The deep-sea fish digenean genus Tellervotrema Gibson &amp; Bray, 1982 (Opecoelidae: Plagioporinae): Re-evaluation of the type species, T. armstrongi Gibson &amp; Bray, 1982 and T. beringi (Mamaev, 1965)

Tellervotrema Gibson & Bray, 1982 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) was erected for Podocotyle-like species that possess asymmetrical pair of isolated groups of vitelline follicles in the posterior forebody, lack them dorsal to the caeca andparasitize archybenthal macrourid fishes. Tellervotrema armstrongi Gibson & Bray, 1982 is redescribed from the typehost, the common Atlantic grenadier, Nezumia aequalis (Günther), N. cyrano Marshall & Iwamoto, and from anunidentified macrourid collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Tellervotrema beringi (Mamaev, 1965) is redescribedfrom the giant grenadier, Albatrossia pectoralis (Gilbert), and Coryphaenoides sp. obtained from off Oregon. Thefollowing six features are suggested to distinguish T. armstrongi and T. beringi: egg size; position of the genital pore;posterior extent of the cirrus-sac relative to the ventral sucker; testes volume relative to hindbody size; anterior extent ofthe paired vitelline groups in the forebody; and geographic locality. The generic diagnosis of Tellervotrema is amended toinclude circumcaecal vitelline follicles, and the presence of the vitelline gap itself was found to be a more consistentdiagnostic generic character than the location of the resulting pair of distinct, isolated groups of vitelline follicles createdby the gap. A neotype and paraneotypes are designated for T. beringi. The following new host and locality records areestablished: first original report of T. armstrongi from N. cyrano; first report of a member of Tellervotrema from the giantgrenadier, A. pectoralis; and the waters off Oregon are a new locality record for Tellervotrema, a genus in the North PacificOcean known only from the Bering Sea and off Japan. A comprehensive listing of all parasites previously reported fromthe four macrourid species examined herein is given and intermediate hosts are postulated through which species of Tellervotrema may complete their life cycles in the deep.

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Checklist of the parasites of the black-necked swan, Cygnus melanocoryphus (Aves: Anatidae), with new records from Chile

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2637.1.3 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2637 (1) ◽

pp. 55 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

DANIEL GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA ◽

LUCILA MORENO ◽

ARMANDO CICCHINO ◽

SERGEY MIRONOV ◽

MIKE KINSELLA

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Parasite Species ◽

New Records ◽

Southern Cone ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

New Host ◽

Echinostoma Trivolvis ◽

New Host Records

Black-necked swans (Cygnus melanocoryphus) are endemic to the southern cone of South America. Their range extends from Brazil and Paraguay south to Argentina and Chile. A total of 16 parasite species were collected from 7 swans from the Biobio region, Chile, of which 12 are new records for Chile and 11 represent new host records, Echinostoma trivolvis, Paranomostomum sp., Microsomacanthus sp., Nadejdolepis sp., Retinometra sp., Avioserpens sp., Capillaria skrjabini, Ingrassia cygni, Anatoecus penicillatus, A. icterodes and A. keymeri. A checklist is presented that summarizes sites of infections, localities, life cycles and their intermediate hosts (if known), and the pertinent references to demonstrate the wide diversity of parasites of black-necked swans. Our review of the existing literature (23 publications) along with our own records provided information on a total of 18 families and 27 genera, including 33 described species (some only identified to genus), of which 11 were recorded only in Chile (8 endoparasites and 3 ectoparasites), and 6 only in Argentina (4 endoparasites and 2 ectoparasites). Five parasites are known only from captive swans in European zoos. Parasites recorded from C. melanocoryphus include 23 helminths and 10 ectoparasites (one leech and 9 arthropods).

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Checklist of the helminths of the kelp gull, Larus dominicanus (Aves: Laridae), with new records from Chile

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.2297.1.3 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 2297 (1) ◽

pp. 27-43 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

FABIOLA CERDA ◽

JUANA LÓPEZ ◽

RENÉ ORTEGA ◽

CHRISTIAN MATHIEU ◽

MIKE KINSELLA

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

New Records ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

New Host ◽

Parasitic Helminths ◽

Far North ◽

Kelp Gull ◽

Larus Dominicanus ◽

New Host Records

Kelp gulls (Larus dominicanus) have a circumpolar distribution in the southern hemisphere. Their range extends as far north as Ecuador and they occur along the southern coast of South America and Africa as well as Australia, New Zealand and sub-Antarctic Islands. This study presents a checklist that summarizes sites of infections, localities, life cycles and their intermediate hosts (if known), and the pertinent references to demonstrate the wide diversity of kelp gull parasitic helminths. Our review of the existing literature (59 publications) on kelp gull parasites provided information on a total of 21 families and 49 genera, including 62 described species, of which 36 were described in Argentina, 21 in Chile, 12 in Antarctica, 11 in New Zealand, 7 in Brazil and 3 in South Africa. In addition, 11 parasites are recorded from Talcahuano, Chile, 10 of them are new records for Chile and 4 represented new host records, Aporchis sp., Maritrema eroliae, Microphallus nicolli and Tetrameres skrjabini.

