New perspectives on Nephridiacanthus major (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) collected from hedgehogs in Iran

Abstract

We describe morphological features not previously reported for this old acanthocephalan Nephridiacanthus major (Bremser, 1811 in Westrumb, 1821) Golvan, 1962 first described over 200 years ago. Our specimens were collected from long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin, 1770) (Erinaceidae) in Iran. We compare the morphometrics of our material with others previously reported from the same host in Iran, Russia, central Asia and Europe. Our specimens had markedly smaller proboscides, proboscis hooks and lemnisci than those reported from Russia and central Asia, but comparable measurements of other structures with specimens previously described from other collections. We document our new observations with scanning electron microscopy features not previously demonstrable by other observers and provide a chemical analysis of proboscis hooks using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis for the first time. The molecular profile of this acanthocephalan, based on 18S rDNA and cox1 genes, was generated for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis showed that N. major is placed in a clade of the family Oligacanthorhynchidae, well separated from the families Moniliformidae and Gigantorhynchidae.

The morphological and molecular characterization of Baylisascaris devosi Sprent, 1952 (Ascaridoidea, Nematoda), collected from Pine marten (Martes martes) in Iran

“…The chemical elements of a parasite structure can be determined in minute amounts and then applied to the morphology of the organism. The dual beam allows the researcher to cut the minute structures (such as hooks of acanthocephala) with a gallium beam and analyze the surface [16,[20][21][22][23]. Most of the analysis is of a qualitative, not quantitative, nature for the parasites.…”

New morphological and molecular perspectives aboutMacracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus(Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from wild boar,Sus scrofaLinn., in Ukraine

“…While sulphur content usually within the outer layer of the hook aids in forming the calcium phosphate apatite similar to the enamel of the mammalian tooth. In relation to hooks of other acanthocephalan species studied Amin et al, , 2018Ha et al, 2018), hooks of M. hirudinaceus appear to lack this element (table 2) as they did in hooks of Nephridiacanthus major (Bremser, 1811 in Westrumb, 1821) Golvan, 1962 Amin et al, 2020a). This pattern appears to be specific for hooks of M. hirudinaceus.…”

“…The EDXA pattern appears to be species-specific, working as fingerprints, and is shown to have significant diagnostic value in acanthocephalan systematics. For instance, the edge and centre of hook tip and hook middle of the closely related N. major (Bremser, 1811 in Westrumb, 1821) had higher levels of sulphur, calcium and phosphorus (table 3 of Amin et al 2020a) than in M. hirudinaceus. Moniliformis cryptosaudi Amin, Heckmann, Sharifdini, Albayati, 2019 from Iraq is morphologically identical to Moniliformis saudi Amin, Heckmann, Mohammed, Evans, 2016 from Saudi Arabia, and it was erected based primarily on its distinctly different EDXA pattern (Amin et al, 2019b) as a cryptic species.…”

The molecular profile of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) kashmirensis from the Indian subcontinent

“…PCR reactions were carried out in a total volume of 30 μL of reaction mixture containing 2 × red PCR premix (Ampliqon, Odense, Denmark), 20 pmol of each primer and 3 μL of extracted DNA. The partial 18S rRNA gene was amplified using the forward primer (5′-AGA TTA AGC CAT GCA TGC GTAAG-3′) and reverse primer (5′-ACC CAC CGA ATC AAG AAA GAG-3′) [5], while primers BD1 (5′-GTC GTA ACA AGG TTT CCG TA-3′) and BD2 (5-TAT GCT TAA ATT CAG CGG GT-3′) [6] were used to amplify the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal RNA gene. PCR conditions for 18S rRNA gene amplification included of an initial denaturing step of 95 °C for 5 min and 35 cycles followed by 35 cycles consisting of 95 °C for 30 s (denaturation), 61 °C for 30 s (annealing), and 60 s at 72 °C (extension) with a final extension of 72 °C for 7 min.…”