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  • Journal made by "PARASITOLOGISTS for PARASITOLOGISTS"
  • IN-HOUSE production with careful revision & proof-reading
  • Increase of APC from January 1, 2025
  • Current ISI Impact Factor: IF 2025 = 2.0
  • Current volume: 73: 2026
  • Special Issue: Three Decades of Latent Toxoplasmosis
  • Published since 1954 – freely available!

International journal that covers all branches of animal parasitology, including morphology, taxonomy, biology, biochemistry, physiology, immunology and molecular biology of parasites, host-parasite relationships and parasite evolution.

Special Issue: Three Decades of Latent Toxoplasmosis

Flegr J., Ullmann J., Španiel F., Toman J., Hůla M., Šebánková B., Petrusová J., Novotný P., Včelák J., Kaňková Š. 2026: Does latent Toxoplasma infection mimic the immune profile of schizophrenia? Sex-specific cytokine and brain-marker alterations suggest partial overlap. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 73: 006

Postolache T.T. 2025: Toxoplasma gondii and suicidal behaviour: discovery, cross-diagnostic confirmation and pathway exploration. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 025.

Ullmann J., Flegr J., Nouzová K., Včelák J., Kaňková Š. 2025: Chronic inflammation in pregnant women with latent toxoplasmosis and explanation of discordant results of serological tests for toxoplasmosis. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 021.

Flegr J. 2025: Thirty years of studying latent toxoplasmosis: behavioural, physiological, and health insights: description of a struggle. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 005.

Webster J.P. 2025: Who makes the decisions? Uncovering the evolutionary implications and clinical applications of Toxoplasma gondii’s Fatal Feline Attraction. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 016

Tautanova A., Kiyan V., Dusmagambetov M., Almysheva T.A., Dusmagambetova A. 2026: Three decades of research on molecular genetic characteristics of Echinococcus spp.: a bibliometric study. Folia Parasitol. 73: 001.

Catchpole A., Zabriskie B.N., Embley B., Kharazi H., Clarke R., Templeton G., Hunt C., Gale S.D., Hedges D.W. 2025: Association between type-2 diabetes and Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 024.

Torrey E.F. 2024: The linking of toxoplasmosis and schizophrenia. Folia Parasitol. 71: 016.

Vyas A. 2024: Nuts and bolts of the behavioural manipulation by Toxoplasma gondii. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 71: 017.

Latifi A., Flegr J., Kaňková Š. 2025: Re-assessing host manipulation in Toxoplasma: the underexplored role of sexual transmission – evidence, mechanisms, implications. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 015.

Postolache T.T., Duncan E., Yen P., Potocki E., Barnhart M., Federline A., Massa N., Dagdag A., Joseph J., Wadhawan A., Capan C., Forton C., Lowry C.A., Ortmeyer H.K., Brenner L.A. 2025: Toxoplasma gondii, suicidal behavior and suicide risk factors in US Veterans enrolled in mental health treatment. Special Issue on Toxoplasmosis. Folia Parasitol. 72: 002.


Folia Parasitologica - Most viewed articles

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Parasite communities of eels Anguilla anguilla in freshwater and marine habitats in Iceland in comparison with other parasite communities of eels in Europe

Árni Kristmundsson, Sigurður Helgason

Folia Parasitologica 54[2] 141-153 (2007) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2007.019  

Ninety-five eels from one marine and three freshwater localities in Iceland were examined for parasites. Twenty species were found, 12 from marine habitat, 12 from freshwater and 4 species were found in both habitats. These are: Eimeria anguillae, Chilodonella hexasticha, Trichodina fultoni, T. jadranica, Myxidium giardi, Myxobolus kotlani, two Zschokkella spp., Derogenes varicus, Deropristis inflata, Diplostomum sp., Plagioporus angulatus, Podocotyle atomon, Anisakis simplex (larva), Eustrongylides sp. (larva), Hysterothylacium aduncum (larva),...

