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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060 EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 102, Num. 6, 2007, pp. 763-768

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 102, No. 6, 2007, pp. 763-768

Parasitism of two zoonotic reservoirs Dasyprocta leporina and D. fuliginosa (Rodentia) from Amazonas, with Trichostrongylina nematodes (Heligmonellidae): description of a new genus and a new species

Alessandra Queiroga Gonçalves, Roberto Magalhães Pinto*/+, Marie-Claude Durette-Desset**

Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias *Laboratório de Helmintos Parasitos de Vertebrados, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz -Fiocruz, Av. Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil **Département de Systématique et Evolution, UMR 7138 associée au C.N.R.S, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
+Corresponding author and research fellow CNPq. E-mail: rmpinto@ioc.fiocruz.br

Received 11 June 2007 Accepted 10 September 2007

Code Number: oc07122

A new genus and a new species of Heligmonellidae nematodes are described parasiting the stomach of three agoutis (two Dasyprocta fuliginosa and one D. leporina) captured in the middle and high Negro river microregion, state of Amazonas, Brazil. The new genus, as well as its type-species, are closely related to the trichostrongylids included in Fuellebornema, particularly on what concerns the pattern of the caudal bursa, but differing from them by the characteristics of the synlophe, that presents a poorly developed carene, when compared to the referred number of body ridges in Freitastrongylus n. gen. and consequently in F. angelae n. sp.,in which the ridges are well developed and the carene at mid-body has a similar size when compared to the ridge situated in front of the right field (ridge no. 5). Caudal bursa is of the type 1-4, with rays 9 shorter than rays 10, with a very long genital cone.

Key words: Freitastrongylus angelae n. gen., n. sp. - Nematoda - Trichostrongylina - Heligmonellidae - Dasyprocta spp. - rodents - Caviomorpha - Brazil

The description of new parasites harbored by hosts of this group of rodents is of great interest, since parasites are also regarded as excellent biological markers. The report of nematodes occurring in hosts from the Amazon region can enlarge the knowledge of the distribution of the Brazilian helminth fauna, mainly if one considers that, nowadays, rainforests are of great concern worldwide due to their endangered biodiversity.

To date, eight species of trichostrongylid worms (six belonging to the Heligmonellidae, two to the Viannaiidae) have been described on the basis of nematodes recovered from specimens of Brazilian agoutis (Durette-Desset et al. 2006).

This paper is related to the description of a new genus and a new species of trichostrongylid nematodes recovered from specimens of Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) and D. fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 from the state of Amazonas, Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Capture and necropsy of the hosts specimens were authorized by the Ibama (Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Renováveis), Brazil, process no. 02001.002659/97-02, permits no. 056/2000 Difas/Direc (validity 01/04/00 to 01/04/01) and no. 012/2002-Coefa (validity 22/01/02 to 22/04/02). Nematodes were recovered from stomach of two specimens of D. fuliginosa and one specimen of D. leporina in the middle and high Negro river microregion, state of Amazon, Brazil. Animals were captured between 2000 and 2002 in piassaba palm trees (Leopoldinia piassaba Wallace, 1853) plantations, maintained in the waterways of the Aracá river (left-side tributary of Negro river, Barcelos municipality) and of the Preto river (right-side tributary of the Padauiri river, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro municipality). Agoutis were identified by taxidermists and deposited in the National Museum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Worms, briefly rinsed alive in a 0.85% NaCl solution, were fixed in hot A.F.A (70º GL ethanol, 93%; formaldehyde, 5%; glacial acetic acid, 2%) and stored as wet material in the same solution. Some nematodes were further dehydrated in an ethanol series, clarified in glacial acetic acid, phenol and preserved as whole mounts in beechwood creosote and Canada balsam solution 1:1. Type material and paratypes are deposited in the Coleção Helmintológica do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (CHIOC) and in Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), Paris. The nomenclature which is used above the family group follows Durette-Desset and Chabaud (1993). The synlophe was studied according to the Durette-Desset (1985), Durette-Desset and Digiani (2005) method. The cuticular ridges are numbered from left to right for the dorsal and for the ventral sides, the sides being delimited by the lateral fields. The nomenclature used for the study of the caudal bursa follows Durette-Desset and Chabaud (1981). Classification of the host is in accordance with Woods (1993). Figures were made with the aid of a drawing tube connected to a bright-field microscope. Measurements are in micrometers (µm) unless otherwise indicated.

