A new species of Argulus (Crustacea: Branchiura) from a bony fish in Algoa Bay, South Africa

The new species is characterized by the unique shape of the antennule, antenna and maxilla. In addition, huge scales are present on the mouth tube and smaller scales are present on the base of the mouth tube. A row of small spines is present inside the sucker rim of the maxillule. A round dimpled structure occurs ventral to the male gonopore and the unique accessory copulatoiy structures are described

Aspects of the fine structure of female Dinemoura latifolia Steenstrup & Lütken, 1861 (Copepoda: Pandaridae): an SEM Study

The fine structure of the appendages of female Dinemoura latifolia Steenstrup & Lütken, 1861 was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. This study was undertaken to gain an insight into the morphology of this ectoparasite. It is suggested that the function of the so-called adhesive pads is not adhesion as such, but rather the provision of support during attachment by means of the cephalothoracic sucker. Although most of the appendages are reduced to an apparently supportive function, the first antennae appear to have a significant sensory role

A survey of coccidian infection (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidaea) of freshwater fish in South Africa

Fish coccidia, especially Goussia and Eimeria spp., are common and frequent parasites of fish. The majority of the known species has been described from the Eurasian continent. Little is known, however, of the coccidian infections of South African freshwater fish. In September 2003, 77 specimens from 7 freshwater fish species were harvested at 4 sites from rivers and ponds in the Gauteng, North West and Limpopo provinces in South Africa. The fish were surveyed for coccidian infections. Two fish species were infected with apicomplexans belonging to Goussia. In banded tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii Smith) unsporulated oocysts of Goussia vanasi Landsberg and Paperna, 1987 were found. These sporulated in tap water within 24 hours. Another species in the gut of the chubbyhead barb (Barbus anoplusWeber) harboured sporulated oocysts in the faeces and in the intestinal epithelium. The latter species has been described as Goussia anopli. This short survey suggests that more thorough studies might reveal the occurrence of further coccidian species in South African fishes

Description of a new actinosporean type from South African freshwater

The 1st report on actinospores described these organisms as parasites related to myxosporeans. For a long time this group of parasites was believed to represent an independent taxonomic entity. Research on actinosporeans became more intensive after it was shown that they corresponded to the intraoligochaete developmental stages of fish-parasitic myxosporeans. The relevant research includes earlier surveys, as well as studies of actinospore infection of oligochaetes in natural waters and fish farms in connection with the life cycle of myxosporeans. Relatively little data areavailable on myxosporean infections of African freshwater fishes and only a single paper appeared in Africa on their actinosporean alternative stages infecting oligochaetes. In September 2003, actinospore infection of oligochaetes collected from the mud of 2 freshwater biotopes in South Africa was studied. Using the ‘cell-well plate method’, a new aurantiactinomyxon type was found in 1.1 % of the examined Branchiura sowerbyi oligochaete specimens from Rietvlei River northwards to Johannesburg, Gauteng. In 1.5 % of Branchiura sowerbyi collected in a pond (Padda Dam), near the Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, the same aurantiactinomyxon type was found. Infected oligochaetes were found only after collection, no actinosporean release was recorded in Branchiura specimens kept alive for several weeks. Actinospore infection showed high intensity in oligochaetes in both positive cases. Until now, no actinosporean stages of myxosporeans have been described from South Africa. The aurantiactinospore type presented in this paper differs from the already known types described in the special literature

The discovery of male Caligus brevicaudatus Scott, 1901 (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on tub gurnard, Chelidonichthys lucerna (Linnaeus) from the eastern Mediterranean

© Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS. Folia Parasitologica is an open access journal since 2015, this article is published under the terms of a Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The file attached is the published version of the article

Description of Doropygus pyurus n.sp. (Copepoda, Notodelphyidae) from Pyura stolonifera (Echinodermata, Ascidiacea) in South Africa