New data on dracunculoid nematodes from fishes off New Caledonia, including four new species of Philometra (Philometridae) and Ichthyofilaria (Guyanemidae)

František Moravec, Jean-Lou Justine

Folia Parasitologica 56[2] 129-142 (2009) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2009.017  

Recent examinations of newly obtained materials of dracunculoid nematodes (Dracunculoidea) parasitizing marine fishes off New Caledonia, South Pacific, revealed the presence of several nematodes of the genera Philometra Costa, 1845 (Philometridae) and Ichthyofilaria Yamaguti, 1935 (Guyanemidae), including the following four new species: Philometra priacanthi sp. n. (males) from the gonads of Priacanthus hamrur (Forsskål) (Priacanthidae), Philometra tenuicauda sp. n. (male and mature and gravid females) from the gonads of Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin) (Tetraodontidae), Philometra dentigubernaculata...

A redescription of Haemogregarina fitzsimonsi Dias, 1953 and some comments on Haemogregarina parvula Dias, 1953 (Adeleorina: Haemogregarinidae) from southern African tortoises (Cryptodira: Testudinidae), with new host data and distribution records

Courtney A. Cook, Nico J. Smit, Angela J. Davies

Folia Parasitologica 56[3] 173-179 (2009) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2009.021  

Blood films were examined from 154 wild and captive tortoises from four provinces of South Africa, including Gauteng, Kwazulu-Natal, North West and Western Cape. The five species of chelonians studied were Chersina angulata (Schweigger), Kinixys belliana belliana (Gray), K. lobatsiana Power, K. natalensis Hewitt, and Stigmochelys pardalis (Bell). Two species of haemogregarines, previously reported from Mozambique, were identified in blood films, namely Haemogregarina fitzsimonsi Dias, 1953 and Haemogregarina parvula Dias, 1953. Additional stages of development (trophozoites and probable meronts, merozoites...

The genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844. X. Redescription of all parasitic stages of H. (Euhyalomma) scupense Schulze, 1919 (= H. detritum Schulze) (Acari: Ixodidae) and notes on its biology

Dmitry A. Apanaskevich, Natalia A. Filippova, Ivan G. Horak

Folia Parasitologica 57[1] 69-78 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.009  

Taxonomic uncertainty as to the identities of Hyalomma (Euhyalomma) scupense Schulze, 1919 and Hyalomma detritum Schulze, 1919 has existed for nearly 85 years. The chief criterion used to consider these taxa as separate species has been an ecological feature, namely that H. scupense is a one-host tick while H. detritum is a two-host species. Morphologically they are identical. To date no comprehensive taxonomic study has been done on all parasitic stages of the two species. Here the decision to grant priority status to H. scupense and to synonymise H. detritum with H. scupense is defended....

Influence of latent toxoplasmosis on the phenotype of intermediate hosts

Jaroslav Flegr

Folia Parasitologica 57[2] 81-87 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.010  

The role of latent toxoplasmosis in the aetiopathogenesis of schizophrenia - the risk factor or an indication of a contact with cat?

Pelin Yuksel, Nihat Alpay, Cahit Babur, Reha Bayar, Suat Saribas, Ali Riza Karakose, Cana Aksoy, Mustafa Aslan, Seyfi Mehmetali, Selcuk Kilic, Ibrahim Balcioglu, Ozlem Hamanca, Ahmet Dirican, Omer Kucukbasmaci, Ali Oner, Muzeyyen Mamal Torun, Bekir Kocazeybek

Folia Parasitologica 57[2] 121-128 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.015  

We assessed IgG antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in 300 inpatients with schizophrenia (SG), 150 outpatients with anxiety and depressive disorders (PCG), and 150 healthy blood donors (HCG). Seropositivity rates were 60.7% for SG, 36.7% for PCG, and 45.3% for HCG (p<0.001). The seropositivity rate for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in SG was significantly higher that in PCG (X2=23.11, OR=2.66, p=0.001) and HCG (X2=9.52, OR=1.86, p=0.002). Among SG, 85% of those who reported close cat contact had IgG antibodies to T. gondii. Close cat contacts were reported by 59% of SG, 6% of PCG, and 9% of HCG (p<0.001)....

