Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Articles
Published: 2012-07-18
Page range: 47–59
Abstract views: 33
PDF downloaded: 1

Two new polystomes (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from the eyes of North American freshwater turtles

Research Unit for Environmental Science and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Research Unit for Environmental Science and Management, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
Platyhelminthes attachment Apalone ferox eye Florida freshwater turtle Pseudemys concinna floridana North America Neopolystoma Neopolystoma moleri n. sp. Neopolystoma grossi n. sp. Polystomatidae USA

Abstract

Neopolystoma moleri n. sp. and Neopolystoma grossi n. sp. are described as new polystome species on the eyes of Apaloneferox and Pseudemys concinna floridana, respectively from Florida, USA. Eleven other polystome species are currently knownfrom chelonian hosts in the USA, but only Neopolystoma elizabethae and Neopolystoma fentoni were described from the eye.Ocular polystomes are characterized as having spindle-shaped eggs; an exceptionally firm grip on the host; as well as the abilityto stretch, which gives them the advantage of being stationary while extending to feed, reducing the risk of being dislodged.The two new species can be distinguished from known Neopolystoma species by a combination of characteristics including marginal hooklet morphology.

References

  1. Bonin, F., Devaux B. & Dupré, A. (2006) Turtles of the World. A & C Black Publishers Ltd., London. 416pp.

    Du Preez, L.H. & Lim, L.H.S. (2000) Neopolystoma liewi sp. n. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) from the eye of the Malayan box turtle (Cuora amboinensis). Folia Parasitologica, 47, 11–16.

    Du Preez, L.H. & Maritz, M.F. (2006) Demonstrating morphometric protocols using polystome marginal hooklet measurements. Systematic Parasitology, 63, 1–15.

    Du Preez, L.H. & Moeng, I.A. (2004) Additional morphological information on Oculotrema hippopotami Stunkard, 1924 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) parasitic on the African hippopotamus. African Zoology, 39, 225–233.

    Harwood, P.D. (1932) The helminths parasitic in the amphibian and reptilia of Houston, Texas and vicinity. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 81, 1–71.

    Littlewood, D.T.J., Rohde, K. & Clough, K.A. (1997) Parasite speciation within or between host species? Phylogenetic evidence from site–specific polystome monogeneans. International Journal for Parasitology, 27, 1289–1297.

    Leidy, J. (1888) Entozoa of the terrapin. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 18, 127–128.

    MacCallum, G.A. (1918) Studies on the Polystomatidae. Zoopathologica, 1, 103–120.

    Malmberg, G. (1956) On the occurrence of Gyrodactylus on Swedish fishes. Sfrifter Utgivna an Södra Serviges Fiskeriförenig, 1956, 19–76.

    Moeng, I.A., Kruger, J., Cooper, S. & Du Preez, L.H. (1998) Unique musculature found in Oculotrema hippopotami (Monogenea: Polystomatidae). Microscopy Society of Southern Africa - Proceedings, 28(1998).

    Morrison, C. & Du Preez, L.H. (2011) Turtle Polystomes of the World. VDM Verlag Dr Müller Gmbh & Co. Saarbrücken, Germany, 228 pp.

    Paul, A.A. (1938) Life history studies of North American freshwater polystomes. Journal of Parasitology, 24, 489–510.

    Pichelin, S. (1995) The taxonomy and biology of the Polystomatidae (Monogenea) in Australian freshwater turtles (Chelidae, Pleurodira). Journal of Natural History, 29, 1345–1381.

    Platt, T.R. (2000a) Helminth parasites of the Western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta belli (Gray), including Neopolystoma elizabethae n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae), a parasite of the conjuctival sac. Journal of Parasitology, 86, 815–818.

    Platt, T.R. (2000b) Neopolystoma fentoni n. sp. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) a parasite of the conjunctival sac of freshwater turtles in Costa Rica. Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 95, 833–837.

    Platt, T.R., Firth, A., & Sharma, R.S.K. (2011) Redescription of Neopolystoma liewi Du Preez and Lim, 2000 (Monogenea: Polystomatidae), from Cuora amboinensis (Testudines: Geomydidae) with notes on specimen preparation. Comparative Parasitology, 78, 286–290.

    Price, E.W. (1939) North American monogenetic trematodes. – IV. The family Polystomatidae (Polystomatoidea). Proceedings of the Helminthological Society of Washington, 6, 80–92.

    Raharivololoniaina, L., Verneau, O., Berthier, P., Vences, M. & Du Preez, L.H. (2011) First monogenean flatworm from a microhylid frog host: Kankana, a new polystome genus from Madagascar. Parasitology International, 60, 465–473.

    Strelkov, Y.A. (1950) New species of monogenetic trematode of the far–east tortoise Amyda sinensis. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 74, 159–162.

    Stunkard, H.W. (1916) On the anatomy and relationships of some North American trematodes. Journal of Parasitology, 3, 21–27.

    Stunkard, H.W. (1924a) On some trematodes from Florida turtles. Transactions of the American Microscopial Society, 43, 97–117.

    Stunkard, H.W. (1924b) A new trematode, Oculotrema hippopotami n. g., n. sp. from the eye of the hippopotamus. Parasitology, 16, 436–440.

    Thurston, J.P. (1968) The larva of Oculotrema hippopotami (Monogenea: Polystomaticae). Journal of Zoology, 156, 475–480.

    Timmers, S.F. & Lewis, P.D. (1979) Helminths of Chrysemys picta belli in Manitoba including Polystomoides pauli sp. n. (Monogenea: Polystomatidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 57, 1046–1051.

    Verneau, O., Palacios, C., Platt, T., Alday, M., Billard, E., Allienne, J.-F., Basso, C. & Du Preez, L.H. (2011) Invasive species threat: Parasite phylogenetics reveals patterns and processes of host-switching between non-native and native freshwater turtles. Parasitology, 138, 1778–1792.

    Ward, H.B. (1917) On the structure and classification of North American parasitic worms. Journal of Parasitology, 4, 1–12.

    Wright, R.R. (1879) Contributions to American helminthology. Proceedings of the Canadian Institute, 1, 54–75.