Pairs Of Postcloacal Papillae Research Articles

Morphologic and Genetic Characterization of Protospirura canariensis n. sp. (Nematoda, Spiruridae), a Parasite of the Black Rat Rattus rattus (Rodentia, Muridae) from El Hierro Island (Canary Archipelago, Spain)

A new spirurid nematode, Protospirura canariensis n. sp., a parasite of the black rat Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 (Rodentia: Muridae), in El Hierro Island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was described by means of light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The most discriminating characteristics between the new species and the remaining species of the genus Protospirura were observed to be the following: (a) the number of tooth-like outgrowths in the sub-median and lateral lobes of the pseudolabia, both in males and females (2 and 4, respectively); (b) the size of the right and left spicules in males (643–715 µm and 309–412 µm, respectively); and (c) the numbers and arrangements of the cloacal papillae in males. The new species has a total of 17 cloacal papillae (4 large and pedunculated pairs of precloacal papillae, an unpaired precloacal papilla and 4 pairs of postcloacal papillae). The arrangement of the postcloacal papillae are as follows: the first pair are large, pedunculated and placed near the posterior edge of cloaca; the three remaining postcloacal pairs are grouped and located near the posterior tip. In the latter group, the papillae in the first pair are large and pedunculated. The parasitized hosts and their geographical distributions were also useful criteria in distinguishing P. canariensis n. sp. from the remaining species of the genus Protospirura. In addition, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequence of the new species was obtained and compared with the available data of related species.

Spirocamallanus delirae n. sp. (Nematoda, Camallanidae), a parasite of Propimelodus eigenmanni (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the Brazilian Amazon.

A new species of Spirocamallanus Olsen, 1952 (Camallanidae), is described based on specimens found parasitizing Propimelodus eigenmanni (Siluriformes), an Amazonian fish. The new species has buccal capsule with 15-19 spiral ridges, males with caudal alae supported by 3 pairs of precloacal and 6 pairs of postcloacal papillae, and two terminal spikes on tail end, and females with a digitiform projection ending in two small spikes on tail end. The new species shares characteristics with a group of Neotropical Spirocamallanus that are characterized by the presence of caudal alae, 3 pairs of precloacal papillae, unequal spicules and the presence of spines on the tail tip of males. Several species of this group have been reported from marine environments, in contrast with Spirocamallanus delirae n. sp., which occurs in Amazon freshwaters. Among the Brazilian congeners placed in the referred morphological group are S. rarus, S. freitasi, S. macaensis, and S. halithophus, the last two being parasites of marine fishes. The new species differs from S. rarus (3-4), S. macaensis (12-15), and S. halithophus (10-15) based on the number of spirals in the buccal capsule and from S. fretasi based on the morphology of the larger spicule that is bifid in the former and undivided in the new species. The present description of Spirocamallanus delirae n. sp. adds new data to the biodiversity of parasites from freshwater siluriform catfish in the Neotropical region.

Two new kathlaniid species (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea) parasitic in salamanders of the genus Andrias (Amphibia: Caudata: Cryptobranchidae)

The new nematode species, Falcaustra hanzaki n. sp. and Urodelnema takanoensis n. sp. (Cosmocercoidea: Kathlaniidae), were found from the intestine of giant salamanders in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The first species is featured by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae (3 pairs of precloacal papillae, 8 pairs of postcloacal papillae and a single ventral precloacal papilla), the presence of a single pseudosucker, spicules equal in size (520–638 μm long), and V-shaped gubernaculum in males; vulva situated about 3/5 of a body in females. The second species is characterized by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae (5 pairs of precloacal papillae, 6 pairs of postcloacal papillae and a single ventral precloacal papilla), spicules equal in size (403–593 μm long), V-shaped gubernaculum in males; vulva situated about 3/5 of a body in females. The molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed using the partial 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA and the internal transcribed spacers 1 region in the nuclear DNA. This phylogenetic study raised a question about the validity of Family Kathlaniidae and related families of Cosmocercoidea.

Redescription of the two most recorded Physaloptera (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) parasitizing lizards in the Americas: first step towards a robust species identification framework.

