Folia Parasitologica, vol. 67 (2020)
Four new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849 (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea) from the spotted skate, Raja straeleni Poll, off the Western Cape, South Africa
Linda Van Der Spuy, Nico J. Smit, Bjoern C. Schaeffner
Folia Parasitologica 67:036 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.036 
The examination of eight spotted skates, Raja straeleni Poll, resulted in the discovery of four new species of Acanthobothrium van Beneden, 1849, namely A. microhabentes sp. n., A. microtenuis sp. n., A. crassus sp. n., and A. dolichocollum sp. n., located off the Western Cape of South Africa. With a total of over 200 valid species of Acanthobothrium recognised worldwide, the use of an integrative approach becomes imperative in the interest of simplifying interspecific comparisons between congeners. In accordance with this, the four new species were incorporated into the category...
Wenyonia gracilis sp. n. (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea) from Synodontis zambezensis (Siluriformes: Mochokidae): the first native caryophyllidean tapeworm from southern Africa
Bjoern C. Schaeffner, Divan van Rooyen, Ruan Gerber, Tomáš Scholz, Nico J. Smit
Folia Parasitologica 67:035 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.035
Parasitological examination of freshwater fishes of the Phongolo River in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa resulted in the discovery and morphological and molecular characterisation of a new species of Wenyonia Woodland, 1923 (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea). The new species from the plain squeaker, Synodontis zambezensis Peters (Siluriformes: Mochokidae), is morphologically most similar to Wenyonia acuminata Woodland, 1923, a species reported from three species of Synodontis in north-eastern, western and central Africa (Sudan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Both these species are markedly different from congeners...
Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can promote chronic liver diseases in HIV-infected individuals
Ihor H. Hryzhak
Folia Parasitologica 67:034 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.034
Liver pathologies and infection with Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) are widespread among HIV-infected patients. However, a possible contribution of toxoplasmosis to the development of various forms of liver diseases in HIV-infected individuals has not yet been determined. This research is a retrospective cohort study. Medical cards of 907 HIV-positive patients, including 119 individuals who died, were studied. The patients were divided into two groups: 531 patients were seropositive to T. gondii and 376 seronegative. General liver pathology was more widespread among patients seropositive to T. gondii than in seronegative...
New type of xiphidiocercariae (Digenea: Microphalloidea) from South Vietnam
Darya Krupenko, Anna Gonchar, Georgii Kremnev, Boris Efeykin, Vladimir Krapivin
Folia Parasitologica 67:033 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.033
We found unusual digenean intramolluscan stages, sporocysts and cercariae, in gastropods Sulcospira dautzenbergiana (Morelet) (Caenogastropoda: Pachychilidae) from Southern Vietnam and named them Cercaria cattieni 1. These cercariae have a stylet and thus belong to the Xiphidiata. However, such combination of characters as extremely large body size and I-shaped excretory bladder has not been found before in any other xiphidiocercariae. We obtained COI, ITS1, 5.8S + ITS2, and 28S rDNA sequences for C. cattieni 1. The latter allowed us to specify the phylogenetic position of the discovered cercariae: C. cattieni 1 falls...
Morphological and molecular data of Hepatozoon ursi in two brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Turkey
Muzaffer Akyuz, Ridvan Kirman, Esin Guven
Folia Parasitologica 67:032 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.032
Species of Hepatozoon Miller, 1908 are vector-borne parasites that infect domestic and wild animals worldwide. Hepatozoon ursi Kubo, Uni, Agatsuma, Nagataki, Panciera et al., 2008 was reported from bears (Ursidae) in Japan and India. The present study represents the first report of infection with H. ursi in Turkish brown bears (Ursus arctos Linnaeus) by microscopic and molecular analysis. Two dead brown bears were found in Uzundere and Pasinler districts of Erzurum. Blood and visceral organ (spleen and liver) samples were delivered to laboratory by the Nature Conservation and National Parks officers. Detected gamonts...
