Two Cyclocoelids from the Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes (Scolopacidae), from the Central Flyway of North America, Including the Description of Haematotrephus selfi n. sp. (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae)

Seven specimens of cyclocoelids (6 specimens representing Haematotrephus selfi n. sp. and 1 specimen representing a second unidentified species of Haematotrephus) collected by the late Dr. J. Teague Self, former professor, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A., from the body cavities of 3 lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes, (2 birds collected from Roger Mills County, Oklahoma on 23 and 29 August 1963, and 1 collected from Manitoba, Canada on 3 June 1964) and deposited in the Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska are described. Haematotrephus selfi n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in the genus that lack an oral sucker except Haematotrephus limnodromi by having intertesticular uterine loops. It most closely resembles H. limnodromi but differs from it by having a smaller body, a smaller pharynx, smaller testes, a shorter cirrus sac, and somewhat smaller eggs. In addition, H. selfi n. sp. lacks a uterine seminal receptacle

Endohelminths of a Snake Mackerel, Gempylus serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), from the Gulf of Mexico

Endohelminths are reported from a female snake mackerel, Gempylus serpens (Trichiuroidea: Gempylidae), captured from a depth of 61 m in the Gulf of Mexico 140 km south of the mouth of Mobile Bay, AL, in August 1998. A diverse endohelminth parasite fauna was found: 29 plerocercoid type I tetraphyllideans from the lower intestine; 4 didymozoid metacercariae allocated to the collective group Monilicaecum and one didymozoid metacercaria of the collective group Torticaecum from the pyloric cecum; one juvenile Gonocerca phycidis from the stomach; and 5 larvae (L3 stage) comprising 3 species of Anisakis from the pyloric cecum. These nematodes were identified as species of Anisakis due to the presence of an oblong ventriculus lacking an appendix, no intestinal cecum or interlabia, 3 lips with dentigerous ridges, and an excretory pore located between the lateroventral lips. Differences in overall size and in the lengths of the ventriculus and esophagus in relation to total body length were used to distinguish the 3 species of Anisakis collected. Seven specimens of a possibly unnamed species of parasitic copepod representing Bomolochus infected the gill chamber. Stomach contents included 6 early-juvenile flatfish (Pleuronectiformes). All of the helminths are measured and illustrated, and for some of the parasites recovered, we are unaware of any reports from this host species

Metazoan Parasite Community Structure in Bluegill (lepomis macrochirus) as an Indicator of the Impact of Urbanization on 2 streams in San Antonio, Texas

Our project explored the possibility of using metazoan fish parasites as an indicator of deleterious effects on stream biota due to non-point source pollution, which is associated with urbanization and development. Experiments were conducted in the late summers of 1999 and 2000. We chose 2 major streams in the upper San Antonio River Basin in Bexar County, Texas, known to be non-point source polluted and hazardous for human and wildlife use. We constructed wire mesh cages, anchored them in the stream channels at middle and lower watershed sites, and placed bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) obtained from a local aquaculturist in the cages for 20 days to expose them to stream conditions and to allow parasite communities to become established. Fish were collected and examined for metazoan parasite load. Water samples were taken at each of the sites to assess water quality. During the 1999 field season, values of Shannon's diversity index indicated a greater diversity of bluegill parasites at the upper watershed sites for both streams (1.142, 1.144), compared with lower sites (0.48, 0.75). Equitability followed the same pattern, with upper watershed sites having higher values (0.64, 0.64) than the lower sites (0.27, 0.42). The August 2000 data reflected similar patterns. Dissolved nitrate values ranged from 0.28 to 9.1 mg/L in 1999, and from 0.19 to 4.8 mg/L in 2000. Spearman's rank correlation was used to evaluate trends between parasite diversity, water quality parameters, and trace metal concentrations between sites. Low parasite diversity was associated with high nitrate levels for both years. This study contributes to the developing field of using bio-indicators of environmental quality in stream habitats

Morishitium texanense Dronen, 2007, n. sp.

