Three new species of Acanthocephala from Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) (Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) from tinfoil barb fish, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii in Lake Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia.

This study was carried out in order to identify acanthocephalan species complexes, based on morphological variability, infecting Barbonymus schwanenfeldii from Lake Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia. Acanthocephala were fixed in ethanol, stained with aceto-carmine and studied morphologically by using a light microscope. Variation in morphological traits such as proboscis, proboscis receptacle, egg, testes shape and location, number of hooks and cement gland has been traditionally used to diagnose the acanthocephalans species but the delimitations between closely related species are still confusing and are always questionable among taxonomists. Molecular analysis was used for support the identification. Morphological variability prospecting reveals the presence of three different new species complexes from the subgenus Acanthosentis by referring published taxonomic keys. These new species may be distinguished from the other 46 described species of Acanthosentis by having six unique structures: the presence of an anterior parareceptacle structure (PRS); vaginal sleeve structure; a paired lateral, cone-shaped, muscular jacket surrounding the vagina; alternating pattern and size of proboscis hooks, variation in proboscis size and shape; the presence of the circular collar ring around the neck between the proboscis and trunk and lastly the presence of a muscular-like structure attached to the collar ring on the proboscis. These acanthocephalans found in the intestine of B. schwanenfeldii in Kenyir Lake Malaysia represent new species, named Acanthogyrus ( Acanthosentis) kenyirensis n.sp., A. ( A.) terengganuensis n.sp. and A. ( A.) tembatensis n. sp.

Three new species of Acanthocephala from Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) (Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) from tinfoil barb fish, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii in Lake Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia

@#This study was carried out in order to identify acanthocephalan species complexes, based on morphological variability, infecting Barbonymus schwanenfeldii from Lake Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia. Acanthocephala were fixed in ethanol, stained with aceto-carmine and studied morphologically by using a light microscope. Variation in morphological traits such as proboscis, proboscis receptacle, egg, testes shape and location, number of hooks and cement gland has been traditionally used to diagnose the acanthocephalans species but the delimitations between closely related species are still confusing and are always questionable among taxonomists. Molecular analysis was used for support the identification. Morphological variability prospecting reveals the presence of three different new species complexes from the subgenus Acanthosentis by referring published taxonomic keys. These new species may be distinguished from the other 46 described species of Acanthosentis by having six unique structures: the presence of an anterior parareceptacle structure (PRS); vaginal sleeve structure; a paired lateral, cone-shaped, muscular jacket surrounding the vagina; alternating pattern and size of proboscis hooks, variation in proboscis size and shape; the presence of the circular collar ring around the neck between the proboscis and trunk and lastly the presence of a muscular-like structure attached to the collar ring on the proboscis. These acanthocephalans found in the intestine of B. schwanenfeldii in Kenyir Lake Malaysia represent new species, named Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) kenyirensis n.sp., A. (A.) terengganuensis n.sp. and A. (A.) tembatensis n. sp.

Efficacy of parvaquone in the treatment of naturally occurring theileriosis in cattle in Iraq.

Parvaquone was tested in cattle infected with Theileria annulata when they were presented at clinics in the vicinity of Baghdad. Out of over 200 cases presented with suspected theileriosis between July 1984 and July 1985, the drug was used in 45 cases where theileriosis was confirmed by microscopic examination of blood and lymph node biopsy smears. Twenty seven of the cases were considered mild and 18 cases severe. Weights of the cattle were estimated and parvaquone was administered by intramuscular injection at a nominal dose of 20 mg/kg. A single treatment with parvaquone was used in 25 cases and 20 cases were treated twice but there was no correlation between severity of disease and the number of treatments given. Twelve cases (27%) also received antibacterial therapy. All cases were in exotic cattle or cattle born from exotic (imported) cattle and 64% of the cases were in cattle under six months of age. Temperatures dropped immediately after treatment and the majority were normal (below 39.5 degrees C) by two to three days after the first treatment. Of the 45 cases treated 43 recovered. This compares very favourably with a previously reported mortality of 66% in untreated imported cattle in Iraq.