The first human case of babesiosis mimicking Reiter's syndrome
Zuzana Strizova, Klara Havlova, Ondrej Patek, Daniel Smrz, Jirina Bartunkova
Folia Parasitologica 67:031 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.031
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease that may exhibit a broad range of clinical manifestations. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Babesia species belong to the most common transfusion-transmitted pathogens (FDA, May 2019), but the awareness of the disease caused by these parasitic protists is still low. In immunocompromised patients, the clinical course of babesiosis may be of extreme severity and may require hospital admission. We demonstrate a case of a young male who experienced severe polytrauma requiring repetitive blood transfusions. Six months later, the patient developed a classic triad of arthritis, conjunctivitis and...
A new species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 (Bivalvulida: Myxobolidae) infecting stratum spongiosum of the imperiled sicklefin redhorse, Moxostoma sp. (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae) from the Little Tennessee River, North Carolina, USA
Steven P. Ksepka, Brian H. Hickson, Nathan V. Whelan, Stephen A. Bullard
Folia Parasitologica 67:030 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.030
The sicklefin redhorse, Moxostoma sp. (Cypriniformes: Catostomidae), is an innominate imperiled catostomid endemic to the Hiwassee and Little Tennessee river basins, which has been restricted to a few tributaries of these systems by impoundments. During collections to propagate sicklefin redhorse for reintroduction, a myxozoan, described herein, was observed infecting sicklefin redhorse in the Little Tennessee River Basin, North Carolina. Myxobolus naylori Ksepka et Bullard sp. n. infects the stratum spongiosum covering the scales of sicklefin redhorse. Myxospores of the new species differ from all congeners by the combination...
Interannual and spatial variation in the parasite communities of Pacific sierra Scomberomorus sierra (Jordan et Starks) on Mexico's Pacific coast
Nataly G. Santos-Bustos, Juan Violante-González, Scott Monks, Princessa J. Villalba-Vásquez, Shirley S. Salas Villalobos, Monserrat S. Acosta-Hernández, Aldo Diaz Gallegos
Folia Parasitologica 67:029 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.029
The parasite communities of predatory fish can be species rich and diverse, making them effective models for studying the factors influencing temporal and spatial variation in these communities. Over a ten-year period an initial study was done on the metazoan parasite communities of Scomberomorus sierra (Jordan et Starks) from four locations on the south-central Pacific coast of Mexico. Twenty-four metazoan parasite taxa were identified from 674 S. sierra specimens: three species of Monogenea, eight Digenea, one Cestoda, one Acanthocephala, four Nematoda, five Copepoda, and two Isopoda. The parasite communities were characterised by high...
Five monogenean species (Allodiscocotylidae, Heteromicrocotylidae, Microcotylidae) from the Pacific seabream Acanthopagrus pacificus (Perciformes: Sparidae) in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam, with descriptions of three new species
Ha Van Nguyen, Hung Manh Nguyen, Ngo Duy Ha, Chinh Nguyen Ngoc, Thanh Bui Ngoc, Sinh Xuan Le, Yulia Tatonova, Stephen E. Greiman
Folia Parasitologica 67:028 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.028
A total of 52 specimens of the Pacific seabream Acanthopagrus pacificus Iwatsuki, Kume et Yoshino from the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam were examined for monogeneans. Twenty fish were parasitised by 101 individuals of five monogenean species, including two known species Allodiscocotyla diacanthi Unnithan, 1962 and Heterapta chorinemi (Tripathi, 1956), as well as three new species, Polylabroides tienyenensis sp. n., Polylabroides tonkinensis sp. n. and Metacamopia lebedevi sp. n. Polylabroides tienyenensis and P. tonkinensis are morphologically more similar to Polylabroides...
