Ultrastructure and cytochemistry of intrauterine embryonic and larval stages of Ityogonimus lorum (Digenea: Brachylaimidae) involving transitory development of ciliated miracidia.

Results of the present study provide ultrastructural evidence that miracidial morphogenesis is fully completed within the intrauterine eggs while in the most posterior uterine regions of Ityogonimus lorum, a digenean parasite of an Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis (Eulipotyphla, Talpidae). Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the ultrastructural characteristics of diverse cell types and their organelles of these developing embryos and fully formed miracidia within the eggshell were examined. The eggshell and embryonic envelopes are similar to those described previously by many authors for other digeneans. However, the developing miracidia are unique among previously described digeneans in possessing transitory cilia during larvigenesis, but completely lacking cilia in fully formed miracidium larvae. The evidence for completion of miracidial maturation in intrauterine eggs is based on the presence of the following structures: (1) transitional stage of ciliated differentiating miracidial epithelium; (2) apical and lateral glands, characteristic for digenean miracidia; and (3) fully developed germinative cells grouped together in the germinative sac localized in the posterior region of the miracidium. The protonephridial system with its characteristic flame cells and the nervous system with diverse types of neurons and nerve centers, which are characteristic for other digenean species reported until now, are absent from all these developmental stages of I. lorum. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that the life cycle of I. lorum is entirely terrestrial, involving passive transmission by ingestion of eggs containing unciliated miracidia to the first intermediate host.

Three new coccidians (Cyclospora, Eimeria) from eastern moles, Scalopus aquaticus (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Soricomorpha: Talpidae) from Arkansas, USA.

Three new species of coccidians (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) are described from eastern moles, Scalopus aquaticus (Linnaeus) from Arkansas. Oöcysts of Cyclospora duszynskii n. sp. are subspheroidal with a smooth bi-layered wall, measure 11.4 × 10.0 µm, and have a length/width (L/W) ratio of 1.1; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 7.2 × 5.4 µm, L/W 1.3; an indistinct Stieda body is present, but the sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent and the sporocyst residuum is composed of medium to large granules of different sizes along the edge of the sporocyst. Oöcysts of Cyclospora yatesi n. sp. are subspheroidal to ovoidal with an ornate outer wall, measure 17.0 × 15.2 µm, L/W 1.1; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 9.7 × 7.3 µm, L/W 1.3; an indistinct Stieda body is present, but sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent and the sporocyst residuum is composed of medium to large granules of different sizes along the edge of the sporocyst. Oöcysts of Eimeria paulettefordae n. sp. are ovoidal to ellipsoidal with an ornate outer wall, measure 30.0 × 25.4 µm, L/W 1.2; both micropyle and oöcyst residuum are absent, but a single polar granule is present. Sporocysts are ellipsoidal and measure 12.6 × 9.2 µm, L/W 1.4; a button-like Stieda body is present, but sub-Stieda and para-Stieda bodies are absent and the sporocyst residuum is composed of medium to large granules of different sizes along the edge of the sporocyst. These are the first coccidians described from Arkansas populations of S. aquaticus. In addition, a summary is provided on the cyclosporans and eimerians from North American talpids.

A review of fur-mites of the genus Dubininetta Fain & Lukoschus, 1978 (Acariformes: Listrophoridae), ectoparasites of moles (Soricomorpha: Talpidae).

The fur mite genus Dubininetta Fain & Lukoschus, 1978 (Acariformes: Listrophoridae) represented by ectoparasites of moles (Soricomorpha: Talpidae) is revised. An amended diagnosis of this genus is provided. Two new species are described from moles in Vietnam: Dubininetta euroscaptor n. sp. from Euroscaptor parvidens (Miller) and Dubininetta abramovi n. sp. from Euroscaptor subanura Kawada, Son & Can. The insufficiently described D. taiwanensis (Fain & Lukoschus, 1978) from Mogera insularis (Swinhoe) (type-host) is redescribed based on the type-specimens and numerous newly collected in the Russian Far East specimens from Mogera robusta Nehring. The host ranges are considered for all species of Dubininetta. A key to the five species presently known in this genus is provided.

Variability of whipworm infection and humoral immune response in a wild population of mole voles (Ellobius talpinus Pall.).

