A new definitive host for Moniliformis cestodiformis (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae): first report of a naturally infected European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus).

European hedgehogs, Erinaceus europaeus (Linnaeus, 1758), are small mammals found in western Europe and also in parts of northern Europe. They can be seen in rural, suburban and urban areas, but are usually found in grassland with edge habitats. These animals are omnivorous and serve as definitive or paratenic hosts for several parasites, including acanthocephalans (phylum Acanthocephala). During necropsy of a European hedgehog, a single adult parasite was collected from the intestinal lumen and preserved in 70% ethanol. After morphological evaluation of the specimen, it was identified as Moniliformis cestodiformis (von Linstow, 1904) (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae). This is the first report of M. cestodiformis in a European hedgehog, as well as in Europe. More epidemiological studies need to be carried out to map the location and prevalence of this parasite in Portugal and the European continent.

Description of a new species of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from Peromyscus hylocetes (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in Mexico.

Moniliformis ibunami n. sp., is described from the intestine of the transvolcanic deermouse Peromyscus hylocetes Merriam 1898 (Cricetidae) from Parque Nacional Nevado de Colima "El Floripondio", Jalisco, Mexico. The new species can be distinguished morphologically from the other 18 congeneric species of Moniliformis by a combination of morphological and molecular characters including the number of hooks on the proboscis (12 longitudinal rows, each one with six to eight transversally arranged unrooted hooks), the proboscis length (230-270 µm), the female trunk length (159-186 mm) and egg size (40-70 × 20-40). For molecular distinction, nearly complete sequences of the small subunit (SSU) and large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox 1) of the mitochondrial DNA of the new species were obtained and compared with available sequences downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses inferred with the three molecular markers consistently showed that Moniliformis ibunami n. sp. is sister to other congeneric species of Moniliformis. The genetic distance with cox 1 gene among Moniliformis ibunami n. sp., M. saudi, M. cryptosaudi, M. kalahariensis, M. necromysi and M. moniliformis ranged from 20 to 27%. Morphological evidence and high genetic distance, plus the phylogenetic analyses, indicate that acanthocephalans collected from the intestines of transvolcanic deer mice represent a new species which constitutes the seventh species of the genus Moniliformis in the Americas.

Moniliformis cryptosaudi n. sp. (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from the Long-eared Hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin) (Erinaceidae) in Iraq; A Case of Incipient Cryptic Speciation Related to M. saudi in Saudi Arabia.

Moniliformis cryptosaudi n. sp. (Moniliformidae) is an acanthocephalan described from the long-eared hedgehog Hemiechinus auritus (Gmelin) (Erinaceidae) in Iraq as an incipient cryptic species of Moniliformis saudi Amin, Heckmann, Mohammed, Evans, 2016 described from the desert hedgehog Paraechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg) (Erinaceidae) in Saudi Arabia. Microscopical studies demonstrate that the two species are morphologically indistinguishable with practically identical measurements and counts but differed significantly in their energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDXA) of metal composition of hooks. Hooks of specimens of the new species appeared to be of collagen material with very low levels of phosphorus and calcium unlike those of M. saudi and Moniliformis kalahariensis Meyer, 1931 that had high levels of calcium and phosphorus. Using 18S rDNA and cox1 genes, M. Saudi and M. kalahariensis were shown to be molecularly distinct but the molecular profiles of M. saudi and M. cryptosaudi were more similar. The molecular profile of M. kalahariensis collected from the South African hedgehog Atelerix frontalis Smith (Erinaceidae) in South Africa is reported for the first time and is studied only for comparative purposes. Moniliformis saudi and M. kalahariensis had comparable EDXA metal analysis that was distinct from that of M. cryptosaudi.

A new species of Moniliformis from a Sigmodontinae rodent in Patagonia (Argentina).

