A new acuariid nematode, Syncuaria mackoi n. sp. (Spirurida), from Ciconia nigra (L.) (Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae) in Europe

Syst Parasitol. 2008 May;70(1):71-9. doi: 10.1007/s11230-008-9138-6. Epub 2008 Mar 29.

Abstract

Syncuaria mackoi n. sp. is described, based on light and scanning electron microscopy, from the stomach of the black stork Ciconia nigra in Bulgaria. The new species is characterised by: body length 7.18-8.30 mm (males) and 10.13-11.40 mm (females); cordons anastomosing about the level of the middle of the muscular oesophagus and consisting of delicate cuticular plates; bifurcate deirids 7-9 mum long; lateral longitudinal cuticular band-like swellings; nine pairs of pedunculate caudal papillae, i.e. four precloacal and five postcloacal, the latter forming two groups (2 + 3); sixth pair of postcloacal papillae sessile; left spicule 854-907 mum long; right spicule 138-154 mum in length, with a curved distal end resembling a horn and a short lateral projection at some distance from its tip; and vagina vera provided with an anteriorly-directed blind appendix. The specimens identified as S. ciconiae (Gil'bert, 1927) by Macko (1964) from C. nigra in Slovakia are considered as belonging to S. mackoi. A pair of small cupolae situated dorsally and ventrally between bases of cordons of the new species is described for the first time in this genus; they are recognised as homologous to the pair of spines in the same position previously described in S. diacantha Petter, 1961 and S. plegadisi Digiani, 1999.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Birds / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Spirurida / anatomy & histology*
  • Spirurida / ultrastructure
  • Stomach / parasitology