The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe
The present work contributs to the knowledge on the aquatic mermithids (Nematoda, Mermithidae) occurring in black flies – an insufficiently studied group of parasitic nematodes. Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou, 1977, described from larvae of Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903 in Wes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Pensoft Publishers
2014-11-01
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| Series: | ZooKeys |
| Online Access: | http://zookeys.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=4231 |
| _version_ | 1811275881105063936 |
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| author | Denis Gradinarov |
| author_facet | Denis Gradinarov |
| author_sort | Denis Gradinarov |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present work contributs to the knowledge on the aquatic mermithids (Nematoda, Mermithidae) occurring in black flies – an insufficiently studied group of parasitic nematodes. Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou, 1977, described from larvae of Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903 in Western Africa, is reported to occur in Bulgaria. The species was isolated from larvae of Simulium ornatum Meigen, 1818 in a local population of simuliids in a mountain stream near Jeleznitsa Village, Sofia district. Postparasitic juveniles of mermithids were obtained from the hosts and reared to the adult stage. The species was identified by morphological and morphometrical characters of postparasitic juveniles, and of male and female individuals. In the summer of 2012 a relatively high rate of mermithid infection in a local host population was detected (prevalence up to 44.1%). In August of the next year host abundance had considerably declined and other simuliid species, S. variegatum Meigen, 1818 and S. reptans (Linnaeus, 1758), predominated in the investigated locality. In West Africa, I. lairdi is considered to be a potential biological agent for reducing the population density of the S. damnosum complex – the main vector of human onchocerciasis. In Europe, species of the S. ornatum complex are among the vectors of onchocerciasis of cattle and deer. The mermithids presumably play a certain role in the epidemiology of these diseases. A brief discussion on the taxonomy of the genus Isomermis Coman, 1953, and of the feasibility of molecular methods in mermithid taxonomy is provided. The species I. lairdi is reported for the first time from Europe. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:46:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c1efee72c8d41ef93439911f594d625 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1313-2989 1313-2970 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T23:46:49Z |
| publishDate | 2014-11-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | ZooKeys |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c1efee72c8d41ef93439911f594d6252022-12-22T03:11:50ZengPensoft PublishersZooKeys1313-29891313-29702014-11-01454011110.3897/zookeys.454.75774231The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in EuropeDenis GradinarovThe present work contributs to the knowledge on the aquatic mermithids (Nematoda, Mermithidae) occurring in black flies – an insufficiently studied group of parasitic nematodes. Isomermis lairdi Mondet, Poinar & Bernadou, 1977, described from larvae of Simulium damnosum Theobald, 1903 in Western Africa, is reported to occur in Bulgaria. The species was isolated from larvae of Simulium ornatum Meigen, 1818 in a local population of simuliids in a mountain stream near Jeleznitsa Village, Sofia district. Postparasitic juveniles of mermithids were obtained from the hosts and reared to the adult stage. The species was identified by morphological and morphometrical characters of postparasitic juveniles, and of male and female individuals. In the summer of 2012 a relatively high rate of mermithid infection in a local host population was detected (prevalence up to 44.1%). In August of the next year host abundance had considerably declined and other simuliid species, S. variegatum Meigen, 1818 and S. reptans (Linnaeus, 1758), predominated in the investigated locality. In West Africa, I. lairdi is considered to be a potential biological agent for reducing the population density of the S. damnosum complex – the main vector of human onchocerciasis. In Europe, species of the S. ornatum complex are among the vectors of onchocerciasis of cattle and deer. The mermithids presumably play a certain role in the epidemiology of these diseases. A brief discussion on the taxonomy of the genus Isomermis Coman, 1953, and of the feasibility of molecular methods in mermithid taxonomy is provided. The species I. lairdi is reported for the first time from Europe.http://zookeys.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=4231 |
| spellingShingle | Denis Gradinarov The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe ZooKeys |
| title | The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe |
| title_full | The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe |
| title_fullStr | The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe |
| title_short | The mermithid species Isomermis lairdi (Nematoda, Mermithidae), previously only known in Africa, found in Europe |
| title_sort | mermithid species isomermis lairdi nematoda mermithidae previously only known in africa found in europe |
| url | http://zookeys.pensoft.net/lib/ajax_srv/article_elements_srv.php?action=download_pdf&item_id=4231 |
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