Survivorship of cercariae of Postharmostomum helicis (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae) was examined under different temperatures and relative humidities. Cercariae were isolated from naturally infected snails (Anguispira alternata) and maintained at combinations of 3 temperatures (16.6, 22.2, and 29.4°C) and 5 relative humidities (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%). Cercariae maintained at low relative humidities (0–50%) died rapidly at all temperatures, surviving 30 min or less on average. At higher relative humidities, life span extended for 3 or more hr. Vapor pressure deficit was a good predictor of life span except for trials at 100% relative humidity, wherein cercariae often died prior to desiccation of the mucous trails in which they were shed. The results of the present investigation suggest that life span is highly limited except under the moistest conditions.

Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) halitrophus (Fusco and Overstreet, 1978) is an intestinal parasite of the flounders Syacium papillosum and Citharichthys macrops, both of which are native to waters off the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With transmission electron microscopy, we observed the body wall which is composed of the cuticle, hypodermis, and somatic musculature. The cuticle of P. (S.) halitrophus is composed of 5 layers: the epicuticle, cortical, median, fibrous, and basal layers. Underlying the cuticle is the hypodermis, a syncytium that contains mitochondria, glycogen granules, vesicles, inclusion bodies, and an endoplasmic reticulum. The region of hypodermal chords contains a nucleus in addition to the other organelles and there is a basal lamina surrounding each muscle cell. The use of imidazole-buffered osmium tetroxide solution revealed the presence of lipids in the epicuticle, the membrane that surrounds each muscle cell, the inclusion bodies, and the endoplasmic reticulum. The phosphotungstic-acid technique revealed basic proteins in the epicuticle and dense bodies. The use of periodic acid-thiosemicarbazide-silver proteinate for carbohydrate detection did not show any reaction products in the cuticle. However, glycogen particles were evident in the hypodermis and muscle cells.

Protomagalhaensia blaberae Peregrine, 1970 is redescribed from the type host, the Bolivian cockroach Blaberus boliviensis. Complete morphometric data on all life cycle stages is presented, the taxon is stabilized with the deposition of new voucher specimen material, and P. blaberae is distinguished from all other species in the genus (Protomagalhaensia cerastes, Protomagalhaensia granulosae, and Protomagalhaensia wolfi). Species of Protomagalhaensia are distinguished by differences in relative metric ratios, morphology of oocysts, and by relative metric ratios of mature gamonts in association. The status of Protomagalhaensia serpentula is considered and the taxon is determined species inquirenda.

Southwellina hispida Van Cleave, 1925 (Polymorphidae) is an endoparasite of fish-eating birds; the taxon exhibits wide intraspecific variability along its distribution area in Mexico. Specimens of S. hispida were recovered from 12 definitive host species (herons, pelicans, cormorants, and anhingas), as well as from paratenic hosts (cichlid fishes), along the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean slopes comprising localities in both the Neartic and Neotropical regions of Mexico. There were no significant differences in trunk length and width of the 40 cystacanths recovered from the mesentery of paratenic hosts. However, a more-detailed principal component analysis of 28 relaxed, mature adult females of S. hispida revealed considerable morphological variation among specimens. Sequences of the mitochondrial coding gene cytochrome c oxidase (cox 1) were generated for 22 samples of S. hispida recovered from 12 localities. The genetic divergence estimated among samples was very low, ranging from 0% to 1%. The 22 cox 1 sequences of S. hispida were aligned with 10 other sequences, representing 3 genera of Polymorphidae and forming a data set of 32 taxa with 655 nucleotides. The maximum likelihood tree yielded the 22 sequences of S. hispida plus 1 sample of S. hispida from Hawaii, United States and formed a clade with a high bootstrap support value. The genetic divergence plus the phylogenetic tree indicated that all the samples of S. hispida belong to the same species. The presence of S. hispida in members of 4 families of fish-eating birds (Ardeidae, Anhingidae, Pelecanidae, and Phalacrocoracidae) could be the result of these birds occurring in sympatry and feeding on the same fish species harboring the cystacanths, showing the low host-specificity of this acanthocephalan.

