Taenia pencei n. sp. is described from the ringtail, Bassariscus astutus (Carnivora: Procyonidae), in western Texas, U.S.A., and its metacestode is characterized on the basis of specimens from Peromyscus cf. maniculatus in southern Oregon. Taenia pencei n. sp. apparently occurs exclusively in the ringtail, and it is the first cestode of the genus Taenia known from a member of the family Procyonidae. It is morphologically most similar to species of Taenia from mammals of the family Mustelidae in subclade 2 of the recently constructed phylogeny of that genus. Taenia pencei is distinguished from the nearctic Taenia taxidiensis in the badger Taxidea taxus; from the palaearctic Taenia martis occurring in members of the genus Martes and other mustelids in Europe; from the holarctic Taenia twitchelli in the wolverine Gulo gulo; and from the nominal species of small-hooked cestodes in mustelids (not including Taenia mustelae, in a different subclade), of which all but one have been described from members of the genus Martes. According to the concept presented in this study, those cestodes represent a single, holarctic species, Taenia cf. intermedia, synonyms of which, on grounds of priority, are Taenia sibirica and Taenia skrjabini, both described from Martes zibellina in Eurasia, and Tae. martis americana from Martes spp. in North America. Taenia melesi, from the Eurasian badger Meles meles, remains species inquirenda. Taenia pencei n. sp. is distinguished from all the aforementioned species by form and dimensions of rostellar hooks and by the arrangement and characteristics of genital organs. The holarctic occurrence of Taenia cf. intermedia appears to be a consequence of dispersals of mammals via Beringia during the late Pleistocene.

Ninety-eight Mexican free-tailed bats, Tadarida brasiliensis mexicana, collected from 4 locations in Mexico between November 1996 and June 1998, were examined for metazoan parasites. Twenty-one parasitic taxa belonging to 3 phyla (Plathyhelminthes, Nematoda, and Arthropoda) were recovered including 5 helminth taxa (3 digenean, 1 cestode, and 1 nematode) and 16 arthropod taxa (12 mite, 2 tick, and 2 insect). The digenean Ochoterenatrema labda was the most prevalent and abundant helminth in collections from the states of Puebla, Zacatecas, and Durango. Urotrema scabridum and Dicrocoelium rileyi reached the highest values of prevalence and mean abundance of infection in Nuevo León state. Among arthropod taxa recovered, Chiroptonyssus robustipes was the most prevalent and abundant parasite in all 4 localities, and its nymphal stage was the most abundant form recovered. In total, 10 new host and 43 locality records are presented.

The ancyrocephaline monogene Guavinella tropica n. gen., n. sp. is described from the gills of the bigmouth sleeper, Gobiomorus dormitor (Perciformes: Eleotridae), from Veracruz, Mexico. This is the first dactylogyrid reported from a Neotropical eleotrid fish.

The results of a systematic survey of species of monogeneans (Dactylogyridae) collected from the gills of pimelodid, poeciliid, cichlid, and characid fishes from the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua in 1999 are presented. The following species were recovered: Ameloblastella chavarriai and Aphanoblastella travassosi occurred on the gills of Rhamdia nicaraguensis; Salsuginus neotropicalis on Belonesox belizanus; Sciadicleithrum bravohollisae on Vieja maculicauda; Sciadicleithrum meekii on Archocentrus nigrofasciatus; Sciadicleithrum mexicanum on Cichlasoma urophthalmus, Parachromis dovii, Tomocichla tuba, V. maculicauda, and Parachromis managuense; Sciadicleithrum nicaraguense on Amphilophus alfari; and Palombitrema heteroancistrium, Urocleidoides costaricensis, and Urocleidoides strombicirrus on Astyanax fasciatus. Data on morphological and biometrical variability of individual species from different hosts are provided. Aspects of the zoogeographical distribution of the species found, which are mostly similar to those of southeastern Mexico, are discussed.

Seven species of ectoparasite were collected from 32 striped skunks, Mephitis mephitis, in south-central Connecticut, U.S.A., from July through September 2001. The most frequently collected ectoparasite was the chewing louse Neotrichodectes mephitidis, which was the only host-specific ectoparasite collected. Immature stages (larvae and nymphs) of 2 species of ticks, Ixodes cookei and the blacklegged tick, Ixodes scapularis, also were commonly collected. The remaining 4 species of ectoparasite consisted of 2 species of flea, Oropsylla arctomys and the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis, the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, and a macronyssid mite, Ornithonyssus wernecki, that normally parasitizes the Virginia opossum. Overall, the ectoparasite fauna of the striped skunk appears to be relatively depauperate. However, D. variabilis, I. cookei, I. scapularis, and C. felis are known to be vectors of zoonotic pathogens.

