Showing papers on "Digenea published in 2004"

Ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of Monorchis parvus Looss, 1902 (Digenea, Monorchiidae), a parasite of Diplodus annularis (Pisces, Teleostei).

Abstract: The present paper describes the characteristic ultrastructural features of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of Monorchis parvus (Trematoda, Digenea, Monorchiidae). This spermiogenesis is characterized by a flagellar rotation of about 120° and the formation of a novel ultrastructural element: a centriolar extension. It nevertheless follows the general pattern of digeneans. It begins with the formation of a differentiation zone, comprising striated rootlets associated with two centrioles and an intercentriolar body. The mature spermatozoon presents features allowing the distinction between M. parvus and other digenetic trematodes. It possesses an original anterior extremity. The two central elements of the axonemes appear prior to the peripheral doublets. The external ornamentations of the cell membrane are formed parallel to the central elements. Another peculiarity of the male gamete is the presence of two mitochondria. M. parvus, therefore, differs distinctly from other digenetic trematodes.

The life cycle of Paracardicoloides yamagutii Martin, 1974 (Digenea: Sanguinicolidae).

Abstract: The sanguinicolids Paracardicoloides yamagutii Martin, 1974 and Plethorchis acanthus Martin, 1975 were obtained from their definitive hosts, Anguilla reinhardtii Steindachner and Mugil cephalus Linnaeus (respectively) in the tributaries of the Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia. Two putative sanguinicolid cercariae were collected from a hydrobiid gastropod, Posticobia brazieri Smith, in the same waters. The two cercariae differ markedly in size and the form of their sporocysts. Both putative cercariae develop in the digestive gland of Po. brazieri. The ITS2 rDNA region from these sanguinicolids and a Clinostomum species (utilised as an outgroup due to the close morphological similarities between the cercarial stages of the Clinostomidae and the Sanguinicolidae) were sequenced and aligned. Comparison of the ITS2 sequences showed one cercaria to be that of P. yamagutii. This is the first sanguinicolid life history determined by a molecular method. P. yamagutii is the fourth sanguinicolid known to utilise a freshwater hydrobiid gastropod as its intermediate host. ITS2 rDNA is effective in distinguishing sanguinicolids at the species level.

Parasites of the African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, in Southern California, U.S.A

Abstract: A total of 230 feral African clawed frogs, Xenopus laevis, from 3 localities in southern California were examined for parasites. The following species were found: 3 species of Protozoa, Nyctotherus sp., Balantidium xenopodis, Protoopalina xenopodus; 2 species of Monogenea, Protopolystoma xenopodis, Gyrdicotylus gallieni; 1 species of Digenea, Clinostomum sp. (as metacercariae); 1 species of Cestoda, Cephalochlamys namaquensis; 2 species of Nematoda, Contracaecum sp. (as larvae), Eustrongylides sp. (as larvae); and 1 species of Acanthocephala, Acanthocephalus sp. (as cystacanth). Of these, the protozoans P. xenopodus and B. xenopodis, both monogeneans, and the cestode have an African origin. Contracaecum sp., Eustrongylides sp., and Acanthocephalus sp. have not been previously reported from X. laevis.

Metazoan parasites of Sebastes capensis from two localities in northern Chile as tools for stock identification

Abstract: Examination of 290 red rockfish Sebustes capensis from two fishing grounds in northern Chile (Coquimbo 71°30'W; 30°0'S and Antofagasta 70°40'W; 23°30'S) revealed 8770 metazoan parasites, belonging to 18 taxa: Udonella caligorum (Udonellidae); Interniloculus chilensis, Paramicrocotyle sp. and Neobenedenia melleni (Monogenea); larval Gnathia sp., Cirolana sp. and Rocinela sp. (Isopoda); Helicometrina nimia, Diphtherostomum sp., Lecithochirium sp. and Pseudopecoclus sp. (Digenea); Ascarophis sebastodis, Anisakis sp. and larval Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda); Caligus cheilodactylus, Lepeophtheirus chilensis and Trifur tortuosus (Copepoda); larval Corynosoma australe (Acanthocephala). Ten species were found only in Coquimbo and three were found only in Antofagasta, species common to both localities were Pseudopecoelus sp., C. australe, Anisakis sp. and A. sebastodis, Evidence, based on qualitative differences between the parasite faunas of the red rock fish, suggests the existence of two discrete stocks.