Hapalorhynchus snyderi n. sp. and Hapalorhynchus tkachi n. sp. are described from the circulatory systems of the Malayan snail-eating turtle, Malayemys subtrijuga (Testudines: Geoemydidae) and the black marsh turtle, Siebenrockiella crassicollis (Testudines: Geoemydidae), respectively. Both of the new species are described from hosts in the family Geoemydidae, while previous species reported from Malaysia (Hapalorhynchus macrotesticularis and Hapalorhynchus rugatus) were described from soft-shelled turtles (Family Trionychidae). Both new species can be differentiated from H. rugatus Brooks and Sullivan (1981) in that they lack the rugae on the hindbody that is characteristic of H. rugatus. Hapalorhynchus snyderi n. sp. is most similar to H. macrotesticularis (Rohde, Lee, and Lim, 1968) but is much smaller and differs from that species in a suite of morphometric criteria. In addition, H. snyderi possesses intestinal cecae that are simple and straight while the cecae in H. macrotesticularis are highly sinuous, particularly in the posttesticular region. Hapalorhynchus tkachi n. sp. can be differentiated from H. snyderi by its much smaller size (<1 mm in total length), the presence of a distinct constriction at the level of the acetabulum, and the more-posterior location of the ventral sucker.

A new species of Carolinensis Travassos, 1937 is proposed for nematodes collected from Sumichrast's vesper rat Nyctomys sumichrasti, an arboreal cricetid of Neotropical rainforests. Carolinensis perezponcedeleoni n. sp. is differentiated from the other 8 species in the genus by the relatively longer spicules and genital cone and by the extension of rays 8, which reach the margins of the bursa. The species shares similarities in the configuration of the bursal rays and conspicuous genital cone with Carolinensis kinsellai, Carolinensis dalrymplei, and Carolinensis tuffi; however, the size of these structures, features of the synlophe, and presence of 2 hook-like projections on the distal end of the genital cone allow the discrimination of the new species.

A new species, Montistrongylus karungi (Heligmonellidae) was collected from the digestive tracts of 6 Abeomelomys sevia (Rodentia: Muridae: Anisomyini) from localities in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The new species differs from both its congeners in having 13–18 ridges in the synlophe. Larval Ophidascaris (Ascarididae), Heterakis sp. (Heterakidae), and Odilia mackerrasae (Heligmonellidae) were each recovered from a single host. The phylogenetic relationships of Abeomelomys within the Anisomyini are as yet unresolved, and there is insufficient information about the helminth assemblages of the ansomyin genera, but there are similarities in ecology and distribution of the hosts of the 3 species of Montistrongylus. Therefore it is unclear as to whether coevolution, host switching, or both have been influential in speciation.

A new species of fish leech from England, Piscicola siddalli n. sp. (Piscicolidae), was collected in 2006 on stones and on grayling (Thymmallus thymmallus L.) in the River Ure, North Yorkshire, Great Britain. The leech is 4(12) annulate; gonopores are separated by four annuli. The male gonopore is much larger than the female gonopore. Seminal receptacle consists of a round aperture, located at a distance of 3 annuli behind the female gonopore. Copulatory area on the clitellum is in the form of a circle. Vector tissue has the form of a circular plate, below the oviduct opening.

Aplochiton zebra is found inhabiting lakes and rivers in Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) and the Malvinas Islands (Falklands Islands). The “peladilla” is not commercially fished; thus, not much is known about its biology. In previous studies, 7 parasite species were recorded from this fish species. The aim of the present work is to provide new data of A. zebra parasites from surveys in Argentinean Patagonia and to compile the published information from Argentina and Chile. A total of 217 A. zebra from 5 lakes were collected and 15 parasite species were found: 2 Protozoa, 1 Myxozoa, 6 Digenea, 1 Cestoda, 1 Acanthocephala, 3 Nematoda, and 1 Mollusca. This checklist contributes 11 new records of parasites from A. zebra.

Six species of trematodes were recovered from 5 species of snakes from the state of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. Renifer heterocoelium was found in Wagler's snake, Xenodon merremii, and the cat-eyed night snake, Leptodeira annulata. Opisthogonimus fonsecai, and Opisthogonimus fariai were obtained, respectively, from X. merremii and the common water snake, Liophis miliaris. Ophiodiplostomum spectabile was also found in Li. miliaris. Styphlodora gili was found in the two-headed sipo, Chironius bicarinatus and Travtrema stenocotyle was found in the Brazilian lancehead, Bothrops moojeni. New localities are reported and Le. annulata and C. bicarinatus are, respectively, new hosts for R. heterocoelium and S. gili.

Helminths in endemic Australian lizards of 3 families from Western Australia, Australia, and the Northern Territory, Australia, Lophognathus longirostris (Agamidae), Heteronotia binoei and Lucasium stenodactylum (Gekkonidae), and Ctenotus grandis, Ctenotus helenae, Cyclodomorphus branchialis, Egernia depressa, Eremiascincus richardsonii, Morethia butleri, and Morethia lineoocellata (Scincidae), are reported. Found were 2 species of Cestoda, Cylindrotaenia allisonae and Oochoristica australiensis, and 10 species of Nematoda—gravid individuals of Cosmocercinae gen. sp., Maxvachonia brygooi, Maxvachonia chabaudi, Moaciria sphenomorphi, Parapharyngodon fitzroyi, Parapharyngodon kartana, Pharyngodon asterostoma, Spauligodon ovifilus, and Wanaristrongylus ctenoti,—and third stage larvae of Abbreviata sp. Helminth infections of Australian lizards appear to be opportunistic with negligible host specificity. Sixteen new host records are reported.