Toxoplasma gondii strain-dependent effects on mouse behaviour

Geetha Kannan, Krisztina Moldovan, Jian-Chun Xiao, Robert H. Yolken, Lorraine Jones-Brando, Mikhail V. Pletnikov

Folia Parasitologica 57[2] 151-155 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.019  

Toxoplasma gondii reportedly manipulates rodent behaviour to increase transmission to its definitive feline host. We compared the effects of mouse infection by two Type II strains of T. gondii, Prugniaud (PRU) and ME49, on attraction to cat odour, locomotor activity, anxiety, sensorimotor gating, and spatial working and recognition memory 2 months post-infection (mpi). Attraction to cat odour was reassessed 7 mpi. At 2 mpi, mice infected with either strain exhibited significantly more attraction to cat odour than uninfected animals did, but only PRU-infected mice exhibited this behaviour 7 mpi. PRU-infected mice had significantly greater...

New evidence on a cold case: trophic transmission, distribution and host-specificity in Hedruris spinigera (Nematoda: Hedruridae)

José L. Luque, Fabiano M. Vieira, Kristin Herrmann, Tania M. King, Robert Poulin, Clément Lagrue

Folia Parasitologica 57[3] 223-231 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.029  

The life cycle of Hedruris spinigera Baylis, 1931 (Nematoda: Hedruridae) is determined here with the first formal identification of the parasite's intermediate host: the crustacean amphipod Paracorophium excavatum Thomson. Adult H. spinigera are redescribed from specimens collected from the stomach of fishes, Retropinna retropinna (Richardson) and Aldrichetta forsteri (Valenciennes), from Lake Waihola, New Zealand. Immature adults of the parasite collected from intermediate hosts (P. excavatum) are also described for the first time. The prevalence, abundance and intensity of infection of H. spinigera...

Redescription, systematic status and molecular characterisation of Multicaecum heterotis Petter, Vassiliadès et Marchand, 1979 (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae), an intestinal parasite of Heterotis niloticus (Osteichthyes: Arapaimidae) in Africa

Šárka Mašová, František Moravec, Vlastimil Baruš, Mária Seifertová

Folia Parasitologica 57[4] 280-288 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.034  

Ascaridoid nematodes referable to Brevimulticaecum heterotis (Petter, Vassiliadès et Marchand, 1979) Khalil, 1984 were recorded from the intestine of the African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus (Cuvier) (Arapaimidae, Osteoglossiformes), from the Mare Simenti in the Niokolo Koba National Park, East Senegal and from Kosti, Sudan. Their examination using light microscopy and for the first time both environmental scanning electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed some previously unreported morphological features and made possible a detailed redescription of this species. The most important finding is the presence...

New data on the morphology and taxonomy of three species of Rhabdochona (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) parasitizing fishes in India

František Moravec, Tomáš Scholz, Anirban Ash, Pradip Kumar Kar

Folia Parasitologica 57[4] 295-306 (2010) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2010.036  

Specimens of three little-known species of Rhabdochona (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) were collected during occasional examinations of some freshwater fishes in India: R. (Rhabdochona) hellichi turkestanica (Skryabin, 1917) in Schizothorax sp. (Cyprinidae, Cypriniformes) from the Lodhomakhola and Rangit Rivers, West Bengal and Sikkim, respectively; R. (R.) hospeti Thapar, 1950 in Tor sp. (Cyprinidae) from the Rangit River; and R. (Globochona) mazeedi Prasad et Sahay, 1965 in Clupisoma garua (Hamilton) (Schilbeidae, Siluriformes) from the Farakka Dam Lake, West Bengal....

Sphaerospora elwhaiensis sp. n. (Myxosporea: Sphaerosporidae) from landlocked sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Salmoniformes: Salmonidae) in Washington State, USA

Simon Jones, Ivan Fiala, Gina Prosperi-Porta, Marcia House, Sonia Mumford

Folia Parasitologica 58[2] 87-94 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.009  

A new species of sphaerosporid myxosporean, Sphaerospora elwhaiensis sp. n., is described from kidney of non-anadromous sockeye salmon (kokanee) Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum) from Lake Sutherland in the northern Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA. Infection with the parasite was detected in 45% of 177 kokanee examined over 5 years. While conforming to the morphological criteria by which members of the genus are defined, the parasite is distinguished from congeners in salmonids of western North America by a unique combination of valvular sculpting of the myxospore, the relatively large size of the myxospore and monosporous development within...

