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An outbreak of trichinellosis occurred in Stari Banovci, a settlement in the municipality of Stara Pazova, Srem, Republic of Serbia, in March-April 2019. A total of 28 persons were exposed and trichinellosis was confirmed in 24 of them. This outbreak involved members of eight families, their relatives and friends. The infection, due to Trichinella spiralis (Owen, 1835), was associated with consumption of pork sausages procured in a local butcher's shop. The trace-back study revealed that the meat originated from swine that was raised on a small farm belonging to the owner of the shop, who did not have permission from the Veterinary Directorate for slaughtering animals and who put on the market sausages prepared from uninspected meat. Trichinellosis was accompanied by typical clinical symptoms. However, the unusual occurrence of high percentage of pulmonary complications was noticed. The description of this outbreak indicates that medical practitioners should initiate treatment immediately in cases of high suspicion of trichinellosis, even if the serology is negative, to prevent the complications of the disease. In spite of significant achievements in the control of Trichinella infection among domestic pigs and humans in the last 10 years, it is obvious that such cases of breeding animals under inappropriate conditions, slaughtering them without approval and placing uninspected pork on the market represent a source of sporadic outbreaks in Serbia.

Chicken turtles, Deirochelys reticularia (Latreille in Sonnini et Latreille) (Testudines: Emydidae) from Alabama, USA were infected by Spirorchis collinsi Roberts et Bullard sp. n. and Spirorchis cf. scripta. The new species is most easily differentiated from its congeners by the combination of having caeca that extend far beyond the genitalia, intercaecal genitalia positioned in the middle portion of the body, a testicular column that nearly abuts the caecal bifurcation, a cirrus sac positioned between the testes and ovary, a massive Mehlis' gland, an elongate, longitudinal metraterm that extends anteriad beyond the level of the ovary, a pre-ovarian genital pore, and a prominent, intercaecal Manter's organ. The specimens of S. cf. scripta differed from the holotype and published descriptions of Spirorchis scripta Stunkard, 1923 by several subtle morphological features, perhaps comprising intraspecific variation, but collectively warranted a detailed description herein. Based on examinations of the aforementioned specimens plus the holotype, paratypes and vouchers of morphologically-similar congeners, Spirorchis MacCallum, 1918 is emended to include the presence of oral sucker spines, a pharynx, lateral oesophageal diverticula ('plicate organ') and a median oesophageal diverticulum ('oeseophageal pouch'). Phylogenetic analysis of the nuclear large subunit rDNA (28S) recovered S. collinsi sister to Spirorchis picta Stunkard, 1923, > 99% similarity between S. cf. scripta and S. scripta, and a monophyletic Spirorchis MacCallum, 1918. No blood fluke infection has been reported previously from these drainages, Alabama, or this turtle species. This is the first new species of Spirorchis to be described from North America in 26 years.

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 a much smaller ratio of apical organ width to bothridial width. Proglottids more than quadrupled in length during maturation from terminal attached immature to detached proglottids. In addition, a change in microthrix pattern was observed on the anterior region of the proglottids from immature to gravid proglottids; the anterior region of attached immature proglottids is covered with gladiate to coniform spinitriches with capilliform filitriches only rarely visible, whereas this region in detached proglottids is covered with gladiate to coniform spinitriches and conspicuous capilliform filitriches. This is the first report of A. japonica from outside Japan expanding its distribution south to Taiwan. In addition, a preliminary phylogenetic analysis of the genus is presented that suggests congeners from the same host species are not each other's closest relatives, nor is there an apparent phylogenetic signal for apical organ type or reproductive strategy (apolysis). However, reproductive strategy does seem to be correlated with host group such that euapolytic species parasitise dasyatid stingrays while hyperapolytic species parasitise either torpediniform rays or orectolobiform sharks.

Southern Africa is considered one of the world's 'hotspots' for the diversity of cartilaginous fishes (Chondrichthyes), with currently 204 reported species. Although numerous literature records and treatises on chondrichthyan fishes are available, a paucity of information exists on the biodiversity of their parasites. Chondrichthyan fishes are parasitised by several groups of protozoan and metazoan organisms that live either permanently or temporarily on and within their hosts. Reports of parasites infecting elasmobranchs and holocephalans in South Africa are sparse and information on most parasitic groups is fragmentary or entirely lacking. Parasitic copepods constitute the best-studied group with currently 70 described species (excluding undescribed species or nomina nuda) from chondrichthyans. Given the large number of chondrichthyan species present in southern Africa, it is expected that only a mere fraction of the parasite diversity has been discovered to date and numerous species await discovery and description. This review summarises information on all groups of parasites of chondrichthyan hosts and demonstrates the current knowledge of chondrichthyan parasites in South Africa. Checklists are provided displaying the host-parasite and parasite-host data known to date.

