Protomagalhaensia wolfi n. comb. and Leidyana haasi n. comb. were originally described as species of Gregarina parasitizing the lobster cockroach, Nauphoeta cinerea, in east Africa. Gamonts of Protomagalhaensia species are elongate and serpentine in general shape. Species within the genus are differentiated primarily by epimerite and oocyst morphology. Among described species of Protomagalhaensia, only P. wolfi possesses an obdeltoid epimerite. The oocysts of P. wolfi possess no apical spine or knob and are notably larger than oocysts of other species in the genus. Among the 33 species of Leidyana, only L. haasi and Leidyana migrator are reported from cockroaches (Dictyoptera). In general, gamonts of L. migrator are longer and more anisometric than those of L. haasi, the greater length reflecting notably longer deutomerites in L. migrator. The gamontic protomerites of L. haasi are longer but considerably narrower than those of L. migrator even though gamonts of L. migrator are larger overall. Both L. migrator and L. haasi are characterized by elliptoid oocysts that differ in relative morphology and overall size. The elliptoid gametocysts of L. migrator are ca. 3 times larger than those of L. haasi. We redescribe P. wolfi and L. haasi and refer them to genera other than Gregarina, establish neotype specimens, revise the diagnosis of Protomagalhaensia to reflect oocyst variation within the genus and distinguish it from the other 15 genera comprising Hirmocystidae, and discuss the fidelity of endemic gregarine faunas with their cockroach hosts despite global host dispersal.

Oligacanthorhynchus major (Machado-Filho, 1963) Schmidt, 1972 (Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) was redescribed using specimens from 2 white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) collected in the department of Santa Cruz, Bolivia. The male and the egg of O. major were described for the first time. The female worm is 241-824 mm long; the trunk is narrowest at the anterior end and widest in the middle of the worm. The male worm (120 mm) is substantially smaller than the female, the testes are confined to the posterior region, and an instance of monorchism is documented for a member of this species.

Microscope slides found in the collection of Elon E. Byrd and labeled only as from “the intestine of Chelydra serpentina L.,” contained 12 specimens of digenetic trematodes that are identified herein as Echinochasmus sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae). Three specimens suitable for complete examination and measurement possess 20 collar spines with 1 angle spine and are most similar to Echinochasmus leopoldinae Scholz, Ditrich and Vargas-Váquez, 1996. The small sample size, condition of the specimens, and several morphometric differences preclude species identification. This is the first report of the adults of Echinochasmus from a reptile. Because these worms were collected from 2 snapping turtles and are in excellent condition, the infections could represent an occurrence of postcyclic transmission.

Doodytrema carettochelydis n. gen., n. sp. (Digenea: Microscaphidiidae) is described from the pig-nosed turtle, Carettochelys insculpta (Cryptodira: Carettochelydidae) from the Daly River, Northern Territory, Australia. Doodytrema n. gen. is differentiated from other microscaphidiid genera by the absence of pharyngeal diverticula and the organization of vitellarium, namely the absence of an intercecal vitelline field or vitelline fields that merge behind the ovary. The uterus of Doodytrema carettochelydis n. sp. differs dramatically from other microscaphidiids in that the uterus does not run between the testes, but instead passes dorsal to them. This is only the second microscaphidiid species from Australian freshwater turtles.

