RESUMEN
Schrankiana are gastrointestinal parasites of anurans, distributed throughout Central and South America. Schrankiana formosula and Schrankiana inconspicata are some of the most commonly reported species parasitising anurans from Brazil, and the morphological differences between them are unclear. In the present study, we redescribed S. formosula based on a re-examination of type series and newly collected material from the frog Leptodactylus pentadactylus in the state of Amapá, Brazil. Additionally, we re-examined the type series of S. inconspicata, and propose it as a junior synonym of S. formosula. We provide detailed morphological and morphometric data with intraspecific variation analyses and new molecular data for S. formosula. In the present phylogeny, S. formosula formed a well-supported clade with Raillietnema sp. and Labeonema synodontisi. Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and some morphological similarities, our findings support the hypothesis that Schrankiana is a member of the family Cosmocercidae, not Atractidae. Additionally, we provide the first ultrastructural descriptions of S. formosula, and establish the species' phylogenetic position from the Cosmocercidae.
RESUMEN
Osteocephalus cabrerai is an arboreal anuran widely distributed in South America. However, there are no parasitological studies conducted on the species, resulting in a parasite fauna completely unknown. Thus, this study aims to characterize the parasitic community structure of O. cabrerai in the municipality of Pedra Branca do Amapari, Amapá state, Amazon region, Brazil. We collected and necropsied 84 specimens of O. cabrerai to search for helminths. Parasite community structure was analyzed using helminth parasite richness, diversity, and abundance. The helminth component community of O. cabrerai comprises six nematode species: Cosmocerca parva, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Oxyascaris oxyascaris, Oswaldocruzia chabaudi, and Physaloptera sp. (larvae). Most helminth species represent the first record for the genus Osteocephalus, except Physaloptera sp. The helminth infections in the host showed a typical aggregated distribution pattern for parasites. We only found a positive correlation between the host weight and total intensity. Our bibliography revision reinforces the need for further studies on the helminth fauna of Osteocephalus spp.
RESUMEN
Ophiotaenia is the most diverse genus among proteocephalids, composed of species commonly found parasitizing snakes worldwide. However, the diversity of Ophiotaenia in the Neotropical region is still underestimated. This study describes Ophiotaenia karipuna n. sp. found parasitizing Erythrolamprus miliaris in the State of Amapá, Brazil. Additionally, we redescribe Ophiotaenia arandasi based on a re-examination of type series and newly collected material from Erythrolamprus taeniogaster in the State of Pará, Brazil. The new species differs from its congeners in the following characteristics: scolex width, number of testes, relative length of the cirrus-sac, absence of a vaginal sphincter, presence of a vestigial apical organ resembling a sucker, and relative size of the ovary in relation to the surface of the proglottid. Furthermore, we provide taxonomic information for Ophiotaenia arandasi not reported in the original description, including morphology of embryophore, uterine development, and the absence of the vaginal sphincter in the species. Ophiotaenia karipuna n. sp. represents the 21st- species described in snakes -from the Neotropical region and the first formally described in the Brazilian Amazon. Additionally, we provide the first ultrastructural analysis, a new host, and locality records for O. arandasi.