Immune responses in mice vaccinated with a DNA vaccine expressing a new elastase from Trichinella spiralis
Xin Zhuo Zhang, Xiang Yuan Sun, Ying Bai, Wen Wen Yue, Xin Yue, Yan Yan Song, Jing Cui, Zhong Quan Wang
Folia Parasitologica 67:027 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.027
The elastase, which belongs to the serine protease family, hydrolyses various proteins and may be involved in the parasite invasion. In this study, complete sequence of elastase-1 (TsE) the nematode Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1835) was cloned into the plasmid pcDNA3.1 as TsE DNA vaccine. After intramuscular vaccination, serum anti-Trichinella antibodies (IgG and subclass IgG1/IgG2a, and IgA), total and specific intestinal mucosal sIgA in mice vaccinated with pcDNA3.1/TsE were measured by ELISA. The results showed that vaccination with pcDNA3.1/TsE induced a systemic humoral immune response (high levels of serum IgG and subclass IgG1/IgG2a...
Development of a PCR for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, targeted on the groEL gene
Giulia Chiappa, Alessandra Cafiso, Elisa Monza, Valentina Serra, Emanuela Olivieri, Claudia Romeo, Chiara Bazzocchi
Folia Parasitologica 67:026 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.026
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) is the etiological agent of Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks of the genus Ixodes Latreille. Diagnosis of Lyme disease in humans is often difficult and a detailed knowledge of the circulation of B. burgdorferi s.l. in tick hosts is therefore fundamental to support clinical procedures. Here we developed a molecular approach for the detection of B. burgdorferi s.l. in North Italian Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus). The method is based on the amplification of a fragment of the groEL gene, which encodes a heat-shock protein highly conserved among B. burgdorferi s.l. species....
New records of Philometra pellucida (Jägerskiöld, 1893) (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the body cavity of Arothron mappa (Lesson) and Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch et Schneider) reared in aquariums, with synonymisation of Philometra robusta Moravec, Möller et Heeger, 1992
Takashi Iwaki, Kenta Tamai, Keisuke Ogimoto, Yuka Iwahashi, Tsukasa Waki, Fumi Kawano, Kazuo Ogawa
Folia Parasitologica 67:025 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.025
We encountered two cases of infection with large female nematodes of the genus Philometra Costa, 1845 in the body cavity of a map puffer Arothron mappa (Lesson) caught off Okinawa, Japan, and a blackspotted puffer Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch et Schneider) caught off Queensland, Australia, both reared in aquariums in Japan. No morphological difference was observed between the nematodes from A. mappa and A. nigropunctatus. We identified the nematodes as Philometra pellucida (Jägerskiöld, 1893) based on their morphology. The sequences of the nematodes from both hosts were identical to each other (1,643...
Experimental infection model with the bivalvulid Enteromyxum leei (Myxidiidae) in the sharpsnout seabream, Diplodus puntazzo (Sparidae), and evaluation of the antiparasitic efficacy of a functional diet
Morgane A. Henry, Fotini Kokou, Oswaldo Palenzuela, George Pyrenis, George Rigos
Folia Parasitologica 67:024 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.024
An infection model for sharpsnout seabream Diplodus puntazzo (Walbaum) challenged with the myxosporean Enteromyxum leei (Diamant, Lom et Dyková, 1994), resembling the natural infection conditions, was used to evaluate the antiparasitic efficacy of a functional diet. Fish of an average weight of 12.5 ± 1.2 g were delivered either a functional (included as feed supplement at 0.3% levels) or a control extruded diet. After four weeks of administration of the experimental diets, fish were challenged with the parasites (cohabitation with infected donors; donor: recipient ratio 1 : 1). The experiment...