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 peduncle and distribution of the vitelline follicles. Acanthobothrium domingae sp. n. is unique in the combination of proglottid apolysis, total length, number of proglottids, hook and septal morphology, microthrix pattern on the cephalic peduncle, number and distribution of testes, cirrus sac length, distribution of the vitelline follicles and genital pore position. The discovery of these species increases the number of species of Acanthobothrium parasitising rajiform batoids off Argentina from one to three. All three species have a unique pattern of distribution of the gladiate spinitriches along the length of the cephalic peduncle, i.e., gladiate spinitriches being interrupted in a medial line both dorsally and ventrally.

Specimens representing two new species of Guidus Ivanov, 2006 were collected from the Magellan skate (Bathyraja magellanica [Philippi]) in the Patagonian Continental Shelf of Argentina, Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Guidus francoi sp. n. and Guidus magellanicus sp. n. differ from their congeners by a particular combination of features, including type of bothridia, worm length, number of testes, and distribution of vitelline follicles. Guidus francoi sp. n. is distinguished from G. magellanicus sp. n. by having fewer proglottids, fewer testes and a higher ratio between the cirrus sac length and the proglottid width. The microthrix pattern of species of Guidus from the Southwestern Atlantic is described, based on specimens of G. francoi sp. n., Guidus magellanicus sp. n., and newly collected specimens of Guidus argentinense Ivanov, 2006. These three species share the presence of wide aristate gladiate spinitriches on the proximal bothridial surface, narrow gladiate spinitriches on the bothridial rim, and filitriches on the distal bothridial surface. The diagnosis of Guidus is revised to include several features exhibited by the new species (i.e., presence of bothridial indentations and bothridial stalks, distribution of vitelline follicles, and eggs grouped in cocoons). The discovery of G. francoi sp. n. and G. magellanicus sp. n. from B. magellanica increases the number of species of Guidus collected from batoids in the Southwestern Atlantic from one to three. The specificity exhibited by the species herein described reinforces the tight association between rays in the genera Guidus and Bathyraja.

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 most closely resembles Dactylogyrus beckeri Cloutman, 1987, but is distinguished by having a smaller base of the male copulatory organ (MCO) and lacking a ventral enlargement of the distal end of the basal process. Previous reports of Dactylogyrus banghami Mizelle et Donahue, 1944 and Dactylogyrus cf. beckeri Cloutman, 1987 from Lythrurus atrapiculus (Snelson) and Lythrurus bellus (Hay) from Alabama, and Dactylogyrus confusus Mueller, 1938 from L. umbratilis in Illinois are herein relegated to D. lythruri. Four species of Lythrurus appeared not to be infected with Dactylogyrus.

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 Aguirre-Macedo, 1995 (male) from the ovary of Hyporthodus nigritus (Holbrook) (Serranidae) (new host record; probably a paradefinitive host); P. andersoni sp. n. (male) from the ovary of H. nigritus; Philometra sp. 1 (male) from the ovary of Rhomboplites aurorubens (Cuvier) (Lutjanidae); and Philometra sp. 2 (females) from the subcutaneous tissue of the anterior-most head sinuses of Hyporthodus niveatus (Valenciennes) (Serranidae). Specimens of species are described and illustrated based on light and (except for Philometra sp. 1) scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra haemulontis sp. n. differs from all congeners in the unique structure of the gubernaculum, whereas P. andersoni sp. n. can be differentiated from other gonad-infecting congeners parasitising the Serranidae by a combination of morphological features. Females of P. synagridis are described for the first time. Gravid females of Philometra sp. 2 are similar to those of P. morii Moravec, Bakenhaster et Fajer-Ávila, 2010, a subcutaneous parasite of Epinephelus morio (Valenciennes) (Serranidae) in the Gulf of Mexico.

