Seven specimens of cyclocoelids (6 specimens representing Haematotrephus selfi n. sp. and 1 specimen representing a second unidentified species of Haematotrephus) collected by the late Dr. J. Teague Self, former professor, Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S.A., from the body cavities of 3 lesser yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes, (2 birds collected from Roger Mills County, Oklahoma on 23 and 29 August 1963, and 1 collected from Manitoba, Canada on 3 June 1964) and deposited in the Manter Laboratory of Parasitology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska are described. Haematotrephus selfi n. sp. can be distinguished from all other species in the genus that lack an oral sucker except Haematotrephus limnodromi by having intertesticular uterine loops. It most closely resembles H. limnodromi but differs from it by having a smaller body, a smaller pharynx, smaller testes, a shorter cirrus sac, and somewhat smaller eggs. In addition, H. selfi n. sp. lacks a uterine seminal receptacle.

The growth patterns of adult Philophthalmus andersoni and Philophthalmus larsoni reared in domestic chickens from metacercariae, were compared at 10, 20, 70, and 175 d postexposure. Generally, P. andersoni continued to grow throughout all age classes, while P. larsoni reached its greatest length (4.3 mm) at 70 d and showed no further growth at 175 d. Most standard descriptive measurements (body length, forebody length, size of oral sucker, size of pharynx, length of esophagus, size of acetabulum, size of testes, size of ovary, size of posttesticular space, length of cirrus sac, size of seminal receptacle, size of vitelline follicles, size of eggs) were typically different when comparing P. andersoni and P. larsoni, but often there was overlap between the ranges of age classes within each species, as well as between the age class of the 2 species. We found that there were 2 measurements that had noticeably less overlap between these 2 species than the others listed: (1) length of esophagus; and (2) length of the posttesticular space. Natterophthalmus is synonymous with Philophthalmus, and the characteristics previously used to distinguish Natterophthalmus from Philophthalmus are discussed.

Saurokoilophilia kinsellai n. gen., n. sp. from the stomach of the skink Papuascincus stanleyanus (Scincidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. The presence of an ecsoma, a single compact vitellarium, and the absence of anteriorly united excretory ducts allow the erection of a new subfamily, Saurokoilophiliinae, for the new genus. Saurokoilophilia kinsellai n. sp. is only the second trematode described from lizards collected in Papua New Guinea.

Gyrodactylus parvae n. sp. is described from the fins and body surface of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Cyprinidae) in cold-water streams of the Qinling Mountains, central China. Morphology and rDNA sequence data identify the parasite as a new member of the wageneri species-group. Members of this lineage have successfully invaded a variety of freshwater fish lineages throughout the northern hemisphere, with this known range now extending to cyprinids in mountain streams of central China. Gyrodactylus parvae n. sp. is compared to other similar members of the group. The present study is, to our knowledge, the first report of a viviparous monogene from P. parva within its natural range and brings the total number of species of Gyrodactylus known from freshwater fishes of mainland China to 47.

Sixty-two of 66 (94%) Sylvirana supragrisea collected from 4 localities in Papua New Guinea harbored 1,137 endoparasies representing 15 known species and 1 new species. Proteocephalus papuensis n. sp. and the male of Desmognathiema papuensis Moravec and Sey, 1990, from the small intestine of the ranid frog Sylvirana supragrisea are described and illustrated. Proteocephalus papuensis is the second proteocephalid cestode to be described from New Guinea; it differs from P. niuginii in that it possesses a post-equatorial cirrus sac and 72–84 uterine pouches compared to an equatorial cirrus sac and 28–36 uterine pouches in P. niuginii. Desmognathiema papuensis is the third species assigned to the genus. It parasitizes ranid frogs of New Guinea, D. toyamai is known from an endemic Japanese frog, and D. nantahalaensis is a parasite of North American salamanders. In addition to these 2 species, gravid individuals of the nematodes Aplectana macintoshii, Cosmocerca novaaeguineae, Icosiella papuensis, Oswaldocruzia bakeri, Paracapillaria spratti, Pseudorictularia dipsarilis, Seuratascaris numidica and the acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus bufonis were found. Juvenile individuals of the nematode Abbreviata sp. (in cysts), unidentified cestode cysticerci, acanathocephalan cystacanths, and nymphs of a pentostome, Kirkicephalus sp., were also found. Sylvirana supragrisea represents a new host record for each of these parasites. Of the 1,137 endoparasite individuals, 638 (56%) were juvenile forms not capable of completing their life cycles in frogs. Of the 16 endoparasite species, no 2 collection sites had more than 7 species in common.

