted into vulva. The type of the genus, B. sclerophorus Dollfus, 1952 is discussed and added to the list of species inquirendae.

The New World filarial genus Molinema Freitas & Lent, 1939 (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), with a description of four new species parasitic in the Echimyidae (Rodentia).

Four new species of Molinema (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae), parasites of echimyid rodents in South America, are described: M. algardneri n. sp. from Proechimys amphichoricus, M. barbarae n. sp. from P. cayennensis, both in Venezuela (Rio Negro and Cerro La Neblina, respectively), M. peruviensis n. sp. from P. steerei in Peru (lower Urubamba), and M. nattereri n. sp. (= Filaria diacantha Molin, 1858 pro parte) from Echimys ? didelphoides (= Loncheres rufa) in Brazil (Matto Grosso). They differ from each other and from the previously described species in the following characters: flat or concave head, cephalic ratio (distance between cephalic papillae in median view/lateral view), size and shape of the buccal capsule, length of the oesophagus, cuticular ornamentation of the female body, length of the ovijector, thick or slim female tail, area rugosa, long or short filament in the left spicule, heel in the right spicule, respective position of postcloacal papilla pairs 5 and 6, shape of the caudal lappets, terminal point present or absent, and the microfilariae. Molinema, which belongs to the worldwide Dipetalonema line, is distributed in two of the ten families of the Caviomorpha (South American Hystrichognathi have extended their distribution in South America since the early Oligocene). Nine species are parasitic in the Echimyidae (suborder Caviida); they have a short oesophagus and a complete or reduced set of precloacal papillae (four or three pairs). Two species are parasitic in the Erethizontidae (Erethizontida) and might be more primitive in having a well-developed oesophagus. However, the type-species M. diacantha, of which a female specimen was studied, has a large buccal capsule and has evolved concave head, while M. arbuta has a reduced buccal capsule and primitive flat head. This last species is a parasite of a Nearctic porcupine and probably represents a small line of Molinema which migrated to the north with its hosts when communications were established between the two American continents 3 mya (Pleistocene). M. sprenti, the unique parasite of the Castoridae in North America, is considered to be derived from this group by capture.