Adult trematodes of Allocreadium Looss, 1900 (Digenea) infect the intestine of mostly freshwater fishes in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas. During routine parasitological surveys in the Vaal River system, adult trematodes were collected from the intestine of smallmouth yellowfish, Labeobarbus aeneus (Burchell). The trematodes were confirmed to represent a member of Allocreadium and did not match any existing taxon. Therefore, they are described as a new species, Allocreadium apokryfi sp. n. The morphology of the new species most closely resembles that of Allocreadium aswanense El-Naffar, Saoud et Hassan, 1984, but it differs from it by having a bipartite internal seminal vesicle, wider eggs, a shorter intertesticular distance, an intestinal bifurcation at the ventral sucker level, a ventral sucker that is larger than the oral sucker, and a genital pore near the intestinal bifurcation or the ventral sucker. The surface topology of the new species is notably different from that of other allocreadiids. Papillae were observed in the ventral sucker and surrounding both ventral and oral suckers, but the number and arrangement of the latter were not consistent among specimens. The protruding cirrus of A. apokryfi sp. n. was described using SEM and is the first such observation for the genus. Genetic characterisation showed that the new species was clearly distinct from other Allocreadium spp. using both 18S (nucleotide difference 1.3-9.1%) and 28S (4.7-6.5%) rDNA, forming a well-supported clade in Allocreadium. The presence of A. apokryfi sp. n. in a well-studied river is unexpected, and considering the diet of its host and the scarcity of Allocreadium in Africa, the possible biology of this species is discussed herein.

Examination of seven specimens of an undescribed species of bamboo shark (Orectolobiformes: Hemiscylliidae), currently referred to as Chiloscyllium sp. 1, from Sri Lanka yielded three new species of 'tetraphyllidean' cestodes, one each in the genera Carpobothrium Shipley et Hornell, 1906, Spiniloculus Southwell, 1925, and Yorkeria Southwell, 1927. Carpobothrium marjorieae Caira, Otto et Jensen sp. n. differs from its three valid congeners in total length, number of testes, and size of the apical sucker of its anterior bothridial flap. Like Carpobothrium eleanorae Koontz et Caira, 2016 it possesses spherical eggs with highly elongate bipolar filaments, but its eggs are conspicuously larger than those of the latter species. Spiniloculus akshayi Caira, Otto et Jensen sp. n. can be distinguished from its five congeners in total length and number of proglottids. Yorkeria sachiniae Caira, Otto et Jensen sp. n. differs from its 16 congeners in number of proglottids and testes, total length, terminal proglottid, cirrus sac, and cephalic peduncle length, hook size, genital pore position, and bothridial shape. The eggs of Y. sachiniae Caira, Otto et Jensen sp. n. are spindle-shaped and bear a single long, polar filament. All three species were found to exhibit microthrix patterns on their scolices like those of the majority of their congeners that have been examined to date with scanning electron microscopy. Microtriches on the distal surfaces of the bothridial pouches of a species of Carpobothrium were characterised for the first time; C. marjorieae Caira, Otto et Jensen sp. n. was found to possess a modified form of gladiate spinithrix on this surface. Among the seven members of the genus, this is the first species of Chiloscyllium Müller et Henle that has been found to host representatives of all three of these 'tetraphyllidean' genera. However, unlike most of its congeners, a representative of the non-hooked genus Scyphophyllidium Woodland, 1927 was not found infecting Chiloscyllium sp. 1.

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 guangdongensis Zhang et Yang, 2001 in comparison with other species within the genus, based on the absence of small spines on the cirrus. However, P. tonkinensis is distinguished from P. guangdongensis by fewer clamps on the haptor and by the different shapes of the large spines on the cirrus. Similarly, P. tienyenensis differs from P. guangdongensis by vaginal ducts with fewer branches, fewer clamps and smaller egg size. Metacamopia lebedevi is distinguished from Metacamopia chorinemi (Yamaguti, 1953) by the arrangement of testes (one row vs two rows), diverticula absent in the oesophagus, and the number of anchor pairs (one vs two); it differs from Metacamopia oligoplites Takemoto, Amato et Luque, 1996 by the smaller haptor, shape and absence of small sclerotised hooks, the number of ribs in their clamps, and the position of the testes; it can be separated from Metacamopia indica (Unnithan, 1962) by having fewer testes and lacking sclerotised structures in the vagina. The present study also provides the measurements for A. diacanthi, H. chorinemi, and proposes a new key to all species of Polylabroides.

