Morphological and molecular differentiation of two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1958 (Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from amphibians and reptiles in the Philippines, with identification key for the genus

Abstract

The genus Pseudoacanthocephalus Petrochenko, 1958 currently includes 14 species of acanthocephalans parasitic in amphibians and reptiles worldwide. This work describes two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus from amphibians and reptiles collected in several localities on Luzon Island, Philippines. Pseudoacanthocephalus nickoli n. sp. was found in two species of frogs, Rana luzonensis Boulenger and Rana similis (Günther), and Pseudoacanthocephalus smalesi n. sp. was found in a scincid lizard, Sphenomorphus abdictus Brown & Alcala. Differential diagnoses of the two new species of Pseudoacanthocephalus from their congeners are provided. Comparative analysis of nuclear ribosomal rRNA sequences encompassing the 3' end of 18S nuclear rDNA gene, internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1+5.8S+ITS2), and 5' end of the 28S gene strongly corroborated the morphological evidence and demonstrated significant differences between the two new species as well as between these species and closely related species from continental China and Vietnam. No intraspecific sequence variability was detected among different individuals representing each of the examined species. This is the first report of Pseudoacanthocephalus in the Philippines. A key to known species of Pseudoacanthocephalus is provided.

Biology and Diseases of Reptiles

“…(Tkach et al, 2013;Bursey and Goldberg, 2003;Bolette, 1997a, b;Goldberg et al, 1997). (Tkach et al, 2013;Bursey and Goldberg, 2003;Bolette, 1997a, b;Goldberg et al, 1997).…”

Acanthocephalans from fishes and amphibians in Vietnam, with descriptions of five new species

“…(Ranidae), in the Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Lâm Dông Province in southeast Vietnam (12°18′ N; 108°40′ E) on June 6, 2013. The genus Hylarana Tschudi, 1838 contains around 86 species found from Sri Lanka to the western Ghats of India, through Nepal and southern China and Taiwan, down to southeast Asia to the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, and in Northern Australia as well as in tropical Africa [ 31 ].…”

A new species ofPseudoacanthocephalus(Acanthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) from the guttural toad,Sclerophrys gutturalis(Bufonidae), introduced into Mauritius, with comments on the implications of the introductions of toads and their parasites into the UK

“…Although having a similar proboscis hook formula to Pseudoacanthocephalus nguyenthileae (Amin et al, 2008), P. goodmani differs in having 14-18 longitudinal rows of 4-6 hooks, usually 14 rows of five hooks, hooks 1 and 5/6 usually smallest, and six cement glands compared with 16-18 (rarely 15 or 19) rows of 5-6 hooks, hooks longest posteriorly and eight cement glands (Amin et al, 2008). Pseudoacanthocephalus coniformis , described more recently than could be included in the key of Tkach et al (2013), differs from P. goodmani in having a coneshaped anterior trunk, a proboscis hook formula of 13 rows of seven hooks, up to 75 long, sub-equal lemnisci and eight cement glands .…”

“…Nevertheless, species from terrestrial hosts have continued to be assigned to the genus Pseudoacanthocephalus and species from aquatic hosts assigned to the sister genus Acanthocephalus Koelreuther, 1771. Recently, Amin et al (2008 and Tkach et al (2013) reviewed the genus Pseudoacanthocephalus, discussed its validity and presented keys to its species. Tkach et al (2013) also provided some preliminary molecular sequence data and analyses.…”

“…Recently, Amin et al (2008 and Tkach et al (2013) reviewed the genus Pseudoacanthocephalus, discussed its validity and presented keys to its species. Tkach et al (2013) also provided some preliminary molecular sequence data and analyses.…”