A new Cosmocercoides species (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae), C. tonkinensis n. sp., in the scale-bellied tree lizard (Acanthosaura lepidogaster) from Vietnam

Abstract

A new cosmocercid nematode species, Cosmocercoides tonkinensis n. sp., is described from the scale-bellied tree lizard (Acanthosaura lepidogaster) in the northern and central parts of Vietnam. The new species is characterized by medium-sized male worms (4.2-5.1 mm in length and 0.34-0.37 mm in width) relative to known members of the genus, with lateral alae, two sharply pointed spicules of equal length (0.22-0.26 mm in length), a gubernaculum (0.113-0.122 mm in length), 16 or 17 pairs of caudal rosettes, and the presence of somatic papillae. Female worms are slightly larger than male worms (5.3-5.5 mm in length and 0.32-0.42 mm in width), with the vulva situated at 3/5 from the anterior end, and elliptical embryonated eggs, 0.064- 0.084 mm long by 0.040-0.048 mm wide. From 19 recorded species of the genus, the morphology of C. tonkinensis n. sp. is closest to C. multipapillata, C. bufonis, and C. pulcher reported from toads and frogs in East Asia. The present new species is differentiated from them by the number of caudal rosettes, tail length relative to body length, presence of somatic papillae and lateral alae, and embryonated eggs. Furthermore, after C. variabilis in North America and C. sauria in Brazil, this new species is only the third species to be recorded from a reptilian host. The 18S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) of the new species is almost identical to that of C. dukae infecting land snails and slugs in North America. Between the present new species and C. pulcher from a toad (Bufo japonicus) in Japan, remarkably fewer nucleotide changes were noticed in the 18S to 28S rDNA including the internal transcribed spacer regions. The molecular phylogenetic position of the genus Cosmocercoides is briefly discussed.

Integrated taxonomic approaches to seven species of capillariid nematodes (Nematoda: Trichocephalida: Trichinelloidea) in poultry from Japan and Indonesia, with special reference to their 18S rDNA phylogenetic relationships

“…Intensive morphological analysis of fixed specimens was performed under a light microscope at high magnifications and partially by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The processing procedure for SEM was similar to that detailed in an earlier report (Tran et al 2015).…”

Chabaudstrongylus ninhae(Trichostrongylidae: Cooperiinae) andOesophagostomum muntiacum(Chabertiidae: Oesophagostominae) in feral alien Reeves's muntjacs on Izu-Oshima Island, Tokyo, Japan

“…Collected parasites were washed in physiological saline and preserved in either neutral-buffered 10% formalin or 70% alcohol. For scanning electron microscopy (SEM), formalin-fixed worms were processed as described previously (Tran et al ., 2015).…”

Morphological and molecular genetic diversity of Strongyluris calotis (Nematoda: Ascaridida: Heterakidae) in South East and East Asian lizards

“…Six Emma Gray's forest lizards (snout-tovent length, 44-58 mm) were similarly collected in September 2014 from Ba Be National Park, Bac Kan Province (22°23′ N, 105°57′ E), living in plain forests in the northern part of Vietnam at an altitude of 230 m above sea level. Parasitological examination of lizards and morphological observation of collected nematodes were performed as described previously (Tran et al 2015a). Drawings were made with the aid of a camera lucida, partly referring to SEM photographs of the selected worms.…”

“…Specimens were washed three times in 0.2 M Na 2 HPO 4 -NaH 2 PO 4 -buffered solution (PB), pH 7.8, then immersed in 2.5 % glutaraldehyde in PB overnight. Subsequent processing was similar to that described previously (Tran et al 2015a). …”

“…PCR amplification of overlapping DNA fragments of the 18S to 28S rDNA was performed in a 20-μl volume as described previously (Tran et al 2015a). Primers used for PCR amplification of parasite DNA are summarized in Table 1.…”