The cement glands of Acanthocephalus serendibensis have been studied, using some routine histological and histochemical procedures. There are six multinucleate syncytial glands which produce a granular secretion which is a protein-mucosubstance complex, the mucosubstance component being of the neutral type. The secretion granules are seen in the body of the glands as well as in the reservoirs and ducts. The granules presumably coalesce to form the so-called cement which is discharged during copulation and seals off the genital region of the female after copulation and insemination.

A Considerable number of specimens of this parasite were collected from the small intestine of a genette which died in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London.

The cuticle of the cephalic extremity is dilated anteriorly. This swelling is terminated posteriorly by the cuticle incurving to meet a raised ring on the body-wall, about the level of the junction of the anterior and second fifths of the œsophagus. There are no cervical papillæ present, and it is probable that this ring may be regarded as replacing them. Just anterior to the middle of the œsophageal region and at the level of the excretory pore is a cervical groove which completely encircles the body. Laterally the cuticle on the anterior margin is thickened; it is also thickened on the ventral side, but less so than laterally. These thickenings are reinforced by a granular inclusion in the cuticle. The posterior margin is thickened only in the region of the excretory pore.

Les nématodes des diplopodes malgré les recherches de Leidy depuis plus d'un siècle, ont été peu étudiés par les auteurs plus récents. Au Brésil, la faune de diplopodes est très riche, et les espèces de ces arthropodes récemment décrites par le Dr. Otto Schubart sont nombreuses. Accompagnant la richesse des espèces donnant l'hospitalité, leurs espèces parasites sont considérablement nombreuses. Nos études nous ont amené à admettre une grande spécificité entre parasite et hôte. Certaines espèces de nématodes ont été référées des ”hôtes” d'espèces très éloignés systématiquement et avec une ample distribution géographique, et il nous semble que ce fait soit dû aux difficultés qu'il y a de les caractériser convenablement.

A new species belonging to the genus Laimydorus, and a known species of the genus Labronema, collected from the rhizosphere of grassland plants in West Azarbaijan province, Iran, are presented. The new species is characterized by its body length (1.56–1.81 mm in females and 1.39–1.57 mm in males), lip region offset by weak constriction and wider than adjacent body (11–14 μm), odontostyle 17–20 μm long, neck length 312–434 μm, vulva longitudinal (V = 42.2–46.5), uterus well-developed and with Z-differentiations, tail long (219–237 μm, c = 6.9–8.3, c´ = 8.2–10) in females, short and convex-conoid with blunt terminus (19–22 μm, c = 68–72.5, c´= 0.77–0.84) in males, spicules 40–45 μm long, and 18–20 contiguous ventromedian supplements with hiatus. Molecular analyses, using Bayesian inference based on D2-D3 expansion segments of the 28S rRNA (LSU), placed the new species in a clade comprising representatives of the genera Nevadanema, Dorylaimus, Labronema, Calcaridorylaimus, Mesodorylaimus, and Prodorylaimus, which all belong to Dorylaimidae. In addition, new data (molecular, morphometrics, images, and geographic distribution) are presented for the Iranian population of Labronema vulvapapillatum.

The main goal of this work was to evaluate the in vitro biological activity of two ferrocenyl chalcones (FcC-1 and FcC-2) against Haemonchus contortus (third-stage larvae (L3)) and Nacobbus aberrans (second-stage juveniles (J2)). Both compounds were synthesized and characterized by usual spectroscopic methods and their molecular structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry. Nematode strains were examined in terms of percentage mortality of H. contortus (L3) by the action of FcC-1, which showed an effectivity of 100% at a concentration of 342 μM in 24 h, with EC50 = 20.33 μM and EC90 = 162.76 μM, whereas FcC-2 had an effectivity of 72% at a concentration of 342 μM in 24 h, with EC50 = 167.39 μM and EC90 = 316.21 μM. The effect of FcC-1 against nematode phytoparasite N. aberrans showed a better percentage of 95% at a concentration of 342 μM, with EC50 = 7.18 μM and EC90 = 79.25 μM, whereas the effect of FcC-2 was 87% at 342 μM, with EC50 = 168 μM and EC90 = 319.56 μM at 36 h. After treatment, the scanning electron micrographs revealed deformities in the dorsal flank and posterior part close to the tail of H. contortus L3. They showed moderate in vitro nematicidal activity against H. contortus L3 and N. aberrans J2.