Despite being the two most recorded species of Physaloptera from lizards in the Americas, P. retusa and P. lutzi are either incompletely described or have accumulated inaccurate morphological data through the years. Here, we redescribe both species from Tropidurus torquatus in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, including evaluation ofspecimens from the Coleção Helmintológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. In P. retusa, the presence and location of amphids, presence and pattern of porous areas on pseudolabia, detailed pattern of cuticular ornamentations on ventral surface of the caudal bursa, structure of cloacal labia, presence of dome-shaped elevation between the last pair of postcloacal papillae and location of phasmids in males, were revealed for the first time. Additional morphometric data are also provided. In P. lutzi, the detailed morphological analysis revealed for the first time, porous areas on pseudolabia, as well as presence of amphids, phasmids, and the detailed ornamentation and papillae arrangement on the male bursa. Also, the presence of an internal tripartite and an external triangular labial tooth in the specimens were observed to be constant, diverging from the assertions by other authors. Finally, in P. lutzi was possible to observe that deirids are consistently located close to muscular oesophagus base with excretory pore slightly posterior to it, and the vulva is always close to anal aperture. The present observations confirmed the validity of P. lutzi and strengthened its taxonomic diagnosis. An up-to-date list of records of both species is provided, including a brief discussion on their host spectrum and geographic range.

Description of Cryptaphelenchus recticaudatus n. sp. (Aphelenchoidea: Ektaphelenchinae) in Pinus elliottii from the USA

Summary Cryptaphelenchus recticaudatus n. sp. is described and illustrated in Pinus elliottii from the USA. The new species is characterised by the female body 310-431 μm long with distinctly annulated cuticle, lateral fields with four lines, lip region separated from the body by a shallow depression, delicate stylet with small knobs, post-vulval uterine sac short, and rectum and anus invisible. Males are 228-314 μm long, spicules 9.8-12.4 μm long with a well-developed and broad condylus, and seven caudal papillae arranged as a single (P1) and pair (P2) of precloacal papillae plus two pairs of postcloacal papillae. Based upon the general female morphology, the new species most closely resembles C. baujardi and C. iranicus. The morphological differences with the aforementioned species and other species of the genus are discussed. The phylogenetic analyses based on small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) D2-D3 expansion segments of ribosomal DNA of different individuals of the new species revealed that the new species fell into the Cryptaphelenchus clade in both SSU and LSU trees. The monophyly of the genus was retained after adding newly generated sequences of the new species.

Redescription of a predatory and cannibalistic nematode, Butlerius butleri Goodey, 1929 (Rhabditida: Diplogastridae), from South Africa, including its first SEM study

Summary Butlerius butleri was isolated during a survey on free-living soil nematodes from South Africa. The South African population of B. butleri is characterised by having a large stoma divided into two chambers and bearing a thorn-like dorsal tooth, spicules 44 (41-49) μm long, gubernaculum 29 (28-30) μm long, three pairs of precloacal papillae and five pairs of postcloacal papillae, and a filiform tail 280 (204-332) μm long in females, 310 (256-356) μm long in males. The SEM observation showed the cheilostom is divided into six conical plates 2.1-2.3 μm long. Nblast of 18S rDNA revealed 99% similarity and 6-7 bp differences with the B. butleri (KP453998) from Iran. Molecular analysis of B. butleri based on the sequence of the 18S and 28S rDNA placed it together with Butlerius and close to Pseudodiplogasteroides and Diplogasteroides. This species showed predatory and cannibalistic behaviours, feeding on other B. butleri in the substrate. SEM photographs of the species are presented for the first time.

The gastrointestinal nematodes of Chiruromys forbsei Thomas and C. lamia (Thomas) (Rodentia: Muridae) with the description of a new species of Helgenema (Heligmonellidae) and a new species of Protospirura (Spiruridae) from Papua New Guinea

