Identification Of Ascaridoid Nematodes From Fourteen Vertebrates In China

Nematodes of the Ascaridoidea are common parasites in fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, including wildlife and our domestic farm animals. Many species of Ascaridoidea with worldwide distribution are of veterinary, medical, and economic importance. In the present study, 14 species of ascaridoid nematodes, belonging to 6 different genera, collected from 14 species of vertebrates in China were exactly identified using morphological and molecular methods by sequencing and analysing the internal transcribed spacer(ITS) of the ribosomal DNA. The results of detailed studies of these parasites are presented as follows:1) Three species of third-stage larvae of Hysterothylacium collected from Liparis tanakae(Gilbert & Burke)(Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae) in Yellow Sea and East China Sea were identified, including H. aduncum(Rudolphi, 1802), H. liparis Li, Xu & Zhang, 2007 and H. fabri(Rudolphi, 1819). The morphological and molecular characterization of H. liparis and H. fabric were reported for the first time.2) Third-stage larvae of Anisakis pegreffii Campana-Rouget & Biocca, 1955 collected from Liparis tanakae(Gilbert & Burke)(Scorpaeniformes: Liparidae) in East China Sea was redescribed and L. tanakae represents a new host for A. pegreffii L3.3) Four species of Contracaecum were redescribed: Contracaecum rudolphii Hartwich, 1964(sensu lato) collected from Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis(Blumenbach)(Pelecaniformes: Phalacrocoracidae), C. microcephalum(Rudolphi, 1809) collected from Ardea purpurea(Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae), C. milvi Yamaguti, 1935 and C. cantonensis Xu, 1957 collected from Buteo buteo burmanicus Oates(Falconiformes: Accipitridae).4) Toxascaris leonina(Linstow, 1902) collected from Felis lynx(Linnaeus) and Panthera leo(Linnaeus)(Carnivora: Felidae) in Shijiazhuang Zoo was redescribed.5) Three species of Ophidascaris, including one new species, were reported: O. najae(Gedoelst, 1916) collected from Ophiophagus hannah Cantor(Serpentes: Elapidae) in Fujian province, O. excavata Hsü & Hoeppli, 1931 collected from Gloydius brevicaudus(Stejneger)(Reptilia: Viperidae) in Ningbo, O. wangi Li, Guo, Li & Zhang, 2014 collected from Elaphe carinata(Günther)(Serpentes: Colubridae) in Nanning, Guangxi province.6) Two species of Porrocaecum, including one new species, were reported: P.(Laymanicaecum) reticulatum(Linstow, 1899) collected from Ardea purpurea(Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae) in Tianjin, Egretta garzetta(Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae) in Tianjin and Fuzhou, and Ardea cinerea(Ciconiiformes: Ardeidae) in Mongolia. P.(Porrocaecum) parvus sp. nov. collected from Butastur indicus(Falconiformes: Accipitridae).