Restricted mobility and spatial isolation of social units in gregarious subterranean mammals ensure good defence mechanisms against parasites, which in turn allows for a reduction of immunity components. In contrast, a parasite invasion may cause an increased adaptive immune response. Therefore, it can be expected that spatial and temporal distribution of parasites within a population will correlate with the local variability in the host's immunocompetence. To test this hypothesis, the intra-population variability of a whipworm infestation and the humoral immune response to non-replicated antigens in mole voles (Ellobius talpinus Pall.), social subterranean rodents, was estimated. Whipworm prevalence in mole voles increased from spring to autumn, and this tendency was more pronounced in settlements living in natural meadows compared to settlements in man-made meadows. However, humoral immune response was lowest in animals from natural meadows trapped in autumn. Since whipworm infestation does not directly affect the immunity of mole voles, the reciprocal tendencies in seasonal dynamics and spatial distribution of whipworm abundance and host immunocompetence may be explained by local deterioration of habitat conditions, which increases the probability of an infestation.

Community structure variability of Uropodina mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) in nests of the common mole, Talpa europaea, in Central Europe.

Underground nests of Talpa europaea, known as the common mole, are very specific microhabitats, which are also quite often inhabited by various groups of arthropods. Mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata) are only one of them. One could expect that mole nests that are closely located are inhabited by communities of arthropods with similar species composition and structure. However, results of empirical studies clearly show that even nests which are close to each other can be different both in terms of the species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities. So far, little is known about the factors that can cause these differences. The major aim of this study was to identify factors determining species composition, abundance, and community structure of Uropodina communities in mole nests. The study is based on material collected during a long-term investigation conducted in western parts of Poland. The results indicate that the two most important factors influencing species composition and abundance of Uropodina communities in mole nests are nest-building material and depth at which nests are located. Composition of Uropodina communities in nests of moles was also compared with that of other microhabitats (e.g. rotten wood, forest litter, soil) based on data from 4421 samples collected in Poland. Communities of this habitat prove most similar to these of open areas, especially meadows, as well as some forest types.

Echinococcus multilocularis in Kyrgyzstan: similarity in the Asian EmsB genotypic profiles from village populations of Eastern mole voles (Ellobius tancrei) and dogs in the Alay valley.

Echinococcus multilocularis is a cestode that causes human alveolar echinococcosis, a lethal zoonosis of public health concern in central Asia and western China. In the present study, one of 42 Eastern mole voles (Ellobius tancrei) caught in Sary Mogol (Alay valley, southern Kyrgyzstan) presented liver lesions with E. multilocularis from which the EmsB target was amplified. The Asian profile obtained was almost identical to one amplified from domestic dog faeces collected in a nearby village. This observation adds additional information to the potential role of E. tancrei in the transmission of E. multilocularis, and to the known distribution range of E. multilocularis (Asian strain) in central Asia.

Prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods on wild animals and cattle in the Las Merindades area (Burgos, Spain).

This paper reports the prevalence of ectoparasitic arthropods in sampled groups of wild (n = 128; 16 species) and domestic (n = 69; 3 species) animals in the Las Merindades area of the Province of Burgos, Spain. The study revealed that wild animals were more infested and with a wider variety of ectoparasites than domestic animals. The parasitic prevalence was 67% for wild animals and 48% for livestock. In this way, 39% of animals were infected by ticks. Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes hexagonus were the most prevalent species whereas Dermacentor reticulatus showed affinity for the fox and wolf. The overall prevalence of parasitisation by fleas was 27%. Ctenophthalmus spp. showed the wider range host in wild animals, while Pulex irritans was the most frequent specie found. The parasitic prevalences by lice (Trichodectes melis, Trichodectes canis and Trichodectes mustelae) and by mite (Neotrombicula spp., Laelaps agilis and Sarcoptes scabiei) were 4% and 12%, respectively. In both cases only wild animals were found parasited.

Demodex foveolator (Acariformes: Demodecidae) from Crocidura suaveolens (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) ­ the second observation worldwide, and a checklist of the demodecid mites of soricomorphs

Thus far, only six species of parasitic mites of the Demodecidae family have been recorded in hosts from the Soricomorpha: two from the common shrew (Sorex araneus), two from the Mediterranean water shrew (Neomys anomalus), one from the lesser white-toothed shrew (Crocidura suaveolens) and one from the European mole (Talpa europaea). The present study describes the identification of Demodex foveolator in C. suaveolens from the area of Poland (the Wielkopolska region). This is only the second record of this species in the world, a new mite species for the Polish fauna and a new host record in Poland, i.e. the first identification of Demodecidae in Crocidura mammals.

First finding of Ityogonimus lorum and I. ocreatus co-infection in the Iberian mole, Talpa occidentalis.

