CJap. J. Parasit., Vol. 30, No. 4, 301-304, August, 1981]
A New Species of Acanthocephala, Mediorhynchus indicus sp. n.,
an Intestinal Parasite of Domestic Fowl,
Gallus gallus domesticus in Kerala
Panamthundil Varghese GEORGE, Antony Mathai NADAKAL, Nair Kunjanpillai VIJAYAKUMARAN and Muthuswami RAJENDRAN
(Received for publication; December 8, 1980)
Key words: Mediorhynchus indicus sp. n., fowl
Introduction Materials and Methods
While collecting helminth parasites of The worms recovered from the intestine domestic fowl in Trivandrum area in an of the fowl were washed in 0.9% normal attempt to study seasonal variations in in saline and kept under refrigeration till the fection rate, four specimens of acantho- proboscis became fully extended. The cephalid worms, two males and two females, specimens were fixed in 70% ethanol. were obtained from the intestine of one of Paraffinsections of one female worm were the birds. Examination of these worms re taken at 8 ^ thickness and stained in Harris' vealed that they belonged to the genus haematoxylin and eosin. The eggs were Mediorhynchus. obtained from the body cavity of the gravid Only three species of acanthocephalans female. Whole mounts were also prepared have been recorded from galliform birds using Harris' haematoxylin and eosin stains. until now; M. gallinarum in India (Bhale- Figures were drawn to scale using a camera rao, 1937), M. selenesis in Africa (Harris, lucida. Measurements are given in microns 1973) and Empodius sp. in Celebes (Yama- unless otherwise stated. guti, 1954). Schmidt and Kuntz (1977) re vised the genus Mediorhynchus and con sidered Empodius sp. the same as M. Description gallinarum. They also treated M. selengen- sis as a junior synonym of M. gallinarum. Mediorhynchus indicus sp. n. So far about 35 species of Mediorhynchus Worms colourless. Pseudosegmentation have been described from different regions. apparent at the posterior part of worm. This paper is concerned with the descrip Sexual dimorphism well marked. Proboscis tion of a new species under Mediorhynchus conical, truncate and divided into two based on four specimens. regions: anterior part with hooks and pos terior part with spines (Figs. 1, 2). Proboscis sac claviform and anterior part of which is double layered, inner wall being thick. Ganglion located in the middle part of the Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, proboscis sac. Trunk cylindrical, spineless Trivandrum-695015, Kerala, India.
( 21 ) 302 and narrow posteriorly. Neck indistinct. In 4.5-4.56 mmx430-462; testes 830-915x540- both sexes the proboscis armature consists 670; cement glands 320-336x270-300 and of 14-17 longitudinal rows, each with 8-10 common genital duct 650-700x250-380. spines. First two and last four rows of Testes equal, post-equatorial, tandem and hooks are 32-40 long. Third and fourth ovoid. Testes separated from each other hooks of each row are 45-52 long. Spines and from cement gland group. Cement similar in size and with cuticular papillae. glands eight, ovoid, equal and exist in a Hook root elongate and 30-42 long. Main group. Genital ducts open to the ejacula- lacunar canals with lateral branches. tory duct. Bursa not observed. Lemnisci double, equal, posterior part re- Female: (Measurements based on two flexed and extended beyond the proboscis gravid females) Fig. 4. sac. Genital pores terminal. Females measured 2-2.5x0.2-0.25 cm; Male: (Measurements based on two speci proboscis 620-640x350-450; proboscis re mens) Fig. 3. ceptacle 1.3-1.35 mmx324-360; lemnisci Males measured 1.2-1.8x0.14-0.15 cm; 4.48-4,52 mmx452-470; uterine bell 320- proboscis 451-480x415-430; proboscis re 340x310-325; uterus proper 240-260x290- ceptacle 1.3-1.34 mmx321-334; lemnisci 312; vagina 480-512x420-446; eggs 72-76x
IS
Figs. 1-5.
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40-46 and embryos 50-56x25-30. Eggs with smaller sculptured egg shell. three shells and the middle one without The present species can be distinguished polar prolongations (Fig. 5). Embryo armed from other known species in having the with 6 hooks. Central nuclear mass distinct proboscis with 14-17 longitudinal rows of in the embryo. 6-8 hooks and teloboscis with 25-28 rows Definitive host: Gallus gallus domestiais of 8-10 spines, equal testes, smaller eggs and Location: Ileo-caeco-colic junction lemnisci with reflexed posterior end. It is Locality: Trivandrum (Kerala) therefore considered as a new species and Type specimens: Deposited in the Re given the name Mediorhynchus indicus. search Laboratory, Department of Zo ology, Mar Ivanios College, Trivand Summary rum.
A new species of Acanthocephala, Mediorhynchus indicus sp. n. parasitic in Discussion domestic fowl is described. Proboscis of The present species differs from M. this worm is conical, armed with 14-17 gallinarum in having a proboscis with 14- longitudinal rows, each with 6-8 hooks and 17 longitudinal rows, each with 6-8 hooks teloboscis with 25-28 longitudinal rows, and teloboscis with 25-28 rows, each with each with 8-10 spines. Other distinguishing 8-10 spines. M. gallinarum measured 48X features of this worm are: comparatively 2.8 mm in contrast with 12-25x1-2.5 mm larger proboscis hooks, smaller eggs, equal size of present species. M. gallinarum pos testes and lemnisci with reflexed posterior sessed a pair of long lemnisci while they extremities. This may be considered as the are short and reflexed at the posterior ex second species of acanthocephalid worm re tremities in the present species. Two pairs corded from domestic fowl. of paraproboscidal sacs have been described in M. gallinarum but they are not identified Acknowledgement in the present species. Hooks of M. galli narum were 50-66 long while in the present We are thankful to the authorities of Mar Ivanios species they are smaller, being 32-52 long. College, Trivandrum for providing library and The new species agrees with M. alecturae laboratory facilities. (Johnston and Edmonds, 1947) in having equal and post-equatorial testes, pseudoseg- References mentation, closely placed 8 cement glands 1) Bhalerao, G. D. (1937): On a remarkable Acan and terminal genital pores; but no Saeffti- thocephala from a fowl in India. Proc. Zool. gen's pouch has been identified. The eggs Soc. London. s.B., 107(2), 199-203. of present species are smaller than those 2) Harris, M. T. (1973): A new acanthocephalan of M. alecturae. It also differs from M. from an East African galliform bird. Bull. Br. alecturae in having smaller trunk, larger Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Zool., 24, 455-460. 3) Johnston, T. H. and Edmonds, S. J. (1947): number of hooks and spines and in the Australian Acanthocephala, Nos. 6. Rec. South absence of uterine pouches. Austr. Mus., 8(4), 555-562. M. centurorum (Nickol, 1969) differs from 4) Nickol, B. B. (1969): Acanthocephala of Loui the present species in having unequal testes siana Picidae with description of a new species and cement glands, smaller eggs, larger of Mediorhynchus. J. Parasit., 55, 324-328. 5) Schmidt, G. D. and Canaris, A. G. (1967): Acan trunk, fewer number of hooks and spines. thocephala from Kenya with descriptions of M. wardi (Schmidt and Canaris, 1967) dif two new species. J. Parasit., 53, 634-637. fers from the present species in having 6) Schmidt, G. D. and Robert, E. Kuntz (1977):
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Revision of Mediorhynchus Van Cleave, 1916 7) Yamaguti, S. (1954): Parasitic worms mainly (Acanthocephala) with a key to species. J. Para- from Celebes. Part 8. Acanthocephala. Acta. sit., 63, 500-507. Med. Okayama, 8, 406-413.
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