Diversity and host associations of Myrsidea chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) in the tropical rainforest of Malaysian Borneo

The tropical rainforests of Sundaland are a global biodiversity hotspot increasingly threatened by human activities. While parasitic insects are an important component of the ecosystem, their diversity and parasite-host relations are poorly understood in the tropics. We investigated parasites of passerine birds, the chewing lice of the speciose genus Myrsidea Waterston, 1915 (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) in a natural rainforest community of Malaysian Borneo. Based on morphology, we registered 10 species of lice from 14 bird species of six different host families. This indicated a high degree of host specificity and that the complexity of the system could be underestimated with the potential for cryptic lineages/species to be present. We tested the species boundaries by combining morphological, genetic and host speciation diversity. The phylogenetic relationships of lice were investigated by analyzing the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the nuclear elongation factor alpha (EF-1α) genes sequences of the species. This revealed a monophyletic group of Myrsidea lineages from seven hosts of the avian family Pycnonotidae, one host of Timaliidae and one host of Pellorneidae. However, species delimitation methods supported the species boundaries hypothesized by morphological studies and confirmed that four species of Myrsidea are not single host specific. Cophylogenetic analysis by both distance-based test ParaFit and event-based method Jane confirmed overall congruence between the phylogenies of Myrsidea and their hosts. In total we recorded three cospeciation events for 14 host-parasite associations. However only one host-parasite link (M. carmenae and their hosts Terpsiphone affinis and Hypothymis azurea) was significant after the multiple testing correction in ParaFit. Four new species are described: Myrsidea carmenae sp.n. ex Hypothymis azurea and Terpsiphone affinis, Myrsidea franciscae sp.n. ex Rhipidura javanica, Myrsidea ramoni sp.n. ex Copsychus malabaricus stricklandii, and Myrsidea victoriae sp.n. ex. Turdinus sepiarius

Immunocytochemical study of serotonin and neuropeptide in the nervous system of cercariae – Metorchis bilis and Sanguinicola armata

Neurotransmitters serotonin and neuropeptide FMRFamide were visualised by immunocytochemically in the nervous system of two cercariae – Metorchis bilis (Opisthorchidae) and Sanguinicola armata (Sanguinicolidae). The investigated compounds were demonstrated in the central and peripheral nervous system of cercariae. The obtained results and literature data on the presence and distribution of the studied neurotransmitters in different representatives of cercariae are analyzed

Some aspects of the immunolocalization of FMRFamide in the nervous system of turbellarians, Polycelis tenuis and Girardia tigrina

The details of the morphology of the nervous system has been investigated in two turbellarian species Polycelis tenuis and Girardia tigrina using confocal laser scanning microscopy and immunostaining to neuropeptide FMRFamide. Abundant FMRFamide immunoreactivity (FMRF-IR) has been observed in central and peripheral nervous systems of both species. Intensive staining has been found in the sensory elements: cells and fibres surrounded the mouth opening, in the fibres enclosed the photoreceptors, triangular auricles in the head region of G. tigrina. The possible function of FMRF-IR neurons in the realization of sensory function in turbellarians is discussed

ИММУНОЦИТОХИМИЧЕСКОЕ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ СЕРОТОНИНА И НЕЙРОПЕПТИДА В НЕРВНОЙ СИСТЕМЕ ЦЕРКАРИЙ ТРЕМАТОД – Metorchis bilis и Sanguinicola armata

Neurotransmitters serotonin and neuropeptide FMRFamide were visualised by immunocytochemically in the nervous system of two cercariae – Metorchis bilis (Opisthorchidae) and Sanguinicola armata (Sanguinicolidae). The investigated compounds were demonstrated in the central and peripheral nervous system of cercariae. The obtained results and literature data on the presence and distribution of the studied neurotransmitters in different representatives of cercariae are analyzed.Нейромедиаторы − серотонин и нейропептид FMRFамид определены иммуноцитохимически в нервной системе двух видов церкарий − Metorchis bilis (Opisthorchidae) и Sanguinicola armata (Sanguinicolidae). Исследуемые нейромедиаторы обнаружены в центральных и периферических отделах нервной системы церкарий трематод. Приведен сравнительный анализ полученных результатов и данных литературы о наличии и распределении исследованных нейромедиаторов у церкарий трематод разных видов

The pattern of serotonin and FMRFamide in cercaria from different taxonomic groups — A preliminary study

Serotoninergic and FMRFamidergic components of the nervous system were examined in cercaria from different types using immunocytochemical techniques interfaced with confocal scanning laser microscopy. Cercariae from 9 families were studied — Opisthorchis felineus, Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha, Echinochasmus coaxatus, Echinoparyphium aconiatum, Notocotylus attenuatus, Psilotrema tuberculata, Plagiorchis sp., Cyathocotyle bithyniae, Diplostomum chromatophorum . The results show that 5-HT-IR and FMRFamide-IR occur in all types of cercariae, regardless of what morphological, taxonomic and biological group they belong to. Small differences in the patterns of 5-HT-IR and FMRFamide-IR were observed

Captive individuals of endangered Philippine raptors maintain native feather mites (Acariformes: Pterolichoidea) species

Endangered species of hosts are coupled with endangered species of parasites, which share the risk of co-extinction. Conservation efforts sometimes include breeding of rare species in captivity. Data on parasites of captive populations of endangered species is scarce and the ability of small numbers of captive host individuals to support the biodiversity of native parasites is limited. Examination of ectosymbionts of the critically endangered Philippine eagles and the endangered Mindanao Hawk-Eagle kept at the Philippine Eagle Center, Philippines, revealed three feather mite species despite regular treatment with insecticide powder. No other ectosymbiont taxa were detected. Studies in morphology and molecular phylogeny of these feather mites based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers indicate that species found were typical for Accipitridae. Three new pterolichoid feather mite species (Acari: Pterolichoidea) were described from two species of eagles (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) endemic to the Philippines: Hieracolichus philippinensis sp. n. (Gabuciniidae) and Pseudalloptinus pithecophagae sp. n. (Pterolichidae) from the Great Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi Ogilvie-Grant, 1896, and Pseudogabucinia nisaeti sp. n. (Kramerellidae) from the Mindanao Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus pinskeri Gould, 1863. The presence of H. philippinensis on P. jefferyi supports the recent finding that the Great Philippine Eagle belongs to the lineage of serpent eagles (Circaetinae) rather than to the Harpy and other eagles