The Ityogonimus lorum-I. ocreatus co-infection is reported for the first time in the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis in Asturias (NW Spain). Both Ityogonimus species are stenoxenous helminths of insectivores of the genus Talpa and they have often been found parasitizing the Iberian mole and also the European mole T. europaea, but a mixed infection had not been previously reported. The present study also highlights the main differential morphometric characteristics between I. lorum and I. ocreatus such as the body length, the ventral sucker diameter, the ratio between suckers and the distance between suckers.

Sexual size dimorphism and sex ratio in arthropod ectoparasites: contrasting patterns at different hierarchical scales.

The aims of this study were to determine whether sexual size dimorphism in fleas and gamasid mites (i) conforms to Rensch's rule (allometry of sexual size dimorphism) and (ii) covaries with sex ratio in infrapopulations (conspecific parasites harboured by an individual host), xenopopulations (conspecific parasites harboured by a population of a given host species in a locality) and suprapopulations (conspecific parasites harboured by an entire host community in a locality). Rensch's rule in sexual size dimorphism was tested across 150 flea and 55 mite species, whereas covariation between sexual size dimorphism and sex ratio was studied using data on ectoparasites collected from small mammalian hosts in Slovakia and western Siberia. For fleas, we controlled for the confounding effect of phylogeny. The slope of the linear regression of female size on male size was significantly smaller than 1 in fleas, but did not differ from 1 in mites. The proportion of males in flea infrapopulations significantly increased with an increase in the female-to-male body size ratio. The same was true for obligatory haematophagous mites. No relationship between sex ratio and sexual size dimorphism was found for xenopopulations of either taxon or for mite suprapopulations. However, when controlling for the confounding effect of phylogeny, a significant negative correlation between sex ratio and sexual size dimorphism was revealed for flea suprapopulations. We conclude that (i) some macroecological patterns differ between ectoparasite taxa exploiting the same hosts (allometry in sexual size dimorphism), whereas other patterns are similar (sexual size dimorphism-sex ratio relationship in infrapopulations), and (ii) some patterns are scale-dependent and may demonstrate the opposite trends in parasite populations at different hierarchical levels.

Ascarops talpa sp. n. (Nematoda: Spirocercidae) from the formosan mole, Talpa micrura insularis, in Taiwan.

Ascarops talpa sp. n. (Nematoda: Spirocercidae) is described from the small intestine of the Formosan mole, Talpa micrura insularis, from Taiwan. It is most similar to A. kutassi (Shul'ts, 1927) and A. tuvensis Sulimov, 1961. Ascarops kutassi differs by having a smaller ratio of left to right spicule length (1:4 vs. 1:5.5), no caudal alae, by its preanal papillae that are not equidistant from one another, and in its area rugosa which extends 1.25 mm anterior to the anus. Ascarops tuvensis differs by having a smaller ratio of left to right spicule length (1:3.8 vs. 1:5.5), by its preanal papillae that are not equidistant from one another, and in its area rugosa which covers only the ventral tip of the tail.

Coccidian parasites (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from insectivores. VII. Six new species from the hairy-tailed mole, Parascalops breweri.

Sixteen hairy-tailed moles, Parascalops breweri, collected from the northeastern U.S.A. were examined for coccidian oocysts; all were infected with multiple species of coccidia and 3 genera were represented. Two cyclosporans, 2 eimerians, and 2 isosporans are described as new species. Sporulated oocysts of Cyclospora ashtabulensis n. sp. are subspheroid to ellipsoid, 18 X 14 (14-23 X 11-19) microns, and sporocysts are ovoid, 12 X 7 (8-14 X 5-9) microns; C. ashtabulensis was found in 7 of 16 (44%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Cyclospora parascalopi n. sp. are spheroid, 17 X 14 (13-20 X 11-20) microns, and sporocysts are ovoid, 11 X 7 (8-14 X 5-8) microns; C. parascalopi was found in 8 of 16 (50%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria aethiospora n. sp. are subspheroid to ellipsoid, 19 X 13 (15-24 X 10-16) microns, and sporocysts are ovoid, 11 X 6 (8-13 X 4-7) microns; E. aethiospora was found in 4 of 16 (25%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria titthus n. sp. are subspheroid, 16 X 14 (13-19 X 11-17) microns, and sporocysts are ellipsoid, 11 X 6 (9-13 X 4-7) microns; E. titthus was found in 4 of 16 (25%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora ashtabulensis n. sp. are ellipsoid, 20 X 14 (16-24 X 10-18) microns, and sporocysts are ovoid, 10 X 7 (7-14 X 5-10) microns; I. ashtabulensis was found in 5 of 16 (31%) moles.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Coccidian parasites (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from insectivores. VIII. Four new species from the star-nosed mole, Condylura cristata.