The majority of species of Acanthocephala known thus far from South America have been recorded mostly in fish and wild birds. In particular, rodents in Argentina have been poorly studied for acanthocephalans. The genus Abrothrix (Sigmodontinae-Cricetidae) ranges from the Altiplano of southern Peru through the highlands of Bolivia, northern Chile, and Argentina south through Tierra del Fuego. The purpose of this paper was to study Acanthocephala species parasitizing different populations of Abrothrix from Santa Cruz province (Patagonia Argentina). Specimens of Acanthocephala were found in the small intestine of Abrothrix olivaceus, showing values of P 14.7%, IM = 2.8, and AM = 0.41. All the rodents parasitized were collected in Punta Quilla, Santa Cruz, Argentina. The specimens of Abrothrix longipilis were not parasitized. Moniliformis amini n. sp. is described with features such as the long, cylindrical, and pseudo-segmented body; proboscis receptacle double walled, outer wall with muscle fibers usually arranged spirally, and a combination of several morphometric characters, mainly the very small size of the proboscis receptacle and length of the testes and lemnisci. A marked proportion of arthropods was found in the diet of A. olivaceus, characterizing it as arthropodivorous. Possibly, a larger sampling effort and specific projects dealing with the study of acanthocephalans will shed light on several questions of the rodent-Moniliformis relationship.

Morphological and molecular descriptions of Moniliformis saudi sp. n. (Acanthocephala: Moniliformidae) from the desert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg) in Saudi Arabia, with a key to species and notes on histopathology.

A new acanthocepohalan species, Moniliformis saudi sp. n. is described from the desert hedgehog, Paraechinus aethiopicus (Ehrenberg), in central Saudi Arabia. Fourteen other valid species of Moniliformis Travassos, 1915 are recognised. The new species of Moniliformis is distinguished by having a small proboscis (315-520 µm long and 130-208 µm wide) with two apical pores, 14 rows of 8 hooks each and small hooks, thre largest being 25-31 µm long anteriorly. Distinguishing features are incorporated in a dichotomous key to the species of Moniliformis. The description is augmented by scanning electron microscopical (SEM) observation and DNA analysis of nuclear (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1; cox1) gene sequences. Attached worms cause extensive damage to the immediate area of attachment in the host intestine. This includes tissue necrosis and blood loss due to damage to capillary beds. Worms also obstruct essential absorbing surfaces.

A case of Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala) infection in Iran.

Only a few cases of Acanthocephala infections have been reported in humans, and Moniliformis moniliformis is the most common species around the world. We report here a case of infection with M. moniliformis, which passed in the stool of a 2-year-old girl in Iran. The patient had abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and facial edema. According to her mother, the patient had habit of eating dirt and once a cockroach was discovered in her mouth. In stool examination, eggs of M. moniliformis were not found. She was treated with levamisole and the clinical symptoms reduced within 2 weeks. The specimen contained 2 pieces of a female worm with a total length of 148 mm lacking the posterior end. The spiral musculature of the proboscis receptacle and the shape of the trunk allowed its generic determination. Previously 2 cases of M. moniliformis infection were reported in Iran. This is the 3rd case of M. moniliformis infection in Iran.

A case of Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala) infection in Iran

Only a few cases of Acanthocephala infections have been reported in humans, and Moniliformis moniliformis is the most common species around the world. We report here a case of infection with M. moniliformis, which passed in the stool of a 2-year-old girl in Iran. The patient had abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and facial edema. According to her mother, the patient had habit of eating dirt and once a cockroach was discovered in her mouth. In stool examination, eggs of M. moniliformis were not found. She was treated with levamisole and the clinical symptoms reduced within 2 weeks. The specimen contained 2 pieces of a female worm with a total length of 148 mm lacking the posterior end. The spiral musculature of the proboscis receptacle and the shape of the trunk allowed its generic determination. Previously 2 cases of M. moniliformis infection were reported in Iran. This is the 3rd case of M. moniliformis infection in Iran.

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) a new host species for acanthocefalan Moniliformis moniliformis (Bremser, 1811) in Poland.

Acanthocephalan Moniliformis moniliformis is a parasite of rodents, rarely also reported from carnivorous mammals. One female specimen of this parasite has been found in the small intestine of red fox Vulpes vulpes. It is the first report about this species invading the red fox in Poland.

Syncytial organization of acanthors of Polymorphus minutus (Palaeacanthocephala), Neoechinorhynchus rutili (Eoacanthocephala), and Moniliformis moniliformis (Archiacanthocephala) (Acanthocephala).

