Catenotaenioides kirgizica ( Tokobaev, 1959 ) Tokobaev, 1959

Haukisalmi, Voitto, Hardman, Lotta M. & Henttonen, Heikki, 2010, Taxonomic review of cestodes of the genus Catenotaenia Janicki, 1904 in Eurasia and molecular phylogeny of the Catenotaeniidae (Cyclophyllidea), Zootaxa 2489, pp. 1-33 : 24-26

Catenotaenioides kirgizica ( Tokobaev, 1959) n. comb.

(Fig. 11)

Synonym: Catenotaenia kirgizica Tokobaev, 1959 .

Material examined: Eight gravid specimens from the Ural field mouse Apodemus uralensis (Muridae) from Kazakhstan.

Site: Usually the middle third of the small intestine (jejunum).

Deposited voucher specimens: USNPC 102589 and 102590, from A. uralensis from Bakanas, Kazakhstan (44.80851o N, 76.265720o E), and USNPC 102591 from A. uralensis from Karatal, Kazakhstan (47°36' N, 85°12' E).

Description: Length of fully gravid specimens 50–65 mm (n=3). Maximum width 1.02–1.63 mm (1.33 mm, n=6), attained in postmature, pregravid or gravid proglottids. Number of proglottids 41–47 (n=3). Scolex 350–375 (361, n=5) wide, separated from neck by slight constriction. Scolex with apical dome-like bulge. Neck 0.8–1.0 mm (n=4) long, widens posteriad; 245–315 (285, n=5) wide immediately posterior to scolex. Distinct longitudinal groove sometimes present in neck. Suckers 143–170 (157, n=5) in diameter, directed laterally, embedded within scolex.

Strobila acraspedote, slight constriction only present at border of proglottids. Mature and subsequent proglottids with convex margins, widest in mid-region, rarely at genital pore. Mature proglottids usually slightly shorter than wide. Last gravid proglottids sometimes strongly contracted (short, with very convex margins). Length and length/width ratio of proglottids increase posteriad: immature proglottids 310–610 (468, n=8) long, with length/width ratio of 0.45–0.95 (0.69, n=8); mature proglottids 0.82–1.24 mm (1.01, n=9) long, with length/width ratio of 0.73–1.03 (0.87, n=9); fully gravid proglottids 1.7–3.8 mm (2.63 mm, n=6) long, with length/width ratio of 1.10–3.39 (2.41, n=6).

Genital pores irregularly and frequently alternating, with average of 57.0 changes per 100 proglottids or 1.75 (1–6) proglottids per unilateral set. Genital pores positioned roughly at border between first and second quarters of proglottid margin; relative anterior distance of genital pore 0.23–0.29 (n=4). Marginal bulge associated with genital pore usually absent.

Ventral longitudinal osmoregulatory canals 25–50 (31, n=6) wide; transverse connecting canals present in posterior margin of proglottid. Dorsal longitudinal osmoregulatory canals not observed. Terminal genital ducts pass dorsally to longitudinal canal.

Number of testes 122–133 (n=3), their diameter 60–95 (78, n=8). Testes situated in single compact group posterior to female glands, confined by longitudinal canals, dorso-ventrally in 2–3 layers. Short longitudinal division of anterior testicular field sometimes present. Testes markedly overlapping posterior part of ovary, sometimes reaching level of mid-vitellarium. Testicular field covering 46–62% (n=4) of proglottid length.

FIGURE. 11. Catenotaenioides kirgizica from Apodemus uralensis . A, scolex and neck (scale bar 0.30 mm). B, mature proglottids (scale bars 1.0 mm). C, mature proglottid (scale bars 0.30 mm). D, E, uterus in pregravid proglottid (scale bars 0.50 mm). F, egg (scale bar 0.020 mm).

Cirrus sac elongate or pyriform with muscular wall; length in mature proglottids 190–220 (n=3). Cirrus sac usually overlaps or extends across longitudinal canal when cirrus withdrawn. Internal seminal vesicle absent, although slightly expanded reservoir may be present in proximal cirrus sac. Distal vas deferens slightly twisted or looped, covered by thick continuous cell layer. Proximal vas deferens curved posteriad, not covered by cell layer. Ductus cirri usually provided with short spines; no armature observed on everted cirri.

Ovary lobulated, asymmetrical, confined by longitudinal canals. Very short free space (0–40, n=4) may separate ovary from anterior margin of proglottid. Length of ovary 530–960 (n=4) and maximum width (in anterior part) 740–860 (n=4). Ovary extends slightly more posteriad than posterior edge of vitellarium, covering 49–82% (n=4) proglottid length. Vitellarium sparsely lobulated and irregularly shaped. Vitellarium shorter than wide; length 250–300 (n=4) and width 340–400 (n=4). Midpoint of vitellarium usually positioned at midline of proglottid, in one case more anteriorly; relative longitudinal position 0.38–0.52 (n=4). Mehlis' gland ovoid, 130–145 (n=3) in diameter, slightly antiporal with respect to mid-line of vitellarium. Vagina opens posterior or postero-ventral to male pore. Proximal vagina strongly curved posteriad, merging seminal receptacle anteriorly or antero-medially. Vagina covered by thick cell layer. Length of vagina 280–370 (n=3). Vagina 85–100 (n=3) wide and vaginal lumen 50–70 (n=3) wide. Vaginal lumen with long delicate setae pointing distally. Seminal receptacle ovoid or round; maximum diameter 80–210 (n=4), attained in postmature or pregravid proglottids. Uterus in pregravid proglottids with 15–23 (19.1, n=14) primary branches on each side; secondary branches absent or few. Anterior unbranched pocket usually absent. Branches disintegrate partly or totally in fully gravid proglottids. Eggs (outer membrane) ovoid, 26.0–35.0 (31.0, n=6) long. Embryophore ovoid or subspherical, 15.0–18.5 (17.4, n=6) long.

Remarks: Catenotaenioides kirgizica was described from the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus) from Kyrgyzstan ( Ryzhikov et al. 1978). Based on recent knowledge, A. sylvaticus does not, however, occur in Kyrgyzstan. The original host of C. kirgizica was probably A. uralensis , which is the only Apodemus species almost throughout Kyrgyzstan (The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species available from http://www.iucnredlist.org/). Catenotaenioides kirgizica was later reported (without description) from A. sylvaticus (probably A. uralensis ) and the common vole Microtus arvalis from Kazakhstan ( Shaykenov 1981). Subsequent reports or descriptions do not exist. Because the report from M. arvalis cannot be verified, we assume that C. kirgizica is a host-specific parasite of Apodemus ( uralensis ) in South-Central Asia.

The main measurements of the present specimens generally agree with those of the original description, with the exception of the slightly larger scolex and longer cirrus sac in the latter material ( Table 4 ).

For morphological differences between C. kirgizica and Catenotaenia spp., see Remarks section for the genus Catenotaenioides .