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Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) in Florida, USA: current status

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182020001286 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-4

Author(s):

Heather D. S. Walden ◽

John Slapcinsky ◽

Justin Rosenberg ◽

James F. X. Wellehan

Keyword(s):

Case Reports ◽

The State ◽

Angiostrongylus Cantonensis ◽

Current Status ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

New Host ◽

The North ◽

Rat Lungworm ◽

Surrounding Areas ◽

Ruffed Lemur

Abstract Angiostrongylus cantonensis has been found in Florida, USA, from the panhandle in the north to Miami and surrounding areas in the southern parts of the state, in both definitive and intermediate hosts in a limited studies completed in 2015. Additional studies have identified this parasite in a variety of intermediate hosts, both native and non-native gastropod species, with new host species recorded. Many areas in Florida with higher A. cantonensis prevalence were those with a high human population density, which suggests it is a matter of time before human infections occur in Florida. Case reports in the state currently involve non-human primates and include a gibbon and orangutan in Miami. Here, we report the current status of A. cantonensis in the state, as well as the infection in a capuchin monkey and presumptive infection in a red ruffed lemur in Gainesville, Florida.

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Cestodes of Antarctic and Subantarctic fish: History and prospects of research

Marine Biological Journal ◽

10.21072/mbj.2020.05.4.07 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 79-93

Author(s):

T. A. Polyakova ◽

I. I. Gordeev

Keyword(s):

Systematic Position ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Fish Parasites ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Cestode Species ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

The North ◽

The Family ◽

Muraenolepis Marmorata ◽

High Level

The first information about cestodes of Antarctic and Subantarctic fish appeared at the beginning of the XX century: a cestode Phyllobothrium dentatum from an unknown shark was described. Peak of activity of studying Antarctic cestodes fell on 1990–2006. During this period, significant works were published, devoted to description of new species, their life cycles, host specificity of cestodes – fish parasites, and their geographical distribution. A notable contribution to the study of elasmobranch cestodes was made by a group of Polish scientists, headed by Wojciechowska (Rocka). Systematic position of 21 cestode species from 13 genera of 8 families of 6 orders was analyzed. Cestode fauna has been studied in less than 7 % of the total ichthyofauna of this area, while potential definitive and intermediate hosts remain unexplored. The largest number of cestode species (12) was recorded in four ray species of the family Rajidae. Eight cestode species, reaching sexual maturity, have been registered in intestines of teleosts: Bothriocephalus antarcticus, B. kerguelensis, Bothriocephalus sp., Parabothriocephalus johnstoni, P. macruri, Clestobothrium crassiceps, Neobothriocephalus sp., and Eubothrium sp. Larvae of five cestode species (Onchobothrium antarcticum, Grillotia (Grillotia) erinaceus, Lacistorhynchus tenuis, Calyptrobothrium sp., and Hepatoxylon trichiuri), ending their development in elasmobranchs, were found in teleosts. Systematic position of 5 cestode species out of 12, found in rays, is unidentified. Cestode fauna is characterized by a high level of endemism: 67 % of the total cestode fauna is not found to the north of Subantarctic. Coastal areas, mostly covered by research, are those in the Atlantic and Indian sectors of Antarctic. The biodiversity of elasmobranch cestodes, inhabiting Antarctic and Subantarctic, is underestimated, since only one third of species of these fish have been studied so far. Genetic studies of Antarctic cestodes have just begun to develop. Ribosomal sequences from D1–D3 segments of 28S rDNA are known only for 2 species: Onchobothrium antarcticum from the second intermediate (Notothenia rossii and Dissostichus mawsoni) and definitive hosts (Bathyraja eatonii), as well as larvae of Calyptrobothrium sp. from the second intermediate hosts (D. mawsoni and Muraenolepis marmorata). The main directions of further research on cestode fauna should be developed in combination with morphological, faunistic, genetic, and ecological studies.

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Distribution of the cestode Urocystis prolifer Villot, 1880 (Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae) in the Palaearctic and new data on its postembryonic development

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x21000249 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 95 ◽

Author(s):

S.A. Kornienko ◽

L.A. Ishigenova

Keyword(s):

Host Specificity ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Experimental Infection ◽

Definitive Host ◽

Intestinal Parasite ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Postembryonic Development ◽

Generic Diagnosis ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Very High

Abstract Urocystis prolifer Villot, 1880 is an intestinal parasite of Sorex spp. In the Palaearctic. There are significant differences in the descriptions of both adults and stages of ontogenesis of U. prolifer as described by various authors. The experimental infection of intermediate hosts with cestodes has been conducted. An overview of the geographical distribution, infestation of the definitive hosts and the development of the metacestode stages of U. prolifer are presented. The cestode is characterized by an extensive geographic area in the Palaearctic, wide host specificity and very high rates of infection of its definitive host. Urocystis prolifer has been recorded mostly in the taiga and forest zones of Palaearctic. Fourteen species of Sorex were registered as the definitive host. Redescription of U. prolifer and an amended generic diagnosis are provided. A complete description of the ontogeny from oncosphere to fully developed metacestode is given. Features of development of the metacestode are an asexual larval reproduction, the absence of the anterior and posterior obturator valve in the cyst of the fully developed urocyst, as well as excretory bodies.

