First record of Stylostomum ellipse (Dalyell, 1853) (Platyhelminthes, Polycladida) from the Pacific Ocean

The polyclad flatworm Stylostomum ellipse (Dalyell, 1853) has hitherto been recorded from the Antarctic region, Mediterranean Sea, Patagonian region, Scandinavia, South Africa, and South Georgia Island. In this study, we report S. ellipse for the first time from the Pacific Ocean based on specimens collected in Hokkaido, northern Japan. Our specimens are morphologically identifiable as S. ellipse, but may represent a biologically different species from a population of the Mediterranean Sea. This is because, based on the previous genetic data of other cotylean species, the observed uncorrected p-distance 0.02160 between the two distinct populations in terms of a partial 972 bp region of the 28S rDNA sequence may be great enough to separate the species biologically.

Exploring species diversity of lissorchiid trematodes (Digenea: Lissorchiidae) associated with the gravel snail, Lithoglyphus naticoides, in European freshwaters

Comparative analysis using complete ITS2 and partial 28S rDNA sequence data revealed that cercariaeum developing in rediae in Lithoglyphus naticoides represent two different lissorchiid species. One morphotype of cercariaeum is conspecific with adult Palaeorchis incognitus from European roach, Rutilus rutilus. The other cercariaeum is attributable to the genus Asymphylodora, but the species identity is not yet determined. We also generate the first rDNA sequences for Asymphylodora progenetica based on new collections from Bithynia tentaculata from Lithuania. Phylogenetic analyses of the newly generated sequences, together with information for other lissorchiids available on GenBank, showed that all representatives of Lissorchiidae form a strongly supported clade. Three monophyletic lineages, Asymphylodora, Palaeorchis and Lissorchis, were recognized at the generic level. Karyological analysis of the chromosome set of larval P. incognitus revealed a diploid number of 2n = 20. Its karyotype with subtelocentric chromosomes prevailing can be regarded as comparatively ‘primitive’, which is consistent with the basal position of P. incognitus in the 28S tree relative to the representatives of the genus Asymphylodora. The present study adds significant new information for establishing species-specific markers for the confident characterization of different developmental stages of lissorchiid species and clarification of their life cycles.

Isolation and molecular identification of pectinase producing Aspergillus species from different soil samples of Bhubaneswar regions

With the significant improvement of human civilization there is a spur in the urban, rural and industrial development, which has a profound effect on the surrounding natural environment. Increased utilization of natural resources is often associated with accumulation of waste materials whose management is crucial for sustainable development of life. Availability of different microorganisms in the soil facilitates the degradation of wastes through their potential enzymatic activities. Pectinase seems to be one of the important enzymes produced by a wide variety of microorganisms contained in the soil. It is mainly involved in maceration and rotting of plant extracts and debris by hydrolysis of 1,4-alpha glycosidic bonds of de-esterified pectate of plant call wall. In this paper we report molecular identification of some pectinase producing Aspergillus species selected from soil samples of five different zones of Bhubaneswar city using molecular biology and computational techniques. Among fifteen fungal isolates studied from these five zones Aspergillus parvisclerotigenus was potent for pectinase production next to Aspergillus niger in form of halozone of 0.6 mm. It’s 28S rDNA sequence also had some significant identity (>90%) with different subspecies of Aspergillus. We hope that our findings will helpful in genetic manipulation for improvement of fungal strains of isolates. Again large scale use of the improved Aspergillus strains can degrade plant biomass & diverse industrial wastes which will reduce environmental pollution of capital urban like Bhubaneswar.

Four species of Mazocraeoides Price, 1936 (Monogenea: Mazocraeidae), including two new species from clupeiform fishes off Visakhapatnam coast, Bay of Bengal

