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Trindade LFF, Félix AJS, Rebêlo GL, Neves JKS, Paixão DJM, Dias-Souza MR, Costa-Campos CE, Santos JN, Melo FTV. Ophiotaenia karipuna n. sp. (Eucestoda: Proteocephalidae), a parasite of Erythrolamprus miliaris (Linnaeus, 1758), with redescription of Ophiotaenia arandasi (Santos and Rolas, 1973) from the Brazilian Amazon. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2024; 24:100930. [PMID: 38680472 PMCID: PMC11047780 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2024.100930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Ophiotaenia is the most diverse genus among proteocephalids, composed of species commonly found parasitizing snakes worldwide. However, the diversity of Ophiotaenia in the Neotropical region is still underestimated. This study describes Ophiotaenia karipuna n. sp. found parasitizing Erythrolamprus miliaris in the State of Amapá, Brazil. Additionally, we redescribe Ophiotaenia arandasi based on a re-examination of type series and newly collected material from Erythrolamprus taeniogaster in the State of Pará, Brazil. The new species differs from its congeners in the following characteristics: scolex width, number of testes, relative length of the cirrus-sac, absence of a vaginal sphincter, presence of a vestigial apical organ resembling a sucker, and relative size of the ovary in relation to the surface of the proglottid. Furthermore, we provide taxonomic information for Ophiotaenia arandasi not reported in the original description, including morphology of embryophore, uterine development, and the absence of the vaginal sphincter in the species. Ophiotaenia karipuna n. sp. represents the 21st- species described in snakes -from the Neotropical region and the first formally described in the Brazilian Amazon. Additionally, we provide the first ultrastructural analysis, a new host, and locality records for O. arandasi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Felipe Ferreira Trindade
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Adriano José Silva Félix
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Lima Rebêlo
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Jorge Kevin Silva Neves
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Deivyson João Malcher Paixão
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Marcos Roberto Dias-Souza
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo Costa-Campos
- Laboratory of Herpetology, Department of Biological and Health Sciences, Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP), Jardim Marco Zero, Rod. Juscelino Kubitschek, Km 02, Macapa, Amapa, 68903–419, Brazil
| | - Jeannie Nascimento Santos
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
| | - Francisco Tiago Vasconcelos Melo
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology and Helminthology “Profa. Dra. Reinalda Marisa Lanfredi”, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Av. Augusto Correa 01, Guamá, Belem, Para, 66075–110, Brazil
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Chervy L. Manual for the study of tapeworms (Cestoda) parasitic in ray-finned fish, amphibians and reptiles. Folia Parasitol (Praha) 2024; 71:2024.001. [PMID: 38334295 DOI: 10.14411/fp.2024.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Based on long-term and often frustrating experiences with the poor quality of tapeworms (Cestoda) collected throughout the world for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies, and considering the increasing obstacles to obtaining new material, a simple, easy-to-use and illustrated methodological guide (manual) is provided. It focusses mainly on key steps in examining hosts, collecting cestodes from poikilothermous vertebrates except elasmobranchs, i.e., from ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii), amphibians and 'reptiles' (a paraphyletic group comprising all sauropsids except birds), and fixing them for subsequent morphological and molecular study. It is proposed that the following methodological points should be followed: (i) ideally only freshly euthanised hosts (not previously frozen) should be used for parasitological examination; (ii) hosts examined should be documented by photographs; host tissue should also be preserved for future genotyping if necessary; (iii) tapeworms should be detached carefully to keep the scolex intact and properly cleaned before fixation; (iv) a small piece of cestode tissue should be always preserved in molecular grade ethanol for DNA sequencing; (v) tapeworms should be fixed as quickly as possible after collecting them and while they are still alive, always using hot (heated) fixatives; this prevents unnatural contraction or deformation and ensures uniform fixation; (vi) each sample (vial) should be properly labelled (a unique code should be given to every cestode sample); (vii) vouchers of sequenced specimens (hologenophores or paragenophores) should always be preserved for identification, and deposited in internationally recognised collections. It is hoped that this guide helps researchers and students to properly process valuable material of cestodes to make it suitable for reliable identification including genotyping and comparative anatomy, which is a prerequisite for any subsequent ecological, biogeographical, phylogenetic life cycle or molecular study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenta Chervy
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
