Species Of Acanthocephala Research Articles

New Genus of Cosmocercidae (Nematoda) and Other Helminths In Hylarana Volkerjane (Anura: Ranidae) from Papua New Guinea

Paraplesiohedruris rinse n. gen., n. sp. (Ascaridida; Cosmocercoidae; Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Hylarana volkerjane (Anura; Ranidae) is described and illustrated. The new genus is assigned to the Cosmocercinae of the Cosmocercidae based on the presence of an esophagus composed of a short pharynx, cylindrical corpus, isthmus, and valved bulb; on the presence in males of paired spicules and numerous caudal papillae; plus the presence in the female of an equatorial vulva, 2 uteri, a short tail, and thin-shelled eggs. The Cosmocercinae now contains 10 genera. Hylarana volkerjane was also found to harbor 6 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Aplectana macintoshii, Icosiella papuensis, Meteterakis crombiei, Paracapillaria spratti, Physalopteroides milnensis, and larvae of Abbreviata sp., as well as 1 species of Acanthocephala, Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis.

First data on the helminth fauna of a locally distributed mountain frog, “Tavas frog” Rana tavasensis Baran & Atatür, 1986 (Anura: Ranidae), from the inner-west Anatolian region of Turkey

A total of 8 specimens of Rana tavasensis Baran & Atatür, 1986 (Tavas frog) were collected in Denizli Province (inner-west Anatolia, or the eastern part of the Aegean region), Turkey, in 2008 and 2009 and were examined for the first time for helminths. All 8 frogs were infected with 1 or more helminths. The helminth fauna of R. tavasensis comprised 3 species: 1 species of Digenea [Haplometra cylindracea (Zeder, 1800) Looss, 1899], 1 species of Nematoda [Cosmocerca ornata (Dujardin, 1845)], and 1 species of Acanthocephala [Acanthocephalus ranae (Schrank, 1788) Lühe, 1911)]. R. tavasensis represents a new host record for each of the observed helminth species in Turkey.

Are cryptic host species also cryptic to parasites? Host specificity and geographical distribution of acanthocephalan parasites infecting freshwater Gammarus

Many parasites infect multiple host species. In coevolving host–parasite interactions, theory predicts that parasites should be adapted to locally common hosts, which could lead to regional shifts in host preferences. We studied the interaction between freshwater Gammarus (Crustacea, Amphipoda) and their acanthocephalan parasites using a large-scale field survey and experiments, combined with molecular identification of cryptic host and parasite species. Gammarus pulex is a common host for multiple species of Acanthocephala in Europe but, in Switzerland, is less common than two cryptic members of the Gammarus fossarum species complex (type A and type B). We found that natural populations of these cryptic species were frequently infected by Pomphorhynchus tereticollis and Polymorphus minutus. Four additional parasite species occurred only locally. Parasites were more common in G. fossarum type B than in type A. Infection experiments using several host and parasite sources confirmed consistently lower infection rates in G. pulex than in G. fossarum type A, suggesting a general difference in susceptibility between the two species. In conclusion, we could show that cryptic host species differ in their interactions with parasites, but that these differences were much less dramatic than differences between G. fossarum (type A) and G. pulex. Our data suggest that the acanthocephalans in Switzerland have adapted to the two most common Gammarus species in this region where host species frequencies differ from near-by regions in Europe.

New species of Oochoristica (Cestoda; Linstowiidae) and other endoparasites of Trachylepis atlantica (Sauria: Scincidae) from Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil

Oochoristica noronhae n. sp. from the small intestines of Trachylepis atlantica Schmidt (Sauria: Scincidae) from Fernando de Noronha, Brazil is described and illustrated. Prevalence of infection was 81%, mean intensity 30. ± 1.8, range (1–7). Oochoristica noronhae n. sp. represents the 88th species assigned to the genus and the 14th species from the Neotropical region. Of the 14 Neotropical species, O. noronhae n. sp. is most similar to O. parvula and O. vanzolinii in that these three species have circular suckers and fewer than 30 testes per proglottid. These three species can be separated on the basis of number of lobules per ovarian lobe; in O. vanzolinii the ovarian lobe is entire, O. parvula has 3–5 lobules/lobe, O. noronhae has 8–10 lobules/lobe. In addition to O. noronhae n. sp., two species of Nematoda, Moaciria alvarengai Freitas and Spinicauda spinicauda (Heterakidae), one species of Pentastomida, Raillietiella freitasi (Cephalobaenidae) and an undetermined species of Acanthocephala, as a cystacanth, were found.