Endohelminths of the endangered Socorro Island tree lizard, Urosaurus auriculatus, from Socorro Island, Revillagigedo Archipelago, Colima, Mexico, were identified from 12 museum specimens. Nine of 12 lizards (75%) were infected with 1 species of Cestoda, Oochoristica whitfieldi; 3 species of Nematoda, Parapharyngodon alvarengai, Spauligodon oxkutzcabiensis, Strongyluris similis; and 1 species of Acanthocephala (larval cystacanth). Seven lizards harbored 1 helminth species; 2 lizards harbored 2 helminth species. On average, there were 5.1 ± 3.9 SD (range 1–11) helminth individuals per infected host and 1.2 ± 0.4 SD (range 1–2) helminth species per infected host. Five new host records were recorded.

We examined the gastrointestinal parasite fauna of adult double-crested cormorants from breeding colonies on 4 very different lakes spanning a major ecotone from prairie to boreal forest in Saskatchewan, Canada. Our objectives were to document regional parasite fauna and identify potential differences based on breeding colony location. Eight species of helminths were identified from the stomach and small intestinal contents of 92 cormorants collected during the summers of 2006 and 2007: 2 nematodes—Syncuaria squamata and Contracaecum cf. rudolphii; 2 trematodes—Ribeiroia ondatrae and Drepanocephalus spathans; and 4 cestodes—Ligula colymbi, Schistocephalus solidus, Paradilepis caballeroi, and Paradilepis sp. Our results include an apparently undescribed species of Paradilepis, new host records for L. colymbi, S. solidus, and R. ondatrae, and new geographic records for S. squamata, D. spathans, and P. caballeroi in cormorants of western Canada. Anisakids, C. cf. rudolphii, were present in total stomach contents of all but 1 cormorant and were variably associated with mucosal ulceration and hemorrhage. The occurrence of an acanthocephalan, Pomphorhynchus bulbocolli, and plerocercoids of the cestode Diphyllobothrium are considered artifacts of a piscivorous diet. Overall, parasite fauna was similar at 3 of 4 lakes; however, birds at a breeding colony that consumed a high proportion of amphibians (instead of fish) had a low prevalence and intensity of D. spathans. Parasite abundance and diversity may be a useful indicator of differences in feeding ecology among wildlife populations.

Studies of rodent parasites are very important in relation to human and veterinary medicine and biology. Previous studies have demonstrated that the rate of infestation with ectoparasites and infection with nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes differs among locations. We surveyed the ectoparasites and endoparasites of 77 Mus musculus (house mice) collected from 41 poultry houses between April and December 2010 in northwest Iran. The rates of infection with ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths were 23.4 and 55.8%, respectively. We collected the ectoparasites Dermanyssus gallinae (prevalence 78%), Ornithonyssus bacoti (prevalence 11%), Polyplax serrate (prevalence 6%), and Myocoptes musculinus (prevalence 5%). We collected the gastrointestinal helminths Syphacia obvelata (prevalence 42%), Aspiculuris tetraptera (prevalence 19%), Syphacia muris (prevalence 18%), Cysticercus fasciolaris (prevalence 15%), and Hymenolepis diminuta (prevalence 5%). The chicken mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, and the tropical rat mite, Ornithonyssus bacoti are potential vectors of zoonotic pathogens. Hymenolepis diminuta can infect humans, and highlights the importance of house mice in certain zoonoses and suggests a more robust need for mouse control in the poultry houses.

The gastrointestinal and external parasites and their level of infestation in the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx) were studied at King Khalid Wildlife Research Center (KKWRC) in Thumamah, Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. Fecal samples were collected from 36 oryx while they were being handled for routine management at KKWRC; the samples were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. Protozoan oocysts detected in the present study were Eimeria saudiensis (prevalence 63.9%) and Cryptosporidium sp. Strongyle-type nematode eggs were present in 75% of the fecal samples. Nematodirus spathiger eggs (prevalence 55.6%) and Trichuris sp. eggs (prevalence 13.9%) were also recovered from the fecal samples. Additionally, 3 of 44 (6.8%) serum samples tested positive for toxoplasmosis antibodies. Carcasses of 6 oryx that died at the center were necropsied and all were infected with Camelstrongylus mentulatus, Trichostrongylus probolurus, and Nematodirus spathiger, whereas 3 animals were infected with Trichuris cervicaprae at relatively low intensities. Cysticerci of Taenia hydatigena were recovered from 3 of 6 necropsied oryx.