A new genus and two new species of Anteroporidae (Cestoda: Lecanicephalidea) from the darkspotted numbfish, Narcine maculata (Torpediniformes: Narcinidae), off Malaysian Borneo

Kirsten Jensen, Pavel Nikolov, Janine N. Caira

Folia Parasitologica 58[2] 95-107 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.010  

The cestode fauna of the darkspotted numbfish, Narcine maculata (Shaw) (Torpediniformes: Narcinidae), from Malaysian Borneo was examined for the first time. This work resulted in the discovery of a new genus and two new species of Anteroporidae (Lecanicephalidea). Sesquipedalapex comicus gen. n., sp. n. was erected on the basis of the peculiarities of its scolex, in particular its possession of an extremely long apical modification of the scolex proper, which readily distinguishes it from the other genus in the family. The genus is also distinct in its possession of acetabula that are in the form of suckers, rather than bothridiate in...

Natural and anthropogenic factors shape metazoan parasite community structure in mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) from two estuaries in New Brunswick, Canada

Christopher A. Blanar, David J. Marcogliese, Catherine M. Couillard

Folia Parasitologica 58[3] 240-248 (2011)  

Previously published multidisciplinary studies in the Miramichi and Bouctouche rivers (New Brunswick, Canada) noted significant changes in fish health parameters, including elevated tissue levels of organic contaminants and a wide range of physiological disturbances, in mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus (L.) from a site on the Miramichi River that received bleached kraft pulpmill and municipal effluent. The present study reports differences in the abundance of individual parasite species, as well as parasite infracommunity and component community composition, in mummichog from both rivers. These differences were evaluated in relation to host (size,...

Rhaphidotrema kiatkiongi, a new genus and species of blood fluke (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) from Arothron hispidus (Osteichthyes: Tetraodontidae) from the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Russell Q.Y. Yong, Thomas H. Cribb

Folia Parasitologica 58[4] 273-277 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.026  

A new genus of fish blood flukes (Aporocotylidae Odhner, 1912) is proposed for a species found on reefs surrounding Lizard Island on the northern Great Barrier Reef. Rhaphidotrema kiatkiongi gen. et sp. n. was recovered from the heart of the stars-and-stripes pufferfish, Arothron hispidus (L.) (Tetraodontidae). Rhaphidotrema kiatkiongi is notable as the first digenean reported to possess a penis stylet. It also differs from all other aporocotylid flukes in having a combination of 18-19 testes in a group at the ends of the intestinal caeca, a broad lanceolate body shape with a dextrally-directed posterior bend at the level of the...

Argasid and spinturnicid mite load on swarming bats in the Tatra Mountains, Poland

Krzysztof Piksa, Magdalena Skwarek, Krzysztof Siuda

Folia Parasitologica 58[4] 322-325 (2011) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2011.033  

Altogether 445 bats, representing nine species, caught during swarming in the Lodowa Cave in Mount Ciemniak, Western Tatra Mountains, southern Poland, were examined for ectoparasitic mites. In total, 259 spinturnicid (Spinturnix mystacina, S. andegavinus, S. kolenatii, S. plecotinus and S. myoti) and 95 argasid (Carios vespertilionis) mites were collected from seven bat species, Myotis myotis, M. mystacinus, M. brandtii, M. daubentonii, Eptesicus nilssonii, Plecotus auritus, and Vespertilio murinus. There were sex-based differences in the prevalence of mites...

Age-related susceptibility and resistance to nonlethal Plasmodium yoelii infection in C57BL/6 mice

Ying Shan, Jun Liu, Yong-Jun Jiang, Hong Shang, Dong Jiang, Ya-Ming Cao

Folia Parasitologica 59[3] 153-161 (2012)  

In cases of human malaria, children suffer very high rates of morbidity and mortality. To analyze the mechanisms involved in age-dependent protection against malaria, we investigated the characterization of immune responses to Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL (P.y 17XNL) in young (3 weeks) and middle-aged (8 months) C57BL/6 mice. In this study, we found that 100% of young mice succumbed to P.y 17XNL infection with higher parasitemia, while middle-aged mice were able to clear blood parasites and no mortality was observed. These observations suggested that the young C57BL/6 mice were susceptible to P.y 17XNL infection, whereas the middle-aged mice were...

