New records of Amphibiophilus spp. (Nematoda: Amphibiophilidae) parasitic in Strongylopus grayii (Smith) and Amietia delalandii (Duméril & Bibron) (Amphibia: Anura: Pyxicephalidae) in South Africa, with a description of Amphibiophilus bialatus n. sp.

Nematodes of the genus Amphibiophilus Skrjabin, 1916 are a small group of parasites restricted to pyxicephalid frogs in southern Africa. In the present study, the new species A. bialatus parasitising the clicking stream frog Strongylopus grayii (Smith) as well as two forms parasitising the common river frog Amietia delalandii (Duméril & Bibron) from two distant localities are described. Amphibiophilus bialatus n. sp. clearly differs from the remaining species of the genus by having wide cervical alae, the dorsal oesophageal tooth not reaching the oral opening, and the presence of extra processes on the spicules. Specimens parasitising Am. delalandii in Mpumalanga Province and Limpopo Province, South Africa, differed from other species and from each other in the shape of the gubernaculum, though were almost identical in other characters. Based on morphological and molecular data, specimens from two localities were assigned to Amphibiophilus sp. 1 and Amphibiophilus sp. 2. Pairwise analyses of ITS-28S and cox1 gene fragments are presented for four Amphibiophilus spp.

New species and new records of species of Cloacina von Linstow, 1898 (Nematoda: Strongylida) parasitic in the western scrub wallaby, Notamacropus irma (Jourdan) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from Western Australia.

The helminth parasites of the western scrub wallaby or black-glove wallaby, Notamacropus irma (Jourdan) which occurs in Western Australia are relatively poorly documented. Six new species of the strongyloid genus Cloacina von Linstow, 1898 (Strongylida: Chabertiidae) are described namely C. asymmetrica n. sp., C. brazellei n. sp., C. harriganae n. sp., C. hobbsi n. sp., C. middletoni n. sp. and C. woodi n. sp. A redescription of C. laius Beveridge, 1999 from the same host species is included. Molecular sequence data (ITS1 and ITS2 ribosomal DNA) were obtained for C. asymmetrica, C. brazellei, C. hobbsi, C. middletoni and from the previously described species C. themis Beveridge, 1998 occurring in the same host species. Phylogenetically, C. asymmetrica, C. hobbsi and C. middletoni formed a distinct clade, suggesting the possibility of within-host speciation. Cloacina themis clustered with a group of morphologically distinctive species in a separate clade and C. brazellei clustered in a third clade but with poor support. This pattern of congeners in a single host species occurring in multiple clades mirrors the situation in other kangaroos and wallabies. Species of Cloacina from N. irma reported thus far therefore consist of a series of species found only in this host, with two species (C. brazellei and C. laius) shared with the sympatric macropodid Setonix brachyurus (Quoy & Gaimard).

Pharyngostrongylus thylogale n. sp. (Nematoda: Strongylida) from the stomachs of macropodid marsupials defined by morphological and molecular criteria.

Pharyngostrongylus thylogale n. sp. (Nematoda: Strongylida) is described from the stomach of the red-legged pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica (Gould) (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) from north-eastern Queensland and Papua New Guinea, having formerly been confused with P. iota Johnston & Mawson, 1939. Pharyngostrongylus thylogale n. sp. differs from all congeners in having 12 labial crown elements rather than eight or 16. Pharyngostrongylus iota was found in T. stigmatica, but only in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, in the subspecies T. s. wilcoxi, compared with P. thylogale n. sp. which was found in T. s. stigmatica in northern Queensland and T. s. oriomo in Papua New Guinea. Differences in the sequences of the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of P. thylogale n. sp. and ten congeners support the erection of the new species, and the validity of the morphospecies examined. However, results of the phylogenetic analyses of the molecular data also provide evidence for the existence of cryptic species within P. kappa Mawson, 1965. No obvious co-evolutionary relationships were observed between parasite species and their macropodid marsupial hosts.

Revision of Macroponema Mawson, 1978 (Nematoda: Strongylida) from macropodid marsupials with the description of two new species.

BACKGROUND: Species of Macroponema Mawson, 1978 are strongyloid nematodes which occur in the stomachs of macropodid marsupials in Australia. In this study, the genus Macroponema is revised, redescriptions of the two known species are provided, and two new species are added to the genus. METHODS: A molecular characterisation of the internal transcribed spacers of the nuclear ribosomal DNA of representative specimens of Macroponema from all known host species was undertaken to confirm the status of M. cf. comani. This resulted in the identification of a further new species within the genus. Consequently, a review of all available material in museum collections was undertaken. RESULTS: The two known species M. beveridgei Mawson, 1978 from Osphranter antilopinus (Gould) and O. robustus (Gould), and M. comani Mawson, 1978 from Macropus giganteus Shaw are re-described and their geographical distributions expanded. Two new species added to the genus are M. arundeli n. sp. from Ma. giganteus found in Queensland and the north east of New South Wales, and M. obendorfi n. sp. from O. antilopinus and O. robustus in the Northern Territory, the Kimberley Division of Western Australia and eastern Queensland. The latter species was formerly identified as M. cf. comani based on molecular studies. The specific identification of both of the new species is supported by ribosomal DNA sequence data. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the morphological and molecular characterisation of nematodes, this study has revealed the existence of four species within the genus Macroponema. The current phylogenetic data suggest that Macroponema spp. plausibly evolved by host switching; however, further studies are required to test this hypothesis.