The leeches Placobdella translucens (Sawyer and Shelley, 1976) and Myzobdella reducta (Meyer, 1940) are reported from Nebraska, U.S.A. for the first time. Individuals of M. reducta were collected from the caudal fins of 4 green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). A single pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) was infested with 2 individuals of P. translucens, constituting the first report of this species from a host. Placobdella translucens closely resembles Placobdella michiganensis (Sawyer, 1972) and Placobdella phalera (sensu Moore, 1906). In 1906, J. P. Moore established the most widely recognized concept of P. phalera when he “rather doubtfully referred” some material that he collected from Michigan to P. phalera (Graf, 1899). Placobdella phalera (Graf, 1899) was recently declared a junior synonym of Placobdella ornata. Given the similarities among the species, it is likely that at least some individuals previously identified as P. phalera (sensu Moore, 1906) represent P. translucens and/or P. michiganensis.

A bibliography of 505 publications and 176 presentations authored, coauthored, or edited by the preeminent parasitologist Dr. John H. Cross during the years 1956 through 2007 is presented as a guide to his work and a tribute to his contributions to the science of parasitology. The publications range from original reports of scientific data to books and book chapters providing information on a broad spectrum of parasitological and parasitology-related topics.

Examination of antennal glands of 11 specimens of Procambarus zonangulus, from a single locality in Texas and those of 4 specimens of Procambarus blandingii, from a single locality in South Carolina, indicated infections with adult Alloglossidium spp. Prevalence of Alloglossidium caridicolum in P. zonangulus was 18.2%, and that of Alloglossidium dolandi in P. blandingii was 100%. Both collections represented new hosts and distribution records for both digene species.

In total, 160 Blanchard's cricket frogs, Acris blanchardi, were collected from several southern Michigan locations (Grand Rapids Gravel Pit, Ives Gravel Pit, Ypsilanti wetland, unknown locations) and the St. Marys Fish Hatchery, Ohio, in 2001 through 2007 and examined for parasites. Acris blanchardi harbored the following helminths in parentheses from the following locations: Grand Rapids Gravel Pit (plerocercoid of Ophiotaenia sp., gravid Cosmocercoides sp.), Ives Gravel Pit (unidentified metacercaria, larval Spiroxys sp.), Ypsilanti wetland (larval Clinostomum sp., gravid Rhabdias ranae), and the St. Marys Fish Hatchery (larval Eustrongylides sp.). The reason few helminth species were found, and in general the reason their occurrences were infrequent and intensities low in Michigan and Ohio frogs, is that most frogs examined were young of the year and that this species has a short life span and a terrestrial diet. Frogs from the gravel pits commonly harbored the protozoan symbionts Nyctotherus cordiformis and Opalina sp.

One of 6 (17%) pirate perches, Aphredoderus sayanus, from Spring Creek, Independence County, Arkansas, was found to harbor in its small intestine a single proteocephalid tapeworm, Proteocephalus pearsei LaRue, 1919. This tapeworm has been reported previously from a variety of fish hosts, including those belonging to the families Centrarchidae, Cottidae, Gadidae, Moronidae, Percidae, Salmonidae, and Sciaenidae. The documented range of P. pearsei includes 6 northern states (Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), 2 Canadian provinces (Manitoba, Ontario), and the Great Lakes. We report a new host record and, for the first time, P. pearsei from Arkansas.

Ozobranchus jantseanus (Annelida: Hirudinida: Ozobranchidae) was found parasitizing the exotic red-eared slider Trachemys scripta elegans in Japan. The invasive turtle is a new host record for O. jantseanus. Cocoons of O. jantseanus were not found on T. s. elegans.

Thirty-three juveniles of the piscicolid leech Stibarobdella macrothela were found infecting a round ribbontail ray, Taeniura meyeni, from Micronesia. Taeniura meyeni is a new host for S. macrothela. The findings of the present study constitute the first record of S. macrothela from Micronesia.

Seven isolated cases of haemadipsid leech parasitism in anuran amphibians living in the rainforests of eastern Madagascar are described. Boophis madagascariensis, Boophis roseipalmatus, Gephyromantis luteus, and Mantidactylus sp. aff. grandidieri were found to be new host records for Malagabdella species, and this study represents the first description of amphibian–leech interactions in Madagascar, the second report of leeches as ectoparasites of Malagasy vertebrates, and the fourth reference of haemadipsid as amphibian parasites.