The axis of orientation of the synlophe in the Heligmosomoidea (Nematoda, Trichostrongylina): a new approach

The definition of the axis of orientation of the synlophe is modified for the Heligmosomoidea so that one or two axes may be recognized. When two axes are present, their inclinations to the sagittal axis are different on the right and left sides, and we propose to name them right axis and left axis, respectively. During the course of evolution, starting from a single oblique axis (plesiomorphic state), an independent rotation of this axis on the right and left sides may bring about a double-axis state with a different inclination on both sides (derived state). When the rotation reaches 90° for both sides, the axis becomes simple once again and is superimposed to the frontal axis (most derived state)

Additional morphometrical data on some Heligmonellidae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina) parasitic in Neotropical rodents (Cricetidae)

Some additional morphological and metrical data are provided, particularly on the synlophe of the following species: Hassalstrongylus dessetae Pinto, 1978, Stilestrongylus eta (Travassos, 1937), Stilestrongylus manni Denké & Murúa, 1977 and Stilestrongylus valdivianus Durette-Desset & Murúa, 1979, based on type and voucher material deposited in Brazilian and French collections. Heligmonoides crassidorsualis Franco, 1967 is considered as a Nippostrongylinae incertae sedis: its synlophe not being known it is impossible to report the species to a given genus. However, it is unlikely that the species belong to the genus Heligmonoides Baylis, 1928, present only in commensal Murinae from the Old World. Heligmonoides mirzai Smales, 2009, is also regarded, temporarily, as a Nippostrongylinae incertae sedis

Two new species of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina: Heligmonellidae) from the grey leaf-eared mouse

Two new species of Nippostrongylinae, Hassalstrongylus puntanus n. sp., and Stilestrongylus franciscanus n. sp. are described from the intestine of the grey leaf-eared mouse Graomys griseoflavus (Waterhouse, 1837) (Sigmodontinae) from the Province of San Luis, Argentina. Hassalstrongylus puntanus n. sp. is distinguished from the most closely related species H. dollfusi (Diaz-Ungria, 1963), a parasite of Mus musculus from Venezuela by longer rays 2, shorter rays 4, proximal half of the dorsal ray non-enlarged and a non-retractile female tail. Stilestrongylus franciscanus n. sp. is distinguished from the most closely related species S. flavescens Sutton & Durette-Desset, 1991, a parasite of Oryzomys flavescens from Argentina, by rays 2 and 3 diverging separately from common trunk of rays 2 to 6, and by right ray 3 arising from this trunk more distally than ray 6. Stilestrongylus azarai Durette-Desset & Sutton, 1985, a parasite of Akodon azarae from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was also found parasitizing G. griseoflavus, representing new host and locality records. Some additional morphological data for this species are also provided

Trichostrongylina (Nematoda, Heligmosomoidea) coparasites in Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae) from Brazil, with the re-establishment of the genus Avellaria Freitas & Lent and the description of two new species Trichostrongylina (Nematoda, Heligmosomoidea) co-parasitos em Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler (Rodentia, Dasyproctidae) do Brasil, com o restabelecimento do gênero Avellaria Freitas & Lent e a descrição de duas novas espécies

Two new tichostrongylid nematodes of the family Viannaiidae Durette-Desset & Chabaud, 1981 coparasites in Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 from the State of Amazonas, Brazil, are described: Viannella trichospicula sp. nov. is differentiated from the other species of the genus by the extreme slenderness of its spicules. Avellaria intermedia sp. nov. is distinguished from the single type species Avellaria avellari Freitas & Lent, 1934, by a smaller number of cuticular ridges (17 versus 27), a higher ratio of spicule length/ body length (8% versus 5.6%) and spicules with a single tip. This genus, synonymized with the genus Viannella Travassos, 1918, by Durette-Desset (1968) is re-established, the female being didelphic. It is the first record of a nematode of the family Viannaiidae in a host of the family Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838.<br>Dois novos nematóides tricostrongilídeos da família Viannaiidae Durette-Desset & Chabaud, 1981 co-parasitos em um espécime de Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 do Estado do Amazonas, Brasil, são descritos: Viannella trichospicula sp. nov. distingue-se das espécies do gênero, pelos espículos extremamente delgados. Avellaria intermedia sp. nov. diferencia-se da espécie tipo e única do gênero Avellaria avellari Freitas & Lent, 1934, pelo menor número de arestas cuticulares (17 comparado a 27), pela maior relação entre o tamanho do espículo e o comprimento do corpo (8% comparado a 5,6%) e espículos com extremidade única. Este gênero, que havia sido considerado sinônimo de Viannella Travassos, 1918, por Durette-Desset (1968), é restabelecido; as fêmeas são didelfas. Este é o primeiro registro de um nematóide da família Viannaiidae em um hospedeiro da família Dasyproctidae Bonaparte, 1838