Parasite fauna of Greater Weever (Trachinus draco Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract: A lot of 87 greater weever ( Trachinus draco Linnaeus, 1758 ) caught in the period April - May 2002 around the Gokceada were investigated parasitologically. In 57 ( 65.52 % ) of these fish, 5 species of parasites wereobserved. The parasites were determined as Aspinatrium trachini (Monogenea), Helicometra fasciata (Digenea), Contracaecum fabri (Nematoda), Botriocephalus scorpii (Cestoda) and Stibadobdella loricata (Hirudinea).

Ptychogyliauchen, a new genus of Gyliauchenidae (Platyhelminthes: Digenea) from siganid fishes of the Indo-West Pacific

Abstract: We propose a new genus of the Gyliauchenidae Fukui, 1929 ( Digenea), Ptychogyliauchen, gen. nov., for four new species that infect Indo-West Pacific siganid fishes. Ptychogyliauchen, gen. nov. is a morphologically distinctive genus, diagnosed principally by the presence of a highly convoluted oesophagus, which generally exceeds the total body length of the worm, and by the unusual folded structure of the ejaculatory duct. Ptychogyliauchen thetidis, sp. nov. is designated as the type species, and is described from the intestine of Siganus punctatus (Siganidae) from Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Ptychogyliauchen himinglaeva, sp. nov. is described from the intestine of Siganus corallinus ( Siganidae) from Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. Ptychogyliauchen leucothea, sp. nov. is described from the intestine of S. argenteus, and further recorded from S. fuscescens, off Ningaloo, Western Australia, Australia. Ptychogyliauchen thistilbardi, sp. nov. is described from the intestine of S. doliatus from Noumea, New Caledonia, and is also found in S. argenteus, S. canaliculatus, S. corallinus and S. spinus from Noumea, New Caledonia, and Moorea, Tahiti, French Pacific. Ptychogyliauchen thistilbardi, sp. nov. also occurs in the intestine of Chaetodon citrinellus (Chaetodontidae) from Moorea. A key to species is provided. All species have been described following morphological examination using light microscopy, and specimens of P. thetidis, sp. nov., P. leucothea, sp. nov. and P. thistilbardi, sp. nov. have been characterised using molecular methods. Sequences were obtained for a combination of nuclear ribosomal (28S (D1-D3) and ITS2) and mitochondrial (ND1) genes. A phylogenetic analysis of sequenced specimens of Ptychogyliauchen, gen. nov. was conducted using species of Petalocotyle Ozaki, 1934 for outgroup comparison. This analysis, based on alignments of the ITS2 and 28S (D1-D3) rDNA genes, supports monophyly of the geographically widespread P. thistilbardi, sp. nov., which is known from both siganid and chaetodontid hosts. We discuss the taxonomy of the genus and the host associations of each species and the group.

Redescription of Pleorchis polyorchis (Stossich, 1889) (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae), a rare and poorly known parasite of the intestine of Sciaena umbra l. (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the western Mediterranean Sea.

Abstract: Pleorchis polyorchis (Stossich, 1889), the type-species of the genus, is described on the basis of new material from Sciaena umbra from off Corsica, France. This is only the second description of this species. The results of this study indicate that there are apparent errors in the original description in relation to the number of testes, the anterior limit of the vitellarium, the extent of the post-testicular field and the shape of the intestinal caeca, and that the type-species is closer to its congeners than previously believed. P. polyorchis is compared with other nominal species of the genus, and species previously attributed to the genus are commented upon.

Description of Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. (Digenea: Dicrocoeliidae) from the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (Insectivora: Erinaceidae).

