A New Blood Fluke from Turtles

Abstract

For several years an interesting trematode has been under observation in the laboratory here. It occurs in various species of turtles, and was first discovered in some material shipped in from the south for class work. Peculiar importance attaches to the fact that it is a species inhabiting the circulatory system, and in fact it shows a relationship to the blood-inhabiting flukes of man which has become more clearly evident as the observations have accumulated. Since the material is easily obtained, it will afford perhaps the best opportunity available in this country for the laboratory study of forms adapted to this peculiar environment, so that, despite the incompleteness of the observations, the publication of this note is justified. It is further called for by the fact that several others, who had their attention called to this species, plan to give it a more detailed study than I can make at the present time, and will be glad to have a record of the facts thus far determined in order to utilize them as a basis for further study.For this very unique species I propose the name Proparorchis artericola gen. et spec. nov.The parasite has been found in several distinct species of turtle from widely separate localities. Thus, according to records of the collection here, it has been met with in Pseudemys elegans from Havana, Illinois, in Malacoclemmys leseuerii from Newton, Texas, in Pseudemys scripta from Raleigh, N. C., and in Chrysemys marginata from Fairport, Iowa. OBSERVATIONS ON LIVING MATERIALThe general distribution of the parasite in the body of the host is well illustrated by the record of one very careful examination made in May, 1915. The specimen was Pseudemys scripta. The circulatory system was first studied and the examination of a large quantity of blood gave only negative results. After ligating veins and arteries, the heart was removed and four flukes found in it. Several large veins were taken out and teased, but no flukes obtained. When, however, the large arteries were subjected to similar treatment, three flukes were taken; one was found plugging up the end of an artery. Both lungs were teased out; one yielded three flukes, the other none. Negative results came from similar handling of the liver.

The Genus Spirorchis MacCallum, 1918 (Digenea: Schistosomatoidea) and the Early History of Parasitology in the United States

“…Unfortunately, he neglected to name the species upon which the genus proposal was based. In March 1921, Ward published a paper in the Journal of Parasitology describing a new genus and species of TBF, Proparorchis artericola, which had been found in several species of turtles from localities in the Midwest, South, and southeastern United States (Ward, 1921). He also erected the family Proparorchiidae and subfamily Proparorchiinae to contain the new genus, Spirorchis MacCallum, 1918, and Hapalotrema Looss, 1899.…”

“…He also erected the family Proparorchiidae and subfamily Proparorchiinae to contain the new genus, Spirorchis MacCallum, 1918, and Hapalotrema Looss, 1899. Ward took the additional step of providing a species name for MacCallum's new genus, which became Spirorchis innominata Ward, 1921, or ironically ''Spirorchis without a name.'' Ward would not publish a research paper in the journal for another 10 yr.…”

Trematodes of the Pacific Northwest, an annotated catalog [by] Ivan Pratt [and] James E. McCauley.

“…Biology: Cercariae develop in sporocysts in Helisoma trivolvis then penetrate the turtle (Pieper, 1953). Other life history studies have been made bv Ward (1921) and Stunkard (1923).…”

Spirhapalum polesianum n. g., n. sp. trématode du sang d’Emys orbicularis L.

“…4, od) prend naissance au milieu du bord postérieur de l'ovaire et, se dirigeant dorsalement en arrière et à droite, forme un renflement où s'accumulent les spermatozoïdes (rs). Ward (1921) et Stunkard (1923 appellent ce renflement recepta culum seminis uterinum, mais, puisqu'au point de vue topogra phique, cette vésicule n'est pas en rapport avec l'utérus, mais avec l'oviducte, cette dernière expression ne peut être considérée comme exacte (Ejsmont, 1925, p. 952). Nous avons souvent rencontré dans cette partie un grand nombre de spermatozoïdes mobiles.…”

“…Stunkard (1923) prétend que les oeufs des Spirorchidés, pour passer à l'extérieur, doivent se frayer un chemin d'une manière passive à travers les tissus, dans la direction de la lumière du tube digestif. Cependant une telle opération ne pourrait avoir de succès, parceque nous savons d'au tre part (Monticelli, 1896 ;Loos, 1902 ;Ward, 1921 ;Mac Callum, 1926), que, de même que chez les Sanguinicola (Scheuring, 1922 ;Ejsmont, 1925), les oeufs, ayant traversé des vaisseaux sanguins pour passer dans des tissus serrés, s'y enkystent. Les branchies des poissons, qui se trouvent en contact direct avec le milieu extérieur, contituent la voie la plus favorable pour les oeufs des Aporocotylidae ; au contraire, chez tous les hôtes respirant à l'aide de pou mons, la condition essentielle pour les oeufs de trématodes est de se frayer un passage par le tube digestif ou par les urètres.…”