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 1^st-2^nd instar larvae than in 3^rd-4^th instar. This phenomenon should be taken into account when interpreting the results of larvicide bioassays, especially when the exposure lasts over 24 h. The necessity of creating optimal conditions for organisms tested is emphasised.

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 ectoparasite species richness, with monogeneans and some didymozoid species being numerically dominant. Community structure and species composition varied between locations, seasons and sampling years. Similarity between the component parasite communities was generally low, despite the occurrence of a distinctive set of host-specialist parasites. Interannual or local variations in some biotic and abiotic environmental factors are possible causes of the observed variations in the structure and species composition of the parasite community of S. sierra. Ecological factors were therefore considered to have more influence than phylogenetic aspects (host phylogeny) on parasite community structure.

Two new species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) from needlefishes (Belonidae) in Florida are described based on morphological and genetic characteristics: Philometra aequispiculata sp. n. (males and females) collected from the ovary of Strongylura marina (Walbaum) (type host) and Strongylura notata (Poey), and Philometra notatae sp. n. (females) from the swimbladder of S. notata. Both species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Morphologically, P. aequispiculata sp. n. differs from all congeners mainly in the unique structure of the distal tip of the gubernaculum, whereas P. notatae sp. n. is mainly characterised by the presence of eight markedly large cephalic papillae of the outer circle in gravid and subgravid females, the body length of the gravid female (54 mm) and by the absence of caudal projections. Molecular characterisation of the new species was assessed from phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and SSU rRNA small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) sequences among closely related philometrids by way of Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on COI and SSU sequences show each of the new species comprise discrete ancestor-descendent lineages.

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 of having a mucous envelope, intercapsular process, and sutural markings as well as lacking an iodinophilic vacuole in the sporoplasm. A phylogenetic analysis of the 18S rDNA gene recovered the new species in a polytomy with Myxobolus marumotoi Li et Sato, 2014 and a clade comprised of species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882; Thelohanellus Kudo, 1933, and Dicauda Hoffman et Walker, 1973. Histological sections of infected sicklefin redhorse skin revealed myxospores within a plasmodium in the stratum spongiosum dorsal to scales, encapsulated in collagen fibres, and associated with focal erosion of scales directly beneath the plasmodium; in some instances, the scale was perforated by the plasmodium. The specificity of the new species to sicklefin redhorse may make it a useful biological tag to differentiate sicklefin redhorse from morphologically similar species. The new species is the first parasite reported from sicklefin redhorse, a species of concern to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. No species of Myxobolus has been reported from species of Moxostoma in the Southeast United States. As it was observed that Myxobolus minutus Rosser, Griffin, Quiniou, Alberson, Woodyard, Mischker, Greenway, Wise et Pote, 2016 is a primary junior homonym of Myxobolus minutus Nemeczek, 1911, we propose the replacement name Myxobolus diminutus (Rosser, Griffin, Quiniou, Alberson, Woodyard, Mischker, Greenway, Wise et Pote, 2016).

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, Culaea inconstans (Kirtland), in Manitoba (Canada). Another species, Proteocephalus ambiguus (Dujardin, 1845), a specific parasite of the nine-spined stickleback, Pungitius pungitius (Linnaeus), and type species of the genus, has also been found in North America (Alberta, Canada), but its vouchers are in poor condition and cannot be reliable assigned to this species. Both species reported from three-spined stickleback differ from each other by the shape of the scolex (rounded in P. filicollis versus continuously tapered towards the anterior extremity in P. pugetensis) and the apical sucker (widely oval to subspherical in frontal view in P. filicollis versus flattened in P. pugetensis). Proteocephalus culaeae sp. n. is characterised by a short body composed of a few, continuously widened proglottids, a short scolex narrower than the strobila and devoid of an apical sucker, a short, pyriform cirrus sac, no vaginal sphincter, and few testes. A key to species of the Proteocephalus-aggregate from sticklebacks is provided.