Identification and subcellular localisation of hexokinase-2 in Nosema bombycis
Jiancheng Sun, Feng Zhu, Hongli Chen, Mingshuai Yao, Guanyu Zhu, Yiling Zhang, Qiang Wang, Zhongyuan Shen
Folia Parasitologica 67:023 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.023
Hexokinase (HXK) is the first key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway and plays an extremely important role in energy metabolism. By searching the microsporidian database, we found a sequence (NBO_27g0008) of Nosema bombycis Nägali, 1857 with high similarity to hexokinase-2, and named it as NbHXK2. The NbHXK2 gene has 894 bp and encodes 297 amino acids with 34.241 kD molecular weight and 5.26 isoelectric point. NbHXK2 contains 31 phosphorylation sites and 4 potential N-glycosylation sites with signal peptides and no transmembrane domain. Multiple sequence alignment showed that NbHXK2 shares more than 40% amino acid identity with that of...
Evagination of metacestodes of the WFU strain of Taenia crassiceps and evaluation of the impact of immune suppression of hamsters during tapeworm development
Laura Aguilar-Vega, Tanya Plett-Torres, Marta C. Romano, Rimma Zurabian
Folia Parasitologica 67:022 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.022
Taeniosis-cysticercosis caused by Taenia crassiceps (Zeder, 1800) is a useful experimental model for biomedical research, in substitution of Taenia solium Linnaeus, 1758, studied during decades to develop effective vaccination, novel anti-helminthic drugs and diagnostic tools. Cysticercosis in mouse (Mus musculus Linnaeus) is achieved by the larval subculturing of the Wake Forest University (WFU) strain of T. crassiceps. Golden hamster, Mesocricetus auratus (Waterhouse), has been shown to be the most suitable host for adult forms of parasite in experimental taeniosis. Metacestodes of T. crassiceps WFU multiply...
The Proteocephalus species-aggregate (Cestoda) in sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae) of the Nearctic Region, including description of a new species from brook stickleback, Culaea inconstans
Tomáš Scholz, Anindo Choudhury, Patrick A. Nelson
Folia Parasitologica 67:021 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.021
A survey of the species of the Proteocephalus-aggregate from sticklebacks (Actinopterygii: Gasterosteidae) is provided. The occurrence of three species in North America is confirmed: (i) Proteocephalus filicollis (Rudolphi, 1802), which has been reported from the three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, in the northeastern part of North America (Newfoundland); (ii) Proteocephalus pugetensis Hoff et Hoff, 1929 occurs also in G. aculeatus, but in northwestern North America (British Columbia and Washington); and (iii) Proteocephalus culaeae sp. n., which is described from the brook stickleback,...
Evaluation of Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium hominis/Cryptosporidium parvum in human stool samples by the BD MAXTM Enteric Parasite Panel
Sadik Akgün, Tuncay Çelik
Folia Parasitologica 67:020 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.020
Although the microscopic examination of stool samples remains the reference method of choice for the diagnosis of intestinal protistan infections, this method is time-consuming and requires experienced and well-trained operators. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of agreement between the BD MAX TM Enteric Parasite Panel (EPP) and microscopy for the detection of Giardia intestinalis (Lambl, 1859), Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba histolytica Schaudinn, 1903 in stool samples. The study included faecal samples of 362 patients who were admitted to our hospital due to gastrointestinal complaints. In the...
Myxozoan hidden diversity: the case of Myxobolus pseudodispar Gorbunova, 1936
Martina Lisnerová, Petr Blabolil, Astrid Holzer, Pavel Jurajda, Ivan Fiala
Folia Parasitologica 67:019 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.019
Myxobolus pseudodispar Gorbunova, 1936 (Myxozoa) was originally described as a parasite of common roach, Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus), with developing stages in muscles and spores disseminated in macrophage centres of different organs and tissues. Later, this parasite was described from several other cyprinids, but with relatively large intraspecific differences based on SSU rDNA gene sequences. Within our long-term study on myxozoan biodiversity, we performed a broad microscopic and molecular screening of various freshwater fish species (over 450 specimens, 36 species) from different localities. We investigated the cryptic species status...
