The morphology and distribution ofEupolystomaspecies (Monogenoidea) in Africa, with a description ofE. anterorchissp. n. fromBufo pardalisat the Cape

Abstract

A new species of polystomatid monogenean,Eupolystoma anterorchissp. n. is described from the urinary bladder and kidneys ofBufo pardalisfrom the Cape Peninsula, Republic of South Africa. It is distinguished from otherEupolystomaspecies, and from all other species except one within the Polystomatidae, by the anterior pre-ovarian extension of a large proportion of the testis follicles. This and other morphological characteristics are incorporated into an amended generic diagnosis.The morphology ofE. alluaudifromBufo regularisin West Africa is also described. The known range of this species is enlarged with new geographical records in the Cameroun and Ethiopia, and a new host record fromNectophrynoides malcolmi.Material from each area shows that the eggs ofEupolystomaspp. complete developmentin uteroand that all developmental stages of the parasite occur side by side within the same host individual. This represents a significant evolutionary departure from the pattern of transmission typical ofPolystomain most of the other anuran hosts.

The influence of climate on the distribution of monogeneans of anurans in Nigeria

“…In contrast to the reported low prevalence of E. alluaudi in B. regularis in Togo by Combes et al (1973) and of E. anterorchis in B. pardalis from the Cape, South Africa (Tinsley, 1978b), we recorded high prevalences of E. alluaudi in B. regularis (68.4%) and B. maculatus (82.3%) from New Bussa. However, in agreement with the overdispersed parasite distribution observed by Tinsley (1975), a small number of hosts harboured large numbers of worms (ranging from 500 to 1500), with the entire range of developing stages being represented.…”

“…The occurrence of E. alluaudi in the guinea savannah of Nigeria is in agreement with the previously reported ecological preference of this parasite (Combes et al, 1976). Moreover, other reports of E. alluaudi in Cameroon and Ethiopia (see Tinsley, 1978b) and E. anterorchis in the Cape Flats of South Africa (Tinsley, 1978b) were all in the savannah. The absence of monogeneans in the amphibians of the rainforest in Nigeria contrasts with the situation reported in the corresponding zone in Togo.…”

“…The ecology of amphibian hosts has been established to influence the distribution and life-cycle strategies of their monogenean parasites (Tinsley, 1975(Tinsley, , 1978b. Combes et al (1976) observed that in Togo, Polystoma africanum preferentially infected Bufo sp.…”

Invasion of vertebrate lungs by the polystomatid monogeneans Pseudodiplorchis americanus and Neodiplorchis scaphiopodis

“…The maximum intensity of P. americanus recorded from a sample of 83 S. couchii in Arizona was 20 worms/host (Tinsley, 19826). However, amongst Bufo regularis and B. pardalis in Africa, the levels of infestation of the Eupolystoma species may exceed 2000 worms/host (Combes et al 1973;Salami-Cadoux, 1975;Tinsley, 1975Tinsley, ,1978a).…”

“…In other polystomatid monogeneans which invade post-metamorphic anurans (such as Protopolystoma xenopodis, a parasite of the aquatic Xenopus species, and Eupolystoma anterorchis, a parasite of the relatively terrestrial Bufo pardalis), the oncomiracidia penetrate via the cloaca into the urinary system and either enter the urinary bladder directly or undergo a period of development in the kidneys before migrating to the bladder (Tinsley & Owen, 1975;Tinsley, 1978a). In view of these examples, species of Scaphiopus, exposed to invasion by oncomiracidia of their respective polystomatids, were dissected at intervals from a few hours to 1 week after exposure, and the urinary bladder, kidneys and urinary ducts were carefully examined for recently invaded larvae.…”