RESULTS

Definition of Freitastrongylus n. gen.: Heligmonel-lidae, Pudicinae. Synlophe with carene poorly developed in relation to other ridges, 4 dorsal, 6 ventral continous ridges at mid-body. Size of ridges decreasing from lateral to median sides of the body. Caudal bursa of type 1-4. Dorsal ray well developed divided mid-way. Rays 9 shorter than rays 10, arising proximally to the middle region of dorsal ray. Female monodelphic. Parasites of Dasyproctidae.

Type and only species: Freitastrongylus angelae n. gen., n. sp.

Freitastrongylus angelae n. gen. n. sp.
(Figs 1-6, 7-15, 16-26)

Small nematodes loosely coiled along ventral side. Excretory pore within median third of oesophagus, deirids anterior to oesophagheal intestinal junction (Fig. 1).

Synlophe - (studied in one male and one female paratypes). In both sexes, cuticle bearing longitudinally uninterrupted ridges with chitinoid struts. Ridges appearing at different levels between cephalic vesicle and nerve ring (Fig. 7-10, 16-18) except ridge 6' appearing just posterior to oesophageal intestinal junction (Fig. 12, Fig. 20) and ridge 7' appearing at end of anterior third of body in male (Fig. 13) and end of anterior fifth of body in female (Fig. 21). In posterior part of body, arising of new ridges only on ventral side, adjacent to right lateral field (Fig. 15, 24, 25). Ridges disappearing anterior to caudal bursa in male and at level of vulva in female.

All along the body, except in ovejector region, presence of carene made up of two left ridges, ventral being slightly more developed. Dorsal ridge appearing first, about 40 posterior to cephalic vesicle (Fig. 8) then ventral ridge (Fig. 9, Fig. 17). In both sexes size of carene decreasing in posterior quarter of body; in female, ridges of carene of equivalent size as of other ridges at level of distal uterus (Fig. 23-25).

Number of ridges - In both sexes 6 (3 dorsal, 3 ventral) just posterior to cephalic vesicle (Fig. 7), 10 (carene, 4 dorsal, 4 ventral) at level of oesophageal intestinal junction (Fig. 11, 19), 12 (carene, 5 dorsal, 5 ventral) at mid-body (Fig. 14,22, 13 (carene, 4 dorsal, 7 ventral) in posterior quarter of body in male (Fig. 15). In female, 14 (7 dorsal, 7 ventral) at level of distal uterus (Fig. 25). At mid-body, right ventral ridge no. 7' migrates towards dorsal side and becomes ridge no. 6 (Fig. 14, Fig. 22). In female, presence of comaretes in posterior part of body (Figs 23 to 25). Just anterior to vulva, ridges are replaced by a chinoid thickening present only on ventral side (Fig. 26).

At mid-body in both sexes double gradient of size decreasing from lateral to median sides.

At mid-body, two axes of orientation directed from right-ventral to left dorsal side. Right axis inclined at 88º in male, 78º in female to sagittal axis. Left axis inclined at 72º in male, 60º in female (Fig. 14,22). In female, at level of ovejector, orientation of ridges not clearly defined some ridges orientated perpendicularly to body surface (Fig. 24, 25).

Holotype male - 7.1 mm long, 126 wide at mid-body; cephalic vesicle 79 long by 32 wide; nerve ring, excretory pore and deirids situated at 280, 338 and 523 from apex, respectively; oesophagus, 546 long.

Sub-symmetrical caudal bursa with dorsal lobe well developed. Pattern of type 1-4 (Fig. 4). Rays 3 originate first from common trunk to rays 3 to 6. Rays 4 most developed. Thick common trunk to rays 8 and dorsal ray. Rays 8 slightly shorter than dorsal ray. Dorsal ray deeply divided at mid- half into two branches, each branch giving rise to 2 small branches, small rays 9 (external branches) and rays 10 (internal branches) (Fig. 4).