Morishitium texanense n. sp. (Figs. 7–9) Type host: Scolopacidae: Gallinago gallinago (Linnaeus. 1758); common snipe. Type locality: Lake Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, U.S.A., 30 ° 24 ’ N latitude, 96 ° 13 ’ W longitude. Site of infection: Air sacs of lungs. Prevalence: 50 % (2 of 4 birds). Mean intensity: 3 (2 in one bird and 4 in a second). Specimens deposited: Holotype HWML 48564; paratypes (2 specimens) 48565; vouchers (3 specimens) HWML 48566. Etymology: The species designation reflects the general geographical region from which the host bird was collected, Texas, U.S.A. Description: Based on 6 specimens. With characteristics of the genus. Body large, relatively narrow, tapered anteriorly, 10.6 (9.3 –11.0) mm long by 2.0 (1.9–2.3) mm wide at widest point. Oral sucker and acetabulum absent. Mouth slightly subterminal; prepharynx 175 (150–220) long; pharynx well developed, 278 (250–270) long by 220 (210–230) wide; esophagus longer than prepharynx, 460 (350–600) long. Ratio of length of prepharynx to length of esophagus 1: 2.6. Ceca with irregular inner margins forming numerous, small, blister-like pouches in most specimens (not figured), uniting near posterior extremity to form cyclocoel. Testes smooth, spherical to subspherical, occasionally lobed, tandem to somewhat diagonal, in intercecal region of posterior 1 / 3 of body. Anterior testis 528 (460–630) long by 452 (370–550) wide. Posterior testis 578 (410–690) long by 454 (350–550) wide. Intertesticular space 1,090 (650–1,370, or approximately 10 % of body length). Posttesticular space relatively small, 550 (450–670, or approximately 5 % of body length). Cirrus sac 510 (400–750 [approximately 5 % of body length]) long by 158 (150–180) wide, enclosing bipartite seminal vesicle. Genital pore postpharyngeal, at level of posterior 1 / 3 of pharynx, near midline of body. Ovary smooth, oval, situated intertesticularly, in line with, or nearly in line, with testes, 255 (220–280) long by 248 (210–300) wide. Ratio of width of ovary to mean width of testes 1: 1.8. Uterine seminal receptacle absent. Laurer’s canal absent. Vitelline follicles distributed along ceca from level of pharynx to posterior extremity, not confluent posteriorly. In some specimens, one side may be less extensive, reaching anteriorly only to level of cecal bifurcation, longer extent not consistently on left or right. Uterus extensive, intercecal, proximal end filled with sperm. Eggs 140 (130–155) long (n= 40) by 72 (60–80) wide in anterior aspect of uterus; miracidia oculate. Excretory vesicle Y-shaped. Excretory pore nearly terminal on dorsal surface of body. Remarks. This species has an intertesticular ovary that forms a straight line with the tandem testes and is assigned to Hyptiasminae. The new species is assigned to Morishitium because it has a genital pore that is postpharyngeal and the vitelline fields are not confluent posterior. Of the 10 species that can currently be assigned to Morishitium, M. distomatum (Morishita, 1924), M. sinhaldripa, M. taiwanense, and M. vagum have both an oral sucker and an acetabulum, while M. bivesiculatum, M. dollfusi, M. dumetellae, M. petrowi, and M. straightum have only an oral sucker. Morishitium raushi is the only previously described species that is like Morishitium texanense n. sp. in that it lacks both an oral sucker and an acetabulum. The new species also differs from M. raushi by having a smaller body size (10.6 mm long by 2.0 mm wide compared to 21.9 by 3.6), a somewhat smaller pharynx (220 wide compared to 300), a shorter esophagus (460 compared to 1,520), a smaller ovary (248 wide compared to 520), smaller testes (453 mean width compared to 1,875), a smaller cirrus sac (510 long by 158 wide compared to 1,000 by 460), a smaller posttesticular space (550 long compared to 750), larger eggs (135–155 long by 60–80 wide compared to 110–140 by 50–60), and by lacking a true uterine seminal receptacle.Published as part of Dronen, Norman O., 2007, Revision of the family Cyclocoelidae Stossich, 1902 with the proposal of two new subfamilies and the description of a new species of Morishitium Witenberg, 1928 from the common snipe, Gallinago gallinago, from Texas, U. S. A., pp. 55-68 in Zootaxa 1563 on pages 62-64, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17839