Myxobolus allami sp. n. is described from the intestinal wall of the silvery black porgy, Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes), off Saudi Arabian coast of Arabian Gulf. Two of 20 examined fish were found to be infected with irregular-shaped plasmodia 3-8 mm long × 2-3 mm wide. Mature myxospores are subspherical to elliptical in the valvular view and oval in the sutural view, and are 11-13 (12) µm long, 7-8 (7.5) µm wide and 10-12 (10.8) µm thick. Spores have relatively thin valves and mostly (~ 72%) end with short caudal appendages of ~3 µm long. The spores also have two polar capsules, which are oval to elliptical and measure 5-7 (5.7) µm in length and 2-3 (2.7) µm in width. Polar filaments are coiled, with three turns. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that caudal appendages originated from the sutural edge at the posterior pole of the myxospore with density similar to that of its valves. The SSU rRNAgene sequence of the present species does not match any available sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetically, this species is sister to Myxobolus khaliji Zhang, Al-Qurausihy et Abdel-Baki, 2014 within a well-supported clade of Myxobolus-Henneguya with species infecting marine fishes. The combination of molecular data and morphological differences between this and other species of Myxobolus Bütschli, 1882 lead us to propose that the present form be established as a new species, M. allami. The present study also provides more evidence for the idea that caudal appendages cannot be reliably used to distinguish the species of the genera Myxobolus and Henneguya Thélohan, 1892.

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 brain including many more other changes. This review briefly explains and update on the epidemiology, burden of disease, pathogenesis and role of CM in neurological disorders with behaviour and function in mouse and human models. Moreover, the social stigma, which plays an important role in neurological disorders and a factor for assessing CM, is also discussed in this review.

Cats are important hosts for different zoonotic parasites that can be hazardous to human health. To date, few studies have attempted to identify the factors affecting parasitic infections in shelter animals. This study aims to analyse the presence of endoparasites in shelter cats in Tartu, Estonia, and identify factors affecting endoparasite prevalence and intensity. The risk factors considered were age, location (urban vs rural cats) and time spent in shelter. In total, 290 faecal samples were collected from cats at an animal shelter in 2015-2016 and investigated for endoparasites using the concentration flotation technique. In total, 138 shelter cats (47.6%) were infected with endoparasites and their overall prevalence was: Toxocara cati (36.6%), Cystoisospora spp. (12.4%), Taeniidae gen. sp. (4.1%), Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi (3.4%), Eucoleus aerophilus (2.1%), Cryptosporidium spp. (2.1%), Ancylostoma sp. (0.7%) and Giardia sp. (0.7%). Coinfections occurred in 38 cats (13.1%) most frequently of T. cati and Cystoisospora spp. (4.5%), Cystoisospora spp. and T. gondii/H. hammondi (2.1%). Where species identification of cestode and nematode samples was not possible according to morphology, genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 gene was carried out. DNA was successfully analysed for 6 out of 13 samples that required genetic identification, revealing Ancylostoma tubaeforme in one nematode sample and Hydatigera taeniaeformis in five cestode samples. Cats from rural areas had significantly higher endoparasite prevalence than cats from urban areas. Helminth prevalence decreased to some extent due to anthelmintic treatment in cats available for adoption (held ≥15 days in the shelter), whereas the prevalence of infection with protists increased significantly in these animals. It is important to note that the analysis revealed lower infection intensity for quarantine cats (held 1-14 days in the shelter) compared with cats available for adoption. The relatively high prevalence of endoparasites (including zoonotic) in shelter cats ready for adoption suggests that current anthelminthic procedures require improvements.

Tapeworms of the genus Caryophyllaeus Gmelin, 1790 (Caryophyllidea: Caryophyllaeidae), common parasites of cyprinid fishes, are reviewed and taxonomic status of 42 nominal taxa that have been placed in the genus during its long history is clarified. The following seven species occurring in the Palaearctic Region are recognised as valid: C. laticeps (Pallas, 1781), C. auriculatus (Kulakovskaya, 1961), C. balticus (Szidat, 1941) comb. n. (syn. Khawia baltica Szidat, 1941), C. brachycollis Janiszewska, 1953, C. fimbriceps Annenkova-Chlopina, 1919, C. syrdarjensis Skrjabin, 1913, and newly described Caryophyllaeus chondrostomi sp. n. (= C. laticeps morphotype 4 of Bazsalovicsová et al., 2014) from common nase, Chondrostoma nasus (Linnaeus), found in Austria and Slovakia. The new species differs by the paramuscular or cortical position of preovarian vitelline follicles, a large, robust body (up to 64 mm long), conspicuously long vas deferens, flabellate scolex with small wrinkles on the anterior margin, and anteriormost testes located in a relatively short distance from the anterior extremity. Caryophyllaeus kashmirenses Mehra, 1930 and Caryophyllaeus prussicus (Szidat, 1937) comb. n. are considered to be species inquirendae, C. truncatus von Siebold in Baird, 1853 and C. tuba von Siebold in Baird, 1853 are nomina nuda. Data on the morphology, host spectra, distribution and known life-cycles of valid species are provided. Phylogenetic interrelations of four species of the genus including its type species and newly described C. chondrostomi were assessed based on an analysis of sequences of lsrDNA and cox1. A key to identification of all valid species of Caryophyllaeus is also provided.