Filiform alate spicules 707 long with sharp distal extremities (Fig. 5). Spicule length/ body length ratio 10%. Complex genital cone with two parts: a proximal very elongated part 216 long and 29 wide at base and a bilobate distal part (Fig. 6). Papilla Zero and papillae 7 not observed. Gubernaculum absent.

Main measurements (average and range) of ten paratypes. Body 7.7 (7.3-8.1) mm long and 130 (115-140) wide at mid-body, cuticular dilatation included; cephalic vesicle 82 (72-90) long and 40 (36-45) wide; nerve ring (n = 5), excretory pore (n = 7), and deirids (n = 8) situated at 271 (258-285), 351 (338-367), 539 (493-595) from apex, respectively; oesophagus 561 (518-613); spicules 723 (695-777) long, spicules/body length ratio 10% (9-11)%. Genital cone (n = 8) 218 (202-230) long, 30 (23-35) wide.

Allotype female - 10.3 mm long and 140 wide at mid-body; cephalic vesicle 100 long by 55 wide; nerve ring, excretory pore and deirids situated at 273, 377 and 502 from apex, respectively; oesophagus, 532 long (Fig. 1).

Monodelphic. Vulva situated at 166 from caudal extremity. Vagina vera, 18 long. Ovejector 355 long with vestibule 163 long, sphincter 30 long by 35 wide and infundibulum 162 long. Uterus 1480 long with 106 eggs, at morula stage 80 long by 41 wide on average. Uterus length/body length ratio 14.4%. Tail conical, 61 long, dorsally curved (Fig. 3).

Main measurements (average and range) of ten paratypes. Body, 10.8 (8.6-12.7) mm long and 150 (112-170) wide at mid-body, cuticular dilatation included; cephalic vesicle 81 (65-93) long by 44 (40-53) wide. Nerve ring (n = 7), excretory pore (n = 6), and deirids (n = 9) situated at 243 (225-278), 341 (297-390), and 551 (463-628) from apex, respectively; oesophagus, 578 (493-660) long; vulva (n = 7) situated at 179 (144-205) from caudal extremity; vagina vera (n = 6) 21 (15-25); ovejector with vestibule (n = 7) 158 (150-165) long; sphincter (n = 8) 38 (28-50) long by 35 (25-38) wide; infundibulum (n = 5) 198 (163-245) long; uterus (n = 8) 1980 (1260-2680) long with 111 (80-144) eggs at morula stage, 72 (58- 86) long by 40 (36-47) wide; tail (n = 6) 62 (54-68) long; uterus length/ body length ratio 18.2 % (12.4-21.0).

Type material - Holotype male CHIOC no. 35044 a, allotype female CHIOC no. 35044 b.

Paratypes - CHIOC no. 35044 c-n (whole mounts) and no. 34844 (wet material). Other four male and four female paratypes were deposited in MNHN no. 319 MQ.

Type host- Dasyprocta leporina (Linnaeus, 1758) necropsy CHIOC no. 26463.

Other host - Dasyprocta fuliginosa Wagler, 1832 necropsies CHIOC nos. 26464, 26465.

Voucher specimens - CHIOC no. 35045 a-b (whole mounts), CHIOC no. 34845, 34846 (wet material).

Type locality - Ucuqui settlement (GPS 00.14.25N, 63.25.00W), Jauari waterway, left margin of the Aracá river, Barcelos municipality, state of Amazonas, Brazil.

Other localities - Quebra cabeça settlement (GPS 00.03.50N, 64.35.41W), Araújo waterway, right margin of the Malalarrá waterway, right margin of the Preto river, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro municipality, state of Amazonas and Três Barracas settlement, Jauari waterway, left margin of the Aracá river, Barcelos municipality, state of Amazonas.

Site of infection - Stomach.