The genus Doropygus has long been plagued by morphological and taxonomic confusion. Descriptions are often lound to be inadequate and finer morphological variations result in laborious and unnecessary description of new species. Although the genus is known to be cosmopolitan in its distribution, only four species have been recorded from the coastal invertebrates of the Alrican coast. Doropygus apicatus, D. depressus and D. humulis occur in the Dahlak Archipelago ofl the coast of Ethiopia and D. pulex has been recorded from the southern coast of South Africa. Recent samples in the latter locality yielded specimens which showed some resemblance to D. pulex, but differed to such an extent that description as a new species is warranted. Unfortunately the South Alrican material reported previously is no longer in existence and the three-line description defies any comparative studies. Doropygus pyurus sp. n. differs from mosl of its congeners in the structure of the antennule and mouth parts, but most significantly from D. pulex by virtue of its unique leg armature and setation

Three species of piscine parasitic copepods from southern African coastal waters

Three species of piscine parasitic copepods previously undescribed from southern African coastal waters were studied. Although sampling data are incomplete, Lepeopthirius nordmanni(Edwards, 1840) taken from  Thunnus and Mola spp., Euryphorus brachypterus (Gerstaecker, 1853) from unknown host and locality and Nesippus orientalis Heller, 1868 from Thunnus thynnus, the bluefin tuna, are described and figured. Several morphological variations from other descriptions are noted for all three species

Nutrition knowledge and nutritional status of primary school children in QwaQwa

Objectives: To determine the nutrition knowledge and nutritional status of primary school children attending a purposively selected school in rural QwaQwa. Setting: A purposively selected public school (n = 540) in QwaQwa. Subjects: A convenience sample of all 142 school pupils, aged from nine to thirteen years. Outcome measures: The measuring instruments included a nutrition knowledge questionnaire to determine the current nutrition knowledge, and a 24-hour recall to determine food and nutrient intakes. Anthropometric measurements included weight and height, measured using standard methodologies. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 11.2 years, and all had deficient intakes of all the nutrients, except for protein, carbohydrates and thiamine. However, 53.1%, 17.1% and 14.3% of the respondents did not meet 100% of EAR for protein, carbohydrates and thiamine respectively. The anthropometric results indicated that 2.8% of the total group of respondents was severely stunted, and that 11.3% were stunted. The BMI-for-age indicated that 12.0% were overweight, and more so among the girls (15.7%) than the boys (8.3%). The respondents showed average nutrition knowledge in the majority of the questions. Conclusions: This study observed malnutrition and average nutrition knowledge, with many gaps relating to aspects, such as the role of the various food groups in the diet and safe hygiene practices. Keywords: primary school children; nutrition knowledge; nutritional statu

Maternal waist circumference as a prediction of children’s stunted status

No abstract

The effect of a combination of nutrition education, soy and vegetable gardening, and food preparation skill training interventions on dietary intake and diversity in women: a case study from Qwa-Qwa

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine if an integrated food and nutrition intervention, including home gardening, nutrition education and recipe development and training, would improve dietary diversity in women.Design: This was a single-system case study.Setting: The study setting was peri-urban Qwa-Qwa, Free State province, South Africa.Subjects: Fifty randomly selected women were included in the study from three purposively selected tribes.Outcome measures: Three 24-hour recall questionnaires were used to determine dietary intake and nutrient adequacy, a dietary diversity questionnaire to calculate the dietary diversity scores (DDSs), and the Radimer-Cornell Hunger Scale questionnaire to ascertain food insecurity.Results: The median food variety score (FVS) was 23 at baseline, and improved significantly (p-value 0.002) to 29 at follow-up. Micronutrient intake was consistently low, despite the median adequacy ratio (MAR) improving significantly (p-value 0.002) from 0.49 to 0.63 at follow-up. Despite a significantly improved MAR at follow-up, the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) for only three nutrients met 100% at follow-up, namely dietary iron, phosphate and vitamin B3. A strong significant positive correlation existed between FVS and the food group diversity score (r = 0.617, p-value 0.000). The FVS and DDS were higher in the food-secure group (n = 16, 32%) than in the food-insecure group (n = 34, 68%), but not significantly. Although most food groups were consumed by the women, limited foods from each group were included.Conclusion: Women in this resource-poor community lacked a variety of food in their diet, despite a high overall DDS. Thus, they had inadequate micronutrient intake and adequacy. A combination of nutrition education, soy and vegetable gardening, and food preparation skill training interventions, seemed to positively influence the nutrient adequacy and overall dietary diversity of the women participating in this study