The first goal of this study was to measure geographic variation in the abundance of Microphallus turgidus in the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio and to determine whether salinity at collection localities and parasite abundance are related. To do so, grass shrimp were collected at multiple localities along the Altamaha and Ogeechee rivers that varied in salinity from oligo- to polyhaline. We found a positive linear relationship between salinity and mean parasite abundance. The second goal of the study was to measure temporal variation in populations of M. turgidus in the grass shrimp P. pugio and Palaemonetes vulgaris to determine whether a relationship between temporal changes in parasite population size and variation in salinity or water temperature exists. To do so, grass shrimp were collected twice each season over the course of approximately 2.5 yr at 1 locality each on 3 tidal rivers in southeast Georgia: the Ogeechee, Broro, and Altamaha rivers. Variation between seasons in the abundance of M. turgidus in P. vulgaris was not significant. In P. pugio collected at the Altamaha and Ogeechee river localities, parasite abundance and, to some extent, parasite prevalence varied over the course of the sampling period. Correlation between water temperature and parasite abundance in P. pugio shrimp from both the Altamaha and Ogeechee river collection localities and between salinity and parasite abundance at the Altamaha River locality was slight but significantly positive. Neither relationship was observed in P. vulgaris shrimp. The results provide evidence that geographic differences in salinity might explain some of the variation in parasite abundance from one locality to another and that temporal variation in water temperature and, to some extent, salinity might also affect M. turgidus populations in P. pugio.

The sheep tapeworm, Moniezia expansa, occurred in 100% of lambs and wethers during the wet warm season (15 Jun–15 Dec) on the U.S. Virgin Island of St. Croix in 1999. In total, 924 mm of precipitation was measured during this period. In the early dry season and mid-dry season, the percentage of lambs and wethers infected was 25 and 44%, respectively. In total, 424 mm of rainfall was measured during this period (16 Dec 1999–15 Jun 2000). During the transition from wet to dry seasons, prevalence was lower in ewes (peaking at 29.6%) than in offspring. In lambs and wethers, prevalence increased to 58% and then declined to 44.4%. Temperature averaged 25°C during the wet season and 29.4°C during the dry season. Eggs per gram of feces (EPG), determined by the modified McMaster method, followed a similar pattern, peaking at 1,698 EPG in the wet season, 2,008 EPG in the early dry season, and 939 EPG in the mid-dry season. Infections were heavier and of greater duration in the wet season. The study started in September 1999 and ended in August 2000.

Adenobrechmos greeri n. gen., n. sp. from the intestines of the skink Sphenomorphus aignanus (Scincidae) is described and illustrated. Adenobrechmos greeri n. sp. is unique among the Proteocephalidae by possessing an unarmed apical gland. The presence of the unarmed apical gland as well as an aspinose rostrum allows the erection of a new subfamily, Adenobrechmoinae, for the new genus. Adenobrechmos greeri n. sp. is the fourth species of Proteocephalidae reported to infect New Guinean reptiles.

During November–December 2003, 44 fishes belonging to 6 endemic cichlid taxa (Amphilophus citrinellus “short”, Amphilophus citrinellus “chancho”, Amphilophus amarillo, Amphilophus sagittae, Amphilophus xiloaensis, and Parachromis managuensis) and 8 specimens of Gobiomorus dormitor were collected from 2 crater lakes in Nicaragua: Lake Apoyo and Lake Xiloá. Helminthological examination revealed 8 nematode species, 3 adults and 5 larval stages. Rhabdochona (Rhabdochona) kidderi was the only nematode present in both bodies of water; Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) rebecae and Paracapillaria teixeirafreitasi teixeirafreitasi were restricted to Lakes Apoyo and Xiloá, respectively. Procamallanus (S.) rebecae and Contracaecum sp. type 2 were the most prevalent and abundant species found in Lakes Apoyo and Xiloá, respectively. Specimens exhibited morphometric variability in comparison to nematodes collected from fishes in southern Mexico. All nematode species have been previously reported from the same or phylogenetically related host species in freshwater habitats in southern Mexico and the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua. All species represent new geographical records, whereas nematodes from A. c. “short”, A. c. “chancho”, A. sagittae, A. xiloaensis, A. amarillo, and Spiruridae gen. sp. and Contracaecum sp. type 1 in G. dormitor are new host records. The nematode fauna of cichlid and eleotrid fishes from the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Nicaragua is similar to that from southeastern Mexico.