Etymology - The generic name is to honor the late Dr João Ferreira Teixeira de Freitas, one of the most outstanding Brazilian helminthologists and the specific name is after Dr Angela Cristina Verissimo Junqueira, for her efforts to improve the knowledge of the mammalian zoonotic reservoirs in the investigated area.

Collector/dates - AQ Gonçalves/ April 27, 2000; February 26, 2001; February 06, 2002.

DISCUSSION

The heligmosomoid nematodes studied here, possess the main features of the Pudicinae (Heligmonellidae): axes of orientation oblique, carene present, dorsal ray deeply divided, female tail lacking spine (Durette-Desset 1985). They belong to the suprageneric group I (after Durette-Desset & Justine 1991) which includes Heligmostrongylus Travassos, 1937, Fuellebornema Travassos and Darriba, 1929, Sciurodendrium Durette-Desset, 1971, and Pseudoheligmosomum Travassos, 1937. These genera share one synapomorphy i.e. rays 9 shorter than rays 10. Within these genera, the specimens, parasitic in Dasyprocta spp. are closely related to Fuellebornema particularly by the same pattern of the caudal bursa. The synlophe also presents some similarities with that of Fuellebornema at mid-body: 5 dorsal and 6 ventral ridges, axes of orientation strongly inclined to the sagittal axis. Therefore it differs by the relative size of the dorsal and ventral ridges in relation to the carene. In Fuellebornema, the carene is strongly developed and the other ridges small and of equivalent size (Durette-Desset 1970, Cassone & Durette-Desset 1991). In the Brazilian specimens studied here, all the ridges are well developed and the carene at mid-body has a similar size to that of the ridge situated in front of the right field (ridge no. 5). In addition there is a sole axis of orientation in the Fuellebornema species of which the synlophe is known.

The presence of a very long genital cone is not characteristic of the new genus Freitastrongylus. It is present in Fuellebornema almeidai Travassos, 1937 a parasite of D. leporina from Brazil (Travassos 1937) but also in other parasites all belonging to the Heligmonellidae such as Heligmonella moreli Gibbons, Durette-Desset & Daynes, 1977 (Heligmonellinae), a parasite of Dremomys lokriah (Hodgson, 1836) from Nepal (Gibbons et al. 1977) or Brevistriata skrjabini Shulz & Lubimov, 1932 (Brevistriatinae), a parasite of chipmunks [Tamias sibiricus (Laxmann, 1766)] and red squirels (Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758) from Soviet Far East (Shulz & Lubimov 1932), Otaru (Northern Japan) (Asakawa & Ohbayashi 1986), and France (Pisanu et al. 2007). Contrary to this, the orientation and the shape of the genital cone are original.

To date the genus Fuellebornema is made up of seven species, described from the Neotropical region (Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay) all parasitic in Dasyprocta spp. (Durette-Desset et al. 2006). Since Fuellebornema and Freitastrongylus n. gen. are morphologically closely related this suggests that they may have differentiated in the same host, Dasyprocta. According to the rules of the evolution of the synlophe in the Heligmosomoidea (Durette-Desset 1985), the synlophe of Freitastrongylus n. gen. is more primitive than that of Fuellebornema: carene less developed, right ridge as developed as ridges of the carene, other cuticular ridges well developed, ridges present all around the body (absent in the latero ventral quadrant in Fuellebornema), gradient of size of the ridges present, axis of orientation less inclined to sagittal axis. In addition, the strong development of the right ridge and the presence of a gradient of size of the cuticular ridges are characteristic of the Heligmonellinae from which the Pudicinae originate. In view of this, the genus Freitastrongylus n. gen. may be considered as having an intermediary systematic position between the Heligmonellinae and the Pudicinae.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To José R Coura and Angela CV Junqueira, from the Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, for the invitation to collect the samples for this study; to the National Health Foundation for logistic support; to Cibele R Bonvicino, National Cancer Institute, and Gilson E Iack-Ximenes, Museum of Zoology, University of the State of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, for the identification of the rodent hosts; to Jean-François Dejouanet, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, for technical assistance with the drawings.

REFERENCES

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Copyright 2007 Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Fiocruz


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