Hookworms are parasites, closely related to the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, that are a major economic and health burden worldwide. Primarily three hookworm species (Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, and Ancylostoma ceylanicum) infect humans. Another 100 hookworm species from 19 genera infect primates, ruminants, and carnivores. Genetic data exist for only seven of these species. Genome sequences are available from only four of these species in two genera, leaving 96 others (particularly those parasitizing wildlife) without any genomic data. The most recent hookworm genomes were published 5 years ago, leaving the field in a dusk. However, assembling genomes from single hookworms may bring a new dawn. Here we summarize advances, challenges, and opportunities for studying these neglected but important parasitic nematodes.

• Klíčová slova
• Ancylostoma, Necator, genome, genomics, hookworms, sequencing,
• MeSH
• Ancylostomatoidea genetika   MeSH
• genom u helmintů * genetika   MeSH
• genomika * MeSH
• infekce oblými hlísty * parazitologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Equines were over decades considered to be infected by two morphologically virtually indistinguishable ascarid species, Parascaris univalens and Parascaris equorum. Reliable species discrimination is only possible using enzyme isoelectric focussing and karyotyping with P. univalens having one and P. equorum two chromosome pairs. However, presumably the complexity of both methods prevented their routine use in nearly all previous studies about prevalence and drug resistance of Parascaris spp. These have barely been performed on the species level although most studies stated presence of one or the other species. Recently, only P. univalens has been identified by karyotyping and the last published study identifying P. equorum dates back to 1989. In order to improve species-specific detection, molecular markers are required. Here, partial 12S rRNA, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 and - 2 sequences were obtained from 24 karyotyped Parascaris specimens from Poland and 6 German specimens (not karyotyped) and used in phylogenetic analyses with orthologous sequences from GenBank. All karyotyped specimens were identified as P. univalens. In the phylogenetic analysis, they formed very homogenous clusters for all target genes and in a multi-locus analysis. Within this cluster, almost all sequences from GenBank were also included, no matter if they had been assigned to P. univalens or P. equorum. However, a small number of P. univalens ITS and COI sequences originating from donkeys from a single farm in China formed a highly supported sister cluster suggesting that they might represent another Parascaris genotype or species. Our data also strongly suggest that nearly all ITS and COI sequences previously deposited in GenBank and assigned to P. equorum actually represent P. univalens. The fact that significantly different sequences can be found in Parascaris spp. suggests that PCR-based species diagnosis will be possible once molecular markers have been identified for P. equorum from karyotyped specimens.

• Klíčová slova
• Ascarid, Cytochrome oxidase 1, Internal-transcribed-spacer, Karyotyping, Molecular detection, Parascaris equorum,
• MeSH
• Ascaridoidea genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genetická variace * MeSH
• geny helmintů * MeSH
• mitochondriální geny MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Německo MeSH
• Polsko MeSH

Morphological characteristics of the acanthocephalan Polymorphus minutus (Goeze, 1782), which was collected from the duck Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus in the Czech Republic, are described. The mitochondrial (mt) genome of P. minutus was sequenced, with a total length of 14,149 bp, comprising 36 genes including 12 protein coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and two ribosomal RNA genes (rrnL and rrnS). This genome is similar to the mt genomes of other syndermatan species. All these genes were encoded on the same DNA strand and in the same orientation. The overall nucleotide composition of the P. minutus mt genome was 38.2% T, 27.3% G, 26.2% A, and 8.3% C. The amino acid sequences of 12 PCGs for mt genomes of 28 platyzoans, including P. minutus, were used for phylogenetic analysis, and the resulting topology recovers P. minutus as sister to Southwellina hispida (Van Cleave, 1925), and the two taxa form a sister clade to Centrorhynchus aluconis (Müller, 1780) and Plagiorhynchus transversus (Rudolphi, 1819), which are all species in the Palaeacanthocephala, thus supporting the monophyly of this class.