Morphological and molecular studies of Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Goto, 1891) and Eudiplozoon kamegaii sp. n. (Monogenea; Diplozoidae)
Tomoki Nishihira, Misako Urabe
Folia Parasitologica 67:018 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.018
Eudiplozoon nipponicum (Goto, 1891) Khotenovsky, 1985 (Monogenea: Diplozoidae), is known to parasitise Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus and species of Carassius. In this study, we conducted a taxonomic re-examination of E. nipponicum using genetic analysis and morphological comparisons from different host species from a single water system. rDNA nucleotide sequences of the internal transcription spacer 2 (ITS-2) region (645 bp) showed interspecific-level genetic differences among diplozoids from species of Carassius and C. carpio (p-distance: 3.1-4.0%) but no difference among those from different species of Carassius...
New records of Philometra spp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from marine perciform fishes off Florida, USA, including descriptions of two new species
František Moravec, Micah D. Bakenhaster, Theodore S. Switzer
Folia Parasitologica 67:017 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.017
Recent examinations of marine perciform fishes from off the Florida coast in the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida, USA, revealed the presence of the following six species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae): P. haemulontis sp. n. (males and females) from the ovary of Haemulon plumierii (Lacepède) (type host) and H. aurolineatum Cuvier (both Haemulidae); Philometra synagridis Moravec, Bakenhaster et Fajer-Ávila, 2014 (males and females) from the ovary and testes of Lutjanus synagris (Linnaeus) (Lutjanidae); P. margolisi Moravec, Vidal-Martínez et...
Two new species of Acanthobothrium Blanchard, 1848 (Cestoda: Onchoproteocephalidea) from rajiform batoids off Argentina
Sebastián Franzese, Verónica A. Ivanov
Folia Parasitologica 67:016 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.016
Two new species of Acanthobothrium Blanchard, 1848 were collected from rajiform batoids along the coast of Argentina. They are Acanthobothrium carolinae sp. n. from Bathyraja magellanica (Philippi) and Acanthobothrium domingae sp. n. from Dipturus brevicaudatus (Marini). Both belong to category 1 and 2 because their total length is lower than 15 mm, they have fewer than 50 proglottids, fewer than 80 testes and a symmetric or asymmetric ovary. Acanthobothrium carolinae sp. n. differs from all congeners by the following combination of features: proglottid apolysis, hook morphology, microthrix pattern on the cephalic...
Neurological disorder and psychosocial aspects of cerebral malaria: what is new on its pathogenesis and complications? A minireview.
Arif Jamal Siddiqui, Mohd Adnan, Sadaf Jahan, Whitni Redman, Mοhd Saeed, Mitesh Patel
Folia Parasitologica 67:015 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.015
Recently, malaria is remain considered as the most prevalent infectious disease, affecting the human health globally. High morbidity and mortality worldwide is often allied with cerebral malaria (CM) based disorders of the central nervous system, especially across many tropical and sub-tropical regions. These disorders are characterised by the infection of Plasmodium species, which leads to acute or chronic neurological disorders, even after having active/effective antimalarial drugs. Furthermore, even during the treatment, individual remain sensitive for neurological impairments in the form of decrease blood flow and vascular obstruction in...
Dispersal and molecular characterisation of the Echinococcus granulosus (Batsch, 1786) complex isolated from various intermediate hosts in the Calabria region, southern Italy
Grazia Pavia, Federica De Gori, Lucia Ciambrone, Natalino De Gori, Rosanna Musarella, Francesco Casalinuovo
Folia Parasitologica 67:014 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.014
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease caused by the tapeworms of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex, which have worldwide distribution. No data on the circulation of genotypes of the E. granulosus complex in intermediate hosts in endemic areas in Calabria are available. The aims of our study were to evaluate the dispersal of genotypes of the E. granulosus complex in Calabria and to characterise parasite isolates by Sanger sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. We collected 71 animal samples from pigs, wild boars, sheep, cattle and goats. The first PCR screening analysis targeted three partial genomic regions:...
