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Antarctophthirus Carlinii (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae), a New Species from the Weddell Seal Leptonychotes Weddelli

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Antarctophthirus Carlinii (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae), a New Species from the Weddell Seal Leptonychotes Weddelli Antarctophthirus carlinii (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae), a new species from the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli María Soledad Leonardi, Sebastián Poljak, Pedro Carlini, Juan Galliari, Magalí Bobinac, Mercedes Santos, María E. Márquez, et al. Parasitology Research Founded as Zeitschrift für Parasitenkunde ISSN 0932-0113 Volume 113 Number 11 Parasitol Res (2014) 113:3947-3951 DOI 10.1007/s00436-014-4058-7 1 23 Your article is protected by copyright and all rights are held exclusively by Springer- Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. This e-offprint is for personal use only and shall not be self- archived in electronic repositories. If you wish to self-archive your article, please use the accepted manuscript version for posting on your own website. You may further deposit the accepted manuscript version in any repository, provided it is only made publicly available 12 months after official publication or later and provided acknowledgement is given to the original source of publication and a link is inserted to the published article on Springer's website. The link must be accompanied by the following text: "The final publication is available at link.springer.com”. 1 23 Author's personal copy Parasitol Res (2014) 113:3947–3951 DOI 10.1007/s00436-014-4058-7 ORIGINAL PAPER Antarctophthirus carlinii (Anoplura: Echinophthiriidae), a new species from the Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddelli María Soledad Leonardi & Sebastián Poljak & Pedro Carlini & Juan Galliari & Magalí Bobinac & Mercedes Santos & María E. Márquez & Javier Negrete Received: 15 June 2014 /Accepted: 23 July 2014 /Published online: 2 August 2014 # Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014 Abstract As a part of an ongoing long-term study on the conservative morphology, and ecological and evolutionary biology of pack-ice seals in Antarctica, we had the opportu- features of sucking lice, we proposed that lice from Weddell nity to collect lice from Weddell seals (Leptonychotes seals constitute a new species. In the present work, we de- weddelli). We did not find the original description of this scribed and illustrated adults of this new species collected host-parasite association. Antarctophthirus ogmorhini had from Weddell seals during the austral summer of 2014 at the previously been reported as a parasite for the Weddell seal, Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula. but the information is, to a certain extent, confusing. During the development of the present study, we had access to liter- Keywords Antarctica . Pack-ice seals . Sucking lice . ature concerning the presence of A. ogmorhini on this host, Taxonomy which, to our knowledge, was not determined in any of the previous works on this species. We compared lice collected from Weddell seals with A. ogmorhini obtained from the type Among the sucking lice (Anoplura), the family host, the leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), and we found that Echinophthiriidae is the only family whose species have both species can be distinguished. The main differences are adapted to survive on pinnipeds (Durden and Musser 1994), the characteristic pattern of chaetotaxy in the dorsal side of the a mammalian group that includes fur seals and sea lions head in lice from Weddell seals, the size and form of the (Otariidae), walruses (Odobenidae), and true seals (Phocidae). pseudopenis, and the distribution and size of the fringe of Currently, the Echinophthiriidae consist of 12 species distrib- setae surrounding the genital opening. Considering the uted in five genera: Latagophthirus, a monotypic genus from the river otter; Proechinophthirus includes two species infesting fur seals and sea lions, whereas species of M. S. Leonardi (*) Lepidophthirus (two species); Echinophthirius (monotypic) Centro Nacional Patagónico, CENPAT-CONICET, occur in true seals; and Antarctophthirus, the most diversified Bvd. Brown 2915, 9120 Puerto Madryn, Argentina e-mail: [email protected] genus of the family. Antarctophthirus has six recognized species infecting fur S. Poljak seals (Antarctophthirus callorhini), sea lions Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal, CONICET, (Antarctophthirus microchir), walruses (Antarctophthirus Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina trichechi), and Antarctic true seals (Antarctophthirus : : P. Carlini J. Galliari J. Negrete lobodontis, Antarctophthirus ogmorhini,and Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Antarctophthirus mawsoni). Antarctophthirus is also consid- Plata, Avenida 122 y 60, 1900 La Plata, Argentina ered the less host-specific genus of