• Klíčová slova
• Acanthocephala, Palaeanthocephala, Polymorphida, mitochondrial genome, morphological characteristics,
• MeSH
• Acanthocephala anatomie a histologie   genetika   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• genom mitochondriální * MeSH
• genom u helmintů * MeSH
• helmintózy zvířat parazitologie   MeSH
• kachny * MeSH
• nemoci ptáků parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

Cats are important hosts for different zoonotic parasites that can be hazardous to human health. To date, few studies have attempted to identify the factors affecting parasitic infections in shelter animals. This study aims to analyse the presence of endoparasites in shelter cats in Tartu, Estonia, and identify factors affecting endoparasite prevalence and intensity. The risk factors considered were age, location (urban vs rural cats) and time spent in shelter. In total, 290 faecal samples were collected from cats at an animal shelter in 2015-2016 and investigated for endoparasites using the concentration flotation technique. In total, 138 shelter cats (47.6%) were infected with endoparasites and their overall prevalence was: Toxocara cati (36.6%), Cystoisospora spp. (12.4%), Taeniidae gen. sp. (4.1%), Toxoplasma gondii/Hammondia hammondi (3.4%), Eucoleus aerophilus (2.1%), Cryptosporidium spp. (2.1%), Ancylostoma sp. (0.7%) and Giardia sp. (0.7%). Coinfections occurred in 38 cats (13.1%) most frequently of T. cati and Cystoisospora spp. (4.5%), Cystoisospora spp. and T. gondii/H. hammondi (2.1%). Where species identification of cestode and nematode samples was not possible according to morphology, genetic analysis of the mitochondrial cox1 gene was carried out. DNA was successfully analysed for 6 out of 13 samples that required genetic identification, revealing Ancylostoma tubaeforme in one nematode sample and Hydatigera taeniaeformis in five cestode samples. Cats from rural areas had significantly higher endoparasite prevalence than cats from urban areas. Helminth prevalence decreased to some extent due to anthelmintic treatment in cats available for adoption (held ≥15 days in the shelter), whereas the prevalence of infection with protists increased significantly in these animals. It is important to note that the analysis revealed lower infection intensity for quarantine cats (held 1-14 days in the shelter) compared with cats available for adoption. The relatively high prevalence of endoparasites (including zoonotic) in shelter cats ready for adoption suggests that current anthelminthic procedures require improvements.

• Klíčová slova
• Hydatigera taeniaeformis, Toxocara cati, rural cats, shelter cats, shelter management, urban cats,
• MeSH
• Ancylostoma izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Cestoda izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• cizopasní červi MeSH
• Coccidia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Cryptosporidium izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces parazitologie   MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• Giardia izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• giardiáza MeSH
• hlístice izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• kočky parazitologie   MeSH
• paraziti * klasifikace   izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• prevalence MeSH
• respirační komplex IV genetika   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• Toxocara izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Toxoplasma izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• věkové faktory MeSH
• zoonózy parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• kočky parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Estonsko epidemiologie   MeSH
• Názvy látek
• respirační komplex IV MeSH

Two new species of philometrid nematodes (Philometridae) from needlefishes (Belonidae) in Florida are described based on morphological and genetic characteristics: Philometra aequispiculata sp. n. (males and females) collected from the ovary of Strongylura marina (Walbaum) (type host) and Strongylura notata (Poey), and Philometra notatae sp. n. (females) from the swimbladder of S. notata. Both species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Morphologically, P. aequispiculata sp. n. differs from all congeners mainly in the unique structure of the distal tip of the gubernaculum, whereas P. notatae sp. n. is mainly characterised by the presence of eight markedly large cephalic papillae of the outer circle in gravid and subgravid females, the body length of the gravid female (54 mm) and by the absence of caudal projections. Molecular characterisation of the new species was assessed from phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and SSU rRNA small-subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) sequences among closely related philometrids by way of Bayesian inference. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on COI and SSU sequences show each of the new species comprise discrete ancestor-descendent lineages.

