Three new species of Acanthocephala from Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) (Acanthocephala: Quadrigyridae) from tinfoil barb fish, Barbonymus schwanenfeldii in Lake Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia

@#This study was carried out in order to identify acanthocephalan species complexes, based on morphological variability, infecting Barbonymus schwanenfeldii from Lake Kenyir, Terengganu, Malaysia. Acanthocephala were fixed in ethanol, stained with aceto-carmine and studied morphologically by using a light microscope. Variation in morphological traits such as proboscis, proboscis receptacle, egg, testes shape and location, number of hooks and cement gland has been traditionally used to diagnose the acanthocephalans species but the delimitations between closely related species are still confusing and are always questionable among taxonomists. Molecular analysis was used for support the identification. Morphological variability prospecting reveals the presence of three different new species complexes from the subgenus Acanthosentis by referring published taxonomic keys. These new species may be distinguished from the other 46 described species of Acanthosentis by having six unique structures: the presence of an anterior parareceptacle structure (PRS); vaginal sleeve structure; a paired lateral, cone-shaped, muscular jacket surrounding the vagina; alternating pattern and size of proboscis hooks, variation in proboscis size and shape; the presence of the circular collar ring around the neck between the proboscis and trunk and lastly the presence of a muscular-like structure attached to the collar ring on the proboscis. These acanthocephalans found in the intestine of B. schwanenfeldii in Kenyir Lake Malaysia represent new species, named Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) kenyirensis n.sp., A. (A.) terengganuensis n.sp. and A. (A.) tembatensis n. sp.

Perceived parental attitude in social phobia patients

A comparative study of 80 social phobics met the D.S.M. III. R. criteria and 80 control derived from same clinic population of similar socio - economic background suffering for anxiety disorders other than social phobia. Only 20% of social phobic patients reported inhibited, withdrawn childhood adjustment which does not give much support to the assumption of avoidant disorder of childhood being the precursor of social phobia. Significantly, more patients [p <0.001], then control reported problems with a severe, harsh, punitive father. A similar perception was reported from a mother in less frequency but still significant compared to control. A perceived traumatic life event to have precipitated a disorder was reported equally in patients and control, however, 9% of patients, reported sexual assault trauma, compared to none in the control