EPISTHMIUM ALYKHANI SP.NOV.. (TREMATODA: ECHINOSTOMATIDAE) FROM THE CATTLE EGRET (BUBULCUS IBIS) IN LARKANA SINDH, PAKISTAN.

The helmintho fauna of ten specimens of Cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) from Larkana Sindh, Pakistan was studied. From all the specimens studied, the 30% were positive for helminths. The genus Episthmium9, was recovered in small intestine of Cattle egret and proposed as new species Episthmium alykhani sp.n. The new species is characterized by having: Body of parasite is flattened 6-6.24 by 2-2.5, Head collar bears 18 spines, Pre-pharynx absent, Ventral sucker is rounded, Testes tandem,anterior testis is cup shaped 0.7-0.79 by 1.52-1.63, posterior testis is roughly spherical 1- 1.2 by 1.2-1.3, Ovary horizontal elongated 0.3-0.4 by 0.8-0.86, Vitellaria dense commence from below the bifurcation reaches upto the anterior region of posterior testis.Eggs 0.17-0.22 by 0.08-0.091.

Two new genera and five new species of Selachinematidae (Nematoda, Chromadorida) from the continental slope of New Zealand

Two new genera and five new species of Selachinematidae are described from the New Zealand upper continental slope (350-1240 m depth). Synonchiella rotundicauda sp. nov. is characterised by cephalic setae 0.25 cbd long, mandibles each with two pairs of hooks and two wing-like projections laterally, eight cup-shaped pre-cloacal supplements and short rounded tail. Pseudocheironchus gen. nov. is similar to Cheironchus, but differs from the latter in having a cuticle without lateral differentiation, cephalic setae only slightly longer than the outer labial sensillae, and a posterior buccal cavity with three equal mandibles. Pseudocheironchus ingluviosus gen. et sp. nov. is characterised by mandibles with eight blunt teeth, multispiral amphideal fovea with five turns, and a short rounded tail. Males of this new species with 17-19 cup-shaped pre-cloacal supplements. Males of the genus Cobbionema are described for the first time; C. trigamma sp. nov. is characterised by four long cephalic setae and six smaller outer labial setae in one circle, six rhabdions surrounding the anterior buccal cavity, each with two pairs of pointed projections at their posterior extremities, posterior buccal cavity widening posteriorly, with three pairs of rhabdions fused posteriorly and widening anteriorly, males with two testes pointing anteriorly and with reflexed posterior testis, and no pre-cloacal supplements. Gammanema agglutinans sp. nov. is characterised by a short, stout body often covered in adhering mucus and detritus, cuticle with minute spines, leaf-shaped somatic setae with ducts, sexual dimorphism in the shape of the amphideal fovea (loop-shaped in males and spiral in females), posterior buccal cavity with three pairs of broad, column-shaped rhabdions fused anteriorly, intestine cells with orange-brown granules, and small tubular pre-cloacal supplements. Bendiella gen. nov. is most similar to Halichoanolaimus, but differs from the latter, and all other genera of the family Selachinematidae, in having a cuticle with lateral differentiation consisting of longitudinal rows of larger dots, and from all other genera of the Choniolaiminae in lacking pre-cloacal supplements. Bendiella thalassa gen. et sp. nov. is characterised by amphideal fovea with 5.25 turns, anterior buccal cavity with twelve rhabdions, each with a pair of pointed projections at posterior extremity, posterior buccal cavity with three Y-shaped pairs of slender rhabdions fused from two thirds of distance from anterior ends, and conico-cylindrical tail.

Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae: Ophthalmophaginae) from the bearded barbet, Lybius dubius (Capitionidae), and the white-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis (Sturnidae), that died at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.

Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. was found in the air sacs and body cavities of 2 bearded barbets, Lybius dubius, and a white-necked myna, Streptocitta albicollis, that died at the Audubon Zoo, New Orleans, Louisiana between June, 2000 and April, 2005. The new species can be distinguished from Szidatitrema philomachii and Szidatitrema vogeli, the only species currently assigned to this genus, by having a smaller egg size (80–105 by 40–55 compared to 117–126 by 54–72 and 110 by 50, respectively) and the testes of S. yamagutii n. sp. are less obliquely positioned relative to each other. Szidatitrema yamagutii n. sp. further differs from S. philomachii by lacking an oral sucker and having larger testes (anterior testis 405 by 375 compared to 270 by 210; posterior testis 435 by 370 compared to 225 by 210) and from S. vogeli by having a shorter cirrus sac (345 compared to 554) ), smaller testes (anterior testis 405 long compared to 700; posterior testis 435 long compared to 500), a smaller ovary (220–330 wide compared to 400), and a larger postovarian space (approximately 10% of body length compared to 6%). This new species was likely introduced into the Audubon Zoo through the importation of species of Old World birds.

Description of a new species of Dolichorchis (Digenea, Diplostomidae) in the cocoi heron, Ardea cocoi (Aves, Ardeidae), from Argentina

Dolichorchis lacombeensis sp. nov., a digenean parasite of the gut of the cocoi heron, Ardea cocoi (L.), is described as a new species from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This new species most closely resembles D. buteii and D. tregenna in the distribution of the vitelline follicles, which reach the intestinal bifurcation in the forebody. D. buteii can be distinguished from D. lacombeensis sp. nov. by the distribution of the vitelline follicles in the hindbody, which are concentrated in midline, by the presence of a sphincter in genital pore and by the size of holdfast organ and posterior testis, which are larger, (240–400 × 176–240 and 315–464 × 240–410 µm, respectively). D. tregenna differ from the new species by their larger measurements (pseudosuckers’ length 90–100, pharynx 52–90 × 50–70 and eggs 89–104 × 48–68 µm).

Sphaeridiotrema globulus (Rudolphi, 1814) (Digenea): evidence for two species known under a single name and a description of Sphaeridiotrema pseudoglobulus n.sp.

Experimental infection of domestic ducklings with metacercariae believed to be those of Sphaeridiotrema globulus from snails in Quebec, Canada, and New Jersey, U.S.A., revealed that there are two species known under this name. Study of museum specimens has confirmed that the New Jersey specimens represent the original S. globulus: the specimens from Quebec represent a new species. The two species can be separated reliably on the basis of egg size: S. globulus (New Jersey) has smaller eggs (mean 97 ± 4 (SD) μm; range 91–108 μm) than S. pseudoglobulus n.sp. from Quebec (mean 116 ± 5 μm: range 103–125 μm). The cirrus in S. pseudoglobulus has a basal bulb not found in that of S. globulus. There are fewer uterine coils anterior to the acetabulum in S. pseudoglobulus. Comparison of 6-day-old populations of each species revealed several statistically significant differences in the mean size of internal organs. The overall sizes of the body, ovary, and eggs and the width of the posterior testis were greater in S. pseudoglobulus: the pharynx, length of the posterior testis, and number of eggs in the uterus were greater in S. globulus. No differences were found in the size of the oral sucker, acetabulum, or anterior testis.

Schistosoma mansoni: the ultrastructure of the ducts of the male reproductive system.

SUMMARYThe reproductive duct of the male blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni is relatively short and undulating, extending from the most posterior testis to the beginning of the gynecophoric canal. The reproductive duct may be divided into 3 main regions which differ in ultrastructure; the vas efferens/deferens, the seminal vesicle and the cirrus tube. The epithelium of the vas efferens/deferens consists of a single layer of elongate cells with abundant convoluted lamellae on their apical surfaces. The wall of the seminal vesicle and the cirrus tube are tegumentary in nature. The basic similarities in structure of the surface tegument, the seminal vesicle and the cirrus tube suggest a common embryological origin. The presence of complex lamellae on the luminal surface suggests that the vas efferens and deferens have secretory and possibly nutritive functions apart from temporarily storing developing germ cells. The primary function of the seminal vesicle appears to be that of sperm storage; while the cirrus tube with its complex infolded wall is extensible for insemination. The presence of abundant concentrically distributed sensory papillae around the male genital pore may assist in the pairing of males and females.

