Current state of knowledge of Cestodes from Neotropical freshwater fishes and rays

The author analyses the distribution of Cestodes in freshwater fishes and rays in Neotropic. Nearly one hundred and twenty species of cestodes from five orders and one subclasse are known in Neotropical region, especially from Brazilian rivers. Proteocephalidea is the principal Order in number of species. These are parasites of freshwater teleosts. Tetraphyllidea species are found in freshwater sting rays of family Potamotrygonidae. In these rays were also referred a species of Trypanorhyncha, Paroncomega araya. The Pseudophyllidea Senga sp. and cysticercoid larvae of the Cyclophyllidea, Valipora campylancristrota, were also referred in teleost, besides proteocephalids. From carps, Cyprinus carpia, it was found specimens of Caryophyllidea. Finally, two cestodarian species, Nesolecithus janicki and Schizochoerus liguloideu, are found in primitive osteoglossid fishes,Arapaima gigas, from the Amazon

A new classification of the Cestode order Proteocephalidea Mola

The morphology, ontogeny, life-cycles and distribution of species of the Order Proteocephalidea (Cestoda), is discussed. A brief historic of the classifications is presented. The actual scheme of taxonomy of WOODLAND (1924-1935) is criticicized and a new classification for the group is proposed. The phylogenetic uniformity of Proteocephalideans is reestablished with this classification. The genera of Monticelliidae (sensu Woodland) are transferred to the subfamilies Proteocephalinae and Corallobothriinae. Only one family is accepted in the Proteocephalidea. Proteocephalidae La Rue. 1911: with five subfamilies: Proteocephalinae. Corallobothriinae. Sandonelliinae. Gangesiinae and Acanthotaeniinae

Scolex Morphology of Proteocephalid Cestodes Parasites of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes

The morphology of the scolices and metascolices of 29 proteocephalid species, parasites of freshwater fishes from Brazil was compared by using scanning electron microscope, light and laser microscopy. The following species were evaluated: Proteocephalus vazzolerae, P. piramutab, Robertiella paranaensis, Travassiella avitellina, Monticellia loyolai, M. spinulifera, M. belavistensis, Houssayela sudobim, Zygobothrium megacephalum, Gibsoniela mandube, Cangatiella arandasi, Nomimoscolex sudobim, N. lopesi, N. admonticellia, N. piraeeba, N. pirarara, Harriscolex kaparari, Crepidobothrium eirasi, Spatulifer rugosa, Megathylacus brooksi, Choanoscolex abscisus, Amphoteromorphus peniculus, A. piraeeba, Paramonticellia itaipuensis, Peltidocotyle rugosa, Othinoscolex lenha, Rudolphiella rugata, R. piranabu, Jauella glandicephalus. Some features as overall shape of scolex, suckers, apical sucker, frontal glands and several kinds of metascolex were analyzed. The taxonomic importance of scolex and metascolex is discussed

Problemas na classificação dos Proteocefalídeos (Cestoda) da América do Sul. Uma nova classificação para o grupo - DOI: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v25i1.2076

The taxonomy of the Order Proteocephalidea, parasites of freshwater fishes, amphibia and reptilia, is being reapraised. The taxa of proteocephalids parasitizing fishes from South American rivers are evaluated on utilizing morphological characters, with the help of phylogenetic systematics. The Woodland´s classification divides the South American proteocephalids into two groups, Proteocephalidae and Monticellidae, depending on the position of vitellaria and gonads in medullar or cortical parenchyma of proglottids. With the intention to propose modifications in the classification, we discuss the trees that resulted from phylogenetic analysis. The conclusions are that the actual taxonomy of the group, based on the papers of Woodland (1933-1935), can not be supported by these analyses; consequently, it is suggested the supression of Monticellidae and its subfamilies. It is accepted only one family, Proteocephalidae, with five subfamilies: Proteocephalinae Mola, 1929, Corallobothriinae Freze, 1965, Sandonelliinae Khalil, 1960, Gangesiinae Mola, 1929 and Acanthotaeniinae Freze, 1963. The monticellid species were transferred to Corallobothriinae or Proteocephalinae, depending on the presence or not of a metascolexÉ discutida a classificação da Ordem Proteocephalidea, Cestóides, cujas espécies são parasitas de peixes de água doce, anfíbios e répteis. Os proteocefalídeos que parasitam os peixes da América do Sul são reavaliados por meio de análises filogenéticas, utilizando caracteres morfológicos. A classificação de Woodland divide a Ordem Proteocephalidea em dois grupos, Proteocephalidae e Monticellidae, se houver os vitelinos e ou as gônadas na medula ou no córtex do parênquima dos proglótides. Foram obtidas algumas árvores de gêneros e espécies e os resultados não validam a classificação baseada em Woodland (1933-1935); em conseqüência, é proposta a supressão da família Monticelliidae e suas subfamílias. É aceito apenas uma família Proteocephalidae Mola, 1929, com cinco subfamílias: Proteocephalinae Mola, 1929, Corallobothriinae Freze, 1965, Sandonelliinae Khalil, 1960, Gangesiinae Mola, 1929 and Acanthotaeniinae Freze, 1963. Os gêneros de monticelídeos são transferidos para Corrallobothriinae ou Proteocephalinae, se estes possuírem ou não um metaescole