Abstract: A new hepatic dicrocoeliid species, Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. (Digenea, Dicrocoeliidae), is described from the European hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus (L.) (Insectivora, Erinaceidae). An infected host was found in the Mediterranean island of Elba (Italy), and more than 60 individuals were isolated from the biliary ducts. The holotype and 55 paratypes were examined. Brachylecithum mackoi n. sp. differs from congeneric species found in mammal hosts by having well-developed lappets in the ventral sucker, a sloping uterus between anterior testis and acetabulum, no overlap between vitellaria, and metrical features in the body size, sucker diameters, cirrus sac, and size of eggs. The only other Brachylecithum species of erinaceids in Europe and Africa, Brachylecithum aetechini Dollfus, 1951, differs from the new species in the above-mentioned morphological characters, greater dimensions of the body, and oral sucker, pharynx, cirrus sac, and egg dimensions. The presence of B. mackoi n. sp. in Elba Island is discussed in the light of apparent host specificity of erinaceid dicrocoeliids and geographical distribution of Palearctic and Ethiopian Erinaceidae.

Two species of Stephanostomum Looss, 1899 (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from marine fishes off Namibia, including S. beukelaardori n. sp.

Abstract: Stephanostomum kovalevae Parukhin, 1968 from the intestine of Lophius vomerinus off Swakopmund, Namibia, is redescribed. It is characterised by its large number (c.73-88) of circum-oral spines, its relatively very long hindbody and the vitellarium reaching close to or just overlapping the ventral sucker. S. beukelaardori n. sp., from the intestine of Zenopsis conchifera off Walvis Bay, Namibia, is described. It belongs to the group of species where the vitellarium reaches the ventral sucker, and which has c.32-38 circum-oral spines. It is closest to S. casum (Linton, 1910), but differs in lacking the lining of prominent spines in the ejaculatory duct, probably in egg-size and in both forebody and hindbody lengths.

Macrourimegatrema brayi n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from four species of deep-sea macrourid fishes from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, with a list of endohelminths reported from species of Bathygadus and Gadomus (Macrouridae)

Abstract: Macrourimegatrema brayi n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae: Plagioporinae) is described from the pyloric ceca and intestines of 4 species of bathygadine macrourid fishes collected from deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico and off Colombia and Panama. Macrourimegatrema n. gen. can be distinguished from all other genera in the subfamily by possessing a combination of the following diagnostic characteristics: an atypically large elongate body; a short, distinct forebody separated from a long hindbody by a distinct constriction at the level of the acetabulum; a terminal, funnelshaped oral sucker; nearly equatorial ovary and testes and an unusual tubular excretory vesicle that winds between the 2 tandem testes. Macrourimegatrema n. gen. is most similar to the genus Anabathycreadium, but the former differs in having a smaller body size (6,000 vs 15,500 m); a funnelshaped oral sucker; a slightly protuberant acetabulum; suckers of equal size; an oval pharynx (rather than being ring-shaped); ceca that terminate some distance from the posterior extremity; a smaller cirrus sac that reaches only a short distance postacetabularly (rather than reaching to the level of the ovary); a genital pore that is bifurcal to slightly prebifurcal (rather than being at the posterior margin of the pharynx); numerous, small, follicular vitelline follicles that approach the level of the acetabulum anteriorly (rather than terminating well short of the level of the acetabulum); an ovary that is immediately pretesticular (rather than being far removed anteriorly from the anterior testis) and M. brayi n. gen., n. sp. has an unusual tubular excretory vesicle that winds between the 2 testes. Species of opecoelids are expected to utilize either a crustacean or fish second intermediate host, and the lack of fish reported for the food preferences of members of Bathygadinae studied here suggest that M. brayi n. gen., n. sp. probably infects its host through ingestion of a near-bottom pelagic crustacean. The precedence of using general body morphology of the species or its conformation to the characteristics of the 4 subfamilies of Opecoelidae is discussed.

Saccocoelium megasacculum N. sp., a new haploporid trematode from Liza carinatus in the Taiwan Strait

Abstract: Saccocoelium megasacculum n. sp. (Digenea: Haploporidae) was collected from the intestine of the mugilid fish, Liza carinatus (Cuvier and Valenciennes), in the Taiwan Strait. It is the first record of Saccocoelium in China. The parasite most closely resembles Saccocoelium obesum Looss, 1902 and Saccocoelium tensum Looss, 1902 in general morphology and body size, but it is easily distinguished from them in having a larger hermaphroditic sac in relation to body size; larger eggs; smaller pharynx, testis, ovary, and vitellaria; and a uterine seminal receptacle instead of a true seminal receptacle.

Dinurus ivanosi sp. nov. (Digenea: Hemiuridae) from the stomach of dolphin fish, Coryphaena hippurus, caught off the Kerala Coast, India.