Helminth biodiversity of Costa Rican Anurans (Amphibia: Anura)

One hundred and sixty-three frogs representing 21 species collected in Costa Rica were examined for helminths. Those found were: one species of Digenea (Mesocoelium monas), one species of Cestoda (Cylindrotaenia americana), 15 species of Nematoda, 11 species represented by gravid individuals (Aplectana hylambatis, Aplectana incerta, Aplectana itzocanensis, Capillaria recondita, Cosmocerca parva, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Falcaustra costaricae, Hedruris heyeri, Oswaldocruzia costaricensis, Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis, Rhabdias savagei) and four species represented by larvae (Physaloptera sp., Porrocaecum sp., Spirocamallanus sp., Ascarididae gen. sp.) and three species of Acanthocephala, one species represented by gravid individuals (Anuracanthorhynchus lutzi) and two species by cystacanths (Centrorhynchidae gen. sp. and Oligacanthorhynchidae gen. sp.). Mean helminth diversity (number of helminth species) per frog species was 2.4 ± 0.3 SE, range: 1–6. Forty-nine new host records are reported. Costa Rican frogs are infected by generalist helminths, which infect other species of frogs from Central and South America.

Gastrointestinal Helminths of the Oriental Leaf-Toed Gecko, Hemidactylus bowringii (Squamata: Gekkonidae), from Hong Kong, China

The digestive tracts of 29 Hemidactylus bowringii from Hong Kong, China were examined for helminths. One species of Cestoda, Oochoristica javaensis, two species of Nematoda, Parapharyngodon maplestoni and Spauligodon hemidactylus, and one species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus bufonis, were found. These helminths are opportunistic generalists that infect other lizard species and each species represents a new helminth record for H. bowringii. Hong Kong, China is a new locality record for O. javaensis, P. maplestoni, and S. hemidactylus.

Persistence and Stability of the Component Helminth Community of the Foothill Yellow-Legged Frog, Rana boylii (Ranidae), from Humboldt County, California, 1964–1965, Versus 2004–2007

Abstract Persistence and stability of the component helminth community of Rana boylii from Humboldt County, California was evaluated using two collections made 40 y apart (1964–1965 and 2004–2007). The component helminth community consisted of 13 species: one species of Cestoda (Distoichometra bufonis), six species of Digenea (Deropegus aspina, Glypthelmins quieta, Gorgoderina multilobata, Haematoloecus kernensis, Megalodiscus microphagus, echinostome metacercariae) four species of Nematoda, (Cosmocercoides variabilis, Hedruris sp., Rhabdias ranae, third stage Physalopterids) and two species of Acanthocephala (represented by centrorhynchid cystacanths and oligacanthorhynchid cystacanths). Twelve (92%) of the 13 species occurred in the 1964–1965 sample; nine (69%) of the 13 species were found in the 2004–2007 sample; eight (62%) of the 13 species occurred in both samples. Rana boylii is parasitized by generalist helminths that co-occur in other hosts. The aggregate of host species may be more important to ...

Metazoan endoparasites of 14 species of skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea

Three hundred and three individuals representing 14 species of lizards (Scincidae), collected in Papua New Guinea, were examined for metazoan endoparasites. Two species of Digenea, four species of Cestoda, 21 species of Nematoda (adults and larvae in cysts), two species of Acanthocephala and one species of Pentastomida were found. Forty-two new host records and two new locality records are reported. Skinks from Papua New Guinea are infected by “generalist” endoparasites, which parasitize a variety of reptile or amphibian hosts. Mean endoparasite species diversity per skink species was 5.0 ± 3.3 SD, range: 1–11.

