Monodelphoxyuris dollmeiri n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Oxyurida) from Monodelphis emiliae in Peru.

Monodelphoxyuris dollmeiri n. g., n. sp. is described from the caecum of Monodelphis emiliae (Thomas) (Marsupiala: Monodelphidae) collected in the eastern region of the Andes of Peru. M. dollmeiri n. sp. differs from the closest pinworm described from marsupials in the Neotropics (Didelphoxyuris thylamisis Gardner & Hugot, 1995) in having operculate eggs and males that possess a tip prolonged of tail and a different kind of area rugosa. Several other species of pinworms have been described from marsupials in Australia, but all are characterised by possessing of a buccal capsule that is strongly cuticularised with interradial lamellae. These structures are lacking both in M. dollmeiri and D. thylamisis. Monodelphoxyuris n. g. is characterised by a mouth opening into a depression and lateral alae composed of two longitudinal crests. Males possess an area rugosa composed of six ventral sagittal mamelons, a caudal extremity prolonged by a robust tip of the tail which is directed backwards, four pairs of genital papillae (two pairs lateral adanal and sessile, one pair just posterior to the spicule aperture, and the last pair at posterior extremity and pedunculate). Females possess an opisthodelphic uterus, a reflected ovary and operculate, unembryonated, oval eggs.

Helminthoxys abrocomae n. sp. (Nematoda: oxyurida) from Abrocoma cinerea in Bolivia.

A new pinworm parasite is described from Abrocoma cinerea, a caviomorph rodent of the superfamily Octodontoidea from the Andes of Bolivia. The new species, Helminthoxys abrocomae n. sp., possesses special secretory mamelons which we consider a synapomorphy of the genus Helminthoxys. Within Helminthoxys, the closest relatives are found in octodontoid rodents: H. gigantea occurs in Octodon degus in Chile and O. bridgesi in Argentina, and H. freitasi is a parasite of Thrichomys aperoides in Brazil. H. abrocomae n. sp. differs from both other species morphometrically in relation to different parts of the body in both sexes, particularly the size of the body, spicule, gubernaculum and eggs, by the presence of a rough cuticular area around the cephalic sensory papillae and by the possession of very well-developed cervical alae which are strongly curved dorsally. H. abrocomae n. sp. is the tenth nominal species described in Helminthoxys, all of them being parasites of caviomorph rodents.

Ultrasonographic assessment of inflammatory bowel disease in children: comparison with ileocolonoscopy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility and value of transabdominal ultrasonography of the terminal ileum and colon of children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and to compare the findings with those of ileocolonoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-eight patients ranging in age from 4 to 18 years who underwent ileocolonoscopy for management of IBD or for diagnosis were studied prospectively. Twenty-one patients had Crohn disease, nine had ulcerative colitis, and eight served as control subjects. Transabdominal ultrasonography was performed on the day before ileocolonoscopy. Ultrasonographic findings were compared with the results of ileocolonoscopy, used as the reference method. RESULTS: Peristalsis was recorded in all segments of the control subjects; the thickness of the terminal ileum was always less than 2.5 mm, and that of the large bowel, 2 mm or less. In the two patient subgroups, the thickness range of affected ileal and colonic segments was similar, but values were significantly different from those of the control subjects (chi-square test, p <0.0001). The overall sensitivity of the method was 88%, and the specificity, 93%. CONCLUSION: Transabdominal ultrasonography should prove to be a useful clinical and investigational technique, although further studies are needed to assess its value in the treatment of children with IBD.