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Title: LIBYOSTRONGYLUS DENTATUS SP. N. (NEMATODA: TRICHOSTRONGYLIDAE) FROM OSTRICHES IN NORTH AMERICA, WITH COMMENTS ON THE GENERA LIBYOSTRONGYLUS AND PARALIBYOSTRONGYLUS

Author
item Hoberg, Eric
item LLOYD SUSAN - NO CAROLINA STATE UNIV
item OMAR H - TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/1994
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: There is a rapidly developing ratite industry in North America, and recently it has become apparent that parasitism by helminths may have an influence on productivity. Numerous species of strongyle nematodes have been introduced from Africa and South America and are now established in the United States. While working on these fauna, we discovered and described a new species of nematode, Libyostrongylus dentatus sp. n., from ostriches on farms from North Carolina and Texas. Nematodes were recovered from the posterior proventriculus and under the anterior koilon lining of the gizzard and occurred in mixed infections with L. douglassii, another typical parasite of ostriches. Both of these species of Libyostrongylus appear to be highly pathogenic, are now widely distributed in North America, and could pose a threat to the health of individual birds and flocks.

Technical Abstract: Libyostrongylus dentatus sp. n. is described from ostriches on farms from North Carolina and Texas. Nematodes were recovered from the posterior proventriculus and under the anterior koilon lining of the gizzard and occurred in mixed infections with L. douglassii. The species is distinguished from congeners by the presence of a prominent, dorsal, esophageal tooth; in males by the structure of the dorsal ray and spicules; and in females by small eggs (52-62 micrometer in length), a sublateral vulva situated at 93% of the body length, and a strongly curled, digitate, tail with cuticular inflations at the anus. Conflicts in the generic diagnoses of Libyostrongylus and Paralibyostrongylus, based on the structure of the dorsal ray or position of rays 3-5 of the copulatory bursa were apparent. These can only be resolved based on phylogenetic analyses of the 11 nominal species referred to these genera.