The humoral immune response in the two eel species, Anguilla japonica and Anguilla anguilla against two fractions of antigens in Anguillicola crassus were studied.Within species, both eel species showed significantly elevated titres compared with controls when immunized with antigens from Anguillicola crassus.In interspecific comparison, Anguilla japonicashowed significantly elevated titres in comparison with Anguilla anguilla. Immunization of Anguilla anguillacaused a significantly decrease in the plasma levels of protein in comparison with control fish and all groups of Anguilla japonica. In contrast, Anguilla japonica showed significantly lower plasma levels of Ig in all groups compared with Anguilla anguilla.The different susceptibilities to Anguillicola crassus between the natural host, Anguilla japonica, and the naı¨ve, Anguilla anguilla, is partly due to differences in the ability of the two eel species to mount a humoral immune response.

It is concluded that Bearup's cercaria, described from Pyrazus australis in Australia, is different from Cercaria variglandis; the former develops into Austrobilharzia terrigalensis and the latter into A. variglandis (Syn. M. Chapini Price, 1929; M. variglandis Stunkard and Hinchliffe, 1952).

Bearup's cercaria should be henceforth treated as that of A. terrigalensis and not as C. variglandis.

The use of native entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents is a strategy to decrease the environmental impact of insecticides and achieve sustainable agriculture crops. In this study, the effect of the surface culture of Steinernema sp. JAP1 over two solid media at 23–27°C on infective juvenile (IJ) production and pathogenicity against Galleria mellonella larvae were investigated. First, the bacterial lawn on the surface of the media with egg yolk (P2) or chicken liver (Cl) were incubated in darkness at 30°C for 48 and 72 h, and 100 surface-sterilized IJs were added. Four harvests were conducted within the next 35 days and the mean accumulated production was superior on Cl (210 × 103 IJs) than on P2 (135 × 103 IJs), but the productivity decreased up to 10% when the incubation time of the bacterial lawn was of 72 h. The mean pathogenicity of in vitro- and in vivo-produced IJs were of 47–64% and 31%, respectively. It is worth noting that none of the two solid media had a statistically significant difference in IJ pathogenicity. Considering that the maximum multiplication factor of IJs on solid media was 2108 and that the pathogenicity against G. mellonella was outstanding, Steinernema sp. has a good potential for in vitro mass production.

Mice presensitized with SEA and subsequently injected with S. japonicum eggs into their lungs or liver developed pathology similar to that found in infected mice and were consequently resistant to challenge (average 33% and 53%, respectively). However, soluble egg antigens were also capable of inducing low levels of resistance in mice (average 22·5%), but intact eggs alone injected into the lungs, liver or subcutance tissues were not. Thus, prior sensitization to ‘marginally’ protective soluble egg antigens is necessary for egg induced resistance.

Total RNA was extracted from packed infective larvae of Trichinella spiralis by centrifugation through a 5·7 M caesium chloride cushion. Polyadenylated messenger RNA was separated from total RNA in an oligothymidylic acid-cellulose gel column. The in vitro translation of the mRNA, isolated from infective larvae of T. spiralis, was carried out using the rabbit reticulocyte cell-free translation system. Incorporation of 35S-methionine into trichloracetic acid precipitates in the lysate containing mRNA was 5 times greater than that in control. The translation products were analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by autoradiography. Many polypeptides with molecular weights of less than 100 000 were synthesized in the lysate. A T. spiralis positive mouse serum was mixed with translation products to form antigen-antibody complexes, which were then absorbed by Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 strain and analysed by autoradiography of SDS-PAGE. An antigenic polypeptide with a molecular weight of 48 000 was demonstrated to react specifically with IgG antibody in T. spiralis positive mouse serum. T. spiralis larvae were cultured in methionine-free medium containing 35S-methionine, and antigenic polypeptides in somatic extracts and ES products were compared with those in translation products by autoradiography of SDS-PAGE. Several polypeptides in ES products and somatic extracts reacted specifically with IgG anitbodies in positive serum. Especially the polypeptide with a molecular weight of 48 000 in ES products strongly reacted with IgG antibody in positive serum.

In the presence of glucose and galactose, the incorporation of radioactive inorganic phosphate (32Pi) into phosphatidylcholine of Hymenolepis diminuta was significantly lowered as compared to the control, whereas other phospholipids remained unaffected. α-methyl-D-glucoside, however, significantly lowered the amount of 32Pi incorporated into phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidic acid. Mannitol did not have any effect on the incorporation of 32Pi into the phospholipids of H. diminuta. The effect of glucose and α-methylglucoside on phospholipid metabolism was both time and concentration dependent. The inorganic, organic, total and phosphatidylcholine-bound phosphate of H. diminuta in the presence of various substrates were not significantly different from the control values under all incubation conditions. The results indicate that the observations made in the presence of external glucose, galactose and α-methylglucoside were due to their physical interaction with the transport mechanism in the tegumental membrane of H. diminuta and also their being subsequently metabolized in the cases of the former two hexoses.