the family, while M. Bobinac A. callorhini, A. trichechi, A. lobodontis, and A. mawsoni Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, has been described as species-specific; A. microchir and Avenida Ángel Gallardo 470, 1045 Buenos Aires, Argentina A. ogmorhini are present in several host species. According to the literature, A. ogmorhini is present in the leopard seal, M. Santos : M. E. Márquez : J. Negrete Departamento de Biología de Predadores Tope, Instituto Antártico Hydrurga leptonyx, and the Weddell seal, Leptonychotes Argentino, Cerrito 1248, 1010 Buenos Aires, Argentina weddelli. However, the information is, to a certain extent, Author's personal copy 3948 Parasitol Res (2014) 113:3947–3951 confusing and we did not found the original determination of are given as the mean±standard deviation and followed by this species in association with the Weddell seal. range, and the number of measurements. As a part of an ongoing project on the biology of pack-ice seals in the Antarctic Peninsula, we had the opportunity to Terminology collect lice from Weddell seals. We compared the lice collect- ed from Weddell seals with those obtained from the type host Species of Echinopthiriidae are characterized by their modi- of A. ogmorhini, i.e., the leopard seal. In view of the morpho- fied setae (Kim 1985). Names and abbreviations of setae used logical differences with A. ogmorhini,andtheecologicaland in this paper follow those of Kim and Ludwig (1978)and evolutionary history of their hosts, the aim of the present study Leonardi et al. (2009): spines are pointed setae, scales are is to describe a new species of Echinophthiriidae, flattened setae, and hairs are the long and thin setae. Antarctophthirus n. sp. from the Weddell seal. Materials and methods Results Specimens examined Antarctophthirus carlinii n. sp. The samples were taken in the Antarctic Specially Protected Taxonomic summary Area (ASPA) No. 134 “Punta Cierva”,(64°09′ 23′′ S, 60° 57′ 17′′ W) in the northern sector of the Danco Coast during the Type host: Weddell seal, L. weddelli Lesson (Mammalia: austral summer of 2013/2014. Lice were collected from eight Carnivora: Phociidae). Weddell seals, which were immobilized following the routine Type locality: Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA) procedures (see details in Wheatley et al. 2006). Ten males No. 134 “Punta Cierva”, Danco Coast, Antarctic Peninsula and 10 females of Antarctophthirus n. sp. were examined (64° 09′ 23′′ S, 60° 57′ 17′′ W). January–February 2014. under light microscope. These specimens were compared with Site in host: Mostly in the hind flippers lice from the type host of A. ogmorhini, i.e., the leopard seal Type material: Holotype (male CNP-Par 63); alotype (fe- H. leptonyx. male CNP-Par 64) paratypes (CNP-Par 65). Parasitology Col- Voucher specimens are deposited at the Parasitology Col- lection, Centro Nacional Patagónico- CENPAT/CONICET. lection, Centro Nacional Patagónico (Puerto Madryn, Puerto Madryn, Argentina., Argentina). Collectors: MS Leonardi, S Poljak, P Carlini, J Galliari, M Bobinac, J Negrete. Light microscopy Prevalence: 75 % (in six out of eight seals analyzed). Intensity: 7.67. Lice were prepared following the slightly modified protocol of Etymology: This species is named after our dear collage Palma (1978). The specimens were treated with 20 % aqueous and friend Doctor Alejandro Carlini, who led the program of solution of potassium hydroxide (KOH) for 24 h. The KOH Marine Mammals of the Argentinean Antarctic Institute from macerates the non-chitinous tissues and removes color from 1995 until he suddenly passed away in December of 2010. the sclerotin, distending the whole body. The KOH was re- moved and replaced by distilled water for 30 min, and then by Description a 10 % aqueous solution of acetic acid. The acid neutralizes the remaining alkali, stopping maceration, and avoiding dam- Male (Fig. 1a) Total body length 2.29±0.23, 1.77–2.49, 10. age by over treatment. The specimens where dehydrated in an Head: Almost as long as wide (length 0.51±0.05, 0.41–0.58, ethanol series of 70, 80, 90, and 96 %, for 30 min at each 10; width 0.49±0.05, 0.36–0.48, 10); anterior margin heavily concentration. After dehydration, the alcohol was replaced by sclerotized; maxillary vestige very distinct; ventral labrum pure clove oil for 24 h. A coverslip was placed with some connected to long apodemes; postantennal angle developed, weight upon the lice to flatten them. Lice were finally posterolateral angle not developed. The proboscis is promi- mounted in Canada balsam. nent, formed by two pieces with three hooks each one; around Figures were made using a drawing tube mounted on a it, three short and thin apical hairs in each side. Along the Leica light microscope at×1,000 magnification. Measure- external border, seven ventral principal head spines followed ments were taken from digital photographs using ImageJ by two column of short spines. Three to four ventral posterior software (Wayne Rasband, NIH, USA). Drawing
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