• Klíčová slova
• Apalachicola Bay, Atlantic Ocean, Barracudia, North America, Parasitic nematode, Philometra, Strongylura, Tampa Bay, integrated taxonomy, marine fish,
• MeSH
• Beloniformes parazitologie   MeSH
• druhová specificita MeSH
• estuár MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• hlístice * anatomie a histologie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• mikroskopie elektronová rastrovací MeSH
• ovarium parazitologie   MeSH
• respirační komplex IV genetika   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální genetika   MeSH
• vzdušné vaky parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Florida MeSH
• Názvy látek
• respirační komplex IV MeSH
• RNA ribozomální MeSH

South African clinids are a major component of the temperate intertidal regions that are also known to participate in life cycles and transmission of several groups of parasites. However, the knowledge of trematode diversity of these fishes is incomplete. In this study, two species of Clinus Cuvier, the super klipfish Clinus superciliosus (Linnaeus) and the bluntnose klipfish Clinus cottoides Valenciennes, were collected from six localities along the South African coast and examined for the presence of trematodes. Metacercariae of Cardiocephaloides Sudarikov, 1959 were found in the eye vitreous humour and brain of C. superciliosus and in the eye vitreous humour of C. cottoides. Detailed analyses integrating morphological and molecular sequence data (28S rDNA, ITS2 rDNA-region, and COI mtDNA) revealed that these belong to two species, Cardiocephaloides physalis (Lutz, 1926) and an unknown species of Cardiocephaloides. This study provides the first report of clinid fishes serving as intermediate hosts for trematodes, reveals that the diversity of Cardiocephaloides in South Africa is higher than previously recorded, and highlights the need for further research to elucidate the life cycles of these trematode species. The broad geographical distribution of Cardiocephaloides spp. was confirmed in the present study based on molecular sequence data. The host-parasite interactions between clinid fishes and metacercariae of Cardiocephaloides are yet to be explored.

• Klíčová slova
• Clinus cottoides, Clinus superciliosus, DNA, Trematoda, marine fish parasites, morphology,
• MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• infekce červy třídy Trematoda parazitologie   MeSH
• interakce hostitele a parazita MeSH
• metacerkárie anatomie a histologie   klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• nemoci ryb parazitologie   MeSH
• Perciformes parazitologie   MeSH
• ribozomální DNA genetika   MeSH
• ryby parazitologie   MeSH
• stadia vývoje MeSH
• Trematoda * anatomie a histologie   klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Jihoafrická republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ribozomální DNA MeSH

Parasitological examination of freshwater fishes of the Phongolo River in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa resulted in the discovery and morphological and molecular characterisation of a new species of Wenyonia Woodland, 1923 (Cestoda: Caryophyllidea). The new species from the plain squeaker, Synodontis zambezensis Peters (Siluriformes: Mochokidae), is morphologically most similar to Wenyonia acuminata Woodland, 1923, a species reported from three species of Synodontis in north-eastern, western and central Africa (Sudan, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Both these species are markedly different from congeners by having a nematoform body and a digitiform scolex. Wenyonia gracilis sp. n. differs from W. acuminata in its general body size, length and width of main body regions (testicular and uterine regions), a posterior extension of the testes into the uterine region, numerous postovarian vitelline follicles filling the entire medulla, eggs c. 1/3 larger in size, and a scolex with an apical introvert but devoid of longitudinal furrows and a well-defined base. Wenyonia gracilis is the seventh species in the genus and the first autochthonous caryophyllidean ever reported and described from southern Africa (south of the Zambezi River).

• Klíčová slova
• South Africa, Tapeworms, biodiversity, biogeography, fish parasites, molecular characterisation, new species, taxonomy,
• MeSH
• Cestoda * klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• cestodózy veterinární   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• klasifikace MeSH
• nemoci ryb parazitologie   MeSH
• řeky parazitologie   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 28S genetika   MeSH
• sladká voda parazitologie   MeSH
• sumci parazitologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Jihoafrická republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• RNA ribozomální 28S MeSH

We found unusual digenean intramolluscan stages, sporocysts and cercariae, in gastropods Sulcospira dautzenbergiana (Morelet) (Caenogastropoda: Pachychilidae) from Southern Vietnam and named them Cercaria cattieni 1. These cercariae have a stylet and thus belong to the Xiphidiata. However, such combination of characters as extremely large body size and I-shaped excretory bladder has not been found before in any other xiphidiocercariae. We obtained COI, ITS1, 5.8S + ITS2, and 28S rDNA sequences for C. cattieni 1. The latter allowed us to specify the phylogenetic position of the discovered cercariae: C. cattieni 1 falls within the superfamily Microphalloidea and is most closely grouped to Pachypsolus irroratus (Rudolphi, 1819) (Pachypsolidae), the sea turtle parasite. Information on the family Pachypsolidae is limited. Judging from the molecular phylogeny, C. cattieni 1 might be the larva of the Pachypsolidae, documented for the first time.

