Madapolystoma biritika

Du, Louis H., Raharivololoniaina, Liliane, Verneau, Olivier & Vences, Miguel, 2010, A new genus of polystomatid parasitic flatworm (Monogenea: Polystomatidae) without free-swimming life stage from the Malagasy poison frogs, Zootaxa 2722, pp. 54-68 : 57-60

Madapolystoma biritika n. g. & n. sp.

(Adult: Figures 1 – 4 )

Specimens studied. Two sexually mature worms from Mantella madagascariensis ; holotype (NMB P318) and one paratype (NMB P319). Two sexually mature (paratypes NMB P320 & NMB P321) and 11 immature worms from M. baroni . One sexually mature worm (paratype NMB P 322) and 10 immature worms from M. milotympanum . All types in the Parasitic Worm Collection, National Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Type host. Mantella madagascariensis (Grandidier, 1872)

Other hosts. Mantella baroni and M. milotympanum .

Site. Urinary bladder

Locality for type host. Exact locality unknown.

Etymology. The species name “ biritika ” is Malagasy for extremely small and refers to the small size of the parasite.

Description. Based on five mature specimens Table 2 . Adults pyriform ( Figures 1 & 2 ) and vary in length from 1,304 to 3,041. Eyespots not observed in adult. Mouth subterminal, ventral, surrounded by false oral sucker. Pharynx spherical. Intestine bifurcate, confluent posteriorly with a few medial diverticula, no prehaptoral anastomoses. Testis single, follicular, post-ovarian, median posteriorly in body. Vas deferens widens slightly anteriorly forming seminal vesicle, narrows at genital bulb to open at common genital opening. Genital bulb armed with 8 genital spines. Two vaginae, on lateral margins in middle of body antero-lateral to ovary; vaginal ducts descending. Ovary in middle and median of body, oval ( Figure 2 C). Oviduct leaves ovary, ascends, forms ootype. Uterus tubular and coiled extending from haptor to genital bulbus holding embryos in an advanced stage of development. For the parasites from M. madagascareniensis the uterus holds respectively 13 and 32 embryos, three and 18 respectively for polystomes from M. baroni and one for the parasite from M. milotympanum . Embryos from the M. madagascareniensis parasite vary in size from 109 x 95 for small embryos to 286 (234–330) x 123 (116– 139) for developed embryos; hamuli already visible in small embryos reaching 46 in developed embryos, pharynx 47 x 34; for polystomes from M. baroni the embryos vary from 109 for small undeveloped embryos to 286 (234– 330) x 123 (116–139) for developed embryos; hamuli start development in small embryos reaching 46 in developed embryos; pharynx 47 x 34; the parasite from M. milotympanum had a single advanced embryo in utero with mouth, pharynx, intestine, developing gonads, hamuli and two pairs of suckers visible; 457 long and 213 wide, hamuli with recurved points respectively 41 and 40, oral sucker 70 and pharynx 80 x 63.

Embryos encapsulated in thin membrane, non operculate. Embryos not ciliated, cilia were not observed in any developmental stage of the larvae. Sixteen marginal hooklets, placement as for other polystomes: pairs one and two posterior-most between suckers; pairs three, four and five at bases of suckers and pairs six to eight anterior in haptor between anterior-most suckers. Marginal hooklets 24.2 (21.4–26.1) for parasites from M. madagascareniensis ; 24.6 (20.4–26.9) for parasites from M. baroni and 23.8 (21.2–26.1) for parasites from M. milotympanum . Hooklets 1 not bigger than hooklets 2–8 ( Figure 3 ).

Measurements of six immature specimens collected from M. madagascareniensis during 2008: Body length 905 (526 – 1,128), greatest width 236 (174 – 286). Haptor length 298 (175 – 397), haptor width 365 (205 – 512). False oral sucker 110 (82 – 143). Pharynx length 98 (75 – 115), pharynx width 89 (68 – 105). Hamulus length 122 (106 – 133), recurved point 46 (42 – 47) ( Figure 4 ). Diameter of sucker pair one 114 (75 – 143), sucker pair two 89 (58 – 109) and sucker pair three 70 (44 – 90).

Measurements of 11 immature specimens collected from M. baroni: Body length 841 (520 – 1,120), greatest width 251 (197 – 290). Haptor length 286 (190 – 374), haptor width 354 (250 – 426). Hamulus length 116 (65 – 139), recurved point 44 (42 – 45). Diameter of sucker pair one 113 (79 – 139), sucker pair two 87 (48 – 108) and sucker pair three 74 (60 – 94).

Measurements of 10 immature specimens collected from M. milotympanum: Body length 764 (646 – 967), greatest width 260 (238 – 296). Haptor length 247 (200 – 325), haptor width 325 (165 – 445). Hamulus length 112 (99 – 129), recurved point 46 (44 – 48). Diameter of sucker pair one 98 (78 – 135), sucker pair two 74 (49 – 100) and sucker pair three 49 (31 – 75).

Madapolystoma biritika n. Mantella madagascareniensis Madagascar PL 011126 B1 FR 667569 g., n. sp. [f]

Madapolystoma biritika n. Mantella madagascareniensis Madagascar PL 011126 B2 FR 667570 g., n. sp. [g]

Madapolystoma biritika n. Mantella madagascareniensis Madagascar PL 080204 A FR 667571 g., n. sp. [h]

Madapolystoma biritika n. Mantella milotympanum Madagascar PL 050114 E FR 667572 g., n. sp. [i]

Figures

FIGURE 1. Madapolystoma biritika n. g., n. sp. A, micrograph of the type specimen. Scale: 500 µm; B, Mantella madagascareniensis (specimen from Besariaka); C, M. baroni (specimen from An'Ala); D, M. milotympanum.

FIGURE 2. Madapolystoma biritika n. g., n. sp. Ventral view of holotype (A) and paratypes (B & C). Abbreviations: gc, genito-intestinal canal; gb, genital bulb; ha, hamulus; hp, haptor; ic, intestinal caecum; la, larva; mo, mouth; ov, ovary; ph, pharynx; su, sucker; te, testis distribution; va, vagina; vd, vas deferens. Scale bars: 500 µm.

FIGURE 3. Marginal hooklets 1, 2 – 7 and 8 from larvae and subadult specimens of Madapolystoma biritika n. g., n. sp. A, hooklets for specimens from Mantella madagascareniensis; B, hooklets for specimens from Mantella baroni; C, hooklets for specimens from Mantella milotympanum. Scale bar = 20 µm.

FIGURE 4. Hamulus of Madapolystoma biritika n. g., n. sp. A, hamuli from mature specimens from the host Mantella madagascareniensis; B, hamuli from mature specimens from the host Mantella baroni; C, hamuli from mature specimens from the host Mantella milotympanum. Scale bar = 100 µm.