A new species of Microtetrameres (Nematoda, Tetrameridae) parasitizing Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves, Accipitridae) from northeastern Argentina

Abstract

A new tetramerid nematode, Microtetrameres urubitinga n. sp., is described from specimens recovered from the proventriculus of the great black-hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga (Aves: Accipitridae), from Formosa Province, Argentina. The males of the new species are characterized by having spicules unequal (length ratio of spicules 1:3.8-5.9) and dissimilar in shape (right spicule with a simple tip, left spicule with a symmetrical bifurcated tip), caudal papillae arranged asymmetrically (two pairs precloacal and two pairs postcloacal) and cloacal lips highly protruded forming a tube. The gravid females are permanently coiled clockwise or counterclockwise in a spiral and having a tail tapering gradually to a sharp point, with a cuticular fold. This is the first nominal species of Microtetrameres (Travassos, 1915) described parasitizing birds from Argentina. The relationship between the diet of B. urubitinga and the low prevalence of M. urubitinga n. sp. is discussed.

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Microtetrameres Spiralis (Nematoda, Family Tetrameridae) Parasitising Cattle Egret “Ardeola Ibis Ibis” in Egypt

“…However, males are generally found on the mucosa or in the lumen of the proventriculus moving freely between the crypts and the lumen. This finding confirms the previous suggestion that the males move nearby spontaneously to reach and fertilize the immobile females [18,26] . The living females of M. spiralis that were collected from the epithelial lining of the proventricular glands in adjacent connection with their anterior ends have a red colour.…”

“…Both subgenera Tetrameres and Microtetrameres were raised to generic category based on female body form; globular or spindle-shaped in Tetrameres and with its longitudinal axis spirally coiled in Microtetrameres [15] . The genus Microtetrameres currently includes several species parasitic in birds worldwide [1,3,[16][17][18][19] . In the agricultural country like Egypt; man is usually in close interaction with water, therefore there is a potential danger of invasion with nematodes of birds.…”

Helminth and ectoparasitic faunas of the Harris’s hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae), in Chile: new data on host-parasite associations for Neotropical raptors

“…Physaloptera acuticauda Molin, 1860 and Physaloptera inflata Molin, 1860 have been recorded in P. unicinctus from South America (Cram, 1927;Yamaguti, 1961). Microtetrameres (Travassos, 1915) inhabits the proventriculus of birds, with females strictly associated with proventricular glands and males with the proventricular mucosa (Anderson, 2000;Díaz et al, 2018). Members of the family Tetrameridae have an indirect life cycle, with arthropods such as grasshoppers and cockroaches serving as intermediate hosts (Anderson, 2000).…”

“…In South America, there are few records for this genus, with most of them coming from passerine birds and only one record from a bird of prey. Díaz et al (2018) recently reported a new species for the Neotropics, Microtetrameres urubitinga Díaz, Drago & Núñez, 2018, parasitizing the proventriculus of Buteogallus urubitinga (Gmelin, 1788) in Argentina. The present Microtetrameres sp.…”

Checklist of the nematode parasites of wild birds of Argentina

“…SI: proventriculus, females within the glands and males free in the lumen. DueñasDíaz et al (2018). Bernal(-34.6956, -58.2667), Buenos Aires Province.…”