Comparative Parasitology 67(1) 2000 - Peru State College

Comp. Parasitol.
67(1), 2000 pp. 66-70
Carolinensis tuffi sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina:
Heligmosomoidea) from the White-Ankled Mouse, Peromyscus
pectoralis Osgood (Rodentia: Cricetidae) from Texas, U.S.A.
M.-CL. DURETTE-DESSET1'3 AND A. SANTOS III2
1 Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Laboratoire de Biologic Parasitaire Associe au Centre National de le
Recherche Scientifique, 61 rue de Buffon, 75231 Paris Cedex 05, France (e-mail: mcdd@cimrsl.mnhn.fr), and
2 Department of Biology, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas 78666, U.S.A.
(e-mail: alberto3@flash.net)
ABSTRACT: Carolinensis tuffi sp. n. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina: Heligmosomoidea) from the small intestine
of the white-ankled mouse, Peromyscus pectoralis Osgood (Rodentia: Cricetidae), from Texas, U.S.A., is described
and illustrated. The new species is closest to Carolinensis carolinensis in its synlophe and to Carolinensis
dalrymplei and Carolinensis kinsellai in the pattern of the caudal bursa. Carolinensis romerolagi (Gibbons and
Kumar, 1980) is transferred to the genus Paraheligmonella and becomes Paraheligmonella romerolagi (Gibbons
and Kumar, 1980) comb. n.
KEY WORDS: Nematoda, Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea, Carolinensis tuffi sp. n., Peromyscus pectoralis,
white-ankled mouse, Rodentia, Cricetidae, Texas, U.S.A.
The Nippostrongylinae, parasites of rodents of
the families Arvicolidae and Cricetidae, may
have arisen in the Palearctic Region (with the
genus Carolinensis (Travassos, 1937)) and may
have evolved from North America (with the genus
Hassalstrongylus Durette-Desset, 1971) to
South America (with the genus Stilestrongylus
Freitas, Lent, and Almeida, 1937) (Durette-Desset,
1971, 1985). In the small intestine of a Nearctic
cricetid, the white-ankled mouse Peromyscus
pectoralis Osgood, 1904, we found a
new species described below of particular interest,
since it is a morphologic intermediary between
the genera Carolinensis and Hassalstrongylus.
Materials and Methods
Hosts were live-trapped in Sherman traps by one of
us (A.S.) in 1995 and 1996 under Texas Parks and
Wildlife Permit SPR-0890-234, killed, and the whole
carcasses were frozen for later examination. Nematodes
were fixed and stored in 70% ethanol with 5%
glycerine, studied in temporary wet mounts in water,
and, when necessary, cleared in lactophenol. En face
views and sections were mounted and studied in lactophenol.
Measurements are given in micrometers unless
otherwise stated; those relating to the holotype and
allotype are in parentheses.
The nomenclature used for the family group is that
of Durette-Desset and Chabaud (1993). The synlophe
was studied following the method of Durette-Desset
(1985), and the nomenclature used for the study of the
caudal bursa is that of Durette-Desset and Chabaud
3 Corresponding author.
(1981). Type specimens were deposited in the Helminthological
Collections of the Museum National
d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France (MNHN). Voucher
specimens from the type locality were also deposited
in the United States National Parasite Collection,
Beltsville, Maryland, accession No. 88849.
Results
Carolinensis tuffi sp. n.
(Figs. 1-8)
Description
Copyright © 2011, The Helminthological Society of Washington
66
Small nematodes, coiled to varying degrees
along ventral side. Position of excretory pore in
relation to length of esophagus very variable,
mainly within second third of esophagus between
45% and 71% in male, 42% to 66% in
female. Deirids, when visible, at same level but
not visible in all specimens.
HEAD (based on 2 specimens): Cephalic vesicle
present; buccal aperture triangular; 4 externolabial
papillae, 2 amphids and 4 cephalic papillae;
dorsoesophageal gland visible (Fig. 2).
SYNLOPHE (studied in transverse sections of
body in 1 male and 1 female): In both sexes,
cuticle surface bears continuous ridges with chitinous
reinforcement, beginning at different levels
between cephalic vesicle and nerve ring and
ending immediately anterior to caudal bursa in
male, at vulvar level in female (Fig. 3). Number
of ridges 20 in male and 19 in female at mid
body. Axis of orientation of ridges passing
though ventral right and dorsal left quadrant, inclined
about 60° on sagittal axis in ventral left