Metazoan parasites of Mystus vittatus (Bloch) of River Godavari with description of a new species of Acanthocephala, Raosentis godavarensis sp. nov.

A total of 9 metazoan parasitic species were identified from Mystus vittatus (Bloch) in river Godavari during 2005-2007 including 2 monogeneans, 2 digeneans, 3 acanthocephalans and 2 copepods. Two species of monogeneans (Bifurcohaptor indicus and Thaparocleidus tengra), digeneans (Haplorchoides macrones and metacercariae of Isoparorchis hypselobagri), an acanthocephalan (Raosentis podderi) found during the present study are of common occurrence in this fish. M. vittatus constitutes a new host record for an acanthocephalan, Raosentis thapari and 2 copepods, Argulus striatus and Lamproglena hospetensis. The occurrence of A. striatus represents unusual for M. vittatus. A new species of acanthocephala, Raosentis godavarensis sp. nov is reported, described and illustrated.

The helminth community of the agile frog, Rana dalmatina Bonaparte, 1839 (Anura: Ranidae) collected from Northwest of Turkey

Abstract A total of 33 agile frogs (Rana dalmatina) were collected from 7 localities in Edirne, Bursa and Adapazarı Provinces (Northwest of Turkey), between 1987–2007 and examined for the first time for helminths. R. dalmatina harbored one species of Monogenea (Polystoma sp.), 3 species of Digenea (Diplodiscus subclavatus, Pleurogenoides medians, and Pleurogenes claviger), 4 species of Nematoda (Rhabdias bufonis, Oswaldocruzia filiformis, Cosmocerca ornata, and Oxysomatium brevicaudatum) and one species of Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalus ranae). All helminths represent new host records for Rana dalmatina in Turkey.

Helminths of 26 species of microhylid frogs (Anura: Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Five hundred and sixty microhylid frogs representing 26 species collected from 2002 to 2005 in Papua New Guinea were examined for helminths. Found were three species of Digenea, two species of Cestoda, nineteen species of Nematoda, and two species of Acanthocephala. One hundred and eleven new host records were recorded. Nematodes comprised 73% (19/26) of the species present and 95% (10,581/11,107) of the individuals present. Seventeen of the 26 (65%) helminth species found are currently known only from Papua New Guinea.

Helminth Parasites of the Caucasian Parsley Frog, Pelodytes caucasicus, from Turkey

Fifty-four Caucasian parsley frogs, Pelodytes caucasicus, from Turkey were examined for helminths in 2005. Found were 1 species of Digenea, Gorgodera cygnoides; 5 species of Nematoda, Agfa tauricus, Aplectana brumpti, Cosmocerca ornata, Oswaldocruzia filiformis, and Rhabdias bufonis; and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Pseudoacanthocephala caucasicus. Pelodytes caucasicus represents a new host record for each of the parasite species; Agfa tauricus and Pseudoacanthocephala caucasicus are reported from Turkey for the first time.

Gastrointestinal Helminths of Six Sympatric Species of Leptodactylus from Tocantins State, Brazil

Abstract A total of 107 leptodactylid frogs representing 6 species, Leptodactylus fuscus (n = 15), Leptodactylus leptodactyloides (n = 9), Leptodactylus mystaceus (n = 2), Leptodactylus ocellatus (n = 31), Leptodactylus petersii (n = 31), and Leptodactylus pustulatus (n = 19), collected in the Brazilian state of Tocantins, were examined for helminths. One species of Digenea (Catadiscus marinholutzi), 6 species of Nematoda (adults of Cosmocerca podicipinus, Ochoterenella scalaris, Oswaldocruzia proencai, and Schrankiana larvata and larvae of Brevimulticaecum sp. and Physaloptera sp.), and 1 species of Acanthocephala (as cystacanths) were found. The mean number of helminth species infecting each frog species was 3.3 ± 2.1 SD, with a range of 1–7. Ten new host records are reported.

