Red foxes () and raccoon dogs () as potential spreaders of species.

Background: includes a global group of apicomplexan parasites with two-host life cycle frequently circulating in wildlife and domestic hosts, including humans. Two of the most important wild terrestrial carnivores acting as definitive hosts are the red fox and raccoon dog, due to their wide distribution in Europe and usage of wild and farmed animals as prey. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of in hunted red foxes and raccoon dogs from nine regions of the Czech Republic and to identify isolated sporocysts by molecular techniques.

The Tengmalm's owl (Aves, Strigidae) as the definitive host of sp. nov. (Apicomplexa).

Background: Owls have been reported as definitive hosts, whereas wild small mammals (naturally and experimentally) as intermediate hosts of several species of . Recently, dead fledglings were found infected by an unnamed species of since its intermediate host was unknown. After collecting additional samples of owls and wild small mammals, the present study focused on elucidating the identity, potential intermediate host, and complete life cycle of the found through experimentally infected rodents.

Redescriptions of Spinitectus acipenseri and S. micracanthus (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae), with notes on the taxonomy of Spinitectus-like nematodes parasitising North American fishes.

Based on light microscopical and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations, two North American species of Spinitectus Fourment, 1884, S. acipenseri Choudhury & Dick, 1992 and S. micracanthus Christian, 1972 (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae) are redescribed from museum voucher specimens (S.

sp. nov. in the imported green tree python cf. (Reptilia, Pythonidae).

Species of use various vertebrates as intermediate or definitive hosts in their life cycles. One of these is snakes, whose role as intermediate hosts for these protozoans is scarce; in fact, there are six records, but only three with molecular characterization. An imported green tree python was involved in the morphological and molecular characterization (four loci) of a new species of localized in skeletal muscles.

Review of the parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from off the American continent.

The ichthyofauna of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts off the American continent is very rich. Consequently, a high biodiversity of nematodes parasitizing these vertebrates is also expected. Currently, data on nematode parasites of marine fish off the Americas are fragmented.

White-tailed eagle () as the definitive host of in the Czech Republic.

The white-tailed eagle, , has been involved in the life cycle of several species as the intermediate and definitive host. To date, it has been supposed that the eagle might play the role as the definitive host for . , and, herein, we tried to elucidate it based on morphometric and molecular analyses.

Role of three bird species in the life cycle of two spp. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in the Czech Republic.

Birds are one of the groups involved in the development of Lankester (1882), serving either as intermediate or definitive hosts. The white-tailed sea eagle (Linnaeus, 1758), red kite (Linnaeus, 1758) (both Accipitriformes) and common starlings Linnaeus, 1758 (Passeriformes) were examined to elucidate their participation in the development of , as well as to determine the specific identity of the parasites based on morphological and especially molecular analyses. In 2020-2021, one white-tailed eagle, one red kite and five common starlings were parasitologically examined for the presence of using flotation centrifugation coprological method and by wet mounts of intestinal mucosa scrapings and/or muscle samples.

Molecular Identification of sp. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in Offspring of Tengmalm's Owls, (Aves, Strigidae).

Birds act as intermediate or definitive hosts of cyst-forming coccidia parasites of the genus Lankester, 1882. However, the spectrum of species of in birds and the role of the latter in the transmission of coccidia are still incomplete for many avian species, including the Tengmalm's owl (Linnaeus, 1758). During the research on Tengmalm's owls in Finland, some fledglings were found dead and subsequently parasitologically examined.

PARASITIC HELMINTH COMMUNITY OF THE PUDDINGWIFE WRASSE HALICHOERES RADIATUS (LINNAEUS) IN REEFS FROM VERACRUZ, MEXICO.

A total of 1,218 helminths ascribed to 11 taxa (6 at species, 3 at generic, 1 at family, and 1 at order level) in 101 specimens of Halichoeres radiatus (Pisces: Labridae) were caught in the Veracruz Coral Reef System National Park, southern Gulf of Mexico. These helminths include 4 trematode species (3 adults and 1 metacercaria), a cestode species (larvae), 5 nematode species (2 adults and 3 larvae), and an acanthocephalan species (juvenile). Nine correspond to new host records, 2 of them are new geographic records, and 6 species were recorded with 1 helminth per infected host.