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 in Europe. The insufficient control of imported animals as well as free movement of dogs and wild carnivores within Europe probably facilitates spreading of T. callipaeda throughout the continent. To better understand the spreading of T. callipaeda and to prevent its zoonotic transmissions, information about the risk of this infection in newly invaded countries should be disseminated not only among veterinarians and physicians, but also within the community of pet owners and hunters.

This paper summarises the results of parasitological examinations of the European eel Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus) in the Czech Republic, carried out at the Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences (previously the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences) within the period of 50 years (1958-2008). Even though this survey is limited to the Czech Republic, it provides extensive data probably incomparable with any other study anywhere regarding the number of eels examined and parasites found. A total of 723 eels was examined from 42 localities that belong to all of the three main river drainage systems in the country, i.e. the Elbe, Danube and Oder river basins. Of the 31 species of adult and larval macroparasites including Monogenea (4 species), Trematoda (3), Cestoda (3), Nematoda (11), Acanthocephala (5), Hirudinea (1), Bivalvia (1), Copepoda (1), Branchiura (1) and Acariformes (1), most of them (30) were recorded from the Elbe River basin. These parasites can be divided into three main groups regarding their host specificity: parasites specific for eels (26%), non-specific adult parasites occurring also in other fishes (61%) and non-specific larvae (13%). The highest number (19) of parasite species was recorded in the Mácha Lake fishpond system in northern Bohemia. The parasite communities in eels from the individual localities exhibited large differences in their species composition and diversity depending on local ecological conditions. The parasite fauna of A. anguilla in the Czech Republic is compared with that in other European countries. The nematode Cucullanus egyptae Abdel-Ghaffar, Bashtar, Abdel-Gaber, Morsy, Mehlhorn, Al Quraishy et Mohammed, 2014 is designated as a species inquirenda.

Polystomatid monogeneans have a wide diversity of life cycles correlated with the varied ecology and behaviour of their aquatic vertebrate hosts. Typically, transmission involves a swimming infective larva but most hosts are amphibious and invasion is interrupted when hosts leave water. A key life cycle adaptation involves a uterus that, in the most specialised cases, may contain several hundred fully-developed larvae prepared for instant host-to-host transmission. By contrast, one subfamily of the Polystomatidae - the Polystomoidinae, specific to chelonians (freshwater turtles) - has a simplified reproductive system without a uterus. Recently, Polystomoides nelsoni Du Preez et Van Rooyen, 2015 has been described with a uterus containing multiple eggs. The present study explores the exceptional interest of this parasite - for the functional biology of egg production, for the evolution of a reproductive system unique amongst ca 60 species in the subfamily, and for systematic relationships. A new genus is proposed, Uteropolystomoides gen. n., separate from the four currently-recognised genera Polystomoides Ward, 1917, Uropolystomoides Tinsley et Tinsley, 2016, Neopolystoma Price, 1939 and Polystomoidella Price, 1939 which lack a uterus. In addition, U. nelsoni (Du Preez et Van Rooyen, 2015) comb. n. has a suite of distinctive copulatory stuctures: a massive genital bulb with an exceptionally large number of very long genital spines and hyper-development of the vaginal openings. These characters set U. nelsoni apart from all other polystomoidines worldwide except Polystomoides multifalx Stunkard, 1924 and P. stunkardi Harwood, 1931. Missing data for these latter species preclude definitive assessment of inter-relationships but the distinguishing characters of U. nelsoni, especially the unique occurrence of the uterus, suggest a novel evolutionary pathway isolated from other lineages of polystomatids infecting chelonians.

