Calodium hepaticum (Bancroft, 1893) Moravec, 1982 (syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a cosmopolitan capillariid nematode, infecting mainly rodents and occasionally other mammals, including humans. Reports of C. hepaticum in canids are rare and the present one is, to the best of our knowledge, the first reported case in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus) in Italy. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination of the eggs of C. hepaticum allowed a precise description of the egg morphology, which is one of the most relevant specific characteristics of capillariid nematodes. The egg shell showed a fibrous beam-like network which differs from that of the eggs of closely related trichinelloid species. This characteristic can be useful especially in case of spurious infection, when misdiagnosis among different trichinelloids species can occur.
The following caryophyllidean tapeworms were found in freshwater fishes from Japan (species reported from Japan for the first time marked with an asterisk): family Caryophyllaeidae: Paracaryophyllaeus gotoi (Motomura, 1927) from Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor); Archigetes sieboldi Leuckart, 1878 from Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel) and Sarcocheilichthys variegatus microoculus Mori (new hosts); family Lytocestidae: *Caryophyllaeides ergensi Scholz, 1990 from Tribolodon hakuensis (Günther), T. ezoe Okada et Ikeda, Hemibarbus barbus (Temminck et Schlegel) and Chaenogobius sp. (new hosts); Khawia japonensis (Yamaguti, 1934) from Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus; K. sinensis Hsü, 1935 from H. barbus (new host) and C. carpio; *K. parva (Zmeev, 1936) from Carassius auratus langsdorfii Valenciennes in Cuvier et Valenciennes and Carassius sp. (new hosts); and *Atractolytocestus sagittatus (Kulakovskaya et Akhmerov, 1962) from C. carpio; family Capingentidae: *Breviscolex orientalis Kulakovskaya, 1962 from H. barbus (new host); and Caryophyllidea gen. sp. (probably Breviscolex orientalis) from C. carpio. The validity of C. ergensi, originally described from Leuciscus leuciscus baicalensis from Mongolia, is confirmed on the basis of an evaluation of extensive material from Japan. Atractolytocestus sagittatus (syn. Markevitschia sagittata) is tentatively considered a valid species, differing from the only congener, A. huronensis Anthony, 1958, in its considerably greater number of testes.
A new species Chonopeltis liversedgei sp. n. of the endemic African genus Chonopeltis Thiele, 1900 (Crustacea: Branchiura) is described. T his ectoparasite inhabits the branchial chamber of its mormyrid host Mormyrus lacerda Castelnau, 1861 and was collected from three localities in the Okavango River and its inland Delta in Botswana, Southern Africa.
Achtheres percarum von Nordmann, 1832 and Achtheres sandrae Gadd, 1901 (Lernaeopodidae) are common parasitic copepods infecting fishes in Eurasia. The former is specific to perch, Perca fluviatilis L., while the latter, to zander, Sander lucioperca (L.). Until recently these copepods have been regarded a single species. The present study was intended to analyse details of male morphology and provide their complete descriptions with differential diagnosis. Males of A. percarum and A. sandrae were collected from perch and zander at Lake Dąbie (north-western Poland). The males of A. sandrae are larger than those of A. percarum. They also differ in proportions of the first antenna, mandibular denticulation, structure of the first maxilla, and the armament of caudal ramus. The reported differences in male morphology constitute a conclusive confirmation of the separate identity of the two species.
Trichodina centrostrigeata Basson, Van As et Paperna, 1983 from Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters) and O. niloticus (Linnaeus) from different host populations from Argentina, Mexico and South Africa was reviewed. Although T. centrostrigeata has a distinct denticle structure that makes morphological taxonomic inferences uncomplicated, variation of the denticles within and among individuals and populations were still observed. While traditional taxonomy of mobilines is heavily reliant on morphometrics, and recently even more so on molecular analysis, this paper proposes the use of geometric morphometry, specifically elliptical Fourier analysis, to address morphological conflicts that arise when comparing different populations. By applying this technique, combined with traditional taxonomy, it was found that T. centrostrigeata in this study can be grouped into two separate morphotypes, the first (type a) from aquaculture farms in Argentina and Mexico and the second (type b) from a natural habitat in Glen Alpine Dam, South Africa. This study supports the validity of geometric morphometry as an additional technique to distinguish not only between species but also evolutionary plasticity of the same species from different localities and habitats.