Raillietnema lynchi n. sp. from the large intestine of a Rancho Redondo frog, Rana vibicaria, from Costa Rica is described and illustrated. Raillietnema lynchi n. sp. represents the twenty-third species assigned to Raillietnema and is distinguished from the 6 other Neotropical species by length of spicules (110–146 μm) and pattern of caudal papillae (4 pairs precloacal, 5 pairs postcloacal). Rana vibicaria also was found to harbor 1 species of Trematoda, Gorgoderina megacetabularis; 1 species of Cestoda, Ophiotaenia sp.; 4 species of Nematoda, Aplectana itzocanensis, Cosmocerca podicipinus, Falcaustra costaricae, and Rhabdias savagei; and 1 species of Acanthocephala represented by unidentified cystacanths.

Select demersal fishes were collected in Santa Monica Bay, California, and inspected for ectoparasites. Infection levels (prevalence and mean intensity) of parasites were determined on fishes representing Scorpaeniformes (Scorpaenidae: scorpionfishes and rockfishes) and Pleuronectiformes (Paralichthyidae, Pleuronectidae, Cynoglossidae: flatfishes). Hosts examined totaled 4,128 individuals representing 18 species, and ectoparasites were removed (2,547 parasites, made up of copepods, isopods, monogeneans, and leeches). Three parasite range extensions and 31 new host records are reported in this study. Prevalence ranged from 0 to 100%; mean intensity ranged from 0 to 14.

Genetic analysis has demonstrated distinct variation in the rDNA internal transcribed spacer 2 sequence in 2 populations of Amblyomma americanum (colony and wild). The ability to transmit the protozoan parasite Theileria cervi was quantitatively assessed of for each of these 2 genetically characterized populations of A. americanum. Feeding success of individuals of both populations of A. americanum was compared using the percentage tick yield and engorgement weight of acquisition-fed nymphs. Vector competency of individuals within both populations of A. americanum was measured using the prevalence, abundance, and intensity of infection as defined by the number of T. cervi–infected acini. Significantly higher proportions of acquisition-fed nymphs of colony and wild A. americanum were recovered, depending on which donor deer they infested. A significant correlation was not detected between percentage tick yield and parasitemia of donor deer. Wild A. americanum nymphs had significantly higher engorgement weights than colony ticks; however, a negative correlation was observed between the average T. cervi parasitemia of donors during acquisition feeding and the engorgement weight of wild A. americanum. Significant differences were not detected in the prevalence or mean abundance of T. cervi–infected A. americanum adults. Female A. americanum were more heavily infected with T. cervi than male ticks. A significantly higher proportion of wild female A. americanum were more heavily infected (>170 infected acini per infected tick) with T. cervi than colony female ticks. These findings support the hypothesis that genetically distinct populations of ticks can vary in their ability to acquire, maintain, and perhaps transmit infectious agents. The influence that variation in vector competency of ticks has on the occurrence, distribution, and risk factors related to newly recognized or emerging tick-borne diseases of domestic and wild animals has yet to be determined.

One hundred forty-three banded frogs Rana camerani were collected from 2 localities in Turkey between 2000 and 2004 and examined for helminths. One species of Monogenea (Polystoma sp.), 5 species of Digenea (Gorgodera cynoides, Gorgoderina vitelliloba, Haplometra cylindricae, Opisthioglyphe rastellus, Pleurogenoides medians), 1 species of Cestoda (Nematotaenia dispar), 3 species of Nematoda (Cosmocerca ornata, Oswaldocruzia filiformis, Rhabdias bufonis), and 1 species of Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalus ranae) were found. Rana camerani represents a new host record for each of the collected parasite species.

Fifty-four Rana holtzi and 84 Rana macrocnemis from Turkey were examined for helminths. Rana holtzi harbored 3 species of Digenea (Gorgoderina vitelliloba, Haplometra cylindracea, Opisthioglyphe rastellus) and 1 species of Nematoda (Cosmocerca ornata). Rana holtzi is a new host record for these helminths. Rana macrocnemis harbored 1 species of Monogenea (Polystoma macrocnemis), 5 species of Digenea (Opisthioglyphe rastellus, Gorgoderina vitelliloba, Haplometra cylindracea, Pleurogenes claviger, Pleurogenoides medians), 3 species of Nematoda (Rhabdias bufonis, Cosmocerca ornata, Oswaldocruzia filiformis), and 1 species of Acanthocephala (Acanthocephalus ranae). Rana macrocnemis represents a new host record for H. cylindracea, O. rastellus, and P. medians.