Occasional examinations of some marine fishes in Japan revealed, in addition to other parasites, the following eight species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) (all females only): Philometra kidakoi sp. n. from the ovary of Gymnothorax kidako (Temminck et Schlegel) (Muraenidae); Philometra pinnicola (Yamaguti, 1935) from the operculum of Epinephelus akaara (Temminck et Schlegel) (Serranidae); Philometra sebastisci Yamaguti, 1941 from the ovary of Sebastes cheni Barsukov (Scorpaenidae) (new host); Philometra madai Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Acanthopagrus schlegelii (Bleeker) (Sparidae) (new host); Philometra isaki Quiazon, Yoshinaga et Ogawa, 2008 from the ovary of Parapristipoma trilineatum (Thunberg) (Haemulidae); Philometra sp. from the ovary of Synanceia verrucosa Bloch et Schneider (Synanceiidae); Congerinema japonicum gen. et sp. n. from the subcutaneous tissue of Conger myriaster (Brevoort) (Congridae); and Clavinema mariae (Layman, 1930) from the operculum of Acentrogobius pflaumii (Bleeker) (Gobiidae). Specimens of all species are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra kidakoi sp. n. is the first gonad-infecting philometrid from the Muraenidae. The new monotypic genus Congerinema gen. n. is characterised by the unique net-like cuticular ornamentation on the female body. Clavinema mariae is considered to be a complex of several cryptic species and a need of the discovery of conspecific males is stressed (this also concerns other philometrid species with unknown males). At present, the fauna of philometrid nematodes parasitising marine fishes in Japanese waters is represented by 22 nominal species belonging to four genera.

Acanthocephalus balkanicus Batchvarov et Combes, 1974 was incompletely described from the northern crested newt, Triturus cristatus (Laurenti) (Amphibia: Salamandridae), a possible synonym of the Balkan crested newt, Triturus ivanbureschi Arntzen et Wielstra, from a pond in village of Pesnopoy, southern Bulgaria. We provide a full description of adult males and females of the same taxon from the olm, Proteus anguinus Laurenti (Amphibia: Proteidae), the only exclusively aquatic cave-dwelling vertebrate in Europe, captured in Postojna-Planina Cave System in Slovenia. Cystacanths were also collected from the cave ecomorph of Asellus aquaticus (Linnaeus) (Crustacea: Asellidae) in the same location. Molecular analysis of specimens from Slovenia revealed that they are genetically almost identical to those of Acanthocephalus anguillae (Müller, 1780), a common parasite of European freshwater fishes. We propose to recognise the morphological and host differences by describing A. balkanicus as a new subspecies of A. anguillae. Acanthocephalus anguillae balkanicus is rather small and cylindrical with cylindrical proboscis having 10 rows of 6 hooks with simple roots each, long neck, large balloon-shaped lemnisci, small spherical anterior testis, and 6 club-shaped cement glands in 3 pairs. SEM images reveal more morphological details and the X-ray scans of gallium cut hooks shows considerably higher levels of phosphorus and calcium in adult hooks than in cystacanth hooks, especially in basal areas. Sulfur levels were higher in the arch and basal area of cystacanth hooks than adult hooks. Considering that both definitive and intermediate hosts of the Slovenian population of this acanthocephalan are bound to cave life, it is possible that its entire life cycle is uniquely completed underground.

Betasyringophiloidus Skoracki, 2011 is a genus of quill mites (Prostigmata: Syringophilidae) that is believed to contain mono-, steno- and polyxenous parasites associated with a wide range of passerine birds (Passeriformes) across the world. In this work we applied the DNA-barcode marker (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragment, COI) to verify whether Betasyringophiloidus schoeniclus (Skoracki, 2002) and Betasyringophiloidus seiuri (Clark, 1964) are actual steno- and polyxenous species associated with the currently recognised host ranges, or their populations are highly host-specific, cryptic species. Our results revealed that a population living on the Tristram's bunting Emberiza tristrami Swinhoe (Emberizidae) in Russia, so far classified as B. schoeniclus, is a new cryptic species Betasyringophiloidus emberizae sp. nov. Both topologies of the neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees as well as genetic distance (11.9% Kimura 2-parameter distance) (K2P) support species status of the mite population from E. tristrami. The same data support previously established conspecific status of B. seiuri found on the ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla (Linnaeus) (Parulidae) (type host) and the northern waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis (Gmelin) (Parulidae) and expand its range with a population found on a new host species Icterus pustulatus (Wagler) (Icteridae) with intraspecific K2P distance up to 1.9% and interpopulation distances ranging from 1.3 to 3.1%.