The fine structures of immature and of developed shelled acanthors of three species belonging to the three subgroups of the Acanthocephala were investigated. Acanthors are surrounded by four eggshells (embryonic envelopes) and are composed of three syncytia: a frontal syncytium, a central syncytium, and an epidermal syncytium. Neither a sense organ nor a nervous system has been found. The central syncytium shows a mass of condensed nuclei and 12 decondensed nuclei and gives rise to 10 anterior/posterior subepidermal myofibrillar systems and 2 oblique retractor muscles. Circular muscles are missing. A single decondensed nucleus can be assigned to each of the 12 muscular systems. The epidermal syncytium embeds the other two syncytia and forms the wrinkled epidermis, which shows an extracellular glycocalyx and intrasyncytial condensations. Prominent recurved hooks, which mark the anterior end of each acanthor, and body spines are intraepidermal differentiations. Partly branched tubular infoldings of the epidermal plasma membrane of the acanthor exist and represent precursors of the pore ducts typical of the adult epidermis. Autapomorphies in the ground pattern of the monophylum Acanthocephala are the four eggshells, the early development of three syncytia, the condensed nuclei in the central syncytium, and the differentiation of ten longitudinal muscle bands and two muscle retractors and of intraepidermal hooks and spines. The syncytial organization of the epidermis with intraepidermal skeletal condensations and infoldings of the apical plasma membrane are characteristics inherited from a stem species common to Acanthocephala, Seison, and Rotifera.

Parasite population biology and host nutrition: dietary fructose and Moniliformis (Acanthocephala).

Experiments were carried out to investigate the possible influence of host-dietary fructose concentration on the relationship between worm burden and the fecundity of Moniliformis dubius. Worm length was found to be dependent both on the fructose concentration of the host's diet and on worm burden. The number of free ovaries/female worm was found to increase linearly with increasing dietary fructose concentration but was independent of worm burden. The length of the ovaries increased with increasing dietary fructose concentration and decreased in response to increases in worm density. The magnitude of the density-dependent reduction in the volume of ovarian tissue/female was decreased in worms from rats fed on diets containing low concentrations of fructose. The numbers of eggs present in the body cavities of the female worms was found to be positively correlated with dietary fructose concentration. At 5 weeks post-infection, mature eggs (containing fully developed acanthor larvae) were found in the body cavities of female worms from rats whose diets contained 3 and 12% fructose, but not in those from rats whose diets contained 1 and 2% fructose (w/w). The experimental results are discussed in the wider context of the influence of host nutrition on parasite population biology.

Morphology of the reproductive system of female Moniliformis dubius (Acanthocephala).

By means of light and electron microscopical techniques, the organization of the reproductive tract of female Moniliformis dubius is described. The tract consists of an efferent duct system associated with 2 ligament sacs present in the body cavity. The efferent duct system consists of uterine bell, uterus and vagina. The uterine bell contains a complex system of routes and is associated with the ligament sacs in a way that facilitates egg sorting. The dorsal and ventral ligament sacs exist with separate cavities at the posterior end, where they are attached to the efferent duct, but merge into a single sac at the anterior of the trunk.

Anatomy of the genital ganglion of the male acanthocephalan, Moniliformis moniliformis.

Male Moniliformis moniliformis possess paired genital ganglia each measuring approximately 280 micron long by 80 micron wide by 25 micron thick. They are located on either side of Saefftigen's pouch on the ventral surface of the ejaculatory duct where it joins the bursal cap. The cellular organization consists of externally located soma and a poorly developed internal neuropile. Most of the 19 cells in each ganglion exit via axons from the anterior and posterior extremities. A single dorsal commissure connects the 2 ganglia. No ventral commissure was observed. Many cells contained large nuclei with perinuclear rings but no cell had 2 nuclei.

The cystacanth of Moniliformis moniliformis (Bremser, 1811) and its relationship with the haemocytes of the intermediate host (Periplaneta americana).

