Redescriptions of Haemonchus mitchelli and Haemonchus okapiae (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) and Description of a Unique Synlophe for the Haemonchinae

Authors

J. Ralph Lichtenfels, Animal Parasitic Disease Lab, ARS, United States Department of AgricultureFollow
Patricia A. Pilitt, United States Department of Agriculture
Lynda M. Gibbons, University of London
Eric P. Hoberg, United States Department of AgricultureFollow

Date of this Version

10-2002

Comments

Published in the Journal of Parasitology (October 2002) 88(5): 947-960.

Abstract

In the course of a revision of Haemonchus Cobb, 1898 (Nematoda), commonly referred to as large stomach worms, significant new morphological information was discovered that allows the recognition of two species believed for more than 50 years to be synonymous. Both species, Haemonchus mitchelli Le Roux, 1929, from the eland Taurotragus oryx and other African ruminants and H. okapiae van den Berghe, 1937, from the okapi Okapia johnstoni, have a synlophe of 42 ridges, but the synlophe of H. mitchelli is longer than that of H. okapiae. The distal tip of the left spicule of H. mitchelli bears a barb that is about twice as long as the short barb and half as long as the long barb on the right spicule. In contrast, the barb on the left spicule of H. okapiae is similar in size to the short barb and about 25% as long as the long barb of the right spicule. The dorsal ray of H. mitchelli is bifurcated distally for 25–39% (32%) of its length and its stem is expanded proximally, but the dorsal ray of H. okapiae is bifurcated 37-50% (42%) and its stem is of uniform thickness.