Ruavermis mikebargeri gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Schistosomatoidea) infecting the yellow-headed temple turtle, Heosemys annandalii (Cryptodira: Geoemydidae), in Vietnam, including an updated phylogeny for the turtle blood flukes
Haley R. Dutton, Stephen A. Bullard
Folia Parasitologica 67:013 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.013
Ruavermis mikebargeri gen. et sp. n. infects the yellow-headed temple turtles Heosemys annandalii (Boulenger et Robinson) in the Mekong River Basin. It resembles Platt Roberts et Bullard, 2018 and Coeuritrema Mehra, 1933 by having the anterior to posterior anatomical sequence of a ventral sucker, external seminal vesicle, cirrus sac, anterior testis, ovary, transverse vitelline duct, and posterior testis. These genera are further similar by having the combination of an elongate/ovoid aspinous body, a ventral sucker at the level of the body constriction, an oesophagus that terminates in the anterior 1/5 of the body...
Temporal variation in infection levels and reproductive traits of the acanthocephalan Pseudoleptorhynchoides lamothei in the blue sea catfish Ariopsis guatemalensis (Günther, 1864)
Dolores I. Carpio-Hernández, Juan Violante-González, Scott Monks, Agustín A. Rojas-Herrera, Sergio García-Ibáñez, Jeiri Toribio-Jiménez, Himmer Castro-Mondragón
Folia Parasitologica 67:012 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.012
Current data on reproductive biology and population dynamics of the acanthocephalans are scarce mainly in regions from the tropical Pacific. An analysis was done to identify possible factors that influence variation in infection levels of the acanthocephalan Pseudoleptorhynchoides lamothei Salgado-Maldonado, 1976 in its final host, the blue sea catfish Ariopsis guatemalensis (Günther, 1864), and describe its main reproductive traits. A total of 1,094 A. guatemalensis were collected from Tres Palos Lagoon from August 2014 to December 2015. Prevalence of P. lamothei varied from 1.47% to 38.33%, and mean abundance from 0.03...
Revision of monogeneans parasitising Lythrurus (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae) in eastern U.S.A., with description of Dactylogyrus lythruri sp. n. and new records of Dactylogyrus crucis Rogers, 1967 (Monogenoidea: Dactylogyridae)
Donald G. Cloutman, Andrew B. Adrian, Chris T. McAllister, Bruce W. Stallsmith, Thomas J. Fayton, Henry W. Robison
Folia Parasitologica 67:011 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.011
A revisionary study revealed two species of monogeneans, Dactylogyrus crucis Rogers, 1967 and Dactylogyrus lythruri sp. n., parasitising Lythrurus Jordan (formerly a subgenus of Notropis Rafinesque, 1818). New records and updated taxonomy of seven of 12 known minnows of the genus of Lythrurus are provided for D. crucis. A record of Dactylogyrus attenuatus Mizelle et Klucka, 1953 (syn. Dactylogyrus umbratilus [Kimpel, 1939], nomen nudum) on Lythrurus umbratilis (Girard) is referrable to D. crucis. Dactylogyrus lythruri is described from eight species of Lythrurus. It...
Canine thelaziosis in the Czech Republic: the northernmost autochthonous occurrence of the eye nematode Thelazia callipaeda Railliet et Henry, 1910 in Europe
Milan Jirků, Roman Kuchta, Elena Gricaj, David Modrý, Kateřina Jirků Pomajbíková
Folia Parasitologica 67:010 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.010
The eye nematode Thelazia callipaeda Railliet et Henry, 1910 (Spirurida: Thelaziidae) is a vector-borne zoonotic nematode infecting a range of wild and domestic carnivores as well as humans. It is considered to be a causative agent of emerging and neglected disease and currently invades central part of Europe. Nematodes were collected from the eye of a dog living in Prague, which never travelled outside the Czech Republic. The nematodes were identified based on their morphology and partial sequence of the cox1 gene as T. callipaeda haplotype 1. This finding represents the northernmost record of autochthonous canine thelaziosis...
