Teneal Nel1, Louis du Preez1,2, Edward Netherlands1, Yaroslav Syrota1,3, Roman Svitin4,5,6. 1. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa. 2. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. 3. I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Kyiv, Ukraine. 4. Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Amphibian Conservation Research Group, North-West University, Potchefstroom, 2531, South Africa. romasvit@izan.kiev.ua. 5. South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Makhanda, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. romasvit@izan.kiev.ua. 6. I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, Kyiv, Ukraine. romasvit@izan.kiev.ua.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The nematode Spiroxys ankarafantsika was described parasitising freshwater turtles Pelusios castanoides and Pelomedusa subrufra from Madagascar. During parasitological surveys at different localities in Mozambique and South Africa the species was recovered from the digestive tract of Pelusios sinuatus, P. subniger and P. castanoides. METHODS: The species were identified based on the morphology of the anterior extremity (absence of additional teeth on pseudolabia) and the male caudal end (number and arrangement of caudal papillae, size and shape of spicules). Molecular data included a 720 bp sequence fragment of 18S rDNA, the entire internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA, and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS), flanked by a 288 bp 18S rDNA sequence and about 1000 bp 28S rDNA sequence, and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene marker obtained in the present study. RESULTS: All specimen recovered were identical, based on morphological and molecular data, with the exception of two specimens showing an intraspecific divergence of 9% based on a 694 bp sequence fragment of the cox1 gene. Additionally, a Contracaecum sp. third stage larva and an unidentified larva with mushroom-shaped anterior extremity were found. Descriptions of S. ankarafantsika and the two above-mentioned larval stages, supported by photomicrographs and molecular data 18S rDNA, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S and cox1 gene fragments are presented herein.
INTRODUCTION: The nematode Spiroxys ankarafantsika was described parasitising freshwater turtles Pelusios castanoides and Pelomedusa subrufra from Madagascar. During parasitological surveys at different localities in Mozambique and South Africa the species was recovered from the digestive tract of Pelusios sinuatus, P. subniger and P. castanoides. METHODS: The species were identified based on the morphology of the anterior extremity (absence of additional teeth on pseudolabia) and the male caudal end (number and arrangement of caudal papillae, size and shape of spicules). Molecular data included a 720 bp sequence fragment of 18S rDNA, the entire internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), 5.8S rRNA, and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS), flanked by a 288 bp 18S rDNA sequence and about 1000 bp 28S rDNA sequence, and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) gene marker obtained in the present study. RESULTS: All specimen recovered were identical, based on morphological and molecular data, with the exception of two specimens showing an intraspecific divergence of 9% based on a 694 bp sequence fragment of the cox1 gene. Additionally, a Contracaecum sp. third stage larva and an unidentified larva with mushroom-shaped anterior extremity were found. Descriptions of S. ankarafantsika and the two above-mentioned larval stages, supported by photomicrographs and molecular data 18S rDNA, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S and cox1 gene fragments are presented herein.