[On the occurrence of the nematode Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Strongylida: Molineidae) in Karelia].

Contents of the intestines of the viper Vipera berus (L., 1758) from Kizhi archipelago (Lake Onego) was examined. Helminth fauna of the viper was found to include single nematode species, Oswaldocruzia filiformis Goeze, 1782 (Strongylida: Molineidae). Prevalence of the invasion was 60%, intensity of the invasion was 1-8 specimens per host, index of abundance was 1.92 specimens. Measurements and pictures of the parasite are given. Morphometric data on the nematode from viper are compared with those from other host species.

Presence of Kalicephalus subulatus Molin, 1861 (Nematoda, Diaphanocephalidae) in Wagler's snake, Xenodon merremi from Argentina

This is the first record of the nematode parasite Kalicephalus subulatus (Strongylida, Diaphanocephalidae) in Wagler's snakes, Xenodon merremi (Squamata, Colubridae), collected in Corrientes, Argentina. The species was observed using light and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and compared to previous studies from Tropical America. As for the metric characters, the specimens collected in Argentina are smaller than all of those found so far in other hosts. However, despite the differences in the measurements, some characters such as the dorsal lobe type III and the amphidelphic uterus allow its specific identification. Previously, this genus was found in X. merremi from Argentina but the absence of males precluded their specific identification.

Molecular and morphological characterisation of Pharyngostrongylus kappa Mawson, 1965 (Nematoda: Strongylida) from Australian macropodid marsupials with the description of a new species, P. patriciae n. sp.

BACKGROUND: Pharyngostrongylus kappa Mawson, 1965 is a nematode (Strongyloidea: Cloacininae), endemic to the sacculated forestomachs of Australian macropodid marsupials (kangaroos and wallaroos). A recent study revealed genetic variation within the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA among P. kappa specimens collected from Macropus giganteus Shaw and Osphranter robustus (Gould). This study aimed to characterise the genetic and morphological diversity within P. kappa from four macropodid host species, including M. giganteus, O. robustus, O. antilopinus (Gould) and O. bernardus (Rothschild). METHODS: Specimens of P. kappa from M. giganteus and Osphranter spp. from various localities across Australia were examined. The first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2, respectively) were amplified using polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Phylogenetic methods were used to determine the interspecific diversification within P. kappa and its evolutionary relationship with other congeners. RESULTS: Morphological examination revealed that P. kappa from M. giganteus, the type-host, can be distinguished from those in Osphranter spp. by the greater length and number of striations on the buccal capsules. DNA sequences showed that P. kappa from M. giganteus was genetically distinct from that in Osphranter spp., thereby supporting the morphological findings. Based on these finding, a new species from Osphranter spp., Pharyngostrongylus patriciae n. sp., is described. CONCLUSION: Pharyngostrongylus patriciae n. sp. from Osphranter spp. is distinguished from P. kappa based on molecular and morphological evidence. The study highlights the importance of combining molecular and morphological techniques for advancing the nematode taxonomy. Although ITS genetic markers have proven to be effective for molecular prospecting as claimed in previous studies, future utilisation of mitochondrial DNA to validate ITS data could further elucidate the extent of speciation among macropodid nematodes.

New species of Schulzia (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Ptychoglossus festae (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) from Panama.

Schulzia ptychoglossi n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Ptychoglossus festae (Squamata: Gymnophthalmidae) is described and illustrated. Schulzia ptychoglossi n. sp. represents the fourth species assigned to the genus and is most similar to the Venezuelan species S. usu by possessing a cervical inflation that begins a short distance from the anterior end of the body. Schulzia ptychoglossi differs from S. usu in that ray 8 separates midway between the root and tip of the dorsal ray in S. ptychoglossi, but separates close to the root of the dorsal ray in S. usu.

New species of Oswaldocruzia (Nematoda: Molineidae) in Ameiva festiva (Squamata: Teiidae) from Nicaragua.

Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Ameiva festiva (Sauria: Teiidae) is described and illustrated. Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis represents the 78th species assigned to the genus and is most similar to the Caribbean species of the genus by possessing spicules in which each of the 3 divisions terminates in numerous fine points. Of the 8 species assigned to this group, O. nicaraguensis is most similar to Oswaldocruzia moraveci; of the 8 species, only O. moraveci and O. nicaraguensis possess a type II bursa and lack cervical alae. It is separated from O. moraveci by the position of the tips of ribs 5-6; close together in O. nicaraguensis, well separated in O. moraveci.

Tadaridanema delicatus (Schwartz, 1927) n. gen., n. comb. (Trichostrongylina: Molineidae) parasite of Molossidae bats.

On the basis of the revision of the type material of Anoplostrongylus delicatus Schwartz, 1927, and new specimens collected from Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana (Saussure, 1860) in 4 arid localities from Mexico, we describe a new genus (Tadaridanema n. gen.), to which A. delicatus is transferred (as Tadaridanema delicatus (Schwartz, 1927) n. gen., n. comb.). This new genus differs from all other genera included in Anoplostrongylinae by having ray 2 larger than ray 3. In addition, T. delicatus can be differentiated from the type species of Anoplostrongylus (Anoplostrongylus paradoxus (Travassos, 1918)) because it possess vestibular branches equal in length, cephalic inflation divided into 2 regions, and synlophe with many small ridges at the midbody level, whereas in T. delicatus, vestibular branches are equal in size, cephalic inflation is simple in structure, and the synlophe has only 2 well-developed dorsal cuticular ridges.