A new genus and species of fish blood fluke, Achorovermis testisinuosus gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae), infecting critically endangered smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata (Rhinopristiformes: Pristidae) in the Gulf of Mexico
Micah B. Warren, Micah D. Bakenhaster, Rachel M. Scharer, Gregg R. Poulakis, Stephen A. Bullard
Folia Parasitologica 67:009 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.009
Achorovermis testisinuosus gen. et sp. n. (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) infects the heart of the smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata Latham (Rhinopristiformes: Pristidae), in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Specimens of the new genus, along with the other blood flukes that infect batoids are similar by having an inverse U-shaped intestine and a curving testis as well as by lacking tegumental spines. The new genus differs from all of the other blood flukes infecting batoids by having an elongate body (>50 × longer than wide), a testis having >100 curves, and an ovary wholly anterior to the uterus. It differs from Ogawaia glaucostegi Cutmore,...
Molecular identification of morphologically similar microcercous cercariae of two trematode families, Paragonimidae and Troglotrematidae, concurrently found in the same snail species of the subfamily Triculinae
Pham Ngoc Doanh, Hoang Van Hien, Bui Thi Dung
Folia Parasitologica 67:008 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.008
Microcercous cercariae possess a very short tail and are produced by digenean species of several families including medically important species, such as members of the genera Paragonimus Braun, 1899, Nanophyetus Chapin, 1927 and Troglotrema Odhner, 1914. During our survey of cercariae of Paragonimus spp. in Vietnam, we found microcercous cercariae from ten (0.29%) out of 3,400 snails of Triculinae gen. sp. 2. They were morphologically and molecularly analysed for species identification. The molecular analysis, based on ITS2 sequences, revealed two distinct species: four specimens were identical to Paragonimus proliferus...
Wing morphometric variability of the malaria vector Anopheles (Cellia) epiroticus Linton et Harbach (Diptera: Culicidae) for the duration of the rainy season in coastal areas of Samut Songkhram, Thailand
Tanawat Chaiphongpachara, Sedthapong Laojun
Folia Parasitologica 67:007 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.007
In Thailand, Anopheles (Cellia) epiroticus Linton et Harbach (Diptera: Culicidae) is the secondary vector of human malaria along coastal regions. While there are some studies of phenotypic variability and population structure of A. epiroticus, more information on morphological variation would enhance epidemiological understanding of medically important mosquito vectors. This research examined morphological variation at three different distances from coastlines of Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand, using landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Wing shape of A. epiroticus was significantly different in the area 0.2...
Morphological variation in the hyperapolytic lecanicephalidean species Anteropora japonica (Yamaguti, 1934) (Eucestoda)
Rachel R. Guyer, Kirsten Jensen
Folia Parasitologica 67:006 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.006
In November of 2013, a specimen of Japanese sleeper ray, Narke japonica (Temminck et Schlegel), caught off Nanfang-ao, Taiwan was found to be parasitised by the cestode Anteropora japonica (Yamaguti, 1934). Specimens comprised whole worms and free proglottids, both of varying degrees of maturity. This material allowed for the opportunity to examine in detail the developmental progression of this hyperapolytic lecanicephalidean species with regard to overall size, scolex dimensions, and microthrix pattern. Complete immature worms ranged in size from 2.4 mm to 14 mm. The smallest scoleces were half as wide as larger scoleces and exhibited...
Cannibalism in mosquito larvae during microbial larvicide potency tests
Igor Uspensky, Sergei Braun*
Folia Parasitologica 67:005 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.005
We observed instances of cannibalism (intraspecific predation) among intra-instar larvae of Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 while performing a bioassay of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (formerly named Bacillus sphaericus) larvicide, when the larvae were exposed to the larvicide for 48 h in the absence of food. Larvae without symptoms of poisoning attacked and devoured those visibly affected. Cannibalism was more prevalent in 1st-2nd instar larvae than in 3rd-4th instar. This phenomenon should be taken into account when interpreting the results of larvicide bioassays, especially when the exposure...