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Steller’s sea cow genome suggests this species began going extinct before the arrival of Paleolithic humans

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-22567-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Fedor S. Sharko ◽

Eugenia S. Boulygina ◽

Svetlana V. Tsygankova ◽

Natalia V. Slobodova ◽

Dmitry A. Alekseev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bering Sea ◽

De Novo ◽

Anthropogenic Activity ◽

Commander Islands ◽

The North ◽

Extinction Process ◽

Sea Cow ◽

The North Pacific ◽

The Bering Sea ◽

Woolly Mammoth

AbstractAnthropogenic activity is the top factor directly related to the extinction of several animal species. The last Steller’s sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) population on the Commander Islands (Russia) was wiped out in the second half of the 18th century due to sailors and fur traders hunting it for the meat and fat. However, new data suggests that the extinction process of this species began much earlier. Here, we present a nuclear de novo assembled genome of H. gigas with a 25.4× depth coverage. Our results demonstrate that the heterozygosity of the last population of this animal is low and comparable to the last woolly mammoth population that inhabited Wrangel Island 4000 years ago. Besides, as a matter of consideration, our findings also demonstrate that the extinction of this marine mammal starts along the North Pacific coastal line much earlier than the first Paleolithic humans arrived in the Bering sea region.

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Leeches as the intermediate host for strigeid trematodes: genetic diversity and taxonomy of the genera Australapatemon Sudarikov, 1959 and Cotylurus Szidat, 1928

Parasites & Vectors ◽

10.1186/s13071-020-04538-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ewa Pyrka ◽

Gerard Kanarek ◽

Grzegorz Zaleśny ◽

Joanna Hildebrand

Keyword(s):

Intermediate Host ◽

Life Cycles ◽

Coi Gene ◽

Small Rivers ◽

Ecological Niches ◽

Its2 Region ◽

28S Rrna ◽

Intermediate Hosts ◽

Internal Transcribed Spacer Region ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Background Leeches (Hirudinida) play a significant role as intermediate hosts in the circulation of trematodes in the aquatic environment. However, species richness and the molecular diversity and phylogeny of larval stages of strigeid trematodes (tetracotyle) occurring in this group of aquatic invertebrates remain poorly understood. Here, we report our use of recently obtained sequences of several molecular markers to analyse some aspects of the ecology, taxonomy and phylogeny of the genera Australapatemon and Cotylurus, which utilise leeches as intermediate hosts. Methods From April 2017 to September 2018, 153 leeches were collected from several sampling stations in small rivers with slow-flowing waters and related drainage canals located in three regions of Poland. The distinctive forms of tetracotyle metacercariae collected from leeches supplemented with adult Strigeidae specimens sampled from a wide range of water birds were analysed using the 28S rDNA partial gene, the second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) region and the cytochrome c oxidase (COI) fragment. Results Among investigated leeches, metacercariae of the tetracotyle type were detected in the parenchyma and musculature of 62 specimens (prevalence 40.5%) with a mean intensity reaching 19.9 individuals. The taxonomic generic affiliation of metacercariae derived from the leeches revealed the occurrence of two strigeid genera: Australapatemon Sudarikov, 1959 and Cotylurus Szidat, 1928. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on the partial 28S rRNA gene, ITS2 region and partial COI gene confirmed the separation of the Australapatemon and Cotylurus clades. Taking currently available molecular data and our results into consideration, recently sequenced tetracotyle of Australapatemon represents most probably Au. minor; however, unclear phylogenetic relationships between Au. burti and Au. minor reduce the reliability of this conclusion. On the other hand, on the basis of the obtained sequences, supplemented with previously published data, the metacercariae of Cotylurus detected in leeches were identified as two species: C. strigeoides Dubois, 1958 and C. syrius Dubois, 1934. This is the first record of C. syrius from the intermediate host. Conclusions The results of this study suggest the separation of ecological niches and life cycles between C. cornutus (Rudolphi, 1808) and C. strigeoides/C. syrius, with potential serious evolutionary consequences for a wide range of host–parasite relationships. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses corroborated the polyphyletic character of C. syrius, the unclear status of C. cornutus and the separate position of Cotylurus raabei Bezubik, 1958 within Cotylurus. The data demonstrate the inconsistent taxonomic status of the sequenced tetracotyle of Australapatemon, resulting, in our opinion, from the limited availability of fully reliable, comparative sequences of related taxa in GenBank.

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