Description of life stages, molecular characterisation as well as a new host and locality record of Chonopeltis lisikili Van As and Van As (1996) from Phongolo River, South Africa

SUMMARYComplex life cycles are common in free-living and parasitic organisms alike. The adaptive decoupling hypothesis postulates that separate life cycle stages have a degree of developmental and genetic autonomy, allowing them to be independently optimized for dissimilar, competing tasks. That is, complex life cycles evolved to facilitate functional specialization. Here, I review the connections between the different stages in parasite life cycles. I first examine evolutionary connections between life stages, such as the genetic coupling of parasite performance in consecutive hosts, the interspecific correlations between traits expressed in different hosts, and the developmental and functional obstacles to stage loss. Then, I evaluate how environmental factors link life stages through carryover effects, where stressful larval conditions impact parasites even after transmission to a new host. There is evidence for both autonomy and integration across stages, so the relevant question becomes how integrated are parasite life cycles and through what mechanisms? By highlighting how genetics, development, selection and the environment can lead to interdependencies among successive life stages, I wish to promote a holistic approach to studying complex life cycle parasites and emphasize that what happens in one stage is potentially highly relevant for later stages.

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An amended description of two Gyrodactylus species (Platyhelminthes: Monogenea) parasitizing Antarctic Notothenioid fish

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x18001098 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 94 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

I. Heglasová ◽

V. Nezhybová ◽

I. Přikrylová

Keyword(s):

Internal Transcribed Spacer ◽

Host Record ◽

Sister Group ◽

Weddell Sea ◽

Locality Record ◽

New Host ◽

New Host Record ◽

Notothenia Coriiceps ◽

Species Groups ◽

The Antarctic

Abstract Species identification based on the morphometry of opisthaptoral hard parts, in combination with internal transcribed spacer ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) region sequences, confirmed the presence of four viviparous Gyrodactylus von Nordman, 1832 (Plathyhelminthes, Monogenea) species on Nototheniid fish from the Prince Gustav Channel (Weddell Sea, Antarctica). Gyrodactylus antarcticus Gusev, 1967 was found mostly on Trematomus newnesi Boulenger (93 specimens) but also on T. bernacchii Boulenger (one specimen), the latter representing a new host record for this species. Gyrodactylus byrdi Hargis & Dillon, 1968 and G. coriicepsi Rokicka, Lumme & Ziętara, 2009 were recorded on their type hosts, T. newnesi and Notothenia coriiceps Richardson, respectively. Gyrodactylus wilkesi Hargis & Dillon, 1968 was found mostly on the fins of T. bernacchii (29 specimens), but also on T. hansoni Boulenger (one specimen) and T. newnesi (three specimens). The finding of G. wilkesi on T. newnesi represents a new host record. The low number of Gyrodactylus specimens may indicate an accidental infection. The occurence of all four Gyrodactylus species in the Prince Gustav Channel represents a new locality record. According to phylogentic methods, the newly redescribed monogeneans belong to the Antarctic lineage, forming a sister group to North American and European marine Gyrodactylus species, and consist of two species groups, one comprising G. coriicepsi and G. nudifronsi Rokicka, Lumme & Ziętara, 2009, and the other G. anarcticus and G. wilkesi.

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New host-plants records of Afrotropical Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera), with description of three new species

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4952.3.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4952 (3) ◽

pp. 495-522

Author(s):