A novel endosymbiont-containing trypanosomatid Phytomonas borealis sp. n. from the predatory bug Picromerus bidens (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)
Anna I. Ganyukova, Alexander O. Frolov, Marina N. Malysheva, Viktoria V. Spodareva, Vyacheslav Yurchenko, Alexei Yu. Kostygov
Folia Parasitologica 67:004 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.004
Here we describe the new trypanosomatid, Phytomonas borealis sp. n., from the midgut of the spiked shieldbugs, Picromerus bidens (Linnaeus), collected in two locations, Novgorod and Pskov Oblasts of Russia. The phylogenetic analyses, based on the 18S rRNA gene, demonstrated that this flagellate is a sister species to the secondary monoxenous Phytomonas nordicus Frolov et Malysheva, 1993, which was concurrently documented in the same host species in Pskov Oblast. Unlike P. nordicus, which can complete its development (including exit to haemolymph and penetration into salivary glands) in Picromerus bidens, the new species...
Scolex morphology of monozoic tapeworms (Caryophyllidea) from the Nearctic Region: taxonomic and evolutionary implications
Mikuláš Oros, Dalibor Uhrovič, Anindo Choudhury, John S. Mackiewicz, Tomáš Scholz
Folia Parasitologica 67:003 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.003
A comparative study of the scoleces of monozoic tapeworms (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea), parasites of catostomid and cyprinid fishes (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) in the Nearctic Region, was carried out using light and scanning electron microscopy. Scoleces of 22 genera of North American caryophyllideans were characterised and their importance for taxonomy, classification and phylogenetic studies was critically reviewed. Nearctic genera exhibit a much higher variation in the shape and form of scoleces compared with taxa in other biogeographical regions. The following basic scolex types can be recognised in Nearctic caryophyllideans: monobothriate (Promonobothrium...
Characterisation of sphaeractinomyxon types (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) from marine and freshwater oligochaetes in a Portuguese estuary, with the demise of the endocapsa collective group
Sónia Rocha, Ângela Alves, Carlos Antunes, Pedro Fernandes, Carlos Azevedo, Graça Casal
Folia Parasitologica 67:002 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.002
Six types of sphaeractinomyxon are reported from the coelomic cavity of oligochaetes collected from the Minho River estuary in northern Portugal. Four new types are morphologically and molecularly described from freshwater species belonging to the genera Psammoryctides Hrabě and Potamothrix Vejdovský et Mrázek in the upper estuary, thus significantly increasing the number of known freshwater sphaeractinomyxon. In the lower estuary, sphaeractinomyxon types 8 and 10 of Rangel et al. (2016) are recorded infecting the marine oligochaete Tubificoides pseudogaster (Dahl). A single specimen of T. pseudogaster further displayed...
Eimeria tamimi sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis jayakari) in central Saudi Arabia
Osama B. Mohammed, Manei M. Aljedaie, M. S. Alyousif, Nabil Amor
Folia Parasitologica 67:001 (2020) | DOI: 10.14411/fp.2020.001
Faecal samples from the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis jayakari Thomas) were collected from the Ibex Reserve in central Saudi Arabia. Eimerian oocysts, which are believed to represent a new species described here as Eimeria tamimi sp. n., were detected in 40 out of 93 samples. Oocysts were fully sporulated in 24-48 hours at 25 ± 2 °C. Sporulated oocysts of E. tamimi sp. n. were ovoid, measuring 35-42 × 19-25 μm (39 × 23 μm), a length/width ratio 1.5-2 (1.7). Oocyst wall was bilayered and measured 1.5 μm in thickness. Micropyle, oocyst residuum and polar granules were not present. Sporocysts are elongate, measuring...