ABSTRACT The cestode, Bertiella musasabi Yamaguti, 1942 and four nematodes identified to at least genus level and adult specimens assignable to the Nippostrongylinae were recovered from nine of 20 individuals of Chiruromys forbsei Thomas, 1888. Five nematodes identified to at least genus level and adult specimens assignable to the Nippostrongylinae were recovered from 11 of 12 individuals of C. lamia (Thomas, 1897). Species of Parasabanema from C. forbsei and C. lamia, Parastrongyloides from C. lamia and Trichuris also from C. lamia could not be assigned to any known species. Hasanuddinia chiruromyos Smales, 2011a was previously reported from C. vates(Thomas, 1908). Helgenema lamia n. sp. differed from its congener H. keablei Smales, 2020 by its larger size, longer spicules and larger number of eggs in utero. Protospirura munimuniensis n. sp. from C. lamia was differentiated by having two denticles on each pseudolabium, males with the right spicule longer and more robust than the left, a V-shaped gubernaculum and six pairs of post cloacal papillae. Heligmonellids dominated the helminth assemblages of both hosts. Species richness, 80.6% species recovered for C. lamia,and 57% for C. vates was low in both hosts. Possible determinants of species richness were discussed.

Two new species of Cosmocercidae (Nematoda: Cosmocercoidea) of Leptodactylus macrosternum Miranda-Ribeiro (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Caatinga Biome, Brazil.

In the current study, two new species of Cosmocercidae nematodes parasitizing the anuran Leptodactylus macrosternum (Leptodactylidae) from two localities in the municipality of Petrolina, sub-middle São Francisco river, state of Pernambuco, Brazil, were described. Oxysomatium petrolinensis n. sp. differs from all congeneric species for having the male caudal papillae distribution pattern unique in this genus, in which the last three pairs of pre-cloacal papillae are located lateroventrally on the anterior border of the cloacal aperture. Additionally, the new species has an unpaired medial precloacal papilla, seven pairs of postcloacal papillae, and a relatively unique spicule size. Oxyascaris caatingae n. sp. differs from all congeneric species mainly for having males with a medial unpaired precloacal papilla and a distribution pattern of caudal papillae unique to this species, being the only species of the genus with adcloacal papillae. The current study proposes the description of Oxysomatium petrolinensis n. sp., fourth species and the first report of this genus in hosts from the Neotropical region. In addition, it describes Oxyascaris caatingae n. sp., which is the fifth species of the genus.

Oxyuricassis ekstromi n. sp. (Oxyurida: Pharyngodonidae) from Lasiancistrus saetiger (Siluriform: Loricariidae) from the Eastern Amazon.

Oxyuricassis ekstromi n. sp. is the third species of the genus described from the intestine of Lasiancistrus saetiger Armbruster in Brazil. This species can be easily differentiated from its congeners by the presence of a tooth-like sclerotized piece that occupies half of the stoma and absence of spine projections on the tail of both males and females. Also, males of the new species lack caudal alae present in Oxyuricassis coronatus and Oxyuricassis hexaspinatus. Additionally, we observed a different number and pattern of the distribution of cloacal papilla; males of O. coronatus and O. hexaspinatus have 1 pair of pre-cloacal and 2 pairs of post-cloacal papillae; while the new species has 1 pre-cloacal and 3 post-cloacal pairs of papillae.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Toxocara apodemi (Nematoda: Ascarididae) from Striped Field Mice, Apodemus agrarius, in Korea.

Adult ascarid worms from the field mice, Apodemus agrarius, were observed with a light and scanning electron microscope, and molecularly analized with 18S rRNA gene. In the scanning electron microscope, 3 prominent labia were present in the anterior end of male and female worms, but the interlabia and gubernaculum were absent. Scanning electron micrographs showed cervical alae as vestigial organs that looked like a slightly uplifted superficial sewing stitch. Total 6 pairs of post-cloacal papillae were observed on the tail of the male worms. The tail of female worms was blunt and conical shape with a spine-like structure, mucron. The eggs were sub-globular, coated with the albuminous layer and 73 by 82 μm in average size. The superficial pits of T. apodemi egg (mean 8.6×6.7 μm) are obviously bigger than those of Toxocara spp. The partial sequence of 18S rRNA showed the sequence homology of Toxocara canis (99.6%), Toxocara cati (99.4%), Toxascaris leonina (99.4%), and Toxocara vitulorum (99.2%). Conclusively, it was confirmed that ascarid nematodes, Toxocara apodemi, recovered from striped field mice in Korea are taxonomically conspecific relationship with genus Toxocara and genetic divergence from other Toxocara species.

