Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) from Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus (Squamata, Amphisbaenidae) in the Cerrado Biome from Brazil.

In the present study, we describe Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. (Ascaridida: Cosmocercidae) parasitizing Amphisbaena alba Linnaeus (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) in the municipality of Uberlândia, Cerrado Biome, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. differs from its congeners by having shorter spicules and by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae. The males of the new species have a precloacal unpaired papilla and can be easily distinguished from O. caucasicum in which this morphological trait is absent. Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. differs from the other three species of the genus by the number and arrangement of caudal papillae, with 13 pairs + 1 unpaired precloacal papilla, arrangement 8+1:2:3, while O. brevicaudatum has 14-16 pairs +1 unpaired papilla, and 7-9+1:1:6 arrangement, O. petrolinensis has 16 pairs +1 unpaired papilla, and 8+1:1:7 arrangement, and O. dollfusi with 15-16 pairs +1 unpaired papilla, and 8-9+1:1:6 arrangement. Oxysomatium brevispiculum n. sp. is the fifth species of this genus, the second species in a Neotropical host, and the first species of this genus described in amphisbaenid hosts. In addition, the present study provides an identification key for the species of this genus.

Mineral profile and histopathological findings in the liver of white-lipped frog (Leptodactylidae) from the morphoclimatic domain of the Caatingas, Brazil.

This study aimed to investigate the mineral profile and histopathological findings in the liver of Leptodactylus macrosternum (white-lipped frog) and to assess the association between melanomacrophage areas and hepatic fungal granuloma with several factors such as weight, snout-cloacal length, sex, hepatosomatic index, season (dry and rainy), and condition factor K. A total of 135 frogs of different ages were collected from three areas in the city of Petrolina, Pernambuco, with varying land use (conventional agriculture, organic agriculture, and Caatinga stricto sensu). The liver of all specimens exhibited changes such as granulomatous lesions, inflammatory cell infiltrate, blood vessel congestion, and sinusoid dilation. The melanomacrophage areas were influenced by weight, snout-cloacal length, and hepatosomatic index. Our findings revealed a positive correlation between body size (weight and snout-cloacal length) and melanomacrophage/hepatic granuloma, while the hepatosomatic index showed a negative relationship. For the condition factor K, only age presents relationship. Eleven elements were quantified for the mineral profile, with aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), and zinc (Zn) being the most abundant in both liver and muscle. Although the histopathological findings and mineral profile of the liver and muscle in this study indicate an effect on the health of L. macrosternum in different collection areas, confirming the relationship between environmental characteristics and these findings requires future studies. Furthermore, long-term studies would be necessary to allow the monitoring of all stages of development of these populations, from tadpoles to adults, for a better evaluation of these effects in L. macrosternum.