Molecular survey and microscopic examination of Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) in lacertid lizards from the western Mediterranean

João P.M.C. Maia, Ana Perera, D. James Harris

Folia Parasitologica 59[4] 241-248 (2012) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2012.033  

The genus Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 (Apicomplexa: Adeleorina) is composed of intracellular haemogregarine parasites that are widely distributed among all tetrapod groups. The present study combines microscopic and molecular data on haemogregarine parasites from lizards in the western Mediterranean. We screened tissue samples and examined blood smears for the presence of species of Hepatozoon from four lizards, namely Algyroides marchi Valverde, endemic to Southeast Spain, Podarcis bocagei Seoane from Spain and Portugal, P. hispanica Steindachner from Spain, and P. lilfordi Günther from Cabrera, Balearic Islands...

A new species of Australotaenia (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) from a snake in Cambodia: host switching or postcyclic parasitism in a distant region?

Alainde Chambrier, Tomáš Scholz

Folia Parasitologica 59[4] 279-286 (2012) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2012.039  

Australotaenia de Chambrier et de Chambrier, 2010 has been proposed to accommodate two species of proteocephalidean cestodes from hylid frogs (Litoria spp.) in Australia. Recently, apparently congeneric cestode, for which the name A. bunthangi sp. n. is proposed, was found in the homalopsid snake Enhydris enhydris (Schneider) (Serpentes: Homalopsidae) from South-East Asia (Cambodia). This finding indicates a much wider range of definitive hosts of species of this genus, i.e. amphibians and reptiles, which is exceptional among proteocephalideans. Postcyclic parasitism, i.e. predation of the definitive host infected with...

Cardicola langeli sp. n. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) from heart of sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus (Actinopterygii: Sparidae) in the Gulf of Mexico, with an updated list of hosts, infection sites and localities for Cardicola spp.

Stephen A. Bullard

Folia Parasitologica 60[1] 17-27 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.003  

Cardicola langeli n. sp. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) infects the heart of sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum, 1792) (Perciformes: Sparidae) in the northern Gulf of Mexico off Horn Island (type locality), Mississippi, USA. The new species is described herein using light and scanning electron microscopy of adult specimens and can be most easily distinguished from the other 24 accepted species of Cardicola Short, 1953 by the combination of having (i) an ovovitelline duct that extends anteriad and that (ii) is posterior to the ootype, (iii) a male genital pore that is lateral to the oviducal seminal receptacle and (iv)...

The genus Hatschekia (Copepoda: Hatschekiidae) from pufferfishes (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) off the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, with descriptions of four new species and a redescription of H. pholas

Daisuke Uyeno, Kazuya Nagasawa

Folia Parasitologica 60[1] 61-74 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.008  

Four new species of the genus Hatschekia Poche, 1902 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Hatschekiidae) are described based on female specimens collected from pufferfishes (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) caught in coastal waters off the Ryukyu Islands, Japan: H. longiabdominalis sp. n. on Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus), H. geniculata sp. n. on A. hispidus (type host) and A. stellatus (Bloch et Schneider), H. ellipsocorpa sp. n. on A. mappa (Lesson), and H. boonah sp. n. on A. nigropunctatus (Bloch et Schneider) (type host) and A. meleagris (Schneider). Hatschekia longiabdominalis...

A new genus and species of the Monticelliinae (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidea), a parasite of Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Pisces: Siluriformes) from the Paraná River basin (Argentina), with comments on microtriches of proteocephalideans

Nathalia J. Arredondo, Alain de Chambrier, Alicia A. Gil de Pertierra

Folia Parasitologica 60[3] 248-256 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.028  

Abstract: This paper describes Regoella brevis gen. n. et. sp. n. (Proteocephalidea: Monticelliinae), a parasite of the intestine of the barred sorubim Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum (Linnaeus) from the Paraná River basin. The new genus is placed in the Monticelliinae because of the cortical position of the genital organs. It differs from all known genera included in the Monticelliinae by the following combination of characters: 1) a quadrangular scolex with a truncated conical apex and formed by four lobes separated by grooves; 2) uniloculate suckers of inverted triangular shape possessing a small cone-shaped projection at each corner of...