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 Hsia et Chen, 1964 (Paragonimidae Dollfus, 1939), and the other six specimens were closest to members of the family Troglotrematidae Odhner, 1914 and were temporarily named Troglotrematidae gen. sp. Morphologically, cercariae of the two species found in this study are similar to each other in their gross characteristics but can be distinguished from one another by subtle morphological details. The cercaria of P. proliferus has an I-shaped excretory bladder and does not have mucous gland cells. In contrast, that of Troglotrematidae gen. sp. has a Y-shaped excretory bladder and mucous gland cells. Besides, the redia of P. proliferus is elongate with a short intestine and contains 5-6 cercariae whereas that of Troglotrematidae gen. sp. is more round with a longer intestine and harbours 3-4 cercariae. Our results have shown the importance of the shape of the excretory bladder and the presence/absence of mucous gland cells of the cercaria as well as the shape and size of the redia, and its intestinal length as valuable taxonomic characters of intramolluscan trematode larvae. In addition, the finding of similar microcercous cercariae of different species in the same snail species suggests that careful attention to morphological details is required in the differentiation of Paragonimus cercariae and those of closely related species.

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 and IgA) and local intestinal mucosal immune responses (high levels of TsE-specific sIgA). Vaccination of mice with TsE DNA vaccine also triggered a systemic and local concomitant Th1/Th2 response, as demonstrated by significant elevation of Th1 (IFN-γ and IL-2) / Th2 (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokine levels after the spleen, mesenteric lymph node and Peyer's patch cells from vaccinated mice were stimulated with recombinant TsE (rTsE). The vaccination of mice with pcDNA3.1/TsE displayed a 17% reduction of intestinal adult worms and a 39% reduction of muscle larvae. Our results indicated that TsE DNA vaccine elicited a systemic concomitant Th1/Th2 response and an enteral local sIgA response, and produced a partial protection against infection with T. spiralis. The TsE may be regarded as a potential candidate vaccine target against Trichinella infection. The oral polyvalent vaccines should be developed to improve the protective efficacy of anti-Trichinella vaccines.

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 12-18 × 9-12 μm (15 × 10 μm), with a length/width ratio 1.1-1.8 (1.5) prominent Stieda bodies and sporocyst residuum. Experimental infection of two clinically healthy rock hyraxes with sporulated oocysts of E. tamimi sp. n. resulted in shedding unsporulated oocysts 5-10 days post infection. Partial sequences of 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rDNA) and cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (COI) regions were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods revealed that E. tamimi sp. n. grouped with Eimeria quokka Barker, O'Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988, E. mundayi Barker, O´Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988, E. potoroi Barker, O'Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988 and E. gaimardi Barker, O'Callaghan et Beveridge, 1988 marsupials. Eimerian species have been regarded as a paraphyletic group and the present investigation confirmed the conflict between phenotypic traits, used widely in the classification of this group of parasites.

A sample of chigger mites from bat hosts collected in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean Sea) is found to include two species. These are the first records of bat-infesting chiggers identified to species in Spain. Chiggers collected from Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl) in Menorca are identified as Oudemansidium komareki (Daniel et Dusbábek, 1959); this species, which was known from Austria, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovakia, Moldova, Crimea, and Azerbaijan, is recorded for the first time in Spain. Chiggers collected from Plecotus austriacus (Fischer) in Formentera are identified as Trombicula knighti Radford, 1954, which was insufficiently described from a bat in Yemen and known only from its type locality. We transfer this species to the genus Trisetica Traub et Evans, 1950 and provide its re-description based on paratypes and the material from the Balearic Islands. The species Sasatrombicula (Rudnicula) balcanica Kolebinova, 1966 is synonymised with T. knighti. One species closely related to T. knighti, Trisetica aethiopica (Hirst, 1926), which was recorded in Ghana, Uganda, South Sudan, and Madagascar, is re-described on the basis of its syntype deposited in the Natural History Museum, London, UK. This specimen is designated as lectotype.