Further study on Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pintoi (Kohn et Fernandes, 1988) (Nematoda: Camallanidae) in Corydoras paleatus and Corydoras micracanthus (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from Salta, Argentina, with a key to congeneric species from Neotropical Realm

This study describes the morphology of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) pintoi (Kohn et Fernandes, 1988), isolated from the intestine of Corydoras micracanthus Regan, 1912 and C. paleatus (Jenyns, 1842) (both Callichthyidae, Siluriformes) from Bermejo and Juramento River basins, respectively, province of Salta, Argentina. This is the first record of P. (S.) pintoi in C. micracanthus from Northwestern Argentina. The light and scanning electron microscopy observations of P. (S.) pintoi, revealed a few previously unreported morphological details of the cephalic region, vulva and caudal region of males. In addition, morphometric variability was observed in, mainly body size, glandular oesophagus length and position of the vulva between present specimens and those described in previous studies. A key to the species of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) from the Neotropical Realm is proposed.

Two nematode species from freshwater and marine fishes in Thailand, including Ascarophis scatophagi sp. nov. (Cystidicolidae) from Scatophagus argus (Scatophagidae)

One new and one known species of parasitic nematodes are reported from Thailand for the first time: Falcaustra kaverii (Karve et Naik,1951) (Kathlaniidae) from the intestine of the freshwater fish Poropuntius deauratus (Valenciennes) (Cyprinidae) (new host record) and Ascarophis scatophagi sp. nov. (Cystidicolidae) from the intestine of the marine fish Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus) (Scatophagidae). The morphology of both these species was studied with the use of light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (the latter method used for F. kaverii for the first time). The new species (A. scatophagi) is mainly characterized by nonfilamented, markedly elongate-oval eggs (size 42–45 × 18 μm), spicules 555–642 μm and 105–150 μm long, the muscular/glandular oesophagus length ratio (1:13–34), bifurcate deirids, the length of the female tail (159–249 μm) and cephalic structures typical of the nominotypical subgenus Ascarophis. Representatives of Falcaustra Lane, 1915 and Ascarophis van Beneden, 1871 were not previously reported from fishes in Thai waters.

Prevalence and Morphological Characterization ofCheilospirura hamulosa, Diesing, 1861 (Nematoda: Acuarioidea), from Partridges in Iran

This study reports data on the prevalence, morphology, and morphometry of the nematodeCheilospirura hamulosaon the basis of light and stereoscopic microscopy and also camera lucida. Specimens were recovered after necropsies of 100 partridges (Alectoris chukar) from Taleqan County in Alborz Province, Iran. The prevalence ofC. hamulosain partridges was of 30% with a mean intensity of 3.9 and range of infection of 1–12. The mean length and width of females were17.5±2.14and0.39±0.04 mm, while those of males were12.2±0.67and0.3±0.06 mm, respectively. The characteristic digitiform tail was observed in females, and the unequal spicules, caudal alae, and ten pairs of caudal papillae were seen in males. The taxonomic characteristic longitudinal cordons and muscular and glandular oesophagus were observed in both sexes. Ratio between cordons and body length in males and females was 1 : 1.33 and 1 : 1.68, respectively. Ratio between long and short spicules in males was 1 : 2.3. The average size of embryonated eggs was51.25×29.5 μm. In the present study,C. hamulosa(Nematoda: Acuarioidea) is recorded for the first time from partridges in Iran. Therefore, the morphological characters described in this study will be useful in the future diagnostic and taxonomic studies of Acuarioidea family.

Redescriptions and comments on the validity of Acuaria subula and A. skrjabini (Nematoda, Spirurida, Acuariidae), parasites of passerine birds

Acuaria subula (Dujardin, 1845) is redescribed by light microcopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the basis of specimens from its type host, Erithacus rubecula (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae), from Curonian Spit (Kaliningradskaya Oblast’, Russia) and Bulgaria. Acuaria skrjabini (Ozerskaya, 1926) is redescribed by LM and SEM on the basis of specimens from Passer domesticus (type host) and P. hispaniolensis (Passeriformes, Passeridae) from Bulgaria. Contrary to previous opinions recognizing A. skrjabini as a junior synonym of A. subula, the present study confirms that they are distinct species. They can be distinguished on the basis of the ratio between the length of cordons and the body length, the ratio between the length of muscular oesophagus and glandular oesophagus, and the ratio between the total length of oesophagus and the body length. In addition, the plates forming the cordons in these two species exhibit different morphological characters. Another difference between these two species is associated with the particular irregular mosaic ornamentation of the cuticle on the ventral and lateral sides of body around the region of vulva of A. subula and its absence in A. skrjabini. Data on their host and geographical ranges are surveyed. The type series of Acuaria buttnerae Chabaud et Petter, 1961, described as a parasite of Calandrella brachydactyla (Passeriformes, Alaudidae) in France, is re-examined; the latter species is recognized as a junior synonym of A. skrjabini (new synonymy).