Cyclocoelidae Stossich 1902

Family Cyclocoelidae Stossich, 1902 Diagnosis: Medium-sized to large flatworms, lanceolate, body often tapered anteriorly and rounded posteriorly. Oral sucker, if present, usually poorly developed. Acetabulum generally absent, but reported in some species. Mouth subterminal, prepharynx generally shorter than esophagus, ceca frequently simple, inner wall sometimes irregular, undulating in overall appearance in some species, united near posterior extremity to form characteristic cyclocoel. Testes oval to elongate, borders smooth or irregular, tandem to diagonal, rarely side by side, usually located near posterior end, but may be equatorial to preequatorial in some species. Genital pore near midline of body, prepharyngeal, pharyngeal or postpharyngeal. Cirrus sac present, inclosing seminal vesicle, extending posteriorly to level of posterior aspect of esophagus to immediately postbifurcal. Ovary oval to elongate, intertesticular, pretesticular or posttesticular, forming a triangle or in a straight line with testes. Uterus intercecal to extracecal, uterine seminal receptacle (“ receptaculum seminis uterinum ” of Yamaguti [1933]; “ receptacle seminalis uterinum ”of Harrah [1922]) present in some species. Vitellaria follicular, ventral and somewhat lateral to ceca, vitelline fields reaching to, or beyond, cecal bifurcation anteriorly, confluent posteriorly or not. Excretory vesicle generally Y-shaped, branches extending anterior to level of pharynx or beyond, reticulate where known. Excretory pore usually somewhat subterminal opening on dorsal surface, may approach being terminal in some species. Life cycles, where known, utilize either freshwater or terrestrial snails, polyembryony produces tailless cercariae that encyst in either the rediae where they were produced or in the tissue of snails. Adults in body cavity, lungs, air sacs, nasal and infraorbital sinuses, or hypothalamus of birds, occasionally in mammals. Type genus: Cyclocoelum Brandes, 1892.Published as part of Dronen, Norman O., 2007, Revision of the family Cyclocoelidae Stossich, 1902 with the proposal of two new subfamilies and the description of a new species of Morishitium Witenberg, 1928 from the common snipe, Gallinago gallinago, from Texas, U. S. A., pp. 55-68 in Zootaxa 1563 on pages 58-59, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17839

Morishitium Witenberg 1928

Genus Morishitium Witenberg, 1928 Species of Morishitium can be dived into three body types: the rauschi type (Table 1) where both an oral sucker and ventral sucker are absent (Morishitium rauschi and M. texanense); the straightum type (Table 2) where there is only an oral sucker present (M. bivesiculatum, M. dollfusi, M. dumetellae, M. petrowi, M. straightum and the new species described herein) and the vagum type (Table 3) where both an oral sucker and an acetabulum are present (M. sinhaldripa, M. taiwanense, and M. vagum).Published as part of Dronen, Norman O., 2014, Key to the species of Morishitium Wienberg, 1928 (Cyclocoelidae), with the description of a new species from the red-billed blue magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha (Boddaert) (Corvidae) from Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China, pp. 273-282 in Zootaxa 3835 (2) on page 275, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3835.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/23048

Morishitium rauschi

Key to species assigned to the rauschi body type 1 a. Body less than 15,000 long; eggs 130–155 by 60–80............................................... M. texanense 1 b. Body more than 20,000 long; eggs 110–140 by 50–60................................................ M. rauschiPublished as part of Dronen, Norman O., 2014, Key to the species of Morishitium Wienberg, 1928 (Cyclocoelidae), with the description of a new species from the red-billed blue magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha (Boddaert) (Corvidae) from Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China, pp. 273-282 in Zootaxa 3835 (2) on page 275, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3835.2.7, http://zenodo.org/record/23048

Key to the species of Morishitium Wienberg, 1928 (Cyclocoelidae), with the description of a new species from the red-billed blue magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha (Boddaert) (Corvidae) from Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China

Dronen, Norman O. (2014): Key to the species of Morishitium Wienberg, 1928 (Cyclocoelidae), with the description of a new species from the red-billed blue magpie, Urocissa erythrorhyncha (Boddaert) (Corvidae) from Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China. Zootaxa 3835 (2): 273-282, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3835.2.