OLEKSIY BIDZILYA

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

First Record ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

New Combination ◽

Larval Biology ◽

New Host ◽

North West ◽

Annotated List ◽

Three New Species ◽

First Time

First and additional host-plant records for 38 species of Gelechiidae from South Africa and Kenya are presented. An annotated list with brief descriptions of larval biology and known geographical distributions is presented. Three species are described as new: Mesophleps kruegeri sp. nov. (Namibia: Kavango Region and South Africa: Limpopo Province), Istrianis inquilinus sp. nov. (South Africa: North West Province), and Teleiopsis sharporum sp. nov. (South Africa: Limpopo Province). The new combination Istrianis epacria (Bradley, 1965) comb. nov. is proposed. The male genitalia of Hypatima melanecta (Meyrick, 1914) is described for the first time. It is noticed that male hitherto associated with T. commaculata (Meyrick, 1918) in fact refers to T. pundamilia Bidzilya & Mey, 2018. Hypatima stasimodes (Meyrick, 1931), Dichomeris coenulenta (Meyrick, 1927), Dichomeris eustacta Meyrick, 1921, Neotelphusa similella Janse, 1958 and Argophara epaxia Janse, 1963 are recorded for the first time from South Africa, and Istrianis epacria is new for Kenya. The adults, male and female genitalia are illustrated for some species mentioned in paper. The first record of the genus Teleiopsis Sattler, 1960 from South Africa is briefly discussed.

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Diel and tidal periodicity in the responses of early life stages of marine fishes to an estuary opening event in temperate South Africa

African Journal of Aquatic Science ◽

10.2989/16085914.2020.1796574 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Y Kisten ◽

NA Strydom

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Early Life ◽

Marine Fishes ◽

Life Stages ◽

Early Life Stages

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New host association and locality record for Pellonyssus gorgasi Yunker and Radovsky, 1966 (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

International Journal of Acarology ◽

10.1080/01647954.2019.1604801 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 235-237 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ricardo Bassini-Silva ◽

Fernando De Castro Jacinavicius ◽

Adriana M. Joppert ◽

Ashley P. G. Dowling ◽

Darci Moraes Barros-Battesti

Keyword(s):

Sao Paulo ◽

The State ◽

São Paulo ◽

Host Association ◽

Locality Record ◽

New Host

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Redescription of Paratrophurus anomalus (Rhabditida: Dolichodoridae) from South Africa

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-00003322 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 543-554 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ebrahim Shokoohi ◽

Joaquín Abolafia ◽

Phatu William Mashela

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Principal Component ◽

Tail Length ◽

Tail Region ◽

New Host ◽

Lateral Field ◽

North West ◽

The North ◽

Close Relationship ◽

New Geographical Record

Summary Paratrophurus anomalus is redescribed from the North-West Province, South Africa, associated with the rhizosphere of a willow tree, a dominant ornamental tree in the province. This population is characterised by its adult body length (696 (625-834) μm for female and 706 μm for male), lateral field with four longitudinal incisures, cephalic framework well cuticularised, lip region smooth and lacking annuli, female stylet 19.6 (18-21) μm long, female tail cylindrical, 35 (31-38) μm long, c′ = 2.3 (2.1-2.8), with thick hyaline region forming 31-43% of the tail length, spicules 22 μm long and gubernaculum 12 μm long. Morphologically, P. anomalus is very similar to P. kenanae and P. dissitus, although they differ on the basis of lip region morphology, stylet length, hyaline tail region, and spicule length. In addition, SEM observations are provided for the first time for this species along with a new host and new geographical record of the species from South Africa, providing new information for the revision of Paratrophurus. Molecular analysis of P. anomalus using ITS rDNA showed a close relationship with P. bursifer, P. bhutanensis and Bitylenchus species. In addition, principal component analysis was done for 14 character states of species in the genus.

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Some Observations on Primasubulura otolicni (Van Beneden, 1890) Inglis, 1958 from African Galago spp.

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x00033526 ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 38 (1-2) ◽

pp. 7-10

Author(s):

W. M. Fitzsimmons

Keyword(s):

Size Range ◽

Host Record ◽

Locality Record ◽

New Host ◽

Additional Information ◽

New Host Record ◽

Galago Crassicaudatus

As indicated above, this species was collected by the writer from Galago crassicaudatus in Blantyre, Nyasaland. This is a new host record and a new locality record for the species. The measurements that the writer was able to make from his specimens contribute additional information to our knowledge of the size-range of this parasite and provide an example of how one and the same species of nematode may vary in size (but not in morphological details).

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