A review of the introduced herpetofauna of Mexico and Central America, with comments on the effects of invasive species and biosecurity methodology.

Among the principal causes producing detrimental effects on global biodiversity are introductions of alien species. Very few attempts to control introduced amphibians and reptiles in Middle America (Mexico and Central America) can be identified, so listings are provided for 24 exotic species, 16 translocated species, and 11 species that were removed from the introduced species listing because of lack of substantiating evidence that they are from established populations. Biosecurity methods are also identified that can be applied for preventing, controlling, and managing introduced and especially invasive species.

Sarcocystis cristata sp. nov. (Apicomplexa, Sarcocystidae) in the imported great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata (Aves, Musophagidae).

Background: Species of Sarcocystis are parasitic protozoa in poikilothermic and homeothermic animals. Out of the 26 valid species in birds as intermediate hosts, none has been reported in those of the order Musophagiformes, such as the great blue turaco Corythaeola cristata (Vieillot, 1816), which is a bird endemic to Central and Western Africa. The examination of great blue turacos imported from the Central Africa Republic to Czech Republic allowed the morphological and molecular characterization of a new species of Sarcocystis.

The 2015-2016 El Niño increased infection parameters of copepods on Eastern Tropical Pacific dolphinfish populations.

The oceanographic conditions of the Pacific Ocean are largely modified by El Niño (EN), affecting several ecological processes. Parasites and other marine organisms respond to environmental variation, but the influence of the EN cycle on the seasonal variation of parasitic copepods has not been yet evaluated. We analysed the relation between infection parameters (prevalence and mean intensity) of the widespread parasitic copepods Caligus bonito and Charopinopsis quaternia in the dolphinfish Coryphaena hippurus and oceanography during the strong 2015-16 EN.

Parasitic nematodes of marine fishes from Palmyra Atoll, East Indo-Pacific, including a new species of (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae).

Here, we present the results of a taxonomic survey of the nematodes parasitizing fishes from the lagoon flats of Palmyra Atoll, Eastern Indo-Pacific. We performed quantitative parasitological surveys of 653 individual fish from each of the 44 species using the intertidal sand flats that border the atoll's lagoon. We provide morphological descriptions, prevalence, and mean intensities of the recovered seven species of adult nematode (, Capillariidae gen.

Parasitic Nematodes in Snappers (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from the Southern Gulf of Mexico and Mexican Caribbean.

Snappers from the southern Gulf of Mexico (SGM) and Mexican Caribbean (CAR) were examined for parasitic nematodes to determine their richness, composition, and infection parameters (prevalence and mean intensity). From February 2016 to March 2018, 431 individuals of 8 snapper species were collected in 6 localities. In all, these fishes were parasitized by 2,275 individual nematodes belonging to 13 taxa: sp.

First description of the male and subgravid female of Philometra serranellicabrillae Janiszewska, 1949 (Nematoda: Philometridae), a gonad-infecting parasite of the comber Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus) (Serranidae) off Tunisia.

The male and subgravid female of Philometra serranellicabrillae Janiszewska, 1949 (Philometridae) collected from the gonads of Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus) (Serranidae) off Tunisia are described for the first time based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies. The male of this nematode can be separated from other congeneric gonad-infecting nominal species in the structure and shape of the gubernaculum (e.g.

DNA Barcoding as a Diagnostic Tool of a Rare Human Parasitosis: The First Case of in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

Recently, DNA barcoding based on the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 () has become a widespread tool to identify animals. Its use with parasites of humans has been limited with some groups of nematodes where the amplification of this gene has been difficult. In this study, we present the first barcode sequence of a rare parasite from tropical regions, , which parasitized a human host from Quintana Roo, southern Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

Redescription of three species of nematodes (Nematoda) parasitising fishes in the USA, with a key to the species of Dichelyne Jägerskiöld, 1902 parasitic in freshwater and brackish-water fishes of North America.