Leptorhynchoides thecatus, an acanthocephalan of centrarchid fishes, occurs in the pyloric ceca and the anterior intestine of green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus. One wk post-laboratory infection, L. thecatus is found in the pyloric ceca and the anterior portion of the intestine of green sunfish, but by 3 wk postinfection, worms are present only in the pyloric ceca. This study investigated whether differential mortality (higher mortality in the intestine than in the ceca) or anteriad emigration is responsible for localization in the ceca. Chi-square analysis was performed on data obtained from 149 1-worm laboratory infections. No significant difference was found in the number of worms recovered during the course of the study; therefore, differential mortality as a mechanism for worm localization is unlikely. Furthermore, there was a decrease in prevalence of intestinal worms with a concurrent increase in prevalence of cecal worms. It is concluded that L. thecatus is localized in the pyloric ceca of green sunfish due to anteriad emigration. This emigration appears to be complete by day 2 post infection.

During a study of the helminths of rodents (Muridae: Hydromyinae) from the island of New Guinea 3 undescribed species of trichostrongyloid nematodes were found. Macrostrongylus ingens n. sp. (Heligmonellidae: Brevistriatinae) occurring in Uromys caudimaculatus (type host), Melomys rufescens, Melomys sp., Paramelomys platyops, Paramelomys cf. platyops, and Paramelomys levipes, could be differentiated from its congener Macrostrongylus ratti by its larger size, shorter spicules, and wider cephalic vesicle. Odilia carinatae n. sp. (Heligmonellidae: Nippostrongylinae) occurring in Uromys anak (type host) and Uromys caudimaculatus differs from all other species of Odilia in the combination of number, form, and arrangement of ridges on the synlophe and the shape of the spicule tips. Odilia implexa n. sp., occurring in U. caudimaculatus (type host) and U. anak is closest to Odilia uromyos in the shape of the spicule tips but has fewer ridges on the synlophe. Macrostrongylus ingens is the first of the Brevistratinae to be recorded from Australasia. Odilia spp. appear, by contrast, to be widely distributed across the region but there is insufficient data to determine the geographical origins of the genus.

Here we summarize the geographical distribution and host occurrence of Dipetalonema spp. in Central and South American primates, and report the first record of Dipetalonema gracile in Ecuador from a squirrel monkey Saimiri sciureus. We also provide additional data on the morphology of D. gracile including scanning electron microscope (SEM) photographs. The 6 species of Dipetalonema are known from 19 species, representing 9 genera of Platyrrhini monkeys. Dipetalonema spp. are widespread both geographically and in time, starting in 1809 and ranging from southern Mexico to central Bolivia and subtropical Brazil. Dipetalonema freitasi, Dipetalonema yatesi, Dipetalonema robini, and Dipetalonema graciliformis are known from only a few records from 1 or 2 localities, whereas Dipetalonema caudispina and D. gracile are known from multiple localities. Dipetalonema caudispina seems to be an Amazonian species, in contrast to D. gracile, which is widespread from 20°N (México) to 24°S (Paraguay and Brazil). Specimens of D. gracile in this report are similar to those presented by other authors from different host species and countries. SEM revealed a smooth cuticle on the head, and complex striations on the tail. Morphological comparisons with the other 5 species of Dipetalonema are also presented.

