Sareh Tavakol

First Introduction of Two Australian Temnocephalan Species into Africa with an Alien Host: Double Trouble

Abstract The redclaw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus (Decapoda: Parastacidae), is native to Australia but has been introduced to South Africa as a warm-water aquaculture species. In a South African natural waterbody, examined crayfish had high-intensity infections of 3 temnocephalan species on their body surfaces and within the branchial chambers. Temnocephalans were characterized using light and scanning electron microscopy and identified as Craspedella pedum, Diceratocephala boschmai, and Didymorchis sp. This is the first report of the introduction of Australian temnocephalans, C. pedum and Didymorchis sp., to Africa and expands the known distribution of these species beyond their presumptive native range. The present study also documents a naturalized population of C. quadricarinatus from a natural water body in South Africa, comprising a new geographical locality record.

Description and phylogenetic position of a new species of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) from the banded rubber frog, Phrynomantis bifasciatus (Smith) (Amphibia: Microhylidae), in South Africa

The lung-dwelling nematode Rhabdias engelbrechti sp. n. was found in five of eight examined banded rubber frogs in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The species is differentiated from species of Rhabdias Stiles et Hassall, 1905 occurring in the Afrotropical Realm based on the presence of a globular cuticular inflation at the anterior end, the buccal capsule walls being distinctly divided into anterior and posterior parts, the buccal capsule size (6-9 μm × 16-18 μm), and the body length (3.8-6.1 mm). Rhabdias engelbrechti is the tenth species of the genus found in Afrotropical anurans. Our molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the complete sequences of the ITS region and partial sequences of large subunit (28S) gene of the nuclear ribosomal RNA demonstrates that the new species is more closely related to the Eurasian species Rhabdias bufonis (Schrank, 1788) than to two other species from sub-Saharan Africa represented in the tree. In addition, partial sequences of the mitochondrial protein coding cox1 and ribosomal 12S genes of the new species have shown significant differences from all previously published sequences of these genes from African species of Rhabdias.

Description of Moniliformis kalahariensis (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from the South African Hedgehog, Atelerix frontalis (Erinaceidae) in South Africa

Moniliformis kalahariensis Meyer, 1931 (Moniliformida Schmidt, 1972: Moniliformidae Van Cleave, 1924) is redescribed from long, unsegmented juveniles and pseudosegmented mature adults collected from the South African hedgehog Atelerix frontalis Smith, 1831 (Erinaceidae) in South Africa. The species has not been taxonomically treated since Meyers original description of only segmented adults from the same host, A. frontalis, as well as from the unusual host, the Namaqua sandgrouse, Pterocles namaqua (Gmelin, 1789) (Pteroclididae), in Botswana and from cystacanths from Blattella (Phyllodromia) germanica Linnaeus, 1767 (Blattidae Karny, 1908) in Bombay, India. Despite the generous space Meyer devoted to the description of mature adults of M. kalahariensis in 1931, and his shorter description in 1932, both accounts lacked considerable important information. We examined some of Meyers original adults and cystacanths from Berlins Museum fur Naturkunde by optical microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Meyer did not measure or illustrate the proboscis hooks but reported 14 hook rows with 9-10 hooks each in his adult and cystacanth specimens. The proboscis of our juvenile and adult specimens from South Africa had 16 hook rows each with 9-11 hooks. One adult from Meyers specimens that we examined using SEM had at least 16 proboscis hook rows, and one of his cystacanths had 14 hook rows each with 10-12 hooks. Our report provides new illustrations and morphometric data of the long juvenile and mature adults and gives the full range of measurements of proboscis armature. We further describe, for the first time, the 2 apical pores on the proboscis in all stages; the proboscis hooks and their lateral slits and the spiniform hooks in adult worms; hook roots; the reproductive system in both males and females (only the size and placement of testes were reported and an egg was illustrated by Meyer in 1931 and 1932); sensory pores; and the sensory plates near the posterior end of adult males. Lastly, we also describe the large unsegmented juveniles to which Meyer made no reference.

Checklist of acanthocephalan parasites of South Africa

Abstract Twenty-one species of acanthocephalans, representative of thirteen genera from ten families of seven orders and three classes, are included in this updated checklist of acanthocephalans in South Africa. Although South Africa appears to have a less diverse acanthocephalan fauna compared to some other countries such as Iran in Asia, or Brazil in South America, this is probably an artefact of fewer parasitological surveys.

The first report of pigeon maggot, Protocalliphora sp. (Diptera: Calliphoridae) from domestic pigeons in Iran

Following the report of deaths in a few flocks of domestic pigeons in the Mazandaran province, Northern Iran, we conducted an investigation on the live and dead pigeons. We found reddish larvae on the skin of the pigeons and after close analysis of the mouthparts and spiracles; they were identified as second instar larvae of Protocalliphora sp. These blow fly larvae are obligate haematophagous parasites, highly pathogenic and cause high mortality in birds. Mortality in the infected flocks was approximately 25% and mainly among nestlings and young birds. Infected birds were treated with propoxur powder which was very effective, following which no additional mortalities or larvae were found. This is the first report of this myiasis agent in Iran.