The complete mitochondrial genome of the pentastomid Linguatula arctica (Pentastomida) from reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Northern Norway.

Here, we present the first complete mitochondrial genome of the pentastomid Linguatula arctica collected from the nasal passages of a reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Norway. The full length mitochondrial genome of L. arctica, which measures 14,789 bp in length, contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes. A clear A + T bias is observed in the mitogenome of L. arctica with an overall base composition of 32.6% A, 27.5% T, 32.8% C, and 7,1% G., and a GC content of 39.9%. The gene arrangement is identical to that of previously described pentastomid mitogenomes.

A zoonotic parasite, Linguatula serrata, infection in a dog imported from Ethiopia to the United States.

A moderate number of oval-shaped, 114.7 × 61.3 µm in size, amber-colored, arthropod-like eggs that had chitinous, smooth, semi-thickened outer wall and 2-4 short appendages armed with 2 terminal hook-like structures were detected in multiple fecal samples from an approximately 9-month-old, intact female, collie-mixed dog that had been recently imported from Ethiopia to Oklahoma, United States. Initially the unusual arthropod-like eggs were considered to be a pseudoparasite, most likely mite eggs. However, based on the history of the dog, morphology of the eggs, and presence of the eggs in repetitive fecal flotations, a pentastomid, Linguatula serrata, was suspected. DNA extraction and PCR analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene were performed on the eggs, and nucleic acid sequence showed 100% homology to L. serrata, a parasite of dogs, and L. arctica, a parasite of Norwegian reindeers. Rhinoscopy and head CT scan on the dog failed to demonstrate adult parasites or detect any pathologic changes. At this time, pentastomid eggs were no longer observed on fecal flotation. Due to the possibility of juvenile stages of the parasite still migrating in the dog, fluralaner (Bravecto®, Merck) was administered and continuing treatment recommended for at least 6 months. A follow-up fecal examination conducted a month after the treatment did not reveal any parasites or eggs. This is a case report of canine linguatuliasis diagnosed in Oklahoma, United States.

First finding of nymphal stages of Linguatula serrata in a South American camelid, a vicuña from Peru.

Linguatula serrata, a pentastomid, was found parasitizing the lungs of a vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) from Cuzco, Peru. A total of 13 larvae were found encysted in the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. All larvae were identified as nymphal stages of L. serrata by morphological methods Diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis amplifying the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene of three nymphs. Nucleotide sequences from the isolates were compared to previous sequences from GenBank, and it showed high similarity between them (>99%). This finding constitutes the first detection of L. serrata in a South American camelid.

Living on the Edge: Parasite Prevalence Changes Dramatically across a Range Edge in an Invasive Gecko.

Species interactions can determine range limits, and parasitism is the most intimate of such interactions. Intriguingly, the very conditions on range edges likely change host-parasite dynamics in nontrivial ways. Range edges are often associated with clines in host density and with environmental transitions, both of which may affect parasite transmission. On advancing range edges, founder events and fitness/dispersal costs of parasitism may also cause parasites to be lost on range edges. Here we examine the prevalence of three species of parasite across the range edge of an invasive gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus, in northeastern Australia. The gecko's range edge spans the urban-woodland interface at the edge of urban areas. Across this edge, gecko abundance shows a steep decline, being lower in the woodland. Two parasite species (a mite and a pentastome) are coevolved with H. frenatus, and these species become less prevalent as the geckos become less abundant. A third species of parasite (another pentastome) is native to Australia and has no coevolutionary history with H. frenatus. This species became more prevalent as the geckos become less abundant. These dramatic shifts in parasitism (occurring over 3.5 km) confirm that host-parasite dynamics can vary substantially across the range edge of this gecko host.

The complete mitochondrial genome of the pentastomid Armillifer grandis (Pentastomida) from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We present the first complete mitochondrial genome of the pentastomid Armillifer grandis (Arthropoda: Pentastomida) collected from the lungs of a rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The full length mitochondrial genome of Armillifer grandis, which measures 16,073 bp in length, contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 transfer RNA genes. A clear A + T bias is observed in the mitogenome of Armillifer grandis with an overall base composition of 34.6% A, 29.4% T, 29% C, and 6.9% G, and a GC content of 35.9%. The gene arrangement is identical to that of previously described pentastomid mitogenomes.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome of a Tongue Worm Armillifer agkistrodontis.

Armillifer agkistrodontis (Ichthyostraca: Pantastomida) is a parasitic pathogen, only reported in China, which can cause a zoonotic disease, pentastomiasis. A complete mitochondrial (mt) genome was 16,521 bp comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 non-coding region (NCR). A phylogenetic tree drawn with the concatenated amino acid sequences of the 6 conserved PCGs (atp6, cox1-3, and nad2) showed that A. agkistrodontis and Armillifer armillatus constituted a clade Pentastomida which was a sister group of the Branchiura. The complete mt genome sequence of A. agkistrodontis provides important genetic markers for both phylogenetic and epidemiological studies of pentastomids.

Complete Mitochondrial Genome of a Tongue Worm Armillifer agkistrodontis

Armillifer agkistrodontis (Ichthyostraca: Pantastomida) is a parasitic pathogen, only reported in China, which can cause a zoonotic disease, pentastomiasis. A complete mitochondrial (mt) genome was 16,521 bp comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 1 non-coding region (NCR). A phylogenetic tree drawn with the concatenated amino acid sequences of the 6 conserved PCGs (atp6, cox1-3, and nad2) showed that A. agkistrodontis and Armillifer armillatus constituted a clade Pentastomida which was a sister group of the Branchiura. The complete mt genome sequence of A. agkistrodontis provides important genetic markers for both phylogenetic and epidemiological studies of pentastomids.