The nature of the capsule of the cystacanth of Moniliformis moniliformis was studied. Fat body, tracheal system, Malpighian tubules and haemocytes of the host are intimately associated with the cystacanth. The capsule of the cystacanth is cellular. The cells encapsulating the middle and late acanthellae are granular haemocytes of the host, whereas those encapsulating the cystacanth are agranular. Degranulation of haemocytes after encapsulation of the cystacanth recalls the common method for encapsulation of parasites of insect haemocytes, but a difference between the two kinds of encapsulation is that the capsule around the cystacanth does not bring about melanization nor destroys the parasite. It is suggested that the surface of the parasite may have inhibitors against enzyme systems causing melanization. Host haemocytes are also found in the capsular fluid. The infiltration of haemocytes into the capsule may be in response to the release of metabolites by the parasites. It is also suggested that the haemocytes may detoxify the parasitic metabolities. Rarely, capsules containing two parasites were observed. In one of the cases, one of the two cystacanths already possessed its own capsule. This finding, together with the cellular nature of the capsule, suggests that the capsule is of host origin.

A new ganglion in male Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala).

A new ganglion identified as the bursal ganglion is described from male Moniliformis moniliformis. This ganglion is located adjacent to the pseudocoel and longitudinal muscle fibers and medial to the dorsal lacunar canal about 1 mm from the posterior end of males with non-everted bursa. The ganglion consists of four large club-shaped cells with single nuclei and bipolar neurons. The ganglion cells are paired with one neuron from each cell innervating the opposite side of the worm.

Nerves originating from the cerebral ganglion of Moniliformis moniliformis (Acanthocephala).

Extending from the cerebral ganglion are the following 6 pairs of nerves: 2 pairs of anterior medial nerves, 2 pairs of lateral medial nerves, 1 pair of anterior proboscis nerves, 1 pair of lateral medial nerves. The dorsal anterior medial nerve and the ventral anterior medial nerve are unpaired nerves. The dorsal anterior medial nerve supplies the apical sensory device on the proboscis. The ventral anterior medial nerve supplies the retractor and protrusor muscles of the proboscis and the lateral posterior nerve supplies the longitudinal and circular muscles of the body wall. This last nerve is the largest of the nerves and is enclosed by the retinacular muscle as it extends through the pseudocoel to the body wall where it divides into a posterior and anterior nerve. The anterior medial nerve originates from 2 different levels along the dorsal anterior surface of the ganglion. These nerves serve the anterior presoma. The anterior proboscis nerve originates from the apical cells of the ganglion and is found between the proboscis retractor muscles throughout their length.

Morphological variation of Moniliformis moniliformis (Bremser 1811) Travassos 1915 and Moniliformis clarki (Ward 1917) Chandler 1921.

A two-way fixed model analysis of variance was used to test Moniliformis moniliformis and M. clarki for inter- and intraspecific differences with respect to 7 morphological characters used to distinguish species of the genus. M. clarki was sexually dimorphic in more characters than was M. moniliformis when specimens from their usual definitive hosts, Spermophilus tridecemlineatus and Rattus norvegicus, respectively, were compared. More characters were sexually dimorphic in both species reared in hamsters, Mesocricetus auratus, than in their usual definitive hosts or M. clarki from rats. Moniliformis clarki and M. moniliformis (n = 25 each sex, each species) from their usual hosts were significantly different at the 1% level in 6 of 7 characters studied. Further M. clarki of either sex from ground squirrels did not differ significantly in any of the 7 characters from those of the same sex from rats. When reared in hamsters, the range in number of longitudinal rows of proboscis hooks of female M. moniliformis included that of M. clarki, but the 2 species were distinct in each of the other features which distinguished them in rats and ground squirrels.

Anatomy of the cerebral ganglion of the male acanthocephalan, Moniliformis dubius.

An atlas of the cerebral ganglion of Moniliformis dubius has been constructed and the cells identified by number. There is a total of 88 cells, two of which are binucleate. These cells (20 and 90) are located in the frontal plane. The cell population is equally distributed between each half of the ganglion, there being 41 cells on each side with six cells centrally located between the two halves. Most cells give rise to bilateral processes and are organized in such a way that there is an outer coat of somata or cell bodies. Cell bodies predominate on the ventral surface, but the dorsal surface is more of a mixture of cell bodies and nerve processes. The core or neuropile occupies the central part of the ganglion and is the site for cross over for many cell processes which then exist from the side opposite the cell body. The cytoarchitecture of these cells varies considerably. Most have a large round nucleus with well defined nucleoli.