Description of Cryptaphelenchus paravaricaudatus n. sp. (Aphelenchoidea: Ektaphelenchinae) from Pinus massoniana Lamb. in China

Summary Cryptaphelenchus paravaricaudatus n. sp., from declining Pinus massoniana in China, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterised by the 233-308 μm long females with distinctly annulated cuticle, lateral fields with four lines, lip region separated from the body by a shallow depression, delicate stylet with small knobs, post-vulval uterine sac short and rectum and anus invisible. Males are 204-259 μm long, with spicules 8.5-12.0 μm long, condylus well developed and broad, caudal papillae arranged as a single (P1) and a pair of precloacal papillae (P2) plus two pairs of postcloacal papillae (P3 and P4). Based upon the general morphology of the female, the new species most closely resembles C. varicaudatus. The morphological differences with the aforementioned species and other species having similar morphology are discussed. The phylogenetic analyses based on small (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) D2-D3 expansion segments of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of different individuals of the new species revealed that it fell into the clade of Cryptaphelenchus in both SSU and LSU trees. The monophyly of the genus was retained.

Redescription of Porrocaecum semiteres (Zeder, 1800) (Nematoda: Ascaridida) from the Song Thrush Turdus philomelos (Passeriformes: Turdidae).

Porrocaecum semiteres (Zeder, 1800) (Ascaridida: Ascaridoidea) occurs frequently in various birds in Europe. However, the knowledge of the morphology of this species remains insufficient. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to study the detailed morphology of adults of P. semiteres based on newly collected specimens from Turdus philomelos in the Czech Republic. Some previously unreported morphological features were revealed, including the presence of a medio-apical notch, 70-80 small conical denticles and one pair of submedial pores on each lip, the absence of caudal alae, the presence of four pairs of postcloacal papillae, and a single, medio-ventral precloacal papilla.

A new species of Raphidascaris (Nematoda: Raphidascarididae) infecting the fish Gymnogeophagus balzanii (Cichlidae) from the Pantanal wetlands, Brazil and a taxonomic update of the subgenera of Raphidascaris based on molecular phylogeny and morphology.

Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) andersoni n. sp. (Nematoda: Raphidascarididae) collected in the intestine of the humphead cichlid Gymnogeophagus balzanii (Perugia) from the Pantanal wetlands, State of Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil) is described and genetically characterized. The new species differs from its congeners mainly by having a conspicuous papilla-like formation slightly anterior to the cloacal aperture. Furthermore, males of R. (S.) lanfrediae and R. (S.) mahnerti have caudal alae, and R. (S.) hypostomi and R. (S.) pimelodi lack lateral alae, whereas in the new species caudal alae are absent and lateral alae present. The remaining congeners, namely, R. (S.) marano and R. (S.) saltaensis differ from Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) andersoni n. sp. mainly because males have three pairs of postcloacal papillae (vs five pairs). In the phylogenetic reconstructions, using three nuclear genetic markers (18S, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and 28S rDNA) and one mitochondrial (cox1 mtDNA), the new species was separated from other representatives of Raphidascarididae, and the absence of monophyly in Hysterothylacium and Raphidascaroides was confirmed. Moreover, the subgenera Sprentascaris and Ichthyascaris appeared to be monophyletic. Therefore, even though Raphidascaris (Raphidascaris) was apparently not monophyletic, the subgenera of Raphidascaris should be re-erected as valid genera. The updated diagnoses of Ichthyascaris, Raphidascaris and Sprentascaris are given. The present study represents the first parasitological survey in G. balzanii.

Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Toxocara tanuki (Nematoda: Ascaridae) from Korean Raccoon Dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis.

