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Some nematodes from eels (Anguilliformes: Anguillidae) in Japan, with descriptions of two new species

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Abstract

Recent occasional examinations of two species of eels (Anguilliformes: Anguillidae) in Japan, the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica Temminck & Schlegel from central Japan and the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata Quoy & Gaimard from southern Japan, respectively, revealed the following four species of gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes: Cucullanus filiformis Yamaguti, 1935 (Cucullanidae) from A. japonica; Paraquimperia japonica n. sp. (Quimperiidae) from A. japonica (type-host) and A. marmorata; Heliconema anguillae Yamaguti, 1935 (Physalopteridae) from A. marmorata (new host record); and Spinitectus anguillae n. sp. (Cystidicolidae) from A. japonica (type-host) and A. marmorata. Specimens of all species are described based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Paraquimperia japonica n. sp. is mainly characterised by the presence of a ventral sucker, spicules 210–231 µm long and by narrow cervical alae, whereas S. anguillae n. sp. by the number (29–36) of cuticular spines in the first ring, the length of the left spicule (351 µm) and the structure (without polar caps, filaments or lateral swellings), and the size of eggs (36–42 × 21–27 µm).

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Acknowledgements

We thank Takeshi Sasaki (University Museum, University of the Ryukyus, Fujukan) and Toru Naruse (Tropical Biosphere Research Center, Iriomote Station, University of the Ryukyus) for providing laboratory facilities. We are grateful to Hirotaka Katahira (Azabu University) for help and support during the study and to Yasuhiro Fujioka (Shiga Prefectural Fisheries Experiment Station), Daisuke Uyeno (Kagoshima University) and Masato Nitta (Kobe University) for assistance with fish sampling. Thanks are also due to the Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, institution supported by the MEYS CR (LM2015062 Czech-BioImaging) for their support with obtaining scientific data presented in this paper, and to Blanka Škoríková of the same Institute for help with the illustrations. The Japanese eels examined were captured with a special permission from the Yamaguchi Prefecture Government and the Fisheries Cooperative Associations for Fishes of the Nishiki and Shimata Rivers.

Funding

This study was partly supported by the institutional support of the Institute of Parasitology, BC AS CR, 585110/9500 to FM and by JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) KAKENHI Grant Number JP 24580267 to KN.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic

    František Moravec

  2. Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 739-8528, Japan

    Kazuya Nagasawa

  3. Inland Sea Research Division, Yamaguchi Prefectural Fisheries Research Center, Aio Futashima, Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi, 754-0893, Japan

    Toshihiro Hatama

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  1. František Moravec
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Correspondence to František Moravec.

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Moravec, F., Nagasawa, K. & Hatama, T. Some nematodes from eels (Anguilliformes: Anguillidae) in Japan, with descriptions of two new species. Syst Parasitol 97, 691–712 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11230-020-09945-1

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