Four species of Mazocraeoides Price, 1936 including two new species are recorded from clupeiform fishes collected from Visakhapatnam Coast, Bay of Bengal: M. rotundus n. sp. from Ilisha filigera, M. fusiformes n. sp. from Stolephorus indicus, M. prashadi Chauhan, 1950 from Sardinella longiceps and M. dussumieri Mamaev, 1975 from Dussumieria hasselti. Mazocraeoides rotundus n. sp. is differentiated from the previously described species of Mazocraeoides by possessing the following combination of characters: the small pot-like body, the distribution of clamps in the posterior half of body and the genital complex consisting of five pairs of hooks arranged in two vertical rows. It differs from M. prashadi in the body shape and the much smaller size of the genital complex. Mazocraeoides fusiformes n. sp. differs from all the other species of the genus in the distribution of the clamps embracing only the posterior part of the testis and the genital complex consisting of one pair of needle-like lateral hooks and five pairs of median hooks. Mazocraeoides prashadi is redescribed to fill the gaps existing in the earlier description. Mazocraeoides dussumieri recorded earlier from South China Sea is reported for the first time from the Bay of Bengal. The validity of various species of Mazocraeoides is discussed and a key for the separation of valid species is provided. A host-parasite list is presented which gives details of the hosts, the geographic distribution and the validity status for each species. A partial 28S rDNA sequence was generated for M. dussumieri and deposited in GenBank.

No limit in interspecific hybridization in schistosomes: observation from a case report

Schistosomiasis is one of the most significant parasitic diseases of humans. The hybridization of closely related Schistosoma species has already been documented. However, hybridization between phylogenetically distant species is unusual. In the present study, we characterized the causative agent of schistosomiasis in a 14-year-old patient with hematuria from Côte d’Ivoire, using morphological and molecular approaches. A 24-hour parasitological examination of urine showed the presence of numerous eggs (150 μm long × 62 μm wide) with a lateral spine (25 μm), identified morphologically as Schistosoma mansoni. Examination of stools performed on the same day found no parasites. The urine and stool examinations of the patient’s family members performed two weeks later showed neither parasites nor hematuria; but in contrast, many S. mansoni eggs were found again in the patient’s urine, but never in his stools. Conventional PCRs were performed, using two primer pairs targeting 28S-rDNA and COI mtDNA. The 28S-rDNA sequence of these eggs, compared with two reference sequences from GenBank demonstrated a hybrid with 25 double peaks, indicating clearly hybrid positions (5.37%) between S. mansoni and S. haematobium. Similarly, we identified a unique S. mansoni COI sequence for the two eggs, with 99.1% homology with the S. mansoni reference sequence. Consequently, this case was the result of hybridization between an S. haematobium male and an S. mansoni female. This should be taken into consideration to explore the elimination of ectopic schistosome eggs in the future.

Holocephalocotyle monstrosae n. gen. n. sp. (Monogenea, Monocotylidae) from the olfactory rosette of the rabbit fish, Chimaera monstrosa (Holocephali, Chimaeridae) in deep waters off Algeria

Based on a molecular and morphological study, a new monocotylid genus, Holocephalocotyle n. gen. is proposed to accommodate Holocephalocotyle monstrosae n. sp., found on the olfactory rosette of the rabbit fish, Chimaera monstrosa Linnaeus (Chondrichthyes, Chimaeridae), from the Mediterranean Sea off Algeria. Identification of fish hosts was confirmed by molecular barcoding of the COI gene. A partial 28S rDNA sequence (D1–D2 domain) of Holocephalocotyle monstrosae was obtained; it was distinct from all known monocotylid sequences (p-distance: 15.5–23%). A phylogenetic tree constructed from available monocotylid sequences showed that Holocephalocotyle monstrosae was included, and basal, in a robust group including species of Merizocotyle, Mycteronastes and Empruthotrema, confirming that the species is a member of the Merizocotylinae. The new genus is unique among the Merizocotylinae in having a distinctive pattern of haptoral loculi with one central, five peripheral and seven “interperipheral loculi” partially inserted between peripheral loculi and a compartmentalised sclerotised male copulatory organ. The diagnosis of the Merizocotylinae is amended to include this new genus. The new genus represents the second monocotylid genus recorded from holocephalans.