Present study was performed to describe the morphological and molecular characterization of Toxocara tanuki (Nematoda: Ascaridae) from Korean raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis, naturally infected in the Republic of Korea (Korea). Juvenile and adult worms of T. tanuki were recovered in 5 out of 10 raccoon dogs examined and the larval worms were detected in 15 out of 20 muscle samples (75%). Small lateral alae were observed on the cranial end of the body in male and female adults and 2 long spicules (3.0–3.5 mm) were characteristically observed in the posterior end of males. In SEM observation, 18 pairs of proximal precloacal, a precloacal median, a postcloacal median and 5 pairs of postcloacal papillae were uniquely revealed in the posterior portion of males, but the proximal papillae were not shown in the lateral ends of females. Molecular analysis on the 18S rRNA partial DNA sequences was revealed the same finding in both samples, adult worms and muscle larvae, which are closely related to T. tanuki. In conclusion, it was confirmed for the first time that T. tanuki is indigenously distributed, the Korean raccoon dog is acted as the natural definitive host of this nematode in Korea and the morphological characteristics of T. tanuki were shown in specific structure for single postcloacal median papilla in male.

Description of a new species Physaloptera goytaca n. sp. (Nematoda, Physalopteridae) from Cerradomys goytaca Tavares, Pessôa & Gonçalves, 2011 (Rodentia, Cricetidae) from Brazil.

Nematodes of the genus Physaloptera are common in rodents, including in species of the Family Cricetidae. There is no report of nematodes parasitizing Cerradomys goytaca, so this is the first one. For this study, 16 rodents were captured in the city of Quissamã, in the northern of Rio de Janeiro State. The rodents were necropsied, and the digestive tracts were analyzed under a stereomicroscope for the presence of parasites. The nematodes were fixed in hot AFA, clarified in Amann's lactophenol, mounted on slides with coverslip, and observed under an optical microscope. Part of the nematodes was fixed in Karnovisk solution for scanning electron microscopy. Nematodes presented evident sexual dimorphism. Oral openings had two semicircular pseudolabia, with an external lateral tooth and an internal lateral tripartite tooth on each pseudolabium. Males had a ventral spiral curved posterior ends with the presence of a caudal alae with 21 papillae with four pairs of pedunculated papillae arranged laterally, three pre-cloacal sessile papillae arranged rectilinearly and five pairs of post-cloacal sessile papillae. There was also a pair of phasmids located between the fourth and fifth pairs of post-cloacal papillae as well as two spicules that were sub-equal in size but of distinct shapes. The females have five uterine branches. The morphological and morphometrical analyses of the nematodes collected from C. goytaca were compared with other species, and the results indicated that this is a new species of the genus Physaloptera, Physaloptera goytaca n. sp.

First Blindness Cases of Horses Infected with Setaria Digitata (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in the Republic of Korea.

Ocular setariases of cattle were reported but those of equine hosts have never been reported in the Republic of Korea (Korea). We found motile worms in the aqueous humor of 15 horses (Equus spp.) from 12 localities in southern parts of Korea between January 2004 and November 2017. After the affected animals were properly restrained under sedation and local anesthesia, 10 ml disposable syringe with a 16-gauge needle was inserted into the anterior chamber of the affected eye to successfully remove the parasites. The male worm that was found in 7 of the cases showed a pair of lateral appendages near the posterior terminal end of the body. The papillar arrangement was 3 pairs of precloacal, a pair of adcloacal, and 3 pairs of postcloacal papillae, plus a central papilla just in front of the cloaca. The female worms found in the eyes of 8 horses were characterized by the tapering posterior terminal end of the body with a smooth knob. Worms were all identified as Setaria digitata (von Linstow, 1906) by the morphologic characteristics using light and electron microscopic observations. This is the first blindness cases of 15 horses infected with S. digitata (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in Korea.

A new species of Diomedenema (Nematoda, Rhabditida, Spiruromorpha) from Spheniscus magellanicus (Aves, Sphenisciformes) found on the southern coast of Brazil.

A new species of the genus Diomedenema, a spiruromorph nematode, collected from the lung of Spheniscus magellanicus (Sphenisciformes) found on the southern coast of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is described. The new species is differentiated from the only previously described species of the genus, D. diomedeae Johston & Mawson, 1952, by males possessing a set of caudal papillae with three pairs of precloacal, two pairs of adcloacal and one pair of postcloacal papillae; precloacal papillae with the papillae of the first two pairs being closer to each other than those of the third pair; a longer and pointed tail in males; and females with the vulva at mid-body. This is the first report of a nematode infecting the lung of a sphenisciforme host.