First descriptions of dicyemid mesozoans (Dicyemida: Dicyemidae) from Australian octopus (Octopodidae) and cuttlefish (Sepiidae), including a new record of Dicyemennea in Australian waters

Sarah R. Catalano

Folia Parasitologica 60[4] 306-320 (2013) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2013.032  

Abstract: Three new species of dicyemid mesozoans are described for the first time from Australian octopus and cuttlefish species. Dicyemennea floscephalum sp. n. is described from Octopus berrima Stranks et Norman (southern keeled octopus) collected from Spencer Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent, South Australia, Australia and represents the first description of a species of Dicyemennea Whitman, 1883 from Australian waters. Dicyema papuceum sp. n. and D. furuyi sp. n. are described from Sepia papuensis Hoyle (Papuan cuttlefish) collected from Shark Bay, Western Australia, Australia. Dicyemennea floscephalum...

A new species of Comephoronema (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from the squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis (Beryciformes: Holocentridae) off Brazil

Felipe Bisaggio Pereira, Aldenice de Nazaré Pereira, José Luis Luque

Folia Parasitologica 61[1] 55-62 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.001  

A new nematode species, Comephoronema multipapillatum sp. n. (Cystidicolidae), is described from the anterior intestine and caecum of the squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis (Osbeck) (Beryciformes: Holocentridae) collected in Angra dos Reis, State of Rio de Janeiro, offshore Brazil. The new species was placed in Comephoronema Layman, 1933 by having an oval oral aperture, four submedian labia, four bilobed submedian sublabia, two narrow lateral pseudolabia and four single cephalic papillae, but mainly by numerous precloacal papillae in males (more than six pairs), in which it differs from species of the otherwise morphologically...

Ultrastructure and molecular phylogeny of four new species of monoxenous trypanosomatids from flies (Diptera: Brachycera) with redefinition of the genus Wallaceina

Vyacheslav Yurchenko, Jan Votýpka, Martina Tesařová, Helena Klepetková, Natalya Kraeva, Milan Jirků, Julius Lukeš

Folia Parasitologica 61[2] 97-112 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.023  

Four new species of monoxenous kinetoplastid parasites are described from Brachycera flies, namely Wallaceina raviniae Votýpka et Lukeš, 2014 and Crithidia otongatchiensis Votýpka et Lukeš, 2014 from Ecuador, Leptomonas moramango Votýpka et Lukeš, 2014 from Madagascar, and Crithidia pragensis Votýpka, Klepetková et Lukeš, 2014 from the Czech Republic. The new species are described here based on sequence analysis of their spliced leader (SL) RNA, glycosomal glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) and small subunit (SSU) rRNA genes, as well as their morphology and ultrastructure. High-pressure freezing and Bernhard's...

Metazoan gill parasites of the Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) from the Mediterranean and their possible use as biological tags

Jacopo Culurgioni, Salvatore Mele, Paolo Merella, Piero Addis, Vincenza Figus, Angelo Cau, Firdes Saadet Karakulak, Giovanni Garippa

Folia Parasitologica 61[2] 148-156 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.011  

The gills of 63 specimens of the Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) (Osteichthyes: Scombridae) from three localities of the Mediterranean (Sardinian, Tyrrhenian and Levantine Seas) were examined for metazoan parasites. The parasite fauna of T. thynnus from the Sea of Sardinia included 11 species: five didymozoid trematodes, three capsalid and one hexostomid monogeneans, and one caligid and one pseudocycnid copepods. Four didymozoids were found in fish from the Levantine Sea and only one didymozoid was recorded in fish from the Tyrrhenian Sea. Dividing the hosts into four size-groups (small, medium-sized, large and extra...

Uncinaria sanguinis sp. n. (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae) from the endangered Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea (Carnivora: Otariidae)

Alan D. Marcus, Damien P. Higgins, Jan Šlapeta, Rachael Gray

Folia Parasitologica 61[3] 255-265 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.037  

This study investigates the identity of hookworms parasitising the Australian sea lion, Neophoca cinerea (Péron), from three colonies in South Australia, Australia. The Australian sea lion is at risk of extinction because its population is small and genetically fragmented. Using morphological and molecular techniques, we describe a single novel species, Uncinaria sanguinis sp. n. (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae). The new species is most similar to hookworms also parasitic in otariid hosts, Uncinaria lucasi Stiles, 1901 and Uncinaria hamiltoni Baylis, 1933. Comparative morphometrics offered limited utility for distinguishing...

