Cryptocotyle lata (Trematoda: Heterophyidae) Adult from a Korean Raccoon Dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis

Total 513 heterophyid flukes were collected from a carcass of wild Korean raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis, in Korea. With morphological and molecular characteristics, the flukes were identified to Cryptocotyle lata. The adult C. lata were minute, transparent, pentagonal, 522 µm long by 425 µm wide. Ceca extended into post-testicular region. Ventrogenital sac elliptical, 79 µm by 87 µm with genital pore and ventral sucker. Two testes semielliptical and slightly lobed, located in the posterior region, right testis 173 µm by 155 µm, left testis 130 µm by 134 µm. In a phylogenetic tree, the fluke specimen of this study was grouped with C. lata divergent from Cryptocotyle lingua. We report here N. procyonoides koreensis first as a natural definitive host of C. lata.

Morphometric characteristics of mungkus fish (Sicyopterus sp.) from several rivers in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia

Mungkus fish (Sicyopterus sp) is one of the freshwater fish that is caught by many people in Bengkulu Province. The mungkus fish are amphidromous and live in rocky rivers and fast-flowing rivers. This fish has a ventral sucker for sticking to rocks. The aim of this research was to determine the types of mungkus fish that can be found in Bengkulu Province waters based on morphometric characters. The research was conducted on 8 major rivers in 5 districts in Bengkulu Province including Argamakmur, Muko-Muko, Seluma, Manna, and Kaur. Based on the results, showed that the mungkus fish were characterized based on morphometric, there were 3 types of fish including Sicyopterus squamosissimus, Sicyopterus cynocephalus, and Sicyopterus lagocephalus. Mungkus fish found in the northern Bengkulu region tend to be smaller in size, have almost the same color pattern and darker body color than the fish found in the South Bengkulu region. The most common species found in Bengkulu is Sicyopterus squamosissimus. The Sicyopterus lagocephalus species can also only be found in rivers in the South Bengkulu region. The fish morphometric characteristics shows that differences in fish habitat will affect the growth of fish and the existence of living species in nature.

Surface ultrastructure of the adult and juvenile stages of the trematode Astiotrema impletum (Looss, 1899) Looss 1900 (incertae sedis) from the Nile puffer, Tetraodon lineatus Linnaeus, 1758

Summary A scanning electron microscope study was performed on the surface of the trematode Astiotrema impletum (Looss, 1899) Looss 1900 from the Nile puffer, Tetraodon lineatus Linnaeus, 1758 (Syn. Tetraodon fahaka) for the first time. Adult A. impletum have a markedly large, sub-terminal oral sucker and a small ventral sucker. As with most trematodes, tegumental spines are concentrated anteriorly and are absent just anterior the ventral sucker. Spines have serrated tips on a short, tongue–shaped body. At the level of the ventral sucker the base of each spine exhibits a three bulbous-like structure that can be partially or completely withdrawn into the tegument. Sensory papillae are concentrated around the oral and ventral suckers and genital pores. Papillae are conical or knob-like, either ciliated or non-ciliated; some are protruded and others are embedded inside the tegument. In the juvenile stage, spines are smaller, less well-developed and tightly packed. The cytoplasmic processes of the posterior quarter of body show brain-like velvety appearance on the adult and small cobblestone-like on the juvenile.

Morphology and Molecular Identification of Echinostoma revolutum and Echinostoma macrorchis in Freshwater Snails and Experimental Hamsters in Upper Northern Thailand

Echinostome metacercariae were investigated in freshwater snails from 26 districts in 7 provinces of upper northern Thailand. The species identification was carried out based on the morphologies of the metacercariae and adult flukes harvested from experimental hamsters, and on nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes. Twenty-four out of 26 districts were found to be infected with echinostome metacercariae in freshwater snails with the prevalence of 40.4%. The metacercariae were found in all 6 species of snails, including Filopaludina martensi martensi (21.9%), Filopaludina doliaris (50.8%), F. sumatrensis polygramma (61.3%), Bithynia siamensis siamensis (14.5%), Bithynia pulchella (38.0%), and Anenthome helena (4.9%). The echinostome metacercariae found in these snails were identified as Echinostoma revolutum (37-collar-spined) and Echinostoma macrorchis (45-collar-spined) morphologically and molecularly. The 2-week-old adult flukes of E. revolutum revealed unique features of the cirrus sac extending to middle of the ventral sucker and smooth testes. E. macrorchis adults revealed the cirrus sac close to the right lateral margin of the ventral sucker and 2 large and elliptical testes with slight indentations and pointed posterior end of the posterior testis. The ITS2 and nad1 sequences confirmed the species identification of E. revolutum, and the sequences of E. macrorchis have been deposited for the first time in Gen-Bank. The presence of the life cycle of E. macrorchis is a new record in Thailand and the snail F. doliaris as their second intermediate host seems to be new among the literature.

