Babesia microti in Rodents from Different Habitats of Lithuania

Babesia microti (Aconoidasida: Piroplasmida) (Franca, 1910) is an emerging tick-borne parasite with rodents serving as the considered reservoir host. However, the distribution of B. microti in Europe is insufficiently characterized. Based on the sample of 1180 rodents from 19 study sites in Lithuania, the objectives of this study were: (1) to investigate the presence of Babesia parasites in eight species of rodents, (2) to determine the prevalence of Babesia parasites in rodents from different habitats, and (3) to characterize the detected Babesia strains using partial sequencing of the 18S rRNR gene. Babesia DNA was detected in 2.8% rodents. The highest prevalence of Babesia was found in Microtus oeconomus (14.5%) and Microtus agrestis (7.1%) followed by Clethrionomys glareolus (2.3%), Apodemus flavicollis (2.2%) and Micromys minutus (1.3%). In M. minutus, Babesia was identified for the first time. The prevalence of Babesia-infected rodents was higher in the meadow (5.67%) than in the ecotone (1.69%) and forest (0.31%) habitats. The sequence analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene reveals that Babesia isolates derived from rodents were 99–100% identical to human pathogenic B. microti ‘Jena/Germany’ strain.

Bursaphelenchus parayongensis n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in packaging wood from China

Summary Bursaphelenchus parayongensis n. sp. was isolated from packaging wood of a consignment from China exported to Germany. The new species is characterised by the lateral field with three lines, 9-13 μm long stylet with small basal swellings, and the excretory pore located near the posterior part of metacorpus. The male spicules are mitten-shaped, the lamina smoothly tapers towards the distal tip. The condylus is broadly rounded, with a small dorsally bent hook, rostrum triangular with sharply pointed tip, and without cucullus. One precloacal papilla, one adcloacal pair and two postcloacal pairs of male papillae present, with the posteriormost pair forming ‘gland papillae’. Bursal flap long, spade-like with posterior margin truncate or irregular. Females have a small vulval flap of 2-3 μm long, and a post-vulval uterine sac extending for 55-77% of the vulva to anus distance. Tail cylindrical, mostly (about 70%) with a robust mucron, very short to less than 3 μm, but occasionally tail terminus bluntly rounded, without mucron. It is similar to species in subgroup 3 of the eggersi group including B. carpini, B. clavicauda, B. cryphali and B. yongensis, but morphologically different. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on partial 18S, ITS and D2-D3 region of 28S sequences has confirmed the status of this nematode as a new species.

Studies on Longidorus iberis (Escuer & Arias, 1997) n. comb. (Nematoda: Longidoridae) from Spain

Summary Specimens of a thin longidorid species collected in Peñalba (Huesca), north-west Spain, were previously described as Paralongidorus iberis. However, we conclude, through scanning electron microscopy and molecular studies on a population from about 15 km from the type locality and on paratype specimens, that this species was originally placed in the wrong genus. Both populations have pore-like amphidial apertures, not slit-like as in Paralongidorus, and the species is therefore transferred to Longidorus. Longidorus iberis n. comb. is regarded as a valid species and is clearly different from closely related species such as L. tabernensis, L. iliturgiensis, L. alvegus and L. indalus in morphometrics and molecular markers. Molecular data are reported for the first time, including the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, ITS1 rRNA, partial 18S rRNA and partial mitochondrial coxI regions. These molecular markers were used for inferring the phylogenetic relationships with other species within Longidorus and Paralongidorus, all clearly separating L. iberis n. comb. from other related taxa and placing the species in the Longidorus clade, rather than with Paralongidorus.

Molecular and Ultrastructural Analysis of a Porocephalus sp. (Arthropoda: Pentastomida) Removed from a Rattlesnake

Ultrastructural and molecular data are provided from a single adult female pentastomid opportunistically collected from a road-killed rattlesnake in Russell, KS. Ultrastructural data consisted of light and SEM microscopy of the pentastomid and its eggs, while molecular data consisted of partial 18S and 28S ribosomal sequences and a partial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 sequence from the same specimen used for SEM. Ultrastructural and molecular data support generic identification of the pentastomid as Porocephalus sp. These molecular data were also used with previously published pentastomid sequence data for a concatenated phylogenetic analysis, which support the current, morphology-based taxonomic placement of the genus.

A new cystoid nematode, Cryphodera japonicum n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae), from the rhizosphere of Japanese Podocarpus macrophyllus

Summary Cryphodera japonicum n. sp., detected at Ningbo port, China, from the rhizosphere of imported Japanese Podocarpus macrophyllus, is described. The new species is characterised by females with a globose body, protruding vulval lips, slightly concave anus-vulva profile, a stylet length of 37.2 (31.1-41.3) μm and a vulva-anus distance of 38.1 (34.7-44.1) μm. Males possess two lip annuli, a stylet length of 27 (22.5-30.6) μm long, three lines in lateral fields and a spicule 21.5 (19.1-23.0) μm long. Second-stage juveniles have bodies 543 (506-588) μm long, three lip annuli, a stylet 31.7 (29.2-34.5) μm long, three lines in the lateral fields, a conoid tail with a narrow rounded terminus, and a relatively long hyaline region occupying half of the tail length. Phylogenetic analyses based on the D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S, ITS, partial 18S rRNA, and COI gene revealed the unique position of this species with other heteroderid nematodes, supporting its status as a new species of Cryphodera. The new species showed a close relationship with C. brinkmani.

