@article {34, title = {New and already known acanthocephalans from amphibians and reptiles in Vietnam, with keys to species of Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1956 (Echinorhynchidae) and Sphaerechinorhynchus Johnston and Deland, 1929 (Plagiorhynchidae).}, journal = {J Parasitol}, volume = {94}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Feb}, pages = {181-9}, abstract = {

Adults of 2 new species in 2 orders of acanthocephalans obtained from the intestines of terrestrial amphibians and reptiles collected between 1998 and 2004 in Vietnam are described here. Pseudoacanthocephalus nguyenthileae n. sp. (Palaeacnthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) was collected from 5 species of terrestrial amphibians: (1) the common Sunda toad Bufo melanostictus Schneider (Bufonidae); (2) Paa verucospinosa (Bourret); (3) Gunther{\textquoteright}s Amoy frog Rana guentheri Boulenger; (4) Taipei frog R. taipehensis Denburgh (Ranidae), and (5) the Burmese whipping frog Polypedates mutus (Smith) (Racophoridae); as well as from the Chinese cobra Naja atra Cantor (Reptilia: Elapidae) and house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Dumeril and Bibron (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Sphaerechinorhynchus maximesospinus n. sp. (Plagiorhynchidae: Sphaerechinorhynchinae) was isolated from a king cobra Ophiophagus hannah (cantor) (Reptilia: Elapidae). Cystacanths of Porrorchis houdemeri (Joyeux and Baer, 1935) Schmidt and Kuntz, 1967 (Plagiorhynchidae: Porrorchinae) obtained from the mesenteries of banded krait Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider) (Reptilia: Elapidae), a paratenic host, are reported for the first time. Keys to the species of Pseudoacanthocephalus and Sphaerechinorhynchus are included. Characteristic features distinguishing the new species from related taxa include: P. nguyenthileae has 15-19 (usually 16-18) proboscis hook rows, each with 5-6 hooks that progressively increase in length and size posteriorly. The largest, intermediate, and smallest proboscis hooks of S. maximesospinus are the middle, anterior, and posterior hooks, respectively; the proboscis and neck are enclosed in a membrane. Morphometric characteristics of P. nguyenthileae show host-related variability.

}, keywords = {Acanthocephala, Amphibians, Animals, Female, Helminthiasis, Animal, Male, Prevalence, Reptiles, Vietnam}, issn = {0022-3395}, doi = {10.1645/GE-1288.1}, author = {Amin, Omar M and Ha, Ngyuen Van and Heckmann, Richard A} } @article {24, title = {The morphology and histopathology of Nephridiacanthus major (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from hedgehogs in Iran.}, journal = {Parasitol Res}, volume = {112}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Feb}, pages = {543-8}, abstract = {

The morphology of Nephridiacanthus major (Bremser 1811 in Westrumb 1821) Golvan, 1962 collected from the long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin 1770) and the Eastern European hedgehog Erinaceus concolor Martin, 1838 (Erinaceidae) is described using SEM for the first time. This acanthocephalan was previously described from hedgehogs in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Measurements of specimens from Iran, Bulgaria, Germany, Central Asia, Morocco, and Egypt show considerable variations in the size of the trunk, proboscis, proboscis hooks and receptacle, and eggs. The SEM studies add new perspectives to its morphology. Features observed for the first time include the near terminal position and shape of the female gonopore and orifice, among others. Histopathological studies for this species are reported for the first time. Tissue sections show extensive damage near the proboscis with hemorrhaging and formation of collagenous connective tissue, compression of the intestinal mucosa, obstruction of intestinal lumen, and extensive necrosis of host epithelial tissue.

}, issn = {1432-1955}, doi = {10.1007/s00436-012-3165-6}, author = {Heckmann, Richard A and Amin, Omar M and Halajian, Ali and El-Naggar, Atif M} } @article {26, title = {Acanthocephaloides irregularis n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Arhythmacanthidae) from marine fishes off the Ukrainian Black Sea coast.}, journal = {Syst Parasitol}, volume = {80}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Oct}, pages = {125-35}, abstract = {

Acanthocephaloides irregularis n. sp. (Arhythmacanthidae) is described from four species of marine fishes in the Gulf of Odessa and Sukhyi Lyman, Ukrainan Black Sea waters, making it the tenth species of the genus. The hosts are the combtooth blenny Parablennius zvonimiri (Kolombatovic) (Blenniidae), the mushroom goby Ponticola eurycephalus (Kessler) (Gobiidae), the tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus (Pallas) (Gobiidae) and the black-striped pipefish Syngnathus abaster Risso (Syngnathidae). The new species is most similar to its closest relative, Acanthocephaloides propinquus (Dujardin, 1845), in proboscis shape and armature (12 longitudinal rows of 5 hooks) and the shape of the trunk, reproductive system and lemnisci, but differs in having randomly distributed trunk spines. These trunk spines are organised in circular rings of individual spines separated by aspinose zones. The new species is also unique in having an anterior trunk collar, a very large triangular cephalic ganglion, nucleated pouches at the posterior end of the proboscis receptacle, and hooks and spines with roots bearing anterior manubria. Valid and invalid species of Acanthocephaloides Meyer, 1932 are listed and a key to all ten species is included.

