Arthrostoma leucurus sp. n. (Nematoda: Ancylostomatidae), A New Hookworm Species Isolated from Asian Badger in China.

Purpose: To date, ten validated Arthrostoma species were reported. Here, a new hookworm species was found from Asian badger (Meles leucurus).

Methods: Nineteen hookworms (9 males and 10 females) were collected from the small intestine of two Asian badgers in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, northwestern China. The hookworms were morphologically examined according to key taxonomic characters, such as anterior extremity direction, structures of oral opening (cutting plates or teeth), vulva location, buccal capsule anatomy (integrated or formed by articulating plates), the length of spicule and gubernaculum, number of plates of buccal capsule, and presence or absence of vulvar papillae.

Results: The hookworm species from Asian badger, here named as Arthrostoma leucurus sp. n., was different from the previously described ten Arthrostoma species. The phylogenetic tree based on the cox1 gene showed that Arthrostoma leucurus sp. n. formed a separate clade, as a sister group to Ancylostoma and Uncinaria species.

Conclusion: Arthrostoma leucurus sp. n., the eleven validated Arthrostoma species, was identified from Asian badger in China.