Two new and two redescribed species of Anonchotaenia (Cestoda: Paruterinidae) from South American birds

Anna J. Phillips, Boyko B. Georgiev, Andrea Waeschenbach, Jean Mariaux

Folia Parasitologica 61[5] 441-461 (2014) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2014.058  

Morphological examination of novel specimens of paruterinid cestodes from passerine birds from Brazil and Chile and of museum specimens from Paraguay revealed two new species: Anonchotaenia prolixa sp. n. from Elaenia albiceps chilensis Hellmayr from Chile, and Anonchotaenia vaslata sp. n. from Tyrannus melancholicus (Vieillot) (type host) and Myiodynastes maculatus (Statius Muller) from Paraguay. The generic diagnosis of Anonchotaenia Conn, 1900 is amended, prompted by the presence of the armed cirrus and the elongated cirrus sac of A. prolixa. Two species were redescribed: Anonchotaenia...

The taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationships of Cercaria pugnax and C. helvetica XII (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae) based on morphological and molecular data

Olena Kudlai, Virmantas Stunžėnas, Vasyl Tkach

Folia Parasitologica 62[1] 3 (2015) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.003  

The present study analysed the taxonomic status and phylogenetic relationships of two species of xiphidiocercariae of the ʻmicrocotylaeʼ group, Cercaria pugnax La Valette St. George, 1855, from Viviparus viviparus (Linnaeus) in the Ukraine and Cercaria helvetica XII Dubois, 1928 from Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus) in Lithuania. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the ITS2 region and partial 28S gene of the nuclear rDNA revealed that both these xiphidiocercariae belong to the Lecithodendriidae Lühe, 1901 and represent larval stages of lecithodendriids parasitic in bats. Cercaria helvetica...

Ultrastructure and phylogeny of Glugea nagelia sp. n. (Microsporidia: Glugeidae), infecting the intestinal wall of the yellowfin hind, Cephalopholis hemistiktos (Actinopterygii: Serranidae), from the Red Sea

Abdel-Azeem S. Abdel-Baki, Saleh Al-Quraishy, Sónia Rocha, Mohamed A. Dkhil, Graça Casal, Carlos Azevedo

Folia Parasitologica 62[1] 7 (2015) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.007  

A new microsporidian species of the genus Glugea Thélohan, 1891 parasitising the marine teleost fish Cephalopholis hemistiktos Rüppell, collected from the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia, is described on the basis of microscopic and molecular procedures. Spherical and whitish xenoma were observed adhering to the intestinal wall. The numerous spores contained within these xenoma, were ovoid to pyriform and measured 4.3-6.0 µm (5.1 µm) in length and 1.8-2.9 µm (2.2 µm) in width. The spore's wall was composed of two thick layers, which were thinner in the area contacting the anchoring disk. The latter appeared at the spore's...

Prevalence and molecular typing of Giardia duodenalis in wildlife from eastern Poland

Krzysztof Stojecki, Jacek Sroka, Simone M. Cacciò, Tomasz Cencek, Jacek Dutkiewicz, Paweł Kusyk

Folia Parasitologica 62[1] (2015) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2015.042  

Faecal samples from 162 wild animals were collected from 32 distinct sites of Łęczyńsko-Włodawskie Lakeland (eastern Poland). The presence of Giardia duodenalis (Stiles, 1902) was assessed by a Direct Fluorescence Assay (DFA) and by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing of a fragment of the beta-giardin gene. DFA showed the presence of cysts of G. duodenalis in 12 of 162 faecal samples (7%), namely in four wild boars (15%), four foxes (19%), two roe deer (4%), and two wolves (29%). PCR identified 34 of the 162 (21%) samples as positive, including 11 wild boars (41%), five red deer (18%), 11 roe deer (23%), four moose (17%), two...