A new species of Scapholeberis Schoedler, 1858 (Anomopoda: Daphniidae: Scapholeberinae) from the Colombian Amazon basin highlighted by DNA barcodes and morphology

Background The Amazon basin is recognized as one of the most complex and species-rich freshwater environments globally. The diversity of zooplankton here remains unknown, with many species undescribed. Methods Here, we describe a new species of Scapholeberis Schoedler, 1858 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Daphniidae: Scapholeberinae) from the Colombian Amazon Basin, collected with recently designed light traps. The description is based on detailed morphology (based on SEM and light microscopy) of parthenogenetic females, ephippial females, males, and molecular data based on the COI gene. Results Scapholeberis yahuarcaquensis n. sp. has a combination of characters present in Scapholeberis kingi Sars, 1888 and Scapholeberis armata freyi Dumont & Pensaert, 1983. These are a trilobate rostrum, with the middle lobe well developed with sides straight to relatively rounded, the presence of an elongated slit frontal head pore, a dorsal pore in the juncture of the cephalic shield and the valves, and a single denticulate membrane at the posterior rim of the valves, with stronger setae in the last third. The unique characters of the parthenogenetic females are ventral sucker with delicate triangles. Each has a filament-like projection in the lamellae’s inner side and an external section forming convex folds with denticle-like projections in the middle zone of the sucker-plate. There is a peculiar pitted sculpture in the ephippial females and a strong projection in the front of it. The male hook on the limb I with a blunt tip, a quirky lamella-like outgrow in the proximal side, and a paddle with well-developed spines scattered on its surface. The ventral sucker-lamellae in the male is much more developed than the female. The COI gene sequences showed an interspecific mean genetic divergence of 16.4% between S. yahuarcaquensis n. sp. and the closest species S. freyi from Mexico, supporting our results. A coalescence analysis and Barcode Index Number also support the new species based on the DNA sequences. New methods of collecting and integrative biology will give important support to recognize the fauna from the Amazon Basin, one of the most important sources of fresh water in the world that remains unknown in many respects.

Morphological and Molecular Confirmation of Parvatrema duboisi Metacercariae in the Manila Clam Ruditapes philippinarum from Gochang-gun, Korea

Gymnophallid metacercariae found in the Manila clam <i>Ruditapes philippinarum</i> (‘Banjirak’ in Korean) from Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea were morphologically and molecularly confirmed to be <i>Parvatrema duboisi</i> (Dollfus, 1923) Bartoli, 1974. The metacercariae were morphologically characterized by having a large oral sucker, small ventral sucker, genital pore some distance anterior to the ventral sucker, no ventral pit, and 1 compact or slightly lobed vitellarium, which were all compatible with <i>P. duboisi</i>. Some of the metacercariae were experimentally fed to mice, and adult flukes were recovered at day 7 post-infection. The morphology of the adult flukes was basically the same as that of the metacercariae except for the presence of uterine eggs; the uterus was filled with up to 40 eggs. The nucleotide sequences (1,193 bp) from ITS regions (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2) of the metacercariae showed 99.7% identity with <i>P. duboisi</i> and 75.7% identity with <i>Gymnophalloides seoi</i> deposited in GenBank. These results confirmed the presence of <i>P. duboisi</i> metacercariae in the Manila clam <i>R. philippinarum</i> in an estuary region of Gochang-gun, Korea.

