J. Helminthol. Soc. Wash. 64(1), 1997 pp. 55-58 Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n. (Cyclophyllidea: Linstowiidae) from the House Gecko, Hemidactylus mabouia (Sauria: Gekkonidae), from Cameroon CHARLES R. BURSEY,' CHRIS T. McALLisTER,2 AND PAUL S. FREED3 1 Pennsylvania State University, Shenango Campus, 147 Shenango Avenue, Sharon, Pennsylvania 16146, 2 Department of Biology, Texas Wesleyan University, 1201 Wesleyan, Fort Worth, Texas 76105, and 1 Section of Herpetology, Houston Zoological Gardens, 1513 North MacGregor, Houston, Texas 77030 ABSTRACT: Six specimens of Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n. were recovered from the small intestines of 4 of 14 (29%) house geckos, Hemidactylus mabouia, from Cameroon. Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n. has few characteristics in common with African species of Oochoristica'. rather, it belongs to that group of species possessing fewer than 25 testes in a single cluster and circular suckers, namely, O. junkea, O. lygosomae, O. lygosomatis, O. novaezelandae, and O. sobolevi. The new species can be readily differentiated from the other species of this group by number of lobules of the ovary or number of osmoregulatory canals. KEY WORDS: Cestoda, Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n., Sauria, Hemidactylus mabouia. Only 5 species of the cestode genus Oochor- Power, from Namibia. The purpose of this paper istica have been reported previously from Afri- is to describe a new species of Oochoristica that ca. Oochoristica crassiceps Baylis, 1920 (syn- was found in the small intestines of house geck- onyms, O. sigmoides Moghe, 1926; O. fusca os, Hemidactylis mabouia (Moreau de Jonnes), Meggitt, 1927), was described from 2 specimens from Cameroon, Africa. taken from the stripe-bellied sand snake, Psam- mophis subtaeniatus Peters, collected in Mom- Materials and Methods basa, Kenya. Oochoristica theileri Fuhrmann, During March 1991, 14 adult Hemidactylus ma- 1924, was described from 40 specimens found bouia were collected by hand by P.S.F. from buildings in a single spiny agamid lizard, Agama hispida in Douala, Cameroon. The lizards were killed with an Linnaeus, from Pretoria, South Africa. Oochor- intraperitoneal overdose of sodium pentobarbital (Nembutal®), immediately fixed in 10% formalin, and istica truncata (Krabbe, 1879) Zschokke, 1905, then transferred to 70% ethanol for storage. The entire was originally described from specimens har- gastrointestinal tract of each lizard was excised in 1994 bored by the steppe agama, Trapelus sanguino- by C.T.M. and examined for helminths. A total of 6 lentus (Pallas), and the European legless lizard, mature cestodes was discovered in the small intestines of 4 lizards. Each cestode was stained with acetocar- Ophisaurus apodus (Pallas), from Turkestan, but mine, dehydrated in an alcohol series, cleared in xy- was relegated to synonymy with Oochoristica lene, mounted in damar, and examined by light mi- tuberculata (Rudolphi, 1819) Luhe, 1898, by croscopy. Measurements are given in micrometers un- Baer (1927). Oochoristica agamae Baylis, 1919, less otherwise noted. Drawings were made with the aid of a microprojector. a species from agamas from Mozambique, was synonymized with Oochoristica ameivae (Bed- Results dard, 1914) Baer, 1924, a species from South American reptiles, by Hughes (1940). Spasskii Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n. (1951) considered the unification of O. agamae (Figs. 1-5) and O. ameivae to be improper and, based on DESCRIPTION (based on 6 specimens): Total anatomical and ecological features, united O. length 31 (mean) (26—34 [range]) mm; maxi- agamae with O. truncata assuming the name mum width of strobila, 1.40 mm; strobila widest Oochoristica truncata (synonyms, O. agamae; in midregion, tapering toward both ends. Pro- O. africana Malan, 1939; O. a. ookispensis Ma- glottid number in mature worms 168 (150-175): Ian, 1939, O. ameivae sensu Fantham and Porter, 54 (40-60) immature proglottids wider than 1960). Oochoristica ubelakeri Bursey, McAllis- long, 0.65 mm (0.33-0.84) X 0.08 mm (0.05- ter, Freed, and Freed, 1994, was described from 0.10); 44 (40-50) mature proglottids wider than 5 specimens found in a single South African long, 1.20 mm (1.00-1.40) X 0.28 mrn (0.13- rock agama, Agama atra knobeli Boulenger and 0.33); 47 (40-50) gravid proglottids wider than 55 CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001111,, TThhee HHeellmmiinntthhoollooggiiccaall SSoocciieettyy ooff WWaasshhiinnggttoonn 56 JOURNAL OF THE HELMINTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, 64(1), JAN 1997 Figures 1-5. Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n. 1. Scolex and neck. 2. Mature proglottid. 3. Genital atrium and cirrus sac. 4. Gravid proglottid. 5. Egg in uterine capsule. Figures 1 and 2 from type specimen; Figures 3—5 from paratype specimen. long 0.88 mm (0.76-1.02 wide) X 0.80 mm (230-360) wide X 680 (500-750) long. Osmo- (0.64-1.02 long); terminal proglottids slightly regulatory system of 4 longitudinal canals visi- longer than wide 0.88 mm (0.82-0.92 wide) X ble throughout length of strobila. Genital pores 0.94 mm (0.84-1.00 long). Scolex 240 (225- irregularly alternating, situated in anterior quar- 250) wide X 185 (160-200) long, with 4 circular ter of proglottid; genital atrium 52 (45-55) deep, suckers, 116 (110-120) diameter. Neck 252 72 (65-75) wide. Cirrus sac length 167 (150- CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001111,, TThhee HHeellmmiinntthhoollooggiiccaall SSoocciieettyy ooff WWaasshhiinnggttoonn BURSEY ET AL.—OOCHORISTICA JONNESI SP. N. 57 Table 1. Comparative measurements of various structures in species of Oochoristica with circular suckers and fewer than 25 testes in 1 cluster.* O. junkea O. lygosomae O. lygosomatis O. novaezealandae O. sobolevi O. jonnesi sp. n Locality India Sri Lanka Java New Zealand Ukraine Cameroon Proglottid number — 35-45 45 20 57-52 150-175 Length (mm) 50-53 8-15 8-11 20 10-15 26-34 Width, maximum (mm) 0.40 0.60 0.30-0.35 1.12 1.20 1.40 Scolex, width 225 260-310 220-240 240-260 200-250 225-250 Sucker diameter 125-130 140 100-120 80-100 85-100 110-120 Osmoregulatory canals 2 Pairs 1 Pair 1 Pair 2 Pairs 1 Pair 2 Pairs Testes number 23 13-18 14-16 12-15 1 8-23 14-24 Cirrus sac, length 162 175 125 80-90 100-120 150-175 Ovary, width 180 236 — 130-160 170-200 200-300 Ovary, lobule number None 5-7 — None Many 3-5 Egg 46-50 27 X 19 37-40 34-60 34-50 30-40 X 40-51 Oncosphere 25 22 20-25 30-40 22-32 17-22 x 23-29 Hook, length 9-10 11 12-13 1 5-20 15-16 9-13 Reference Johri, 1950 Burt, 1993 Baylis, 1929 Schmidt and Spasskii, 1951 This paper Allison, 1983 Measurements are given in micrometers unless otherwise stated. 175 [N = 12]), width 52 (45-55). Genital ducts Moreau de Jonnes, 1778-1870, French herpe- pass between the osmoregulatory canals. Ovary tologist, who described the host species. bilobed and situated in center of proglottid; each Discussion lobe subdivided into 3—5 lobules; ovary width 270 (200-300 [N = 12]); ovary length 1 10 (80- Oochoristica jonnesi sp. n. has few character- 130); spheroid vitelline gland situated on mid- istics in common with the 5 species of Ooch- line directly behind ovary 160 (100-200 [N = oristica described previously from African rep- 12]) in diameter; ootype and Mehlis' gland com- tiles (see table 1 of Bursey et al., 1994). It be- plex between ovary and vitelline gland. Testes longs to a group of species possessing fewer posterior to ovary and vitelline gland in 1 clus- than 25 testes in 1 cluster and circular suckers, ter, numbering 20 (14-24 [N = 18]) in each pro- namely, O. junkea Johri, 1950, O. lygosomae glottid; testes measure 38 (22-50) X 48 (34-57); Burt, 1933, O. lygosomatis Skinker, 1935, O. no- do not occur lateral to osmoregulatory canals. In vaezelandae Schmidt and Allison, 1985, and O. gravid proglottids, uterine capsules, 54 (51-57; sobolevi (Spasskii, 1948) Spasskii, 1951. Com- N = 24), each containing a single egg, fill entire parisons of selected measurements of Oochor- proglottid; eggs 36 (30-40) X 46 (40-5 I; N = istica jonnesi sp. n with these 5 species are pre- 30); oncosphere 19 (17-22) X 27 (23-29; N = sented in Table 1. The 6 species of this group 30); oncosphere hook lengths 11 (9-13; A/ = are harbored by lizards: O. jonnesi sp. n. and O. 30). Genital atrium, cirrus sac, and vagina visi- junkea in geckonids; O. lygosomae, O. lygoso- ble in gravid proglottids. On average, 350 eggs matis, and O. novaezelandae in scincids; and O. in terminal proglottid (N = 5), eggs not occur- sobolevi in a lacertid. Four biogeographical ring lateral to excretory ducts. realms are represented: O. jonnesi sp. n., Ethi- TYPE HOST: Hemidactylus mabouia (Moreau opian; O. junkea, O. lygosomae, and O. lygo- de Jonnes, 1818). somatis, Oriental; O. novaezelandae, Australian; TYPE LOCALITY: Douala, Cameroon (4°00'S, and O. sobolevi, Palearctic. Several anatomical 9°30'E). characters can be used to separate the