Pharyngodon wandillahensis n. sp. from the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis Peters, 1863, from the midnorth of South Australia, Australia is described and illustrated. Pharyngodon wandillahensis n. sp. represents the thirty-seventh species assigned to Pharyngodon. It is distinguished from the 5 other Australian species by its smaller size, the form of the lateral alae, and in having 6 small but fleshy lips. Prevalence, distribution and intensity in the host T. adelaidensis are also reported.

Heterodera glycines eggs were exposed to low temperature (5°C) in the dark for various periods, and the effects of these treatments on hatching at 27°C were assessed. Low-temperature treatments caused a significant decrease in total percent egg hatch relative to untreated controls, but did not affect either the timing of egg hatch or the qualitative aspects of the hatch curve. Hatch curves comprised 3 distinct phases: hatch initiation (I), linear increase (II), and hatch rate decline (III). Hatch rates for all treatments were greatest during the first 12 d following hatch assay initiation, and rate decline occurred by day 14 regardless of treatment. Egg viability tests based upon vital staining demonstrated that refrigeration did not affect mortality, and monitoring progeny eggs obtained from plants inoculated with refrigerated eggs did not reveal any effect on hatching. Total percent hatch was directly dependent upon phase II linear increase rate. Depression of hatch by low temperature was not reversed when eggs were returned to 27°C. Results suggest that 1 or more developmental events were arrested, and that a diapause was induced.

Trichurispora wellgundis n. g., n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Hirmocystidae) is described from the adults of the water scavenger beetle Tropisternus collaris (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae) collected from B A Steinhagen Lake in the Cherokee Unit of the Big Thicket National Preserve, Tyler County, Texas, U.S.A. Trichurispora is distinguished from known genera of Hirmocystidae by a distinct “trichurisiform” oocyst that is hesperidiform in outline, comprising a fusiform oocyst with shallowly ovoid terminal knobs or caps. Oocyst residua are present but confined to a central fusiform residuum vacuole. Adult and larval hydrophilid beetles represent distinctly different opportunities for parasite colonization and diversification. Gregarines have been reported from both adult and larval hydrophilid beetles, but no species and no genus is reported from both adult and larval hosts. In fact, gregarine taxic richness is often more disparate between adult and larval beetles of the same species than between host beetle species. This is the first report of a septate gregarine from an adult hydrophilid beetle in the Nearctic.

The objective of this study was to determine whether the low prevalence of Tubifex tubifex infected with Myxobolus cerebralis in a Montana stream was due to a large percentage of worms being resistant to the parasite or whether other factors were involved. For this, specimens of T. tubifex were collected from various localities throughout the Rock Creek drainage of west central Montana, U.S.A., a stream known to be heavily contaminated with M. cerebralis, the causative agent of salmonid whirling disease. The natural occurring prevalence of infection was determined, and then noninfected worms were exposed to myxospores of M. cerebralis under controlled, laboratory conditions. Results showed that the percentage of noninfected T. tubifex that became infected with M. cerebralis was always greater than the percentage of naturally infected worms found at the same locality. Further, T. tubifex susceptible to infection were found at localities where no naturally infected worms were recovered. However, the prevalence of infection was low in both groups and did not exceed 4.1% for naturally infected T. tubifex or 19.0% for experimentally infected worms. In comparison, a control group of highly susceptible T. tubifex from California, U.S.A., had a 72–88% prevalence of infection after laboratory exposures to myxospores of M. cerebralis. Therefore, it appears that a large percentage of T. tubifex in Rock Creek are resistant to infection, although the mechanism of resistance is not known.

Placobdella cryptobranchii is a rarely collected leech of the Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri, U.S.A. Between October 2002 and August 2005, 58 hellbenders were examined from Eleven Point River (Randolph Co., Arkansas and Oregon Co., Missouri), the north fork of the White River (Ozark Co., Missouri), and the Spring River (Fulton Co., Arkansas). Forty-one of the 58 hellbenders (70.7%) were infested with 1–140 leeches with a mean intensity (±SD) of 8.7 (±22.1) and a relative abundance (±SD) of 6.3 (±18.9). Contingency table analysis and t-tests revealed no significant differences in prevalence and mean intensity among various years and localities sampled. Leech size did not substantially change over the time period sampled. The dorsal pigmentation of live specimens of P. cryptobranchii is described for the first time.