Morphological and molecular characterisation of Helicotylenchus ciceri n. sp. and H. scoticus Boag & Jairajpuri, 1985 (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) from Iran

Summary Helicotylenchus ciceri n. sp. and H. scoticus are described and illustrated based on morphological, morphometric and molecular characters. The new species is characterised by a conical and truncated lip region with five or six distinct annuli, stylet 32-37 μm long with anteriorly concave knobs, secretory-excretory pore posterior to the pharyngo-intestinal valve, dorsally convex-conoid tail with a terminal projection, phasmids 14 (7-20) annuli anterior to the level of anus, empty spermatheca and absence of males. Intraspecific variation of 16 populations of H. scoticus, collected from chickpea and lentil fields in Kermanshah province, western Iran, is discussed. The results of the phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the partial 18S rRNA, D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA and ITS rRNA genes are provided for the studied species, confirming their differences from each other and determining the position of them and their relationships with closely related species.

Systematic position of the genus Atetylenchus Khan, 1973 (Nematoda: Tylenchidae) with description of two new species

Summary Two new and one known species of Atetylenchus recovered from Dezful, Khuzestan Province, south-western Iran, are illustrated and described using morphological, morphometric and molecular data. Atetylenchus dezfuliensis n. sp. is characterised by medium-sized body 700-998 μm long, stylet 10.0-11.5 μm long, characteristic tail shape, first tapering regularly but then cylindrical to slightly clavate and 90-136 μm long, phasmids located at one-third anterior part of tail and short spicules 18.7 μm long. Atetylenchus longilabiatus n. sp. is characterised by small-sized body 593-720 μm long, prominent lip region, stylet 9.5-12.5 μm long, conical tail with hook-shaped terminus and 42-63 μm long, phasmids located near mid-tail and short spicules 17.5 μm long. Atetylenchus cf. graminus is characterised by small-sized body 643-787 μm long, stylet 10.7-11.7 μm long, vulva located at 51.7-55.1% of the body length, and conical tail with finely rounded end and 63-69 μm long. Molecular data are provided for the characterisation of this genus from these two new and one known species using ribosomal genes (18S and 28S rRNA). This genus is molecularly separated from Psilenchus, but closely related in both genes. These molecular markers showed different phylogenies for both genera; partial 18S showed their relationship with Tylenchidae, while 28S rRNA showed their relationship with Merliniidae. A key to the genus is provided for species identification.

Phylogeny and redescription of Laimaphelenchus pannocaudus Massey, 1966 (Rhabditida: Aphelenchoididae) intercepted from Canadian Picea glauca

Summary Laimaphelenchus pannocaudus, isolated in Ningbo port from Picea gluaca, is redescribed based upon characteristic morphological details elucidated by light and scanning electron microscopy photographs. The recovered population is characterised by 907 (771-1024) μm long females with 11.2 (8.9-12.2) μm long stylet, four incisures in the lateral field, excretory pore located at the same level as, or slightly anterior to the nerve ring, vulva lacking a flap and located at 68.7 (63.9-73.4)% of the body, elongate post-vulval uterine sac 78.5 (55.6-101.1) μm long, and tail 40.6 (33.4-45.6) μm long. Males are common and characterised by 16.5 (15.7-17.8) μm long spicules (chord) with their condylus slightly recurved, squared to rounded in shape with a blunt rounded tip and rostrum triangular with a bluntly pointed tip, and six visible caudal papillae. The female tail is ventrally curved, conoid and bears a stalk-like terminus with 4-8 pedunculate projections. Phylogenetic analyses using partial 18S and 28S rDNA D2-D3 data revealed that L. pannocaudus formed a sister relationship with L. suberensis in both phylogenies.

A new species, Dactylosoma piperis n. sp. (Apicomplexa, Dactylosomatidae), from the pepper frog Leptodactylus labyrinthicus (Anura, Leptodactylidae) from Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

The Dactylosomatidae Jakowska and Negrelli, 1955 are one of four families belonging to adeleorinid coccidia and comprise the genera Babesiosoma Jakowska and Nigrelli, 1956 and Dactylosoma Labbé, 1894. These blood protozoa occur in peripheral blood of lower vertebrates, and are commonly reported parasitising amphibians. The present study describes Dactylosoma piperis n. sp. from the pepper frog Leptodactylus labyrinthicus (Spix, 1824) (Anura: Leptodactylidae), collected in 2018 at the municipality of Araguaiana, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, based on morphology of intra-erythrocytic trophozoite, primary and secondary merogonic stages and a molecular analysis (partial 18S rDNA). Dactylosoma piperis n. sp. forms a well-supported clade with other Dactylosomatidae. This is the first molecular characterization of a species of Dactylosoma from a Brazilian anuran.