(Based on 20 specimens and measurements on 5). Body oval to spherical, with a conical bluntly rounded anterior end, 0·783–1·017 long, 0·551–0·756 wide at midbody. Cuticle smooth. Oral sucker absent. Mouth large, subterminal, opening through a funnel-like opening into a muscular, well developed pharynx, 0·064–0·100 in diameter. Oesophagus indistinct; intestine rhabdocoel, prominent, extending to posterior level of testis. Ventral adhesive disc well developed, 0·646–0·852x0·551–0·756, occupying major portion of ventral surface of the worm, divided into 27 alveoli in two rows, 19 in peripheral and 8 in central row. Alveoli well developed, muscular. Marginal organs 19, prominent. Testis single, large, entire, almost always occupying the central position in the body, 0·192–0·275x0·233–0·371.

According to Miyazaki (1974), 25 species belonging to the genus Paragonimus have been found in the world. In Japan, five species of the lung flukes, viz., P. westermani, P. ohirai, P. iloktsuenensis, P. miyazakii and P. sadoensis have been known up to date. P. ohirai metacercariae are found in the liver, and in the body and leg muscles of the brackish water crabs, Sesarma (Holometopus) dehaani, S. (H.) haematocheir, S. (Sesarma) intermedium, Helice tridens tridens and Chasmagnathus convexus.

1. A new genus of a spiruroid nematode belonging to the family Thelaziidae is described from the liver of a marine fish, Chorinemus tala from Karachi, Pakistan. The genus is based on the structure of the head, the presence of body papillae, the peculiar female reproductive system, the position of the vulva etc. This is the first record of a nematode from the liver of a fish.

2. The genus Filochona (Saidov, 1954) Yamaguti, 1961 is synonymised with Rhabdochona and the subfamily Filochoninae Yamaguti, 1961 is suppressed.

In the original paper dealing with this interesting nematode a fairly complete account was given of its discovery, its life-history in the free-living condition and within the host. In addition, its effect on the host, whereby flies of both sexes are sterilised owing to its presence, was also described. Its occurrence in both the stem and panicle generations of frit-flies attacking oats was recorded and figures were presented showing the incidence of infection in flies of these two generations. At the same time the inference was drawn that the parasite must also occur in the over-wintering generation of the frit-fly, larvæ of which attack wild grasses or winter cereals. Observations were therefore necessary on flies of this generation emerging during 1930 to prove conclusively the presence of the parasite. These observations are dealt with in the present paper and figures are given showing the degree of infestation in both male and female flies.

Sixteen specimens of a small trematode, belonging to the genus Leipertrema Sandosham, 1951, were collected from the intestine of a male Callosciurns notatus. This squirrel was caught at Subang, Selangor, Federation of Malaya,. on 17th December. 1960. The specimens differ from the only other member of the genus, Leipertrema rewelli Sandosham, 1951 from the pancreas of one Orang Utan, Pongo pygmaeus, (type specimens examined) and require description.

The occurrence of the chrysanthemum eelworm, Aphelenchoides ritzema-bosi (Schwartz, 1911), in an unusual situation, namely within the tissues of tomato fruits, calls for brief report since, though well known as a leaf parasite of a good number of plants, it has not, to our knowledge, been reported previously from a fruit.

Towards the end of October, one of us (S.H.B.) visited a grower who complained of having a number of tomato fruits from which the calyx tissue came away at the slightest touch. These fruits then rotted deeply towards the centre. Two such fruits were taken from the store for examination in the laboratory. One of them was attacked by the fungus Didymella Lycopersici whilst the other was found to contain eelworms. This fruit was sent by S.H.B. to T.G. with a request for a determination of the species of eelworm present and an opinion on whether it was a parasitic species or not.

On receipt of the fruit the senior author cut it in two by a cut passing along the longitudinal axis from the calyx region and through the central fleshy placenta. It was then seen that the discoloured diseased area was about ¼ in. deep by about ⅝ in. broad and occupied much of the solid fleshy base of the fruit. On teasing up a small portion of the diseased tissues in water and examining under the binocular microscope, considerable numbers of small eelworms were found together with numerous eggs and larvae in various stages of growth.