The rare and endangered plant, Begonia fimbristipula, shows red and green phenotypes, differentiated by a coloration of the abaxial leaf surface. In this study, we compared morphological and physiological traits of both phenotypes. The results showed that the red phenotype contained a significantly higher chlorophyll content, closer arrangement of chloroplasts, and a more developed grana. In addition, the red phenotype transferred significantly more light energy into the electron transport during the photoreaction. Similarly, the maximum photosynthetic rate, instantaneous water-use and light-use efficiencies of the red B. fimbristipula were all significantly higher than those of the green individuals. The differentiation between these two phenotypes could be caused by their different survival strategies under the same conditions; epigenetic variations may be in some correlation with this kind of phenotype plasticity. Red B. fimbristipula has an advantage in resource acquisition and utilization and possesses a better self-protection mechanism against changes in environmental conditions, therefore, it might adapt better to global climate change compared to the green phenotype. Further studies on the possible epigenetic regulation of those phenotypic differentiations are needed., Y. Wang, L. Shao, J. Wang, H. Ren, H. Liu, Q. M. Zhang, Q. F. Guo, X. W. Chen., and Seznam literatury
Conventional methods to preserve adult nematodes for taxonomic purposes involve the use of fixative or clearing solutions (alcohol, formaldehyde, AFA and lactophenol), which cause morphological alterations and are toxic. The aim of this study is to propose an alternative method based on glycerol-cryopreservation of nematodes for their subsequent identification. Adults of trichostrongylid nematodes from the abomasum of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus) were glycerol-cryopreserved and compared with those fixed in formaldehyde, fresh and frozen without cryoprotectans. Morphology, transparency and elasticity of the anterior and posterior portion of male nematodes were compared, especially the caudal cuticular bursa and genital accessories. The method presented is quick and easy to use, and the quality of nematode specimens is better than that of nematodes fixed by previously used fixatives. Moreover, glycerol cryopreserved nematodes can be stored for a long time at -20°C in perfect condition and they could be suitable for further analyses, such as histological or ultrastructural examinations.
Morphology of the nematode Viguiera dicrurusi Gupta, 1960 harboured by Dicrurus macrocercus albirictus (Hodgson) (Passseriformes: Dicruridae) from Baruipara in 24-Pargonas (South) district, West Bengal, India was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This represents the first study of V. dicrurusi using SEM. Scanning electron micrographs provided detailed information about the nature of pseudolabial plates, number and shape of teeth, dentate nature of striae, and the relative position of vulva, anus and phasmid opening in female. A detailed morphometrical comparison of this species with Viguiera viduae Chabaud, 1960 described from Dicrurus forficatus from Madagascar indicates that V. viduae is a junior synonym of V. dicrurusi. Two other species, Viguiera bhujangai Jehan, 1972 and Viguiera adsimilisai Sood et Kalia, 1978 are considered species inquirendae.
Demodex neomydis sp. n. from the Mediterranean water shrew, Neomys anomalus, is described as a new species in all developmental stages. This demodecid is classified as a member of the genus Demodex Owen, 1843, but shows several morphological characters described in Soricidex dimorphus Bukva, 1982 and which are absent or very infrequent in other known Demodex species, viz., in the adult stage, a pair of shelf-like lamellae on the dorsum of the podosoma, dorso-lateral extension of the podosoma over the basal part of the gnathosoma, multiple opisthosomal organ in the male, and podosomal position of the vulva in the female. Immature stages of D. neomydis have unusual inflated idiosoma and dorsad deflected gnathosoma. All developmental stages of D. neomydis were found in the lumen of the hair follicles on the host’s muzzle, causing no gross pathological response. On histological level, the main pathological change was distension of infested hair follicles by accumulations of up to a dozen mites, which appear to feed on the epithelial cells of the hair follicle walls.
Parasitological examination of faeces of 26 snakes kept in Bio-Ken Snake Farm, Watamu, Kenya revealed new species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 in Telescopus semiannulatus Smith, 1849. Oocysts of Eimeria arabukosokokensis sp. n. are cylindrical 26.8 (25-29) × 15.1 (14-16) µm with smooth, bilayered oocyst wall and a single polar granule. The broadly ellipsoidal sporocysts average 9.3 (8.5-10) × 7.1 (6.5-7.5) µm and possess single-layered wall composed of two plates joined by longitudinal suture. Caryospora cf. regentensis Daszak et Ball, 2001 is reported from Dendroaspis angusticeps (Smith, 1849) and two additional forms of Caryospora Léger, 1904 are reported and morphologically characterised from a single specimen of Psammophis orientalis Broadley, 1977. Systematic status of Caryospora spp. in sub-Saharan Psammophis Boie, 1827 is discusses and all species reported by various authors to date are suggested to be treated as species inquirendae until more detailed data on these parasites and their hosts are available.