Three, two, one! Revision of the long-bodied sphaerodorids (Sphaerodoridae, Annelida) and synonymization ofEphesiella,EphesiopsisandSphaerodorum

BackgroundLong-bodied sphaerodorids (Annelida, Sphaerodoridae) is the common name for members of the three closely and morphologically homogenous currently accepted genera of benthic marine bristle worms:Ephesiella,EphesiopsisandSphaerodorum. Members of this group share the presence of two dorsal and longitudinal rows of macrotubercles with terminal papillae, and two longitudinal rows of microtubercles, features that are unique among sphaerodorids. Genera are distinguished by the chaetae morphology. Members ofEphesiellaare characterised by having compound chaetae (except, sometimes, simple chaetae in the first chaetigers),Sphaerodorumbear only simple chaetae, andEphesiopsishave both compound and simple chaetae in all parapodia.MethodsMitochondrial (partial COI and 16S rDNA) and nuclear (partial 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA) sequence data of long-bodied sphaerodorids with compound and simple chaetae, and an outgroup of additional seven sphaerodorid species were analysed separately and in combination using Bayesian inference (BA), and Maximum Likelihood (ML) methods. Long-bodied sphaerodorids from around the world (including type specimens) were examined under a range of optical equipment in order to evaluate putative generic and specific diagnostic features, in addition to intraspecific variability.ResultsPhylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences of specimens identified asEphesiellaandSphaerodorum,based on chaeta morphology, were performed.SphaerodorumandEphesiellawere recovered as paraphyletic and nested within each other. Revision of current nominal species diagnostic features are performed and discussed.DiscussionResults contradict current generic definitions. Recovery of paraphyletic compound and simple chaetae clades urge the synonymization of these two genera of long-bodied sphaerodorids. Morphological data also suggest the synonymization ofEphesiopsis.

Ravenelia piepenbringiae and Ravenelia hernandezii, two new rust species on Senegalia (Fabaceae, Mimosoideae) from Panama and Costa Rica

Two new rust species, Raveneliapiepenbringiae and R.hernandezii (Pucciniales) on Senegalia spp. (Fabaceae) are described from the Neotropics (Panama, Costa Rica). A key to the species on neotropical Senegalia spp. is provided. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on 28S rDNA sequence data suggest that the representatives of Senegalia rusts distributed in the neotropics evolved independently from species known from South Africa. This is further supported by the teliospore morphology, which is characterised by uniseriate cysts in the neotropical Senegalia rusts and contrasting multiseriate cysts in the paleotropic Ravenelia species that infect this host genus.

First molecular data for Lernaea cyprinacea (Copepoda: Cyclopoida) infesting Odontesthes bonariensis, a commercially important freshwater fish in Argentina

Parasitic copepods of the family Lernaeidae are often found infesting freshwater fishes worldwide. They cause lernaeosis, a disease that can lead to serious pathogenic effects on their fish hosts. The most common lernaeid is the Lernaea cyprinacea, which has been widely introduced through importation of tropical fishes, e.g. cyprinids. In South America, it is one of the most common parasites both in wild and in farmed fish in the central region of Argentina. The silverside Odontesthes bonariensis is the most important fish of the sport fisheries of Argentina and one of the fish most affected by lernaeosis. Six specimens of copepods were collected from 30 specimens of O. bonariensis collected in a Pampean shallow lake (33°25'28”S 62°53'56”W) of Córdoba (Argentina). The 28S rRNA gene of L. cyprinacea was amplified by means of PCR to obtain the 28S rDNA sequence. The sequence obtained of this parasite from Argentina showed high genetic similarity with those from various geographical origins. The present study provided molecular characterization of L. cyprinacea in South America for the first time.

Monorchis lewisi n. sp. (Trematoda: Monorchiidae) from the surf bream, Acanthopagrus australis (Sparidae), in Moreton Bay, Australia

We describe Monorchis lewisi n. sp. (Monorchiidae) from the surf bream, Acanthopagrus australis (Günther, 1859) (Sparidae), in Moreton Bay, eastern Australia. The new species differs from most existing species of Monorchis Monticelli, 1893 in its possession of an elongate I-shaped excretory vesicle, and from other congeners in the relative configuration of the gut and suckers. Ovipusillus mayu Dove & Cribb, 1998 is re-reported from Gnathanodon speciosus (Forsskål, 1775) (Carangidae) from Moreton Bay. We report new second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) and 28S rDNA sequence data for both species. Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood analyses of the 28S rDNA dataset suggest that existing subfamily and genus concepts within the family require substantial revision.