Allopodocotyle skoliorchis n. sp. (Opecoelidae: Plagioporinae) from Parequula melbournensis (Castelnau) (Gerreidae), a temperate marine fish in Australian waters

A new species of Allopodocotyle Pritchard, 1966 is described from the intestine and pyloric caeca of Parequula melbournensis (Gerreidae) caught from the waters off South and Western Australia. The new species is distinguished from other species by its larger eggs, broader form, pre-bifurcal genital pore and a number of other measurable features that are discussed. Of the species that share morphological similarities with Allopodocotyle skoliorchis n. sp., it is the only species known from a gerreid; all the other species are from serranids.

The first human case in Mexico of conjunctivitis caused by the avian parasite, Philophthalmus lacrimosus

Species of Philophthalmus parasitize primarily the eyes of wild and domestic birds. A variety of mammals, including humans, occasionally serve as the intermediate as well as the definitive hosts for this parasite, although human cases are extremely rare. Here, we report a case of human conjunctivitis caused by an infection with Philophthalmus sp. in Mexico. The patient was a 31-yr-old male who visited an ophthalmologist in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico, because of a foreign-body sensation in his left eye for 2 mo. A small live parasite was found in the connective tissue of the bulbar conjunctiva and was removed surgically under local anesthesia under ophthalmoscopic observation. The parasite was identified morphologically as Philophthalmus lacrimosus Braun, 1902. This is the first case of human philophthalmosis in Mexico and, to our knowledge, the first human case of P. lacrimosus infection in the world.

Scorpidotrema longistipes n. g., n. sp. (Digenea: Opecoelidae) from Scorpis georgiana (Teleostei: Scorpididae) from southern Western Australia

Scorpidotrema longistipes n. g., n. sp. is described from the intestine of Scorpis georgiana Valenciennes (Scorpididae) from off Point Peron, Western Australia. The new genus is distinguished by the combination of a remarkably long and retractable ventral sucker peduncle, a possible uroproct, well-developed cirrus-sac and a uterine seminal receptacle. The subfamilial relationships of the new genus are troublesome. It incorporates features of the Opecoelinae, Stenakrinae and Plagioporinae. The absence of a canalicular seminal receptacle suggests a relationship with the Opecoelinae and Stenakrinae, whereas the well-developed cirrus-sac suggests a relationship with the Plagioporinae and Stenakrinae. The overall arrangement of the gonads is not similar to that of existing genera of Stenakrinae. It is concluded that the genus is best placed in the Stenakrinae although that subfamily may now be an artificial assemblage. This new genus forms part of a distinctive fauna of trematodes restricted to Australian southern temperate fishes.

Catatropis chilinae n. sp. (Digenea: Notocotylidae) from Chilina dombeiana (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) and notes on its life-cycle in Patagonia, Argentina

A new species of Catatropis from a freshwater pulmonate snail of the family Chilinidae, which is endemic to South America, is described. Naturally infected Chilina dombeiana were collected from several localities in Andean Patagonia. The characteristics of the larval stages are presented. Experimentally reared adults, located in the distal portion of the intestinal caeca, were recovered from chickens and ducks. Adults of Catatropis chilinae n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in having 9-11 (10) ventral glands, a cirrus-sac extending between the first third and the middle of the body, a metraterm slightly shorter or equal to the cirrus-sac, vitelline follicles reaching forward to the middle of the body, lobed testes, and a genital pore closely posterior to the caecal bifurcation. Eggs bear polar filaments only at the anopercular end. Rediae have only one or two cercariae. Shed cercariae are trioculate with a long tail and encyst in the environment, and metacercariae become infective 72 hours after encystment. This species is widely distributed between 40 degrees 10' S and 43 degrees 09' S and it is the first Catatropis species recorded for the Chilinidae and for Argentina.

Endoparasitic helminths of fishes of the genus Cobitis from Poland

A total of 107 individuals of Cobitis taenia and C. elongatoides, as well as polyploid biotypes C. elongatoides x Cobitis sp. and C. taenia x Cobitis sp. from five localities in Poland were subject to parasitological examination. Four trematode species (Diplostomum sp., Tylodelphys clavata, Posthodiplostomum cuticola - all metacercariae, and Allocreadium transversale) and one nematode species (Rhabdochona ergensi) were identified, described and illustrated. No clear relationship between the intensity of infection and species/ploidy level of the host was found.