We recorded 12 species of parasitic or phoretic arthropods from 112 live-trapped oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus) in southeastern Georgia, U.S.A.: 1 species of sucking louse (Hoplopleura hesperomydis), 1 flea (Peromyscopsylla scotti*), 1 bot (Cuterebra fontinella*), 2 ticks (Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis), 3 mesostigmatid mites (Androlaelaps fahrenholzi, Haemogamasus liponyssoides,* and Haemogamasus longitarsus*), 2 fur mites (Glycyphagus hypudaei, Radfordia subuliger*), and 2 chiggers (Euschoengastia peromysci* and Leptotrombidium peromysci*) including the first records (asterisked names) for 7 species from this host. We recorded 4 species of arthropods, all of them mites, from 1 eastern harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys humulis): A. fahrenholzi, R. subuliger, E. peromysci,* and L. peromysci,* including 2 new records (asterisked) from this host. We also recorded 6 species of mites from 5 southern short-tailed shrews (Blarina carolinensis): the mesostigmatids Echinonyssus blarinae and H. liponyssoides; the fur mites Asiochirus blarina,* Blarinobia simplex,* and Protomyobia blarinae;* and the chigger Comatacarus americanus,* including 4 new Georgia state records (asterisked) from this host.

Fifty-eight individuals belonging to 10 species of bats, insectivores, and pikas were examined for helminths from 4 collection sites in Mongolia in 1999. Two species of bats (Vespertilio murinus and Eptesicus gobiensis) were infected with a single species of trematode (Plagiorchis vespertilionis), which represents a new record for the country. One individual of E. gobiensis also harbored 1 unidentified filaroid nematode. The acanthocephalan Moniliformis moniliformis was found in the hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus. Cestodes in the genus Catenotaenia and the herein described Schizorchis mongoliensis n. sp. were recovered from pikas belonging to the species Ochotona alpina. Schizorchis mongoliensis n. sp. is distinguished from other members of the genus by shorter strobila length accompanied by earlier maturation of proglottids, as well as a distinct vaginal valve and secondary lateral seminal receptacle.

We surveyed gastrointestinal and ectoparasites in wild and domestic ungulates in the Selva Lacandona, Chiapas, Mexico, including Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii), collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), red brocket deer (Mazama americana), horses (Equus caballus), cattle (Bos taurus), and pigs (Sus scrofa). We collected 97 fresh fecal samples from the domestic species and 46 from the wild species and examined digestive tracts of 21 wild specimens. We identified 18 species of nematodes and 7 species of protozoans in feces and 3 nematode species, 2 trematode species, and 1 cestode species during postmortem examination. Paramphistomid infections in peccaries and deer were both prevalent and intense, representing a potential risk to populations of these ungulates. Ectoparasites included 14 species of Ixodidae and a hippoboscid. Of the endoparasites, 10 are new host records and 15 are new geographic records for Mexico. Ectoparasites included 7 new host records and 14 new geographic records for Mexico. Morisita's similarity index revealed the greatest similarity between the 2 deer species and between the 2 peccary species, while the greatest similarity between wild and domestic species was between B. taurus and O. virginianus. We discuss possible routes of interspecific transmission as well as the potential of the ectoparasites identified as disease vectors.

Mammalian carnivores may be important to the dynamics of many vector-borne zoonotic diseases, yet relationships between carnivores and their ectoparasites are largely unstudied. I sampled striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in Boulder County, Colorado, U.S.A., to determine how prevalence, abundance, and species assemblages of fleas vary by habitat association. I found that skunks sampled from foothills habitats carry significantly richer flea species assemblages than those sampled in grassland habitats, though flea prevalence, abundance, and mean intensity did not differ statistically between habitat types. Skunks in both habitat types were most commonly parasitized by fleas of the genus Pulex. Skunks from foothills habitats were also found to carry fleas typically associated with rodents, including Oropsylla montana, Anomiopsyllus nudatus, and Orchopeas neotomae, whereas skunks sampled in grassland habitats did not carry rodent fleas. Given that striped skunks may be involved in maintenance and transmission of several flea-borne diseases, it is important to understand how the flea species assemblages of striped skunks vary depending on habitat association.

