Specimens of two undescribed and one known gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) were collected in some marine fishes from off the southern coast of Iraq. Based on light and scanning electron microscopy, the following new species are described: Philometra tayeni n. sp. (males and nongravid females) from ovaries of the purple-spotted bigeye Priacanthus tayenus Richardson (Priacanthidae, Acanthuriformes), and Philometra nibeae n. sp. (males and gravid female) from the ovary of the blotched croaker Nibea maculata (Bloch et Schneider) (Sciaenidae, Acanthuriformes). Philometra tayeni is mainly characterised by a pair of postanal papillae and a V-shaped caudal mound in males and by their body lengths (2.42-2.99 mm), whereas P. nibeae differs from its gonad-infecting congeners parasitising scienids mainly based on the body length of males (2.29-2.49 mm) and their spicules (96-117 µm), absence of a pair of postanal papillae and shape of caudal mound consisting of two parts. Philometra piscaria Moravec & Justine, 2014 (males and nongravid females), a parasite of the orange-spotted grouper Epinephelus coioides (Hamilton) (Epinephelidae, Perciformes), is recorded from the Arabian (= Persian) Gulf for the first time; previously unknown females of this