Morphotaxonomical description of six new species of acephaline gregarines infecting oligochaete host.

This communication deals with the morphology, taxonomy and life history of six new acephaline gregarines (Apicomplexa: Gregarinomorphea) of the genus Monocystis Stein (1848), Nematocystis Hesse (1909), Aikinetocystis Gates (1926) and Dirhynchocystis Cognetti de Martiis (1921) from oligochaete hosts. These are Monocystis molnari sp. nov. from Metaphire anomala (Clitellata: Opisthopora: Megascolecidae); Monocystis paneki sp. nov. from Lampito mauritii (Clitellata: Opisthopora: Megascolecidae); Monocystis bulbae sp. nov from Metaphire posthuma (Clitellata: Opisthopora: Megascolecidae); Nematocystis cylindrum sp. nov. from Perionyx excavatus (Clitellata: Opisthopora: Megascolecidae); Aikinetocystis perionyxae sp. nov. from Perionyx excavatus (Clitellata: Opisthopora: Megascolecidae) and Dirhynchocystis drawidae sp. nov. from Drawida nepalensis (Clitellata: Haplotaxida: Moniligastridae). Trophozoites of Monocystis molnari sp. nov. elongated and cylindrical. Gametocysts elliptoid. Oocysts fusiform. Trophozoites of Monocystis paneki sp. nov. elongated and hump like. Gametocysts orbicular. Oocysts fusiform. Trophozoites of Monocystis bulbae sp. nov. elongated and cylindrical. Gametocysts fusiform. Oocysts fusiform. Trophozoites of Nematocystis cylindrum sp. nov. cylindrical. Gametocysts orbicular. Oocysts fusiform. Trophozoites of Aikinetocystis perionyxae sp. nov. cylindrical. Gametocyst ovoid. Oocysts fusiform. Dirhynchocystis drawidae sp. nov. having a capsule like body. Gametocysts orbicular. Oocysts rhomboid. © Indian Society for Parasitology 2020.