Plerocercoids of Schistocephalus sp. (Diphyllobothriidae) were found in the body cavities of 2 (0.9%) of 209 slimy sculpins, Cottus cognatus, collected in September 2003 from Lake Michigan, south of Manistique, Michigan, U.S.A. Mean intensity was 1. The mean lengths and weights of these 2 thawed, relaxed plerocercoids were 67 and 72 mm and 427 and 554 mg, respectively. The number of segments in each plerocercoid was 113, and both plerocercoids showed upturned edges of the first segment. The identification of these plerocercoids to species is discussed, and the occurrence of Schistocephalus sp. in fish from the Great Lakes is summarized. This is the first report of Schistocephalus in slimy sculpin from Lake Michigan and the second report of Schistocephalus infecting fish from this lake.

Three of 5 (60%) Mexican Plateau sliders, Trachemys gaigeae, from Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro County, New Mexico, U.S.A., were found to be infected with the acanthocephalan, Neoechinorhynchus emyditoides Fisher, 1960. This is the first report of N. emyditoides from T. gaigeae and New Mexico, U.S.A., and only the third article reporting parasites from this host.

Nineteen bowfin (Amia calva L.) collected from a wetlands area in southwestern West Virginia, U.S.A., were examined for enteric helminth parasites. Only 2 helminth species were found: the tapeworm, Haplobothrium globuliforme Cooper, and the digenetic trematode, Macroderoides typicus (Winfield). Prevalences of infection were 89.5% for the former species and 52.6% for the latter. Infection intensities for both species sometimes exceeded 100 worms per host, making accurate evaluations of mean worm burdens impractical. There was little spatial overlap between the 2 species of helminths, with cestodes aggregated primarily in the anterior region of the small intestine and trematodes in the large intestine and posterior small intestine.

Eight helminth species (6 cestodes, 2 nematodes) were recovered from 30 masked shrews, Sorex cinereus (Mammalia: Soricidae), collected from the Pennsylvania State University Experimental Forest, Centre County, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. All hosts were infected with at least 1 helminth, and species richness ranged from 1 to 6 (mean 3.6). All 8 helminths were new geographic records for Pennsylvania, and 3 tapeworms (Lineolepis lineola, Staphylocystoides serrula, Soricinia pulchra) were new host records for S. cinereus. There appears to be little evidence of host specificity among tapeworms within Sorex spp. in North America, although no species are shared with Blarina spp.

Heterakis spumosa and Syphacia muris are among the most common species parasitizing mammals. Although these nematodes have been reported from many hosts on several continents, in South America, they have only been recovered from the cecum of Rattus norvegicus from Brazil and Peru. This study provides morphological details of H. spumosa and S. muris. Moreover, this is the first record of these species in Argentina. Heterakis spumosa and S. muris were collected from specimens of R. norvegicus from Partido de Exaltación de la Cruz, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. This note presents relevant features observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for H. spumosa, such as the presence of 4 papillae on the lips, the lateral alae forming a cuticular fold inside a groove that extends to the posterior end, double papillae on the tip of tail of the male, vulva with 5 cuticular processes, and 2 pair of sessile papillae on the female tail. Syphacia muris has a porous badge posterior to the amphids, and the excretory pore is located in an oval depression.

The prevalence and intensity of infection by Otodistomum cestoides in the yellownose skate, Dipturus chilensis, in three coastal localities in southern Chile (Niebla: 38°50′S, 74°35′W; Bahía Mansa: 40°32′S, 73°45′W; and San Pedro: 40°53′S, 73°52′W) showed no significant differences in skates of different sex in a same or different locality. The differences among sizes of the skates of different sexes at the 3 localities, as well as the differences in frequencies in prey consumption, were not associated with the prevalence and intensity of the infection by O. cestoides.