species: vSiTE OF INFECTION: Small intestine. O. lygosomae, O. lygosomatis, and O. sobolevi PREVALENCE: Four of 14 (29%) lizards were have a single pair of longitudinal osmoregula- infected tory canals and the genital apparatus lies dorsal TYPE SPECIMENS: Holotype: USNM Helm. to these canals; O. jonnesi sp. n., O. junkea, and Coll. No. 85925; paratypes: No. 85926. O. novaezelandae have 2 pairs of longitudinal ETYMOLOGY: Named in honor of Alexandre osmoregulatory canals and the genital ducts lie CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001111,, TThhee HHeellmmiinntthhoollooggiiccaall SSoocciieettyy ooff WWaasshhiinnggttoonn 58 JOURNAL OF THE HELMINTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, 64(1), JAN 1997 between these canals. The ovaries of O. junkea and the South African Cape Province Permit Of- and O. novaezelandae are not subdivided into fice for their continued support and collecting lobules; the ovary of O. jonnesi sp. n. has 3-5 and export permits (issued to P.S.F.). We also lobules. thank J. Furman and K. Neitman for assistance A question must be raised concerning the as- in the field. signment of Oochoristica lygosomae, O. lygo- Literature Cited somatis, and O. sobolevi to the genus Oochor- Baer, J. G. 1927. Monographic des Cestodes de la istica. Each lacks the double pair of osmoregu- famille des Anoplocephalidae. Bulletin Biolo- latory canals mentioned in the genus diagnosis gique de France et de Belgique, Supplement X. given by Spasskii (1951); the presence of a sin- 241 pp. gle pair of osmoregulatory system should place . 1935. Etude de quelques helminths de Le- these species in another genus, at least. Further- muriens. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 42:275-291. Baylis, H. A. 1929. Some new parasitic nematodes more, there is a question of the validity of O. and cestodes from Java. Parasitology 21:256—265. lygosomatis. This species was originally de- Bursey, C. R., C. T. McAllister, F. S. Freed, and D. scribed by Baylis (1929) as Oochoristica parva. A. Freed. 1994. Oochoristica ubelaker n. sp. Subsequently, Skinker (1935) and Baer (1935) (Cyclophyllidea: Linstowiidae) from the South independently found the specific name to be pre- African Rock Agama, Agama atra knobeli. Trans- actions of the American Microscopical Society occupied and renamed Baylis's material O. ly- 113:400-405. gosomatis and O. baylisi, respectively; priority Burt, D. R. R. 1933. Oochoristica lygosomae, sp. by publication date belonging to O. lygosomatis. nov.—a cestode from the lizard Lygosoma punc- Loewen (1940) relegated O. lygosomatis to syn- tatum. Spolia Zeylanica 18:1-7. Hughes, C. R. 1940. The genus Oochoristica Liihe onymity with O. lygosomae; however, Hughes 1898. American Midland Naturalist 23:368-381. (1940) and Spasskii (1951) retained both species Johri, L. N. 1950. Report on cestodes collected in and indicated that union of these species was India and Burma. Indian Journal of Helmintholo- impossible until the similarity of the genital ap- gy 2:23-34. Loewen, S. L. 1940. On some reptilian cestodes of paratus could be shown. Oochoristica lygoso- the genus Oochoristica (Anoplocephalidae). mae has multiple sperm ducts (Hurt, 1933) not Transactions of the American Microscopical So- seen in other cestodes, a difference that caused ciety 59:511-518. Spasskii (1951) to suggest that this species be- Schmidt, G. D., and B. Allison. 1985. Oochoristica longs in a different family. Thus, it would be novaezealandae n. sp. (Cestoda: Anoplocephali- dae) from a New Zealand skink, Leiolopisma ni- most appropriate to compare Oochoristica jon- griplantare maccanni Hardy, 1977. New Zealand nesi sp. n. with O. junkea and O. novaezelandae Journal of Zoology 112:137-139. only; different host families, different biogeo- Skinker, M. S. 1935. A new species of Oochoristica graphical realms, and significant anatomical dif- from a skunk. Journal of the Washington Acade- my of Science 25:59-65. ferences in ovaries separate these three species. Spasskii, A. A. 1951. Essentials of Cestodology. An- oplocephalate Tapeworms of Domestic and Wild Acknowledgments Animals. Vol. 1. The Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. Translated by The Israel Program We thank the Namibia Department of Agri- for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem, Israel, 1961, culture and Nature Conservation in Windhoek 783 pp. CCooppyyrriigghhtt ©© 22001111,, TThhee HHeellmmiinntthhoollooggiiccaall SSoocciieettyy ooff WWaasshhiinnggttoonn