Dactylogyrus larrymilleri n. sp. is described from the greenhead shiner, Notropis chlorocephalus (Cope), and yellowfin shiner, Notropis lutipinnis (Jordan and Brayton) (Pisces: Cyprinidae), from North Carolina and South Carolina, U.S.A. Dactylogyrus larrymilleri differs from its closest apparent relative, Dactylogyrus ornatus Rogers, 1967, by possessing a recurved accessory piece attenuating to a sharp point. The occurrence of Dactylogyrus larrymilleri only on the greenhead shiner and yellowfin shiner corroborates ichthyological evidence that these 2 species of minnows are closely related.

Angiostoma carettae n. sp. from the lungs of the loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, is described and illustrated. Angiostoma carettae is most similar to Angiostoma onycodactyla and Angiostoma stammeri in that lateral alae are absent, and there are 8 pairs of caudal papillae. Differences are that A. onycodactyla has only postcloacal papillae and that the 5 postcloacal papillae of A. stammeri are arranged differently from the 5 postcloacal papillae of A. carettae, with A. stammeri having 2 papillae near the cloaca and 3 distant, and A. carettae having with 3 papillae near the cloaca and 2 distant.

Fifteen Laudakia caucasia and 25 Laudakia stellio from Turkey were examined for helminths. Laudakia caucasia harbored 1 species of Cestoda, Oochoristica tuberculata, and 3 species of Nematoda, Foleyella candezei, Parapharyngodon tyche, and Thelandros baylisi. Laudakia caucasica represents a new host record for O. tuberculata, P. tyche, and T. baylisi. Laudakia stellio harbored 6 species of Nematoda, Foleyella candezei, Parapharyngodon kasauli, Parapharyngodon tyche, Thelandros taylori, Strongyluris calotis, and third-stage ascaridoid larvae. Laudakia stellio represents a new host record for F. candezei, P. kasauli, S. calotis, T. taylori, and ascaridoid larvae.

Fleas are ectoparasitic insects of many birds and mammals. More than 200 species and subspecies of fleas have been recorded from South America; however, they have been poorly studied in Uruguay. In the present study, Polygenis (Neopolygenis) atopus, Polygenis (Neopolygenis) massoiai, Polygenis (Polygenis) axius axius, Craneopsylla minerva minerva, and Sternopsylla distincta are reported for the first time in Uruguay. These fleas parasitize wild rodents, marsupials, and bats, and most of the ectoparasite–host associations are recorded for the first time. Results obtained are consistent with findings in nearby Argentinean and Brazilian localities.

The documented range of the invasive and potentially pathogenic Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934 in the United States and Canada is updated based on examination of museum depositions and original field collections. Gravid specimens of B. acheilognathi were collected from the fathead minnow Pimephales promelas Rafinesque in Peter Lake, at the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC) Land o' Lakes, Wisconsin. A single immature specimen of the parasite was collected from a white bass, Morone chrysops (Rafinesque) in Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This is the first record of B. acheilognathi in Canada and extends its northern range in the interior of the continent by more than 600 miles over the last documented record. The previous record of B. acheilognathi in Canada, from the northern pikeminnow, Ptychocheilus oregonensis in British Columbia, is a misidentification of Eubothrium tulipai. Examination of selected records of intestinal cestodes from native cyprinids, in the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology (HWML, n = 9) collection and in the United States National Parasite Collection (USNPC, n = 8), provided evidence of the parasite in Nebraska and possibly in the upper Colorado River basin. Introductions into Wisconsin-Michigan were due to the stocking of golden shiners, whereas the source of the introduction in Manitoba remains unknown.