Abstract: A new species of stomach fluke, Dinurus ivanosi (sp. nov.), was recovered from the dolphin fish, Coryphaena hippurus, off the Kerala Coast, India. It is similar to other Dinurus species in the plicated prosoma, trilobed seminal vesicle and seven vitellaria, but differs from them in the length of the pharynx, unequal lobes of the seminal vesicle and unequal size of the testes. The most important diagnostic features of the new species are the general shape and proportions of the body, the position of the oral sucker, elongated pharynx, small distal lobe of the seminal vesicle, and larger anterior testis, smaller egg size, short and slender vitellaria and the limited extent of the vitelline field.

Note on the feeding habits of Opisthogonimus lecithonotus (Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiidae).

Abstract: The presence of snake’s blood inside the alimentary canal of the species Opisthogonimus lecithonotus (Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiidae) collected from the mouth of Bothrops moojeni (Serpentes, Viperidae) is reported The implications of this observation to the host snake are discussed

Steringovermes notacanthi n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Fellodistomidae) from the deep-sea spiny eel Notacanthus bonaparte (Notacanthiformes: Notacanthidae) from the north eastern Atlantic and a new host record for Olssonium turneri

Abstract: Steringovermes notacanthi, a new genus and species of fellodistomine digenean, is described from the deep-sea spiny eel Notacanthus bonaparte from below 1,000m depth in the north eastern Atlantic. It differs from other related genera in the unique combination of a V-shaped excretory vesicle, multilobate, mainly post-testicular ovary and extensive vitelline fields extending into both the foreand hindbody. In addition, the fellodistomine Olssonium turneri Bray & Gibson, 1980 is reported for the first time from a fish not of the genus Alepocephalus, namely the alepocephalid Narcetes stomias.

Registro de Copiatestes filiferus (Leukart, in Sars, 1885) Gibson y Bray, 1977 (Digenea) y Gorgorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala) en pez marino de la costa peruana Records of Copiatestes filiferus (Leukart, in Sars, 1885) Gibson and Bray, 1977 (Digenea) and Gorgorhynchus sp. (Acanthocepahala) of marine fish from peruvian coast

Abstract: In this paper, Copiatestes filiferus (Leukart, in Sars, 1885) Gibson and Bray, 1977 (Digenea) and Gorgorhynchus sp. (Acanthocephala) parasites of Hemilutjanus macrophthalmos (Teleostei), both parasites are new records from Peru and the fish is a new host.

Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970 (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae), the redescription of a species newly reported in European waters.

Abstract: The lepocreadiid Cephalolepidapedon saba Yamaguti, 1970 is redescribed from Scomber japonicus in the western Mediterranean. The circum-oral spine rings and terminal genitalia are described in detail for the first time and the short excretory vesicle is confirmed. This is the first record of this distinctive parasite from European waters. It is concluded that it is a recent introduction to the area probably via the Straits of Gibraltar.

(Linton) (Digenea, Gynaecotylinae)

Abstract: Conf Conf Conf Confirmation of the synon mation of the synon mation of the synon mation of the synon mation of the synonymy of Gynaecotyla Gynaecotyla Gynaecotyla Gynaecotyla jaegerskioeldi jaegerskioeldi jaegerskioeldi jaegerskioeldi jaegerskioeldi (Travassos) (Digenea, assos) (Digenea, assos) (Digenea, assos) (Digenea, assos) (Digenea, Microphallidae) ophallidae) ophallidae) ophallidae) ophallidae) with Gynaecotyla adunca adunca adunca adunca adunca (Linton) (Digenea, (Linton) (Digenea, (Linton) (Digenea, (Linton) (Digenea, (Linton) (Digenea, Gynaecotylinae). Gynaecotylinae). Gynaecotylinae). Gynaecotylinae). Gynaecotylinae). The synonymy of Gynaecotyla jaegerskioeldi (Travassos, 1920) Yamaguti, 1939 with Gynaecotyla adunca (Linton, 1905) Yamaguti, 1939 is confirmed, on the basis of the detailed morphological study of the cornucotyle of specimens of both referred species. The cornucotyle is a hermaphroditic organ that can be formed by the ovijector and the ejaculatory duct and is an important specific