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The mermithid species Isomermislairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe.

ABSTRACT: The present work contributs to the knowledge on the aquatic mermithids (Nematoda, Mermithidae) occurring in black flies - an insufficiently studied group of parasitic nematodes. Isomermislairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou, 1977, described from larvae of Simuliumdamnosum Theobald, 1903 in Western Africa, is reported to occur in Bulgaria. The species was isolated from larvae of Simuliumornatum Meigen, 1818 in a local population of simuliids in a mountain stream near Jeleznitsa Village, Sofia district. Postparasitic juveniles of mermithids were obtained from the hosts and reared to the adult stage. The species was identified by morphological and morphometrical characters of postparasitic juveniles, and of male and female individuals. In the summer of 2012 a relatively high rate of mermithid infection in a local host population was detected (prevalence up to 44.1%). In August of the next year host abundance had considerably declined and other simuliid species, Simuliumvariegatum Meigen, 1818 and Simuliumreptans (Linnaeus, 1758), predominated in the investigated locality. In West Africa, Isomermislairdi is considered to be a potential biological agent for reducing the population density of the Simuliumdamnosum complex - the main vector of human onchocerciasis. In Europe, species of the Simuliumornatum complex are among the vectors of onchocerciasis of cattle and deer. The mermithids presumably play a certain role in the epidemiology of these diseases. A brief discussion on the taxonomy of the genus Isomermis Coman, 1953, and of the feasibility of molecular methods in mermithid taxonomy is provided. The species Isomermislairdi is reported for the first time from Europe.

SUBMITTER: Gradinarov D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4258736 | biostudies-other | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:Background:The genus Campylaimus is a broadly distributed but relatively uncommon genus of marine and brackish nematodes with 20 nominal species and one nomen nudum. Many species descriptions and redescriptions are based on very few (single) individuals, which limits our understanding of inter- and intra-specific variability and morphology-based species boundaries. New information:Two new species were found in the Skagerrak off the west coast of Sweden. Campylaimus triclados sp. n. is characterised by body 0.59-0.69 mm long; cuticle without longitudinal striation; anteriormost edge of the amphid anterior to the oral opening; dorsal limb of the amphid equal to 1.6-2.5 labial region diameters in male, 1.9 labial region diameters in female; ventral limb of the amphid extends towards anterior part of the intestine in male and midpharynx in female, 4.3-5.5 times the length of the dorsal limb in male and 2.2-2.8 times the length of the dorsal limb in female; ventral limb of the amphid is as wide as the dorsal limb; interamphideal space extends further than the posterior end of the dorsal limb but not reaching the posterior end of the ventral limb; secretory-excretory pore opens posterior to the cardia; spicules 19-24 µm long; two precloacal supplements; tail equal to 4.3-5.6 anal body diameters in length, with conoid terminal part. Campylaimus longispiculus sp. n. is characterised by body 0.56-0.65 mm long; cuticle without longitudinal striation; anteriormost edge of the amphid anterior to the oral opening; dorsal limb of the amphid equal to 1.8-2.1 labial region diameters in male; ventral limb of the amphid extends towards anterior part of the intestine in male, 2.8-3.5 times the length of the dorsal limb in male; ventral limb of the amphid is as wide as the dorsal limb; interamphideal space absent; secretory-excretory pore opens posterior to the cardia; spicules 28-35 µm long; two precloacal supplements; tail equal to 4.9-5.3 anal body diameters in length, with clavate terminal part. In addition, following nine species are new records for the fauna of Sweden: Campylaimus amphidialis, C. inaequalis, C. lefeverei, C. minutus, C. orientalis, C. rimatus, C. siwaschensis, C. striatus and C. tkatchevi.

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The mermithid species Isomermislairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe.

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