}, keywords = {Acanthocephala, Animals, Black Sea, Fish Diseases, Helminthiasis, Animal, Marine Biology, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Perciformes, Species Specificity, Ukraine}, issn = {1573-5192}, doi = {10.1007/s11230-011-9312-0}, author = {Amin, Omar M and O{\u g}uz, Mehmet C and Heckmann, Richard A and Tepe, Yahya and Kvach, Yuriy} } @article {29, title = {Redescription of Sphaerirostris picae (Acanthocephala: Centrorhynchidae) from magpie, Pica pica, in northern Iran, with special reference to unusual receptacle structures and notes on histopathology.}, journal = {J Parasitol}, volume = {96}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jun}, pages = {561-8}, abstract = {

Adults of Sphaerirostris picae (Rudolphi, 1819) Golvan, 1956 are described from European magpie, Pica pica Linnaeus (Corvidae), collected in 2008 from wooded areas near the northern Iranian town of Tonekabon by the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. Other specimens also were collected from Corvus cornix Linnaeus, Corvus corone Linnaeus, and Corvus frugilegus Linnaeus (Corvidae) in the same location, as well as from some of these hosts in other locations. Our specimens had 31-38 proboscis hook rows on the ovoid anterior proboscis and 27-36 spine rows on the cylindrical- to cone-shaped posterior proboscis, each with 8-10 hooks and 2-5 spines per row, respectively. They are distinguished from those of all other species of the genus by having a unique prominent expansion of the dorsal inner receptacle wall, called the receptacle process (RP), anteriorly into the anterior proboscis and by the presence of longitudinal alveolar lobes throughout the receptacle and proboscis. The RP is described using histological sections. Sphaerirostris picae is further distinguished from 2 closely related species, namely, Sphaerirostris lancea (Westrumb, 1821) Golvan, 1956 and Sphaerirostris pinguis (Van Cleave, 1918) Golvan, 1956, by characteristics of proboscis armature, position of female gonopore, and other reproductive system and receptacle features. Histological sections revealed damage to host intestinal tissue.

}, keywords = {Acanthocephala, Animals, Bird Diseases, Female, Helminthiasis, Animal, Iran, Male, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Passeriformes, Prevalence, Seasons}, issn = {1937-2345}, doi = {10.1645/GE-2249.1}, author = {Amin, Omar M and Heckmann, Richard A and Halajian, Ali and Eslami, Ali} } @article {30, title = {Redescription of Rhadinorhynchus ornatus (Acanthocephala: Rhadinorhynchidae) from skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis, collected in the Pacific Ocean off South America, with special reference to new morphological features.}, journal = {J Parasitol}, volume = {95}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Jun}, pages = {656-64}, abstract = {

Adults of Rhadinorhynchus ornatus Van Cleave, 1918 were collected from the small intestine of skipjack tuna, Katsuwonus pelamis (Linnaeus), in the high seas of the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of South America (new parasite locality record) and described using optical microscopy and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Our specimens were somewhat comparable to those described from North America and Japan, but had more trunk spines. Definitive differences between the length and thickness of each of the dorsal and ventral proboscis hooks are noted for the first time, with most ventral middle hooks being relatively shorter and more robust than dorsal middle hooks. The SEM documented, for the first time, the different surface topography of the tegument in the proboscis, the neck, and in 3 trunk regions; the presence of microtrichs in the mid- and posterior trunk regions; the elevated base of trunk spines; the circular arrangement of basal proboscis hooks; the different morphology of all dorsal and ventral proboscis hooks and the striations of their surface; the ribbed surface topography of eggs; the elevated slit-like female gonopore; and the rimmed edge of the bursa. The presence of microtrichs on the tegumental surface is further supported by transmission electron microscopy studies. This is the first report of microtrichs in any species of Acanthocephala and the second report of striations in proboscis hooks. The geographical distribution of R. ornatus appears to correspond, at least in part, to that of its epipelagic primary host, K. pelamis, throughout the world in waters ranging in temperature from 14.7 to 30 C.

}, keywords = {Acanthocephala, Animals, Female, Fish Diseases, Helminthiasis, Animal, Male, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Microscopy, Electron, Transmission, Pacific Ocean, Prevalence, South America, Tuna}, issn = {1937-2345}, doi = {10.1645/GE-1804.1}, author = {Amin, Omar M and Heckmann, Richard A and Radwan, Nahla A E and Anchundia, Johan S Mantuano and Alcivar, Marcos A Zambrano} } @article {33, title = {New and already known acanthocephalans mostly from mammals in Vietnam, with descriptions of two new genera and species in Archiacanthocephala.}, journal = {J Parasitol}, volume = {94}, year = {2008}, month = {2008 Feb}, pages = {194-201}, abstract = {

Adults of 2 new species and 2 new genera of acanthocephalans in class Archiacanthocephala, collected between 1998 and 2004 in Vietnam from the intestines of mammals, are described, i.e., Cucullanorhynchus constrictruncatus n. gen., n. sp. (Oligacanthorhynchidae) from a leopard Panthera pardus (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Felidae) and Paraprosthenorchis ornatus n. gen. n. sp. (Oligacanthorhynchidae) from the Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Manidae). Adult Sphaerechinorhynchus macropisthospinus Amin, Wongsawad, Marayong, Saehoong, Suwattanacoupt, and Sey, 1998 (Plagiorhynchidae) are described for the first time from 2 females collected from a tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Felidae) and from 1 male from a water monitor Varanus salvator Laurenti (Reptilia: Varanidae). Characteristic features distinguishing the new species or genera from related taxa are as follows. The trunk of C. constrictruncatus has an anterior hood in both sexes and a posterior constriction in females. The anterior trunk of P. ornatus has many small festoons and proboscis hooks are inserted in elevated papillae separated by beady, near hexagonal, ornate grids.

}, keywords = {Acanthocephala, Animals, Female, Helminthiasis, Animal, Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic, Intestines, Male, Mammals, Panthera, Reptiles, Tigers, Vietnam}, issn = {0022-3395}, doi = {10.1645/GE-1394.1}, author = {Amin, Omar M and Ha, Ngyuen Van and Heckmann, Richard A} }