A description of mature Oncicola venezuelensis (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from a feral house cat in the U. S. Virgin Islands.

A road-killed feral house cat from the U.S. Virgin Islands was parasitized by 87 acanthocephalans of the species Oncicola venezuelensis Marteau, 1977. The finding allowed for the documentation of a suitable definitive host for the species in the Virgin Islands and permits a more comprehensive description of the species, including the first of fully mature adults and completely formed eggs. Sexually mature males from the cat were 6.5-8.4 (8.0) mm long; gravid females were 13.2-18.3 (15.5) mm long. Fully formed eggs dissected from the trunk of females were 67-72 (69) µm long by 43-50 (47) µm wide. The life cycle of O. venezuelensis in the Virgin Islands is now apparent, i.e., termites serve as intermediate hosts, lizards and birds as paratenic hosts, and domestic cats as definitive hosts. Extra-intestinal infections in mongooses are likely incidental.

Cystacanths of Oncicola venezuelensis (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) in Caribbean termites and various paratenic hosts in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Cystacanths of Oncicola venezuelensis (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) were discovered in the hemocoel of Caribbean termites (Nasutitermes acajutlae) on St. Thomas and St. John islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to occurring in the insect intermediate host, cystacanths were present in subcutaneous nodules of lizards (Anolis cristatellus and Anolis stratulus), in the greater omentum of small Indian mongooses (Herpestes auropunctatus), and embedded in mesenteries of pearly-eyed thrashers (Margarops fuscatus). These vertebrates likely are paratenic hosts, although a definitive host in the Virgin Islands is yet to be discovered. Cystacanths from intermediate and paratenic hosts agree fully with the original description of proboscis armature, including size and shape of hooks and their roots, of the species. Qualitative features of developing and growing structures agree with the original description of the species, but the sizes are smaller.