Redescription of Rhadinorhynchus ornatus (Acanthocephala: Rhadinorhynchidae) from Skipjack Tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, Collected in the Pacific Ocean off South America, with Special Reference to New Morphological Features

Adults of Rhadinorhynchus ornatus Van Cleave, 1918 were collected from the small intestine of skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus), in the high seas of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America (new parasite locality record) and described using optical microscopy and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Our specimens were somewhat comparable to those described from North America and Japan, but had more trunk spines. Definitive differences between the length and thickness of each of the dorsal and ventral proboscis hooks are noted for the first time, with most ventral middle hooks being relatively shorter and more robust than dorsal middle hooks. The SEM documented, for the first time, the different surface topography of the tegument in the proboscis, the neck, and in 3 trunk regions; the presence of microtrichs in the mid- and posterior trunk regions; the elevated base of trunk spines; the circular arrangement of basal proboscis hooks; the different morphology of all dorsal and ventral proboscis hooks and the striations of their surface; the ribbed surface topography of eggs; the elevated slit-like female gonopore; and the rimmed edge of the bursa. The presence of microtrichs on the tegumental surface is further supported by transmission electron microscopy studies. This is the first report of microtrichs in any species of Acanthocephala and the second report of striations in proboscis hooks. The geographical distribution of R. ornatus appears to correspond, at least in part, to that of its epipelagic primary host, K. pelamis, throughout the world in waters ranging in temperature from 14.7 to 30 C.

Gastrointestinal helminths from fifteen species of Litoria and Nyctimystes (Anura: Hylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Three hundred and ninety‐nine individuals representing 10 species of Litoria and five species of Nyctimystes (Hylidae), L. arfakiana, L. bibonius, L. eucnemis, L. genimaculata, L. impura, L. infrafrenata, L. modica, L. nasuta, L. thesaurensis, L. wollastoni, N. gularis, N. kubori, N. papua, N. pulcher and N. semipalmatus collected in Papua New Guinea were examined for helminths. Gravid individuals representing one species of Monogenea (Parapolystoma bulliense), one species of Digenea (Mesocoelium monas), 18 species of Nematoda (Aplectana krausi, Aplectana macintoshi, Aplectana zweifeli, Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Falcaustra papuensis, Icosiella papuensis, Maxvachonia adamsoni, Maxvachonia ewersi, Meteterakis crombiei, Moaciria moraveci, Ochoterenella papuensis, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Parapharyngdon maplestoni, Parathelandros allisoni, Parathelandros andersoni, Physalopteroides milnensis, Rhabdias australiensis, Seuratascaris numidica) and one species of Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalus bufonis) were found. Also included were immature forms representing one species of Cestoda (as a metacestode), three species of Nematoda (Abbreviata sp., Rictulariidae gen. sp., Ascarididae gen. sp. in cysts), one species of Acanthocephala (unidentified cystacanth), and one species of Pentastomida [Raillietiella sp. (nymph)]. The mean helminth species richness for infected hosts was 1.3±0.6 SD (range one to three species). Sixty‐seven new host records and two new locality records are reported.

New Species of Falcaustra (Nematoda: Kathlaniidae) in Nyctimystes Cheesmani (Anura: Hylidae) From Papua New Guinea

Falcaustra batrachiensis n. sp. (Ascaridida, Kathlaniidae) from the large intestine of Nyctimystes cheesmani (Anura, Hylidae) is described and illustrated. Falcaustra batrachiensis represents the fifth Australo-Papuan species assigned to the genus and is distinguished from other Australo-Papuan species by the distribution pattern of the caudal papillae (8 precloacal, 2 adcloacal, 6 postcloacal, and 1 median), length of spicules (1.4-1.6 mm) and presence of pseudosuckers (5 or 6). Nyctimystes cheesmani was found to harbor 7 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Maxvachonia ewersi, Meteterakis crombiei, Physalopteroides milnensis, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Seuratascaris numidica, larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus bufonis. Nyctimystes cheesmani represents a new host record for each of these helminth species.