Three species of parasitic nematodes are redescribed based on light and scanning electron microscopical (SEM) examinations of newly collected specimens in fishes of South Carolina, USA: Dichelyne (Cucullanellus) bullocki Stromberg & Crites, 1972 from Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus) (Fundulidae); Dichelyne (Dichelyne) diplocaecum Chandler, 1935 from Ictalurus furcatus (Valenciennes) (Ictaluridae); and Hysterothylacium pelagicum Deardorff & Overstreet, 1982 from Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus (Coryphaenidae). For the first time, intraspecific variations in the number of intestinal caeca were observed in D. bullocki, as well as previously unknown males and gravid females of D.

Philometra barbata n. sp. (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Perciformes, Mullidae) off Tunisia.

Helminthological examinations of the red mullet Mullus barbatus (Linnaeus) (Mullidae) from the Gulf of Hammamet, off Tunisia, revealed the presence of one undescribed gonad-infecting nematode species, Philometra barbata n. sp. (Philometridae).

Endoparasites of (Serpentes: Viperidae), with a checklist in rattlesnakes.

The helminth and pentastomid fauna of 50 specimens of from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico is documented. The examination revealed the presence of three nematode species (, , and ), and one pentastomid (). The threee nematode species had the same prevalence (2%), while the pentastomid had a higher prevalence (8%).

Two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) from Trachinus spp. (Osteichthyes: Trachinidae) in the Gulf of Hammamet, Tunisia.

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845, P. draco n. sp.

Spinitectus aguapeiensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) from Pimelodella avanhandavae Eigenmann (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) in the River Aguapeí, Upper Paraná River Basin, Brazil.

Nematodes belonging to Spinitectus Fourment, 1883 (Nematoda: Cystidicolidae) were found in the intestine of Pimelodella avanhandavae Eigenmann (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the Aguapeí River, Brazil. They represent a new species, Spinitectus aguapeiensis n. sp.

Occurrence of Amblyomma dissimile on wild crocodylians in southern Mexico.

Ticks are common ectoparasites of amphibians and reptiles but very few reports of such parasites on crocodylians exist worldwide. Herein, we report the first detailed observations of Amblyomma dissimile Koch, 1844 on the 3 crocodylian species present in Mexico, with the first report of tick parasitism on Crocodylus acutus and the second on Caiman crocodilus chiapasius. This is also the first report of A.

Gastrointestinal helminths of the Caspian turtle, Mauremys caspica (Testudines), from Northern Iran.

The Caspian turtle (Mauremys caspica) is a semi-aquatic and adaptable reptile. To date, there are no reports on the parasites of this turtle in Iran. Hence, the current survey was designed to prepare a list of the gastrointestinal helminth parasites of the Caspian turtle in North Iran.

Redescription of Paraleptus chiloscyllii Yin et Zhang, 1983 (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) from the Arabian carpetshark Chiloscyllium arabicum (Chondrichthyes: Hemiscylliidae) off Iraq.

The nematode Paraleptus chiloscyllii Yin et Zhang, 1983 (Physalopteridae) is redescribed on the basis of new material collected from the stomach of the Arabian carpetshark Chiloscyllium arabicum Gubanov (Hemiscylliidae) from marine waters off Iraq. Originally, P. chiloscyllii was found in C.

Raphidascaris (Raphidascaris) macrouri n. sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from two deep-sea macrourid fishes in the Western Mediterranean: Morphological and molecular characterisations.

A new nematode species, Raphidascaris (Raphidascaris) macrouri n. sp. (Anisakidae), is described from male and female specimens found in the intestine, and occasionally in stomach and pyloric caeca, of two deep-water macrourid fishes (Gadiformes) off Barcelona, Mediterranean Sea: Nezumia aequalis (Günther) (type-host) and Trachyrincus scabrus (Rafinesque).