Helminth fauna of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) in southern Belarus

We examined 94 carcasses of and 1,213 faecal samples from red foxes collected between 1981 and 2001 in natural and transformed ecosystems in the southern part of Belarus. A total of 32 helminth species were found. Of these, the most common were Alaria alata, Pearsonema plica, Taenia crassiceps, Toxocara canis, Trichinella spp. larvae and Uncinaria stenocephala. All species are significant for medical and veterinary health.

Pseudodactylogyrus kamegaii sp. n. (Monogenea: Pseudodactylogyridae) from wild Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica

The monogenean Pseudodactylogyrus kamegaii sp. n. is described, based on specimens collected from the gills of wild Japanese eel Anguilla japonica caught in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. This species is the most similar to P. anguillae (Yin and Sproston, 1948), but different in the shape and measurements of the male copulatory organ, vagina and marginal hook. This new species was collected from the eel in brackish waters, while P. anguillae and P. bini, the other known pseudodactylogyrids of Japanese eel, have been recorded only in fresh waters.

Identification of some monogenetic treamatodes from some Arabian Gulf fish in Saudi Arabia

Examination of 90 Epinephelus chlorostigma and 50 Lethrinus nebulosus reaveled that 99% of the former harboured monogenea belonging to two species. (1) Megalocotyloides epinepheli Bychowsky and Nagibina, 1976 (Encolyllabe), 1-6 worm per fish, from buccal cavity, attached to lower pharyngeal plate between teeth. (2) Pseudorhabdosynochus epinepheli Yamaguti, 1938 (Diplectanum), over 100 worms per fish from the gills. On the other hand 4% of L. nebulosus harboured another two species of monogenea (1). Polylabris angifer Hussey, 1986, 1-2 worms per fish from the gills. (2). Polylabris sp. only one worm from the gills. As far as it can be concluded. this is a new locality and new hosts of the four species of worms.

Monogenea of Arabian Gulf fishes. 1. Descriptions of three Capsala spp. (Capsalidae) including Capsala naffari n. sp. infecting mackerel tuna Euthynnus affinis from coasts of Emirates

Three species of the genus Capsala including Capsala naffari n. sp., C. neothunni (Yamaguti, 1968) and C. nozawae (Goto, 1894) are recorded and described from the buccal cavity of mackerel tuna Euthynnus affinis caught from Emirate coasts. Capsala naffari can be differentiated by its lateral spiniform teeth, which extend posteriorly, small measurements compared with the closely resembled C. gotoi and relatively large testes. This is the first record of the genus Capsala from Arabian Gulf fishes and E. affinis is a new host record.

Morphology of the oviduct fluke, Prosthogonimus ovatus, isolated from Indonesian native chickens and histopathological observation of the infected chickens

Prosthogonimus ovatus infection was detected in 5 of 130 chickens in the oviduct and 4 chickens in the bursa of Fabricius. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the spines of the P. ovatus were densely distributed on the cuticula of the entire dorsal surface of body, but on the ventral surface, they were densely present to the level of ventral sucker but gradually decreased in density posteriorly, and they could not be seen in the posterior 1/3 area. The spines were finger-shaped and denticulate at the tip. Histopathological examination showed that polypous elevations, degeneration and exfoliation of the mucosal epithelium were detected in the bursa of Fabricius possibly by the suction of flukes, in addition to the stratification of the mucosal epithelium, and interstitial cell infiltration.