Helminth parasites of fishes from the hydroeletric power station of eletrosul (Brazil). I: Procamallanus petterae n. sp. and Spirocamallanus pintoi n. sp. (Nematoda, Camallanidae) from the reservoir of Salto Osório

Procamallanus petterae n. sp. from Plecostomus albopunctarus and Spirocamallanus pintoi n. sp. from Corydoras paleatus are described. procamallanus petterae n. sp. differs from all other species of the genus by having a buccal capsule without spiral bands, with five teeth-like structures on its base and four plate-like structures near the anterior margin; length ratio of oesophagus muscular/glandular 1:1.4; spicules short, 21µ m and 16µ m long and tails ending abruptly in a sharp point, in both sexes. Spirocamallanus pintoi n. sp. is characterized by having 6 to 8 spiral thickenings in the buccal capsule of male and 9 to 10 in female, occupying 2/3 of the length of the capsule; length of glandular oesophagus more than twice the muscular; spicules short, the right 94µ m and the left 82µ m long.

Paronchocerca struthionus n.sp. (Nematoda: Filarioidea) from ostriches (Struthio camelus), with a redescription of Paronchocerca ciconiarum Peters, 1936 and a review of the genus

Paronchocerca struthionus n.sp. (Onchocercidae: Splendidofilariinae) from the lungs of Struthio camelus L. (Struthionidae) from West Africa has a long, sacculate glandular oesophagus similar to that of Paronchocerca limboonkengi (Hoeppli and Hsü, 1929) n.comb. (= Lemdana limboonkengi), P. bambusicolae, P. tonkinensis, and P. sonini. It can be distinguished by delicate annular cuticular thickenings and, in the male, a preanal hypodermal swelling, three pairs of circumanal papillae, and the length of the right spicule in relation to the length of the tail. Also, lateral, postanal papillae are absent, although inconspicuous subterminal papillae are present. Paronchocerca ciconiarum Peters, 1936, the type species, is redescribed on the basis of material from the pulmonary arteries of Leptoptilus crumeniferus (Lesson) (Ciconiidae) from Uganda. Seventeen valid species are recognized in the genus. Paronchocerca sanguinisardeae, P. choprai, and P. badamii are regarded as species inquirendae and P. alii, as a species incertae sedis. Among larger avian filarioid genera, Paronchocerca appears unique in that each species seems restricted to a single family of birds. Paronchocerca may have become established in early Ornithurae and subsequently persisted in some of the "primitive" birds, as well as having transferred to "modern" groups which now occupy the aquatic adaptive zone originally occupied by the earliest Ornithurae. Paronchocerca apparently has been largely unsuccessful in transferring to other modern groups.

Ancyracanthopsis bendelli. sp. (Acuariidae:Schistorophinae) from Pacific Coast grouse, with observations on related nematode genera

A. bendelli n. sp. differs from the others of the genus in that its dentate cephalic quadrants join laterally producing a bipartite rather than quadripartite appearance. It can be recognized also by its combination of large dentiform processes, long vestibule, short glandular oesophagus, and 9–14 pairs of preanal papillae; no other species parasitizes an obligate terrestrial host. The following species composition is proposed for Ancyracanthopsis Diesing, 1861: A. bilabiata (Molin, 1860) A. coronata (Molin, 1860); A. madagascariensis Kung, 1948; A. petrovi Guschanskaya, 1950; (?)A. parvialata (Belopolskaya, 1953); A. gallinulae (Wang, 1966) n. comb.; and A. bendelli n. sp. It is concluded that A. quadripartita (Clapham, 1945) and A. schikhobalovi Guschanskaya, 1950 are synonyms of A. coronata, and that Skrjabinobronema sinica Wang, 1966 is a synonym of A. madagascariensis. Specimens of Sciadiocara umbellifera (Molin, I860) (Syn: S. legendrei Petter, 1967) from British Columbia possess minute serrations along the posterior edges of the cephalic lappets. Viktorocara limosae Mawson, 1968 is considered a synonym of V. limosae Daiya, 1966. Stellocaronema Gilbert, 1930 should contain S. skrjabini Gilbert, 1930 (Syn: S, glareolae Mawson, 1968) and S. fausti (Li, 1934) n. comb, (Syn: Stellocaronema buckleyi Sarwar, 1956); S, charadrii Mawson, 1968 probably represents a new genus. New records are A. coronata from Actitis macularia and Seiurus noveboracensis in British Columbia and from Cassidix mexicanus in Mexico; V. limosae from Erolia alpina; and S. skrjabini from E. alpina, Ereunetes mauri, and Crocethia alba in British Columbia.

MACACANEMA FORMOSANA N. G., N. SP. (ONCHOCERCIDAE: DIROFILARIINAE) FROM MACACA CYCLOPSIS OF FORMOSA

Macacanema n.g., from the peritracheal tissue and diaphragm of Macaca cyclopsis of Formosa is distinguished from Edesonfilaria by the dimensions and morphology of the left spicule, which is relatively short and complex rather than long and filiform, by the straight short muscular vagina, the short straight uterine trunk, and the asymmetrical arrangement of the male caudal papillae. The histological structure of the glandular oesophagus is described.