Eighty-four lizards representing 11 species of 4 families were collected in Pakistan between July 1975 and August 1976 and examined for metazoan endoparasites: Agamidae, Calotes versicolor, Laudakia caucasica, Laudakia nupta, Laudakia tuberculata, Trapelus agilis, Uromastyx hardwickii, Gekkonidae, Eublepharis macularius, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, Hemidactylus triedrus, Lacertidae, Acanthodactylus cantoris, and Scincidae, Eumeces schneiderii. One species of Trematoda, Paradistomoides orientale, 12 species of Nematoda, Abbreviata achari, Abbreviata kolayatensis, Parapharyngodon calotis, Pharyngodon frenatusi, Pharyngodon mamillatus, Spinicauda hardwickii, Strongyluris calotis, Tachygonetria indica, Tachygonetria paradentata, Thelandros baylisi, Thelandros masaae, Thelandros taylori, 1 species of Pentastomida, Raillietiella hemidactyli, and cystacanths of 1 species of Acanthocephala (Centrorhynchidae) were found. Thirteen new locality records and 15 new host records are reported.

A parasitologic survey for internal parasites was done at routine necropsy of cattle (N = 142) and horses (N = 190, including 1 donkey) at the Livestock Disease Diagnostic Center, University of Kentucky, in 2000 and 2001. The eyes, esophagus, lungs, rumen, and feces were examined from the cattle, and the small intestine was scrutinized from the horses. Endoparasites recovered from the cattle (percent infected) were Thelazia skrjabini (13%) and Thelazia gulosa (8%) from the eyes. One or both Thelazia species were recovered from 16% of the cattle, and Gongylonema pulchrum (2%) was recovered from the esophagus. The types of eggs present in the feces of cattle (percent positive) were Haemonchus–Ostertagia–Trichostrongylus (53%), Nematodirus (13%), Strongyloides (3%), Trichuris (3%), Capillaria (1%), and Moniezia (4%). Lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) larvae were not detected in cattle feces. No parasite was found in the lungs or rumen of necropsied cattle. Parasites found in the small intestine of the horses (percent infected) were Gasterophilus intestinalis, third instar (3%), Gasterophilus nasalis, third instar (3%), Parascaris equorum, immature (5%), Parascaris equorum, mature (7%), Anoplocephala perfoliata (15%), and Anoplocephala magna (0.05%).

Two hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis (Urodela: Cryptobranchidae), from Missouri, U.S.A., were examined for helminths. Three nematode species, Falcaustra catesbeianae Walton, 1929, Urodelnema mackini (Walton, 1941), and Kamegainema cingula (Linstow, 1902) and 1 proteocephalid cestode species were found. This is the first record of Fa. catesbeianae from the hellbender. Kamegainema cingula, normally a dermal nematode of cryptobranchids, is reported for the first time infecting the body cavity.

We described the population structure and habitat selection of Anisakis simplex in 46 franciscanas, Pontoporia blainvillei, 8 Burmeister's porpoises, Phocoena spinnipinis, 2 Dusky dolphins, Lagenorhynchus obscurus, and 2 common dolphins, Delphinus delphis, caught incidentally in the coastal fisheries of northern Argentina. Prevalence ranged from 50% to 100%, but mean intensities were low (1.0–3.6), suggesting that A. simplex has low recruitment rates to coastal dolphins in this area. Adult nematodes were found exclusively in the main stomach of 64.5% of franciscanas (the first stomach of this species) and the forestomach of 50% of Burmeister's porpoises and Dusky dolphins. Other developmental stages occurred in the first stomach but were also found in posterior digestive chambers. The median worm of the distribution among chambers was more anterior for preadults than for L4s and more anterior for L4s than for L3s. Our data are compatible with the hypothesis that individuals of A. simplex tend to select the site where digestion begins. This preference is more pronounced in adult worms. The greater restriction of adults to the first chamber could be viewed as a strategy to enhance mating opportunities. Alternatively, it might indicate that adults have stronger requirements for the resources provided by the first chamber.