Infection patterns of Tylodelphys barilochensis and T. crubensis (Trematoda: Diplostomatidae) metacercariae in Galaxias maculatus (Osmeriformes: Galaxiidae) from two Patagonian lakes and observations on their geographical distribution in the southern Andean region, Argentina

In the Patagonian Andean region, 2 species of diplostomatids parasitize the brains of Galaxias maculatus. The purpose of this study was to evaluate seasonal variation, spatial variation, and association with host age in the transmission of Tylodelphys barilochensis and T. crubensis in several oligotrophic lakes in Argentinian Patagonia. Fishes were captured monthly in Lake Gutiérrez and bimonthly in Lake Escondido. One summer or autumn sample was also taken in several other Patagonian lakes. Infection parameters were calculated and compared using nonparametric tests. The 2 species co-occurred in most of the sampled lakes, with high values of prevalence and mean intensity. In Lake Gutiérrez and Lake Escondido, the intensity of both diplostomatid species did not show significant differences between sexes and co-varied with host length. All age classes were infected; maximum prevalence values were reached before maximum mean intensity values in the 1-yr age class. A seasonal pattern of prevalence and mean intensity of the 2 parasite species with autumn mean intensity values differing significantly from those of the other seasons was evident only in Lake Gutiérrez.

Electrophoretic and morphological differentiation of three sympatric species of the genus Lecithochirium (Trematoda: Hemiuridae), parasites of marine fishes

Three sympatric species of the genus Lecithochirium, Lecithochirium fusiforme, Lecithochirium rufoviride and Lecithochirium musculus, parasites of Conger conger and Anguilla anguilla, were compared morphologically and electrophoretically. The three species can be discriminated by enzyme analysis, and differentiation can also be made by the analysis of several morphometric features, in particular body size and sucker ratio. Fourteen enzyme systems representing 15 loci were examined by starch gel electrophoresis. Two of the enzyme systems studied (ALD and GOT) were totally diagnostic among Lecithochirium species. Fixed allelic differences between L. fusiforme and L. musculuswere observed at five loci, between L. fusiforme and L. rufoviride at nine loci, and between L. musculusand L. rufoviride at ten loci. The percentage of fixed differences among the species under study ranged from 33 to 77%. The results show that the three taxa can be clearly differentiated, and that L. fusiforme is genetically more similar to L. musculus than to L. rufoviride.

Redescription of Perezitrema bychowskyi (Caballero & Caballero, 1975) (Trematoda: Macroderoididae), with remarks on the systematic status of Perezitrema Barus & Moravec, 1996

A description is given of Perezitrema bychowskyi (Caballero & Caballero, 1975) based on newly collected specimens from the intestine of the tropical gar Atractosteus tropicus Gill in the Pantalos de Centla Biological Reserve, State of Tabasco, southeastern Mexico, collected in April 2001, and on a re-examination of the type-specimens. In contrast to the original description, the excretory vesicle of P. bychowskyi was found to be elongate saccular and the intestinal caeca join near the posterior extremity and open via a common median anus. These features, and the presence of a cirrus-sac, were found, using differential interference contrast optics in the type-specimens of P. viguerasi Barus & Moravec, 1967, the type-species of the genus. This made possible a re-diagnosis of Perezitrema Barus & Moravec, 1967. Although P. bychowskyi is very similar to P. viguerasi and their conspecificity cannot be excluded, the poor condition of the type-specimens of the latter does not enable their detailed comparison and, consequently, both are considered independent species for the time being. P. lepisostei (Watson, 1976) is considered a junior synonym of P. bychowskyi. Perezitrema is provisionally placed in the plagiorchioid family Macroderoididae, even though some of its morphological features are similar to those of the lepocreadioid families Enenteridae and Lepocreadiidae.

Cycle évolutif de Bucephalus anguillae Spakulová, Macko, Berrilli & Dezfuli, 2002 (Digenea, Bucephalidae) parasite de Anguilla anguilla (L.)

The species of Bucephalus from the eel Anguilla anguilla of the north-eastern Tunisian lagoons was identified as B. anguillae which was recently described by Spakulová et al. (2002) from the Adriatic coast of Italy. In order to confirm that this eel digenean is distinct from B. polymorphus von Baer, 1827 present in other freshwater fishes, we investigated the life-cycle of this species. Surveys in the wild and experimental studies have shown that the life-cycle of B. anguillae is completed in brackish environments, with the lamellibranch Abra tenuis as the first intermediate host and the cyprinodontid fish Aphanius fasciatus as the second intermediate host. This life-cycle differs from that of B. polymorphus and can be considered as an additional argument for the distinction of these two morphologically similar species.

