Libyostrongylus dentatus n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from Ostriches in North America, with Comments on the Genera Libyostrongylus and Paralibyostrongylus

Authors

Eric P. Hoberg, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceFollow
S. Lloyd, North Carolina State University at Raleigh
H. Omar, Texas A & M University - College Station

Date of this Version

1995

Citation

Journal of Parasitology (1995) 81(1): 85-93.

Comments

U. S. government work.

Abstract

Libyostrongylus dentatus sp. n. is described from ostriches on farms from North Carolina and Texas. Nematodes were recovered from the posterior proventriculus and under the koilon lining of the gizzard; the parasites occurred in mixed infections with Libyostrongylus douglassii. The species is distinguished from congeners by the presence of a prominent, dorsal, esophageal tooth; in males by the structure of the dorsal ray and spicules; and in females by small eggs (52-62 gm in length), a sublateral vulva situated at 93% of the body length from the anterior, and a strongly curled, digitate, tail with cuticular inflations at the anus. Conflicts in the generic diagnoses of Libyostrongylus and Paralibyostrongylus were apparent, based on the structure of the dorsal ray or position of rays 3-5 of the copulatory bursa. These can only be resolved based on phylogenetic analyses of the eleven nominal species referred to these genera.