Three new species of Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818 (Annelida, Syllidae) from Chilean Patagonia

Three new species of the genus Syllis Savigny in Lamarck, 1818, from the Chilean Patagonia are described, figured and discussed. The specimens were collected in boulders, sediment bottoms, Macrocystis pyrifera holdfasts, and inside tubes of Chaetopterus cf. variopedatus. Syllis patagonica n. sp., is characterized by its color pattern, short, fusiform dorsal cirri, plenty of hyaline inclusions, acuminate posterior acicula, and compound chaetae with slightly bidentate falcigers. Syllis terraeignium n. sp., has similar compound chaetae, but dorsal cirri are longer than those of the above mentioned species, a long proventricle, and the posterior acicula are straight, pointed. Finally, Syllis patersoni n. sp., has a slender, elongated body, with moderately long dorsal cirri, plenty of hyaline inclusions, acuminate posterior acicula, and compound chaetae composed by falcigers and short spiniger-like.

Mesothelial metaplasia in European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (Testudines: Emydidae) infected with Spiroxys contortus (Nematoda: Spirurida)

The mesothelium consists of a monolayer of specialized epithelial cells that line the surfaces of the peritoneal, pleural, and pericardial cavities. The present study reports mesothelial changes associated with larval stages of the spirurid nematode Spiroxys contortus in a naturally infected European pond turtle. Between 2002 and 2007, eight European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis were brought for necropsy. In one adult male turtle, necropsy revealed the presence of gastric and mesothelial changes associated with gastric infestation with the nematode Spiroxys contortus. Gastrointestinal samples with gross lesions were collected and processed by paraffin technique for further histological examination. Mesothelial cuboidal to columnar or pseudostratified focal progressive metaplasia was observed in visceral coelomic cavity. Intracytoplasmic acidophilic hyaline inclusions were also observed in metaplastic mesothelial cells, most of them being placed to the apical cell’s poles. The significance of our findings is discussed in the light of current knowledge regarding the mesothelial cells.