Monostephanostomum georgianum n. sp. (Digenea: Acanthocolpidae) from Arripis georgianus Valenciennes) Perciformes: Arripidae off Kangaroo Island, South Australia, with comments on Monostephanostomum Kruse, 1979 and Stephanostomum Looss, 1899

Monostephanostomum georgianum n. sp. is described from Arripis georgianus off Kangaroo Island, South Australia. It differs from its congeners by the presence of a short second row of oral spines. M. manteri Kruse, 1979 is reported from A. georgianus off southern Western Australia and Kangaroo Island, South Australia and A. trutta off northern Tasmania. It is considered that the other two species, M. yamagutii Ramadan, 1984 and M. krusei Reimer, 1983, should probably be removed from this genus. Two new combinations are formed, M. gazzae (Shen, 1990) n. comb. (from Stephanostomum) and M. mesospinosum (Madhavi, 1976) n. comb. (from Stephanostomum). A key to the four recognised species of Monostephanostomum is given.

Intensity of trematode metacercariae in cyprinoid fish in Chiang Mal Province, northern Thailand

The intensity of infection of trematode metacercariae was determined in five species of cyprinoid fish collected from Mae Ngud reservoir, Chiang Mai Province. These species were Thynnichthys thynnoides, Puntioplites proctozysron, Hampala macrolepidota, Puntius leiacanthus and Puntius gonionotus. T. thynnoides contained the highest number (83.0%) of metacercariae, whereas P. gonionotus had the fewest (0.19%). The caudal fin was the area of highest infection of metacercariae (49.39%), with the anal fin having the fewest (5.93%). Most metacercariae was isolated from Haplorchis taichui (63.27%), with an intensity variation of 0.3-165.2 metacercariae/fish.

Allozyme markers for the identification of Lecithochirium rufoviride and Lecithochirium furcolabiatum (Trematoda: Hemiuridae), parasites of Conger conger and Anguilla anguilla from Atlantic Spanish waters

The allozyme variation between 2 sympatric populations of Lecithochirium furcolabiatum and L. rufoviride was examined with the aim to investigate if the 2, morphologically similar, helminths are reproductively distinct. Three enzyme loci, Gpd, Pgm-1, and Idh were found to be diagnostic for the 2 species. These results support the conclusion that the worms are different biological species. Only the Gpi and Gdh loci showed no differences. Marked genetic subdivision was detected at the Idh locus in the L. rufoviride population. Given that the genotypic distribution at Pgm-I showed no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations, it does not appear that the absence of heterozygotes for Idh was caused by the reproductive structure of the population. Although there are several other possible reasons for the deficiency of heterozygotes in natural populations, the existence of a new noninterbreeding group within the population studied constitutes a plausible explanation.

Nonrandom association patterns in parasite infections caused by the host life cycle: empirical evidence from Kudoa camarguensis (Myxosporea) and Aphalloides coelomicola (Trematoda)

Pomatoschistus microps is 1 of the most common fish species inhabiting Mediterranean coastal lagoons. This small species uses an early maturation and a short life span to occupy sites subject to high variability in environmental factors. During monthly investigations on a P. microps population of the Vaccarès Lagoon from March 1993 to December 1997, 2 conspicuous parasites were noticed. The digenean Aphalloides coelomicola was harbored in the abdominal cavity of the fish, whereas the myxosporean Kudoa camarguensis was found in the muscle tissues. Monthly peaks of prevalence occurred at the same period for both parasites, and a positive correlation (permutation test and Janson and Vegelius correlation) was observed between their occurrences among sampled fish. These results suggest that this positive association is related to a third common factor, i.e., their host's life cycle.

[A collecting technique of eggs of fish's monogeneans in natural conditions]

A device for collecting eggs produced by monogeneans parasitizing on fish is described. The device may be used in different natural conditions, i.e. lake, river, pond, sea, ocean.

[The helminth fauna of amphibians of open canals in meliorated regions of the Belorussian Poles'e]

The helminth fauna from amphibians inhabiting open channels of different meliorated territories of the Belorussian Polesie was investigated in 1986-2000. 31 species of helminthes were found in these animals. Total infection rate with helminthes is 89.1%. A role of amphibians in a formation of natural foci of helminthoses of medical and veterinary importance is discussed.