Occurrence of the pentastomid Porocephalus crotali (Humboldt, 1811) in an Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosus): a case report.

The occurrence of the pentastomid Porocephalus crotali in an Indian rat snake (Ptyas mucosus) at Chennai, India is reported. The worms were found in the lungs and they were identified as females. The worms were cylindrical and annulated with a centrally located mouth surrounded by four hooks. The worms were rounded in cross section with tapering ends. Eggs were composed of two shell membranes. This is one of the new reports from rat snakes in Southern India.

Lesões pulmonares associadas ao parasitismo por Sebekia oxycephala (Pentastomida) em jacarés-açu (Melanosuchus niger Spix, 1825) oriundos de vida livre na Amazônia brasileira / Pulmonary lesions associated with parasitism by Sebekia oxycephala (Pentastomida) in free-ranging Black caimans (Melanosuchus niger Spix, 1825) from the Brazilian Amazon

O presente estudo objetivou descrever as lesões pulmonares macro e microscópicas associadas ao parasitismo por Sebekia oxycephala em 100 espécimes de jacarés-açu (Melanosuchusniger), abatidos na Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, situada no Estado do Amazonas, Brasil. Durante a avaliação macroscópica, exemplares dos parasitos encontrados no tecido pulmonar foram coletados individualmente em AFA (Álcool etílico - Formalina - Ácido acético glacial) e formol a 5% para avaliação parasitológica e classificação taxonômica. Amostras de tecido pulmonar de todos os animais, independentemente da ocorrência de lesões macroscópicas, foram fixadas em formol 10% e incluídas em parafina. Secções histológicas coradas por Hematoxilina-Eosina destas amostras foram avaliadas por meio de microscopia óptica. Macroscopicamente, 4 dos 100 animais (4%) apresentaram espécimes de pentastomídeos no parênquima pulmonar. Os parasitos foram classificados taxonomicamente como pertencentes à espécie Sebekia oxycephala. Nenhuma alteração macroscópicas foi observada, porém, microscopicamente, lesões pulmonares foram encontradas em 37% dos casos, sendo que, lesões inflamatórias associadas ao parasitismo corresponderam a 75,6% dos mesmos (28/37). Nestes, segmentos degenerados e ovos de S. oxycephala encontravam-se envolvidos por cápsula de tecido conjuntivo fibroso e infiltrado inflamatório predominantemente composto por células gigantes do tipo corpo estranho. Três espécimes apresentaram espessamento de septos alveolares e sete exemplares continham infiltrado inflamatório granulocítico multifocal no parênquima pulmonar. As lesões associadas ao parasitismo, de modo geral, apresentaram intensidade discreta e parecem não representar uma causa importante de doença pulmonar entre a população estudada. Esta é a primeira descrição de lesões pulmonares em M. niger associadas ao parasitismo por S. oxycephala na Amazônia brasileira.

The goal of this study was to describe gross and microscopic lung lesions associated with the parasitism by Sebekia oxycephala between 100 specimens of black caiman (Melanosuchus niger) slaughtered in the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, situated in the Amazonas State, Brazil. During the macroscopic evaluation, specimens of parasites found in the lung tissue were collected individually in AFA (ethyl alcohol - formalin - glacial acetic acid) and 5% formalin for parasitological evaluation and taxonomic classification. Lung tissue samples of all the animals, regardless of the occurrence of gross lesions, were fixed in 10% formalin and embedded in paraffin. Histological sections obtained from the samples stained by Hematoxylin-Eosin were evaluated by light microscopy. Grossly, 4 of the 100 animals (4%) presented pentastomid specimens in the lung parenchyma. These parasites were taxonomically classified as Sebekia oxycephala. No macroscopic alterations were observed, however microscopically pulmonary lesions were found in 37% of the cases, and inflammatory lesions associated with the parasitism corresponded to 75.6% of them (28/37). In these cases, degenerate segments and eggs of S. oxycephala were surrounded by a fibrous capsule and inflammatory infiltrate composed predominantly by foreign body giant cells. Three specimens exhibited thickening of the alveolar septa and seven specimens presented multifocal inflammatory granulocytic infiltration in the lung parenchyma. Generally, the associated parasitic lesions had mild intensity and did not appear to represent an important cause of lung disease in the studied population. This is the first description of lung lesions in M. niger associated with parasitism by S. oxycephala in the Brazilian Amazon.

Discovery of a New Species of the Pentastomid Genus Porocephalus (Humboldt,1811)from Taiwan, China and its Pathogenic Features / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To describe the morphological characteristics of Porocephalus taiwana sp. nov., discuss its pathogenic features and the method of etiological diagnosis of the new disease. Methods Fecal sedimentation concentration was used to collect nymphs from the patient's watery stool for species identification. Clinical information was collected for determining the pathogenic features of the new infection. Results A new pathogenic pentastomid Porocephalus taiwana sp. nov. is discovered and a new disease-porocephaliasis taiwana-is nominated. With the findings from this case it is proposed that the traditional visceral pentastomiasis should be divided into two subtypes, Encystic and Excystic. According to the pathological features, this case belongs to the excystic visceral pentastomiasis. Conclusion Porocephalus taiwana sp. nov. is a new pathogenic pentastomid infecting humans. Porocephaliais taiwana belongs to a novel type (excystic) of visceral pentastomiasis.