A new hair follicle mite species, Apodemodex cumulus, is described from female and male specimens collected from the muzzle, lower jaw and vertex of Mediterranean water shrews, Neomys anomalus Cabrera taken in South Bohemia, Czech Republic. A new, at present monotypie genus Apodemodex is erected for this mite species. Diagnostic for the new genus are the morphology of the gnathosoma (the characters including conspicuous continuous arched antero-lateral contours of massive ventral face) and the morphology of the leg claws, which are deeply bifurcate and without spur.
A new coccidian parasite of the genus Caryospora is described from a long nosed vine snake, Ahaetulla nasuta, Lacépède, 1789 from Thailand. Oocysts of Caryospora ahaetullae sp. n. are spherical or slightly subspherical, 24.8 (22.5-26.0) pm in diameter, with a single-layered wall about 0.75 pm thick. A micropyle or oocyst residuum is absent. One, rarely two, polar granules are present, 1.5-2.0 pm. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal, 18.5 x 14.2 (18.0-19.5 x 13.0-15.0) pm with prominent Stieda and substieda bodies. Sporocyst residuum present, consisting of numerous very small granules scattered among 8 sporozoites. Sporo-zoites, with prominent transverse striations anteriorly, are vermiform, 15.0 x 3.8 (13.5-16.5 x 3.5—4.5) pm (in situ), lying lengthwise and parallel within sporocyst. Each sporozoite contains a spherical anterior and spherical to subspherical posterior refractile bodies.
A new coccidian parasite of the genus Caryospora Léger is described from the colubrid snake Boiga dendrophila Boie, 1827 imported from Kalimantan. Oocysts of Caryospora kalimaniunensis sp. n. are spherical, 18.7 (17.0-20.0) pm in diameter, with a bilayered slightly pitted and brownish oocyst wall. A micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. One globular polar granule is present in 45% of sporulated oocysts. Sporocysts are ovoidal to ellipsoidal, 14.5 (13.0-15.5) x 10.5 (10.0-11.0) pm, with prominent Stieda and substieda bodies. Sporocyst residuum is present as small granules scattered among sporozoites. Sporozoites are elongate, lying lengthwise and parallel within the sporocyst and completely filling the sporocyst. Each sporo-zoite contains a spherical anterior and posterior refractile bodies.
Based on materials collected from wild populations of the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus in South Bohemia, Czech Republic, previously unknown male is described and female redescribed for Demodex ratti Hirst, 1917. All developmental stages are described for two new species, D. norvegicus sp. n. and D. ratticola sp. n. Also provided is a key to adults of four Demodex species presently known to parasitize Rattus norvegicus. Demodex ratti was recovered from the host’s back, eyelids, and external auditory meatus, D. norvegicus from the anal and genital areas, and D. ratticola from vicinity of the mouth and the tip of muzzle.
A species not identifiable with any of the about 23 Myxobolus species recorded from the common carp so far, was detected in the gills of one- and two-summer-old specimens of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) cultured in pond farms in Hungary. The strictly tissue-specific plasmodia of the parasite were located, surrounded by hyaline cartilage cells, in the chondrous substance of the terminal parts of the gill arches and in the cartilage structure vcntrally connecting the gill arches. The spores of the parasite described as Myxobolus intrachondrealis sp. n. developed in globular or ellipsoidal plasmodia measuring 300-600 pm. By their elongated ellipsoidal shape and similarly elongated polar capsules the spores were well distinguishable from the hitherto described Myxobolus species parasitic in the common carp and also from the cartilage-parasitic Myxobolus species of other fishes.
Four new species of feather mites belonging to three different genera of the family Pteronyssidae are described from passerine birds of South Africa: Pteroherpus africanus sp, n, from the garden bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaines) (Pycnonotidae), Pteroherpus cysticolae sp. n. from the wing-snapped cisticola Cisticola ayresii Hartlaub (Sylviidae), Pteronyssoides promeropis sp. n. from the Gurney’s sugarbird Promerops gurneyi Verreaux (Promeropidae), and Sturnotrogus creatophorae sp. n. from the wattled starling Creatophora cinerea Menschen (Sturnidae). A brief review of recent publications on the taxonomy of the family Pteronyssidae is given.