Nilocotyle duplicisphinctris sp. n. (Trematoda: Paramphistomidae) from Hippopotamus amphibius

ABSTRACTNilocotyle duplicisphinctris sp. n. was recovered from the stomach of Hippopotamus amphibius in Ethiopia. The average body size (L × W) is 3.6 × 1.2 mm; pharynx 0.5 × 0.3, Dicranocoelium type; other diameter of the acetabulum 0.85, Nilocotyle type; anterior testis 0.34 × 0.49; posterior testis 0.32 × 0.27; ovary 0.27 × 0.19; genital opening 0.30 × 0.34, Duplicis phinctris type and eggs 0.15 × 0.07. The most characteristic specific feature is the presence of a double sphincter along the genital atrium.

Mesocoelium malayanum sp.n. (Digenea: Brachycoeliidae) in a frog, Rana macrodon Dumeril and Bibron 1941, from Malaysia

ABSTRACTMesocoelium malayanum sp.n. is described from the frog Rana macrodon, in Malaysia. Elongate body, broader anteriorly, measuring 1·900 (1·679–2·070) mm long by 0·404 (0·380–0·437) wide, tegument aspinose oral sucker 0·212 (0·200–0·228) by 0·202 (0·191–0·205), acetabulum 0·141 (0·132–0·150) by 0·139 (0·123–0·146), prepharynx present, oesophagus 0·115 (0·096–0·137), caeca reaching posterior ⅓ of body, anterior testis 0·097 (0·087–0·110) by 0·091 (0·087–0·100) dorsal to acetabulum, posterior testis 0·094 (0·087–0·101) by 0·092 (0·091–0·100), cirrus pouch 0·121 (0·111–0·130) by 0·047 (0·041–0·055), genital pore at left of midline of oesophagus just anterior to intestinal bifurcation, ovary 0·110 (0·091–0·127) by 0·089 (0·085–0·096) on left of body and posterior to acetabulum, vitelline glands with single follicles extending from intestinal bifurcation to ends of caeca, excretory vesicle I-shaped and eggs 0·040 (0·037–0·046) by 0·023 (0·022–0·024). Although morphologically related to M. maroccanum and M. meggitti, M. malayanum is considered to be a new species.

On a New Trematode, Astiotrema sudanensis, sp. nov., from a Freshwater Turtle in the Sudan

Seven specimens of this new species were collected from the intestine of a freshwater turtle, Trionyx triungnis (═T. nilotica) in the Sudan.These are lanceolate worms which gradually taper to rounded ends, with a length of 2⋅5–2⋅9 mm. and a width of 0⋅6–0⋅9 mm. The cuticle is invested with scales, dense in the anterior half of the worm, but becoming more and more sparse towards the caudal end. The oral sucker is large, measuring 0⋅23–0⋅27 mm. in diameter and is about one and a half times the diameter of the ventral sucker which measures 0⋅14–0⋅17 mm. in diameter. Both suckers lie in the anterior half of the body. The mouth is subterminal and leads to a pharynx which is stout, 0⋅7–0⋅8 mm. by 0⋅11–0⋅12 mm., and leads to a long oesophagus of 0⋅25–0⋅32 mm. in length. The caeca terminate at the posterior border of the posterior testis or slightly anterior to it.

Neodiplostomum intermedium n.sp. from the allied rat, Rattus assimilis, with remarks on the genera Neodiplostomum and Fibricola (Trematoda: Diplostomatidae)

Neodiplostomum intermedium n.sp. from the small intestine of the allied rat, Rattus assimilis, is described. It can be separated from other species of Neodiplostomum by the following combination of characters: genital cone absent; vitellaria form two ventro-lateral bands in hindbody without terminal masses; anterior testis nearly symmetric, as wide as posterior testis. It is proposed that Fibricola be made a subgenus of Neodiplostomum containing the species in Fibricola and the species, N. intermedium described herein, because N. intermedium is intermediate between Neodiplostomum(Neodiplostomum) and Fibricola. Further evidence is given in favour of the invalidation of the subfamily Alariinae.