A new species of Hedruris Nitzsch, 1821 (Nematoda: Hedruridae) parasitic in the freshwater fish Oligosarcus jenynsii (Günther, 1864) (Characidae) from Argentina.

Nematodes belonging to genus Hedruris Nitzsch, 1821 (Nematoda: Hedruridae) were found in the stomach of the freshwater fish Oligosarcus jenynsii (Günther, 1864) (Characidae) from a shallow eutrophic lake in Argentina. Morphological comparisons with congeneric relatives showed that these nematodes belong to a new species, for which H. bifida n. sp. is proposed. Hedruris bifida n. sp. can be distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of characters: bifid deirids, absence of precloacal papillae and nine pairs of postcloacal papillae and non-mammillated eggs. The new species closely resembles Hedruris suttonae Brugni & Viozzi, 2010¸ the only known species from Argentina; however, the bifid deirids in the new species and the distribution pattern of perianal spines in females clearly distinguish both species. Hedruris bifida n. sp. represents the second nominal species of the genus in Argentina and the eighth species described in the Neotropical region.

Morphological and molecular genetic diversity of Strongyluris calotis (Nematoda: Ascaridida: Heterakidae) in South East and East Asian lizards.

Strongyluris calotis is a heterakid nematode in the large intestine of agamid lizards (Reptilia: Sauria: Agamidae) from the Oriental Region. The standard light microscopic definition of the species counts the "caudal papillae" as 10 pairs on male worms. However, previous work from our group using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the heterakid from agamid lizards in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore revealed that this counting contained a pair of phasmids and that two pairs of postcloacal papillae were completely fused to form a pair of united papillae, thus resulting in "10 pairs." In the present study, we examined S. calotis specimens from the Emma Gray's forest lizard, Calotes emma (Agamidae), living in the plain forest at low altitude, and the Vietnam false bloodsucker, Pseudocalotes brevipes (Agamidae), living in the mountainous forest at high altitude in the northern part of Vietnam. Using SEM, the arrangement of caudal papillae in male worms from an Emma Gray's forest lizard was found to be comparable to classical S. calotis specimens from agamid lizards collected in Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore. However, male worms from Vietnam false bloodsuckers did not have a pair of united papillae but had 10 pairs of independent caudal papillae with a pair of phasmids. Molecular genetic analyses of the ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) of worms of the classical S. calotis morphotype from Japan and Singapore and two S. calotis morphotypes from Vietnam demonstrated absolutely identical nucleotide sequences of partial 18S rDNA (at least 1764 base pairs (bp)) and 5.8S rDNA (158 bp). However, intraspecific differences were detected in other regions of the rDNA, related to the geographical distribution of hosts regardless of morphotype: 97.8-98.5% identity (443-446 bp/453 bp) in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 region, 96.6-98.0% identity (425-431 bp/440 bp) in the ITS-2 region, and 99.6-99.7% identity (1149-1151 bp/1154 bp) in the 28S rDNA. Thus, in the future, taxonomic relationships of S. calotis distributed widely in the Oriental Region as well as other nominal Oriental Strongyluris spp., currently six in number, need to be extensively explored based on molecular genetic analyses in addition to intensive morphological characterization.

New isolate of Mononchoides composticola Steel, Moens, Scholaert, Boshoff, Houthoofd & Bert, 2011 (Nematoda: Neodiplogasteridae) from Iran.

Mononchoides composticola was isolated during a survey on free living nematodes from vermicompost in Iran. This population of M. composticola is characterised by a dorsal claw-like tooth; 7-9 µm long and 3-5 µm wide, 14-15 finely visible longitudinal ridges on the cuticle, in which each ridge comprises two lines, long spicules (39-45 μm long), a short gubernaculum (15-17 µm or less than half of the spicule length), two pairs of precloacal papillae, five pairs of postcloacal papillae, papillae (v3) comprising three small papillae, and a long filiform tail (418-654 μm in females, 382-455 μm in males). Molecular analysis of M. composticola based on sequence of the 18S rDNA placed it close to M. composticola (GU943511; GU943512; from Belgium) and M. striatus (AY593924; from The Netherlands) in a well supported clade (1.00 posterior probability). Measurements, illustrations, LM and SEM pictures, and the phylogenetic position of M. composticola are given.