A survey of 560 Procambarus clarkii conducted during the late spring of 1998, 1999, and 2005 indicated that, within Louisiana, U.S.A., Allocorrigia filiformis infected the antennal glands of crayfish from roadside ditches and swamps primarily in the bottomland hardwood and cypress vegetation region. Infections were absent from Louisiana's marsh and prairie regions, as well as from eastern Texas, U.S.A., but extended northward into the Lower Mississippi River Valley, including the delta areas of Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, U.S.A. Prevalence of infection was 0% at 38 localities but ranged from 15.8 to 100% at 22 other localities.

We examined host specificity of a recently described parasite (Gyrodactylus tularosae Kritsky and Stockwell, 2005) to its natural host, the White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa Miller and Echelle, 1975), compared with a closely related congener, the sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). In each of 8 replicates, 1 uninfected C. tularosa and 1 uninfected C. variegatus were exposed to 3 C. tularosa infected with G. tularosae over a 4-d exposure trial. Focal fish were subsequently isolated for 5 d to evaluate infection persistence. Experiment-wide fluke infection prevalence was 100% for C. tularosa throughout the experiment. Prevalence on C. variegatus increased to 100% by d 3 of exposure but declined in isolation to 50% on the last day of the experiment. Fluke intensity was significantly higher for C. tularosa than C. variegatus throughout the experiment. Following isolation, parasite intensity declined for both species. These data suggest that G. tularosae prefers its native host, C. tularosa, but it may be able to use C. variegatus as a transient host.

This is the first report of Ancylostoma malayanum (Alessandrini, 1905), subgenus Ceylancylostoma (Lichtenfels, 1980) from wild brown bears Ursus arctos L. The bears were collected by shooting in Wassamu-Cho province (44°05′ N, 142°29′ E), Hokkaido, Japan, November, 2003.

Streptocara crassicauda longispiculata Gibson 1968 (Nematoda: Acuariidae) is redescribed and raised to a full species, Streptocara longispiculata Gibson, 1968, on the basis of material from the common loon, Gavia immer, from Florida, U.S.A., and the red-throated loon, Gavia stellata, from Canada.

The digenean trematode Echinoparyphium hydromyos was recorded from the dusky rat, Rattus colletti, and the water rat, Hydromys chrysogaster, from the Adelaide River floodplain, Northern Territory, Australia. The dusky rat represents a new host for E. hydromyos and the Adelaide River floodplain is a new locality. This echinostome has previously been reported only from the water rat in southern and eastern Australia.

Thirty-eight larval and adult Eurycea (=Typhlotriton) spelaea were borrowed from the Arkansas State University Museum Herpetological (ASUMZ) collection and examined for helminth parasites. These salamanders were collected at various times between 1936–1988 from locales in Independence, Izard, Sharp, and Stone counties, Arkansas, U.S.A., and Boone, Howell, and Taney counties, Missouri, U.S.A. In addition, 2 larval E. spelaea were collected more recently (March 2001 and May 2004) from Fulton and Madison counties, Arkansas, and 8 more larvae were collected (March 2003) from 2 caves in Shannon County, Missouri. Eight of the ASUMZ salamanders and 1 larvae from Madison County, Arkansas (9/40, 22.5%) harbored infections, including 1 (2.5%) with the trematode Plagioporus gyrinophili Catalano and Etges, 1981; 3 (7.5%) with the cestode Bothriocephalus typhlotritonis Reeves, 1949; 5 (12.5%) with the trichurid nematode Amphibiocapillaria tritonispunctati (Diesing, 1851) Moravec, 1982; 1 (2.5%) with the seuratoid nematode Omeia papillocauda Rankin, 1937, and 1 (2.5%) with the acanthocephalan Fessisentis vancleavei (Hughes and Moore, 1943) Nickol, 1972. In addition, all 8 larval E. spelaea from Shannon County, Missouri, harbored neascus type metacercariae of an undetermined strigeoid trematode in their gills and body tissues. Plagioporus gyrinophili, O. papillocauda, and F. vancleavei represent new helminth records for this host; new geographic distributional records are documented for P. gyrinophili and B. typhlotritonis.