Study of types of some species of “Filaria” (Nematoda) parasites of small mammals described by von Linstow and Molin

Abstract

Parasitic nematodes from the Berlin (ZMB) and Vienna (NMW) Museum collections referred to the genus Filaria Mueller, 1787 by von Linstow or Molin were studied. Three samples were in good condition and the specimens redescribed. Litomosa hepatica (von Linstow, 1897) n. comb., sample ZMB Vermes Entozoa 3368, from the megachiropteran Pteropus neohibernicus, Bismarck Archipelago, resembles L. maki Tibayrenc, Bain & Ramanchandran, 1979, from Pteropus vampyrus, in Malaysia, but the buccal capsule differs. Both species display particular morphological characters which differ from species of Litomosa parasitic in microchiropterans. The remaining material originates from Brazil. The spicule morphology of Litomosoides circularis (von Linstow, 1899) Chandler, 1931, sample ZMB Vermes Entozoa 1059 from Hesperomys spec. (= Holochilus brasiliensis), Porto Alegre, confirms that it belongs to the sigmodontis group; the microfilaria presents characters of the genus Litomosoides, e.g. body attenuated at both extremities and salient cephalic hook. Taxonomic discussions by others confirm that species of Litomosoides belonging to the sigmodontis group and described subsequently are distinct from L. circularis. Litomosoides serpicula (Molin, 1858) Guerrero, Martin, Gardner & Bain, 2002, is redescribed, sample NMW 6323 from the bat Phyllostoma spiculatum (= Sturnira lilium), Ypanema. It is very close to L. brasiliensis Almeida, 1936, type host Moytis sp., but distinguished by a single ring in the buccal capsule, rather than two, supporting previous conclusions that the taxon L. brasiliensis, as generally regarded, may represent a complex of species. Samples NMW 6322 and NMW 6324, from other bats and also identified by Molin (1858) as Filaria serpicula, contain unidentifiable fragments of Litomosoides incertae sedis. Filaria hyalina von Linstow, 1890, sample ZMB Vermes Entozoa Q 3905 from Sorex vulgaris (= Sorex araneus), is incertae sedis because it contains two unidentifiable posterior parts of male, which might be an acuarid, Stammerinema sp. Filaria vesperuginis von Linstow, 1885, sample ZMB Vermes Entozoa Q 3929, from the bat Vesperugo serotinus (= Eptesicus serotinus), contains encysted nematode larvae and is a nomen dubium.

Helminth parasites of bats (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in the Department of Junin, Peru and Check list of records made in Peru

“…Based on the list presented in this study, only the genus Litomosoides is registered for Peru and based on the records presented by Santos & Gibson (2015) also only for South America. Guerrero & Bain (2011) considered that L. brasiliensis, as generally regarded, may represent a complex of species, and not just a single taxonomic entity.…”

A new species of Litomosoides (Nematoda: Onchocercidae), parasite of Nectomys palmipes (Rodentia: Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae) from Venezuela: description, molecular evidence, Wolbachia pipientis screening

“…the species described herein is a parasite of the water rat, Nectomys palmipes Allen et chapman. it was collected during the course of an environmental impact study conducted in the region of los llanos in Venezuela, which yielded approximately 175 filarioids from 550 small mammals (Guerrero 2008). …”

Diversity, Host Specialization, and Geographic Structure of Filarial Nematodes Infecting Malagasy Bats

“…Research undertaken in different parts of the world to explore metazoan endoparasites of bats has revealed an important diversity of helminthes [ 16 – 18 ], including nematodes [ 18 , 19 ]. This latter group is of particular interest, as its high diversity allows investigations addressing the evolutionary history and medical importance of these animals.…”