Twenty-four star-nosed moles, Condylura cristata, collected from the northeastern United States (Maine, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont) were examined for coccidian oocysts. All of the moles were infected with from 1 to 4 species of coccidia representing 2 eimerian and 3 isosporan spp., but oocysts of only 4 of these species were present in sufficient numbers for detailed study; these are described as new. Sporulated oocysts of Eimeria condylurae n. sp. were subspheroid, 17.7 x 15.7 (17-23 x 14-21) microns, with sporocysts ellipsoid, 11.7 x 5.6 (11-14 x 5-6) microns; E. condylurae was found in 3 of 24 (12.5%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora condylurae n. sp. were ellipsoid, 19.4 x 9.3 (17-21 x 8-11) microns, with sporocysts ovoid, 11.7 x 5.8 (11-13 x 5-7) microns; I. condylurae was found in 12 of 24 (50%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora cristatae n. sp. were ellipsoid, 15.7 x 10.1 (13-18 x 9-13) microns, with sporocysts ovoid, 11.0 x 5.7 (10-12 x 5-7) microns; I. cristatae was found in 19 of 24 (79%) moles. Sporulated oocysts of Isospora lamoillensis n. sp. were ellipsoid, tapering at both ends, 21.6 x 13.0 (19-23 x 11-14) microns, with sporocysts spindle-shaped, 14.9 x 7.7 (14-16 x 7-8) microns; I. lamoillensis was found in 2 of 24 (8%) moles. Although the second eimerian seen was in 7 of the 24 (29%) moles from Massachusetts, Ohio, and Vermont, there were not enough sporulated oocysts to study in detail to warrant a new species description.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ityogonimus scalopi sp. N. (Trematoda: Brachylaemidae) from the eastern mole, Scalopus aquaticus (Linnaeus 1758).

Ityogonimus scalopi is described from the intestines of three of seven moles, Scalopus aquaticus, trapped in the vicinity of Ridgeland, South Carolina. Unlike other members of the genus, this species occurs in North America rather than Europe. Ityogonimus scalopi resembles other species of the genus, but differs in sucker ratio, character of the seminal vesicle, and absence of a prominent genital eminence.

A contribution to the parasite fauna in winter nests of the common mole (Talpa europaea L.) and incidence of its infection with tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBE) and rickettsia Coxiella burnetii.

A total of 45 winter nests of the common mole (Talpa europaea L.) from the Záhorska lowland (western Slovakia) were investigated in January through March during the years 1981-1985. Seven species of fleas with the eudominant species Ctenophthalmus assimilis were found in them, the other species were subrecedent. The acarinium of the mole winter nests was composed of 19 mite species. Predominant were euryphagous species Haemogamasus nidi, H. hirsutus, Eulaelaps stabularis and Androlaelaps fahrenholzi. TBE virus was detected in samples prepared from suspensions of the mites H. nidi, H. hirsutus, Hirstionyssus talpae and A. fahrenholzi and the fleas Ct. assimilis collected in three localities: Laksárska Nová Ves, Stupava, Pernek. C. burnetii was found neither in mites nor in fleas.

Gastrointestinal helminth fauna of Japanese moles, Mogera spp.

One trematode, Echinostoma macrorchis, 2 cestodes, Hymenolepis diminuta and Choanotaenia spasskii and 5 nematodes, Parastrongyloides winchesi, Tricholinstowia talpae, Heterakis spumosa, Trichuris sp. and Capillaria soricis were obtained from 129 Mogera wogura, 233 M. kobeae and 28 M. tokudae, which were collected from almost all over Japan. All present cases were new host and locality records. The discovery of T. talpae in Japan shows the wide distribution of this species from Japan to Europe.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in common moles (Talpa europaea).

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in common moles, Talpa europaea, was investigated in order to determine whether moles can serve as an indicator species for T. gondii infections in livestock. FINDINGS: In total, 86 moles were caught from 25 different sites in the Netherlands. Five different trapping habitats were distinguished: pasture, garden, forest, roadside, and recreation area. No positive samples (brain cysts) were found during microscopic detection (n = 70). Using the Latex Agglutination Test (LAT), sera of 70 moles were examined, whereby no sample reacted with T. gondii antigen. Real Time-PCR tests on brain tissue showed 2 positive samples (2.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low number of positives in our study, the use of the common mole as an indicator species for livestock infections is currently not recommended.