The helminths of Freshwatere fishes caught from waters of rural areas of Kirkuke governorate, Iraq

Six freshwater species of fishes have been subjected to parasitological investigation, which were collected from water in different urban area of Al-tamim governorate. The results revealed the presence of four species of helminthes; include one species of cestoda(Bothriocephalus gowokensis) collected from Cyprinus carpio and Aspiux vorax( with the rate 2.9 %and 25% respectively); one species of nematoda (Cucullanus cyprini) collected from the carp; two species of acanthocephalans namely Neoechinorhynchus rutili collected from Cyprinus carpio, Barbus luteus, Chondrostoma regius and Varicorhinus trutta. The incidence of infection in Cyprinus carpio(4.2% in males and 8.3 % in females); in Barbus luteus(2.5%); in Chondrostoma regius(8% in males and 9.9% in females) and in Varicorhinus . trutta(50%).The other species of acanthocephala is Neoechinorhynchus iraqinensis which has been revealed from Liza abu( 15.7% in males and 35% in females). From the result of the present study, it can be concluded, that, all four helminthic parasites are the first record in fishes caught from Kirkuk province.

Die Acanthocephalen-Typen des Museums für Naturkunde in Berlin

The Types of Acanthocephala in the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin A catalogue of all holotypes, syntypes, and paratypes of 68 species of Acanthocephala preserved or formerly held in the helminth collection of the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin, now Museum für Naturkunde, is presented. The species are arranged in alphabetical order. After the species name, the original combination of the binomen, author, year, and reference is given. Below follows the species name as taken from the checklist by Amin (1985). Thereafter, the reader finds the catalogue number, host and organ where the specimen was found, sampling site, and collector and/or collection; all data is presented as written in the original entrance catalogue or on the accompanying label(s). Data taken from the original species description or from other sources is mentioned in []. The kind of type, number, and condition of specimen(s) are mentioned in (). Lost specimens are marked with “perditus”, desiccated, yet available material is identified by “siccus”.

The fauna of endoparasites in Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758 from the Serbian part of the Danube River

Helminths of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus L.) from the Danube River were studied as a part of ichthyoparasitological research in Serbia. The fish were collected during the period of 2002 - 2003 along the Danube's course through the Belgrade region. A total of 517 specimens of sterlet of different ages (0+ to 1+) were examined. Helminths were found in 342 or 66.15% of the collected specimens. The examined fish yielded a total of 13 helminth species: four species of Trematoda, one species of Cestoda, four species of Nematoda, and four species of Acanthocephala.

Fauna de parasitos metazoários de <em>Pimelodus maculatus</em> La Cépède, 1803 (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) do rio Guandu, Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Sixty specimens of Pimelodus maculatus from the Guandu River in Rio de Janeiro State were examined to describe their parasitofauna, in the period from August 1999 to February 2001. Specimens of twelve metazoan parasite species were collected, allocated into seven taxonomic groups - Monogenoidea: Demidospermus uncusvalidus Gutiérez and Suriano, 1992, D. paravalenciennesi Gutiérez and Suriano, 1992, D. majusculus Kritsky and Gutiérez, 1998 and Scleroductus sp.; Digenea: Austrodiplostomum compactum (Lutz, 1928); Eucestoda: Nomimoscolex sp.; Nematoda: Cucullanus pinnai Travassos, Artigas and Pereira, 1928 and Procamallanus sp. (young specimen); Hirudinea: Helobdella sp.; Myxozoa: Henneguya sp. and Myxobolus absonus Cellere, Cordeiro and Adriano, 2002, along with one unidentified species of Acanthocephala (cystacanth). There was a correlation between the host sex and the prevalence and abundance of D. paravalenciennesi. The most dominant species in the parasite community of P. maculatus from the Guandu River was D. uncusvalidus (50%), followed by C. pinnai (18,3%). This study is the first report of D. majusculus and Henneguya sp. in P. maculatus, while it expands the known geographic distribution of D. uncusvalidus, D. paravalenciennesi, D. majusculus, Scleroductus sp., Nomimoscolex sp., C. pinnai, Procamallanus sp., Helobdella sp., Henneguya sp. and M. absonus.