Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) atlanticaensis, Simões & Moreira & Leite, 2019

Simões, Mariana Brandão, Moreira, Narcisa Imaculada Brant & Leite, Yuri Luiz Reis, 2019, First record of Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) (Nematoda: Rictulariidae) in South America, with the description of a new species from the Atlantic Forest, southeast Brazil, Zootaxa 4629 (1), pp. 96-108 : 99-102

Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) atlanticaensis n. sp.

(Figs. 7–9)

Females (3 specimens): robust body, white colour, 8.13 mm (6.47–9.79) in length and 255 (160–350) width at the oesophageal-intestinal junction. Oral opening asymmetric, 14 (13–15) diameter, somewhat hexagonal, with thick margins, surrounded by 23 denticles ( Fig. 9A ). Buccal capsule 19 (16–22) long and 22 (15–30) wide. Larger, more evident oesophageal teeth 11 (10-13) long (Fig 7, 9A). Nerve ring (Fig. 7) and excretory pore located at 100 (67– 133) and 684 (500–869) from anterior end, respectively. Muscular portion of oesophagus 325 (181–470) long and 36 (30–43) wide; glandular portion 1.67 mm (1.15–2.19) long and 55 (50–60) wide (Fig. 7). Two subventral rows with 63 (56–72) cuticular processes, 45 (44–47) prevulvar combs (Fig. 7) and 18 (12–25) postvulvar spines. Last spine located 675.82 (471.65–880) from posterior end ( Fig. 9C ). Level of transition from combs and spine is posterior of vulvar opening (Fig. 7). The oesophageal-intestinal junction opens at the level of the 47th (45–49) cuticular projection. Simple vulvar opening, 65 (60–70) wide, with small transversal cuticular striations situated at 1.63 mm (870–2.39) from anterior end, at the level of the 43rd (40–46) cuticular projection. The position of the vulva is anterior of the oesophageal-intestinal junction. Embryonated eggs 21 (14–29) long and 16 (10–22) wide (Fig. 8). Conical tail with anus from 104 (100–109) from posterior end ( Fig. 9D ). Caudal appendix 32.27 (11.66–52.89) long.

Material examined

Holotype: one female, CHIOC 38564 (A).

Paratypes: two females, CHIOC 38564 (B).

Holotype host: Trachops cirrhosus Gray 1847 (Phyllostomidae) .

Paratype hosts: Mimon crenulatum Gray, 1847 , Micronycteris sp. ( Phyllostomidae ).

Prevalence and intensity: 4.54% in Trachops cirrhosus (1 positive of 22 analysed), 20% in Mimon crenulatum (1 positive of 5 analysed), 50% in Micronycteris sp. (1 positive of 2 analysed). Parasites found in the small intestine.

Type locality: Brazil:state of Espírito Santo:county of Sooretama: Reserva Biológica de Sooretama (18°59’16”S, 40°6’28”W).

Etymology. Specific epithet dedicated to the Atlantic Forest, biome where the parasite was found in southeast Brazil.

Remarks. The specimens analysed fall within the subgenus P. ( Pterygodermatites ) in Quentin’s (1969) classification due to the dorsal position of the oral opening, the irregular shape of denticles, number of prevulvar cuticle processes greater than 42, and their occurrence in bats. So far this subgenus included only two species: Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) mexicana from Balantiopteryx plicata in Mexico ( Caspeta-Mandujano et al., 2013) and Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) spinosa from Myotis mysticinus ( Quentin, 1969) in Germany.

The specimens described here show significant differences when compared to P. (Pt.) mexicana , such as, number of cuticular processes ( P. (Pt.) mexicana presents 40 prevulvar processes while the specimens analysed present 45), position of the vulva relative to the oesophagus-intestine junction (posterior in P. (Pt.) mexicana , anterior in the specimens analyzed) and differentiation of the cuticular processes relative to the vulva (anterior in P. (Pt.) mexicana according to Caspeta-Mandujano et al. (2013), posterior in the specimens analysed) and hosts belonging to different families (Emballuronidae for P. (Pt.) mexicana and Phyllostomidae for P. (Pt.) atlanticaensis ). In addition, P. (Pt.) mexicana has prominent cuticular flanges on the anal opening, which is not observed in the analysed species. The other species, P. (Pt.) spinosa , presents 77 total cuticular processes ( Caspeta-Mandujano et al., 2013), and was reported from bats of the family Vespertilionidae , specifically Myotis mystacinus ( Quentin, 1969) . The new species has 63 cuticular processes and parasites bats of the family Phyllostomidae. This is the first record of this subgenus parasitizing phyllostomid bats. Since the specimens analysed presented significant differences when compared to both P. (Pt.) mexicana and P. (Pt.) spinosa, we concluded that P. (Pt.) atlanticaensis n. sp. is a new species, extend- ing the geographic distribution of this subgenus to South America.

Figures

FIGURE 9. (A–D) Female Pterygodermatites (Pterygodermatites) atlanticaensis n. sp., under scanning electron micrographs. A. Anterior end showing labial papillae (larger arrow), denticles (small arrow) and hexagonal oral opening. B. Spine-shaped subventral processes. C. Last spine-tail (arrow). D. Anal opening (larger arrow) and caudal appendix (small arrow).