• Klíčová slova
• 28S rDNA, COI, Digenea, ITS1, ITS2, Microphalloidea, Pachypsolidae, Xiphidiata, sporocysts, xiphidiocercariae,
• MeSH
• cerkárie klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• klasifikace MeSH
• respirační komplex IV genetika   MeSH
• ribozomální DNA genetika   MeSH
• Trematoda klasifikace   genetika   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Vietnam MeSH
• Názvy látek
• respirační komplex IV MeSH
• ribozomální DNA MeSH

The first three mitochondrial (mt) genomes of endosymbiotic turbellarian flatworms are characterised for the rhabdocoels Graffilla buccinicola, Syndesmis echinorum and S. kurakaikina. Interspecific comparison of the three newly obtained sequences and the only previously characterised rhabdocoel, the free-living species Bothromesostoma personatum, reveals high mt genomic variability, including numerous rearrangements. The first intrageneric comparison within rhabdocoels shows that gene order is not fully conserved even between congeneric species. Atp8, until recently assumed absent in flatworms, was putatively annotated in two sequences. Selection pressure was tested in a phylogenetic framework and is shown to be significantly relaxed in this and another protein-coding gene: cox1. If present, atp8 appears highly derived in platyhelminths and its functionality needs to be addressed in future research. Our findings for the first time allude to a large degree of undiscovered (mt) genomic plasticity in rhabdocoels. It merits further attention whether this variation is correlated with a symbiotic lifestyle. Our results illustrate that this phenomenon is widespread in flatworms as a whole and not exclusive to the better-studied neodermatans.

• Klíčová slova
• Endosymbiosis, Genomics, Mitochondrion, Platyhelminthes, Rhabdocoela,
• MeSH
• genom mitochondriální * MeSH
• genom u helmintů * MeSH
• mitochondriální protonové ATPasy genetika   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce * MeSH
• ploštěnci * enzymologie   genetika   MeSH
• proteiny červů genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• mitochondriální protonové ATPasy MeSH
• proteiny červů MeSH

Strigeid trematodes of the genus Apatemon Szidat, 1928 are intestinal parasites of fish-eating birds, utilizing various fish species as second intermediate hosts. In this study, we report morphometrical and molecular characterization of Apatemon sp. metacercariae parasitizing killifish Nothobranchius furzeri (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) in south-east Mozambique. Metacercariae obtained from the cerebral cavity of killifish and two adult individuals isolated from experimentally infected ducklings were used for detailed morphological and molecular description, both resulting in generic affiliation to Apatemon. This is the first molecularly confirmed record of this trematode genus in Africa. Considering the morphological variability and wide host range of individual Apatemon species, the combination of both morphological and molecular analyses is indispensable for valid identification of this parasite. The results of our molecular analysis together with phylogenetic reconstruction indicated the presence of a new African lineage, reflecting potentially high diversity within the genus Apatemon comparable with other digenean genera.

• Klíčová slova
• Africa, Apatemon, Morphology, Nothobranchius furzeri, Strigeidae, Taxonomy,
• MeSH
• Cyprinodontiformes * MeSH
• geny helmintů MeSH
• infekce červy třídy Trematoda parazitologie   veterinární   MeSH
• metacerkárie anatomie a histologie   klasifikace   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• multigenová rodina MeSH
• nemoci ryb parazitologie   MeSH
• proteiny červů analýza   MeSH
• respirační komplex IV analýza   MeSH
• RNA helmintů analýza   MeSH
• Trematoda anatomie a histologie   klasifikace   genetika   růst a vývoj   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Mosambik MeSH
• Názvy látek
• proteiny červů MeSH
• respirační komplex IV MeSH
• RNA helmintů MeSH