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de Chambrier A, Kudlai O, McAllister CT, Scholz T. Discovering high species diversity of Ophiotaenia tapeworms (Cestoda: Proteocephalidae) of watersnakes (Colubridae) in North America. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 22:255-275. [PMID: 38107547 PMCID: PMC10724698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Tapeworms of the genus Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 parasitize herptiles (= amphibians and 'reptiles') throughout the world, with about 100 species recognised as valid. In the present work, the North American species found in watersnakes (Colubridae) are reviewed. An examination of the holotype of Ophiotaenia perspicua La Rue, 1911, the type species of the genus, and other specimens from Nerodia rhombifer (Hallowell) revealed that two species were used for the species description. The 'true' O. perspicua has a small scolex and small, round suckers. This species is redescribed based on new material from Oklahoma, USA. The other species from N. rhombifer, Ophiotaenia laruei n. sp., has a larger scolex and larger, almost triangular suckers. Examination of the types of O. variabilis (Brooks, 1978) from N. rhombifer and N. cyclopion (Duméril, Bibron et Duméril) from Louisiana, USA has revealed that it is a mixture of two or more species. Because of poor quality of these specimens, it is not possible to adequately characterise O. variabilis, which is considered a species inquirenda. In addition, two new species are described from Nerodia fasciata confluens (Blanchard). Ophiotaenia currani n. sp. from Mississippi, USA is characterised by elongate, narrow proglottids, few testes, and a relatively long cirrus sac. Ophiotaenia tkachi n. sp. from Louisiana, USA is characterised by relatively short and wide proglottids, more testes, and an unusual terminal part of the vagina with folds. Morphologically similar tapeworms of N. fasciata confluens, N. erythrogaster (Förster), N. sipedon (Linnaeus), and Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacépède) (Viperidae) from Arkansas and Oklahoma, USA, which are genetically nearly identical, are considered to be conspecific with O. tkachi n. sp. The present data suggest a high, previously undescribed species diversity of proteocephalid tapeworms in watersnakes in North America, and generally strict host specificity of these tapeworms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alain de Chambrier
- Department of Invertebrates, Natural History Museum, P.O. Box 6434, CH-1211, Geneva 6, Switzerland
| | - Olena Kudlai
- Institute of Ecology, Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Chris T. McAllister
- Division of Natural Sciences, Northeast Texas Community College, Mt Pleasant, TX, 75455, USA
| | - Tomáš Scholz
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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Scholz T, de Chambrier A, McAllister CT, Tkach VV, Kuchta R. TAPEWORMS (CESTODA: OPHIOTAENIA) FROM THE NORTHERN COTTONMOUTH (AGKISTRODON PISCIVORUS). J Parasitol 2023; 109:464-479. [PMID: 37713534 DOI: 10.1645/23-32] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The northern cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus (Lacépède, 1789) (Viperidae: Crotalinae), occurs in the southeastern United States and is one of the few semiaquatic vipers in the world. Three proteocephalid tapeworms of the genus OphiotaeniaLa Rue, 1911 (Cestoda), have been described from this venomous snake. A critical evaluation of type specimens and tapeworms recently collected from A. piscivorus has revealed that only 2 species, Ophiotaenia marenzelleri (Barrois, 1898) and Ophiotaenia grandisLa Rue, 1911 (new synonym Ophiotaenia agkistrodontis [Harwood, 1933]), are specific parasites of this crotaline viper; both species are redescribed here. Ophiotaenia grandis was originally described from a mixture of 2 species: 'true' O. grandis, which is indistinguishable from O. agkistrodontis described 22 yr later and thus considered to be a junior synonym of O. grandis, and O. marenzelleri. Ophiotaenia marenzelleri, also reported from the pygmy rattlesnake, Sistrurus miliarius (Linnaeus, 1766), is a larger tapeworm with a massive scolex, a large cirrus sac, a very large, annular vaginal sphincter near the equatorial gonopore, and an oval, 3-layered embryophore surrounded by a nearly square hyaline outer membrane. Ophiotaenia grandis is much smaller and more slender and has a narrower scolex, a smaller cirrus sac and vaginal sphincter, a 2-layered embryophore, and a distinctly pre-equatorial gonopore. In addition to O. marenzelleri and O. grandis, other Ophiotaenia species typical of semiaquatic snakes (Colubridae: Natricinae) may be present in the northern cottonmouth, which serves only as a postcyclic or occasional host. There is also a tabular summary of 18 species of Ophiotaenia from semiaquatic snakes worldwide, with information on their hosts, distribution, and taxonomically important characters, including key measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Scholz
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Alain de Chambrier
- Department of Invertebrates, Natural History Museum, P.O. Box 6434, CH-1211 Geneva 6, Switzerland
| | - Chris T McAllister
- Division of Natural Sciences, Northeast Texas Community College, 2886 FM 1735, Chapel Hill Road, Mt. Pleasant, Texas 75455
| | - Vasyl V Tkach
- University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
| | - Roman Kuchta
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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