Two new species of Nippostrongylinae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina: Heligmonellidae) from the grey leaf-eared mouse Graomys griseoflavus (Sigmodontinae) in Argentina

Two new species of Nippostrongylinae, Hassalstrongylus puntanus n. sp., and Stilestrongylus franciscanus n. sp. are described from the intestine of the grey leaf-eared mouse Graomys griseoflavus (Waterhouse, 1837) (Sigmodontinae) from the Province of San Luis, Argentina. Hassalstrongylus puntanus n. sp. is distinguished from the most closely related species H. dollfusi (Diaz-Ungria, 1963), a parasite of Mus musculus from Venezuela by longer rays 2, shorter rays 4, proximal half of the dorsal ray non-enlarged and a non-retractile female tail. Stilestrongylus franciscanus n. sp. is distinguished from the most closely related species S. flavescens Sutton & Durette-Desset, 1991, a parasite of Oryzomys flavescens from Argentina, by rays 2 and 3 diverging separately from common trunk of rays 2 to 6, and by right ray 3 arising from this trunk more distally than ray 6. Stilestrongylus azarai Durette-Desset & Sutton, 1985, a parasite of Akodon azarae from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was also found parasitizing G. griseoflavus, representing new host and locality records. Some additional morphological data for this species are also provided

The caudal bursa in the Heligmonellidae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina). Characterization and hypothesis on its evolution

The different patterns of the caudal bursa of the Heligmonellidae (Nematoda) are redefined, taking into account the grouping of rays 2-6 and the sequence of origin of these rays from their common trunk. The type of symmetry of the caudal bursa is also redefined. The following patterns were observed and characterized: the basic patterns: types 2-3, 2-2-1, 1-3-1 and 1-4 and the intermediary patterns: type 2-3 tending to type 2-2-1, type 2-2-1 tending to type 1-3-1, type 1-3-1 tending to type 1-4 and type 2-2-1 tending to type 1-4. An evolutionary interpretation of the patterns is attempted and seems to follow the direction: 2-3 to 2-2-1 to 1-3-1 to 1-4. Seven atypical patterns are described. The caudal bursae were classified based on their symmetry: subsymmetrical, dissymmetrical and asymmetrical. Independently of the type of symmetry, the two latero-ventral lobes may have the same or different patterns. The type of symmetry, the ratio between the two latero-ventral lobes and a characteristic pattern were utilized to characterize the caudal bursae at the level of the genus and the subfamily. The combination of the right/left ratio and the type of symmetry gives heterogeneous results, with no real association between these characters. The most conspicuous asymmetries and dissymmetries were found among the Nippostrongylinae. The most frequent pattern in the Heligmonellidae is the basic type 2-2-1; types 1-3-1 and 1-4 are less frequent but are characteristic of several genera; type 1-4 is absent from the Heligmonellinae. Whatever the pattern, in the Heligmonellidae rays 4 and 5 are the last to diverge from the common trunk of rays 2-6

Do lagomorphs play a relay role in the evolution of the Trichostrongylina nematodes?

In order to confirm or refute the relay role of lagomorphs in the evolution of the Trichostrongylina (Nematoda), the following points were studied by summarizing previous works on the subject: the chronology of the life cycles (27 conducted in natural hosts, lagomorphs, ruminants or arvicolin rodents; 14 in experimental hosts); the parasitic phase in the experimental host and the adaptation involved; the migration of the parasites into the tissues of the host; the morphogenesis of larval stages and molecular phylogeny. These data confirm, in their entirety, that lagomorphs may be considered as “relay” hosts in the evolution of the Trichostrongylina

A new species of Hypocristata

Description of Hypocristata tercera n. sp. (Heligmonellidae, Nippostrongylinae) a parasite of the small intestine of Sigmodon hispidus (Rodent, Sigmodontinae) from Venezuela. Two other species were described in the genus, both from Colombia and parasitic in Sigmodontinae. H. thomasomysi Durette-Desset, 1970, a parasite of Thomasomys sp. has about the same number of cuticular ridges at mid-body but differs by ridges having chitinoid struts, a caudal bursa pattern of type 2-2-1 (vs 1-3-1). H. anguillula Durette-Desset, 1970, a parasite of Sigmodontomys alfari (= Nectomys alfari) has the same caudal bursa pattern (type 1-3-1) but differs by the presence of ridges at mid-body in both sexes (absent at that level in H. tercera) and by ridges having chitinoid struts in female. This is the first report of the genus Hypocristata Durette-Desset, 1971 in Venezuela and in the genus Sigmodon (Sigmodontinae)