During the summers of 1997 and 1998, shrews (Sorex spp.) from northwestern Wyoming were examined for coccidia by necropsy. Because specimens collected in 1997 were frozen, coccidian oocysts did not sporulate, but the morphology of unsporulated oocysts collected from 3 of 19 (16%) masked shrews (Sorex cinereus) and 7 of 29 montane shrews (Sorex monticolus) suggests that Eimeria longirostris might be present. In 1998, sporulated oocysts of E. longirostris were recovered from 7 of 32 (22%) masked shrews and 5 of 14 (36%) montane shrews. In addition, an unidentified eimerian was recovered from 1 of 32 (3%) masked shrews and Isospora brevicauda from 2 of 14 (14%) montane shrews. The identification of E. longirostris in masked and montane shrews in northwestern Wyoming constitutes a new geographic record for this parasite. The recovery of I. brevicauda from montane shrews in northwestern Wyoming establishes new host and geographic records.

The family Amoebidiaceae Lichtenstein is emended to Amoebidiidae Lichtenstein to promote nomenclatural stability within Choanozoa.

A transplantation technique for transferring adult worms of Ascaridia galli to parasite-naive recipient chickens is described. The aim was to find a less traumatic transplantation technique than surgical transplantation, as well as a technique that would avoid worm injuries due to worm passage through the chicken proventriculus and gizzard. Thirty experimental growers were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 animals were fasted for 24 hr before transplantation, and group 2 received an antiperistaltic treatment before and after the transplantation. Animals in group 3 received no special treatment. All animals were fasted for 2 hr before anesthesia and pretreated with atropine. The chickens were anesthetized, and each received 2 male and 2 female worms of Ascarid. galli by cloacal intubation. The tube was inserted and the worms flushed out of the tube as anteriorly as possible in the rectum. Fecal samples were examined during the experimental period to monitor the eventual parasite egg excretion. Two weeks after transplantation the birds were slaughtered and the intestines examined for adult Ascarid. galli. Infection was established in 20% of the animals belonging to groups 1 and 2, and in 60% of the animals in group 3. This transplantation technique enables direct establishment of infections of adult Ascarid. galli in chickens, although the exact worm sex composition of the infection is still unpredictable because of expulsion of worms after transplantation. The method is less traumatic to the experimental animal than are surgical techniques.

The white croaker, Genyonemus lineatus, occurs in degraded habitats like Los Angeles Harbor, California, U.S.A., and has been used as a target species for pollution monitoring studies in the Southern California Bight. Sampling of croaker from several sites within Los Angeles Harbor and a reference site, Dana Point, was done to assess the relationship between endohelminth parasitism and pollution in this fish host. Prevalence of Anisakis sp., Stephanostomum spp., and Lacistorhynchus dollfusi varied significantly by site. Only for Anisakis sp. was mean intensity significantly different between the less polluted site, Dana Point, and the site in Los Angeles Harbor closest to the outfall pipe of a sewage treatment plant. Anisakis sp. appears to be useful as an indicator of pollution exposure in white croaker populations from Los Angeles Harbor.

Fifty bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, were collected in June and July 1997 from a small eutrophic pond in northern Indiana and examined for parasites. Two species of larval helminth were recovered, Posthodiplostomum minimum and Proteocephalus sp., as well as 2 species of adult enteric nematodes, Spinitectus carolini and Camallanus oxycephalus. Posthodiplostomum minimum exhibited the highest prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. Proteocephalus sp. exhibited the lowest prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance. The two nematode species had high prevalences and similar mean intensities and mean abundances. The intensities of Po. minimum and S. carolini increased with total host length. There was no significant difference in prevalence, mean intensity, or mean abundance between sexes for any parasite species. This is the first report of these helminth species in bluegills from Indiana.

Oswaldocruzia pipiens was recovered from the small intestines of Bufo americanus americanus in southwestern West Virginia. Toads were collected from 2 different sites during the April breeding seasons of 1994 and 1995 (Cabell County), and 1993, 1995, and 2000 (Wayne County). Prevalences were 60.0% (15 of 25) and 29.2% (14 of 48) for females and males, respectively, from Cabell County. Prevalences in Wayne County toads were 47.8% for females (11 of 23) and 46.7% for males (36 of 77). Mean intensities (at 1.9) were lowest in male toads from both sites and highest (at 3.6) for females in Wayne County. A total of 167 O. pipiens was collected: 59 from the 29 infected Cabell County hosts and 108 from the 47 infected Wayne County hosts. The 167 nematodes comprised 79 females and 88 males.

One hundred and eight crested larks, Galerida cristata, from eastern Saudi Arabia were examined for endoparasites during the period October 1993 through March 1994. Diplotriaena tridens was recovered from the air sacs, and Variolepis farciminosa was recovered from the duodenum. These are new host and locality records for these endohelminths. Although no significant difference in prevalence or intensity was attributable to host gender, V. farciminosa was more prevalent (39.8%) than D. tridens (10.2%).