Echinostoma macrorchis Metacercariae in Cipangopaludina chinensis malleata from Xiengkhuang Province, Lao PDR and Morphologies of Adults from Experimental Animals

We identified the echinostome metacercariae in Chinese mystery snails, <i>Cipangopaludina</i> <i>chinensis</i> <i>malleata</i>, from Xiengkhuang Province, Lao PDR with morphologies of adult worms recovered. Total 20 snails were examined with artificial digestion method and then the collected metacercariae were orally infected to a mouse and a rat. Adult worms recovered from experimental animals were observed with a light microscope and a SEM. The metacercariae were round, 125×123 µm in average size, with a moderately thick cyst wall, collar spines distributed in the head collar and excretory granules in 2 canals of excretory tube. Adult flukes (3-week-old in a rat) were elongated, ventrally curved and 5.310×1.023 mm in average size. Head collar distinct, bearing 43 collar spines with 5 end group ones on each side. Oral sucker subterminal, prepharynx very short, pharynx well developed, and esophagus relatively short. Cirrus sac well developed, with a saccular seminal vesicle, and ventral sucker very large. Ovary round and on the median line of the body. Testes tandom and elongated. Eggs operculated, elliptical and 90×57 µm in average size. In the SEM observation, the head crown prominent, with 43 collar spines resembled with horns of younger stag. Scale-like tegumental spines were densely distributed on the surface between the head collar and ventral sucker, and their densities were decreased posteriorly. Conclusively, the metacercariae detected in <i>C</i>. <i>chinensis</i> <i>malleata</i> from Lao PDR were identified as those of <i>Echinostoma</i> <i>macrorchis</i> based on the morphological characteristics of adult worms.

Prevalence of Rumen and Reticulum Trematodes in The Goat Slaughtered at Pegirian Surabaya Slaughter House using Digestive Surgery Method

The purpose of this study was to determine the kind of trematodes which infected the rumen and reticulum of goat slaughtered at RPH Pegirian Surabaya using digestive surgery method, and determine the prevalence result. 36 samples of rumen and reticulum were collected from RPH Pegirian from September - November 2017 then using digestive surgery to obtain fresh adult worms, afterwards using the Semichen-Acetic Carmine staining method to makes the object easy to identifying. The results showed that species was found on goat was Paramphistomum cervi and Cotylophoron cotylophorum, in the Paramphistomum cervi are several characters wich is oral sucker, genital pore, uterus, testis, ventral sucker and in Cotylophoron cotylophorum contain oral sucker, branched oesophagus, uterus, vitelin glands, testes , posterior sucker. 3 rumen positive trematodosis with prevalence of 8.33% Chi-square statistic test (p>0.05) showed no effect between goat species and Trematodosis prevalence, 20 kacang goat and 16 peranakan etawa goat found 2 positive kacang goat (10%) and 1 peranakan etawa goat positive (6.25%).

Evolution of limb development in cephalopod mollusks

Cephalopod mollusks evolved numerous anatomical novelties, including arms and tentacles, but little is known about the developmental mechanisms underlying cephalopod limb evolution. Here we show that all three axes of cuttlefish limbs are patterned by the same signaling networks that act in vertebrates and arthropods, although they evolved limbs independently. In cuttlefish limb buds, Hedgehog is expressed anteriorly. Posterior transplantation of Hedgehog-expressing cells induced mirror-image limb duplications. Bmp and Wnt signals, which establish dorsoventral polarity in vertebrate and arthropod limbs, are similarly polarized in cuttlefish. Inhibition of Bmp2/4 dorsally caused ectopic expression of Notum, which marks the ventral sucker field, and ectopic sucker development. Cuttlefish also show proximodistal regionalization of Hth, Exd, Dll, Dac, Sp8/9, and Wnt expression, which delineates arm and tentacle sucker fields. These results suggest that cephalopod limbs evolved by parallel activation of a genetic program for appendage development that was present in the bilaterian common ancestor.

First report of Dendrorchis retrobiloba Volonterio & Ponce de León, 2005 (Digenea, Gorgoderidae) in Astyanax aff. fasciatus (Cuvier, 1819) (Characiformes, Characidae) from southern Brazil

Dendrorchis retrobiloba Volonterio & Ponce de León, 2005 was first described from the swim bladder of Astyanax fasciatus (Cuvier, 1819) from Montevideo, Uruguay. In this study, we necropsied specimens of A. aff. fasciatus collected from Lake Guaíba, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, for the analysis of their helminths. The digeneans were identified as D. retrobiloba by their elongated body, oral sucker longer than ventral sucker, and 2 posterior lobes. This is the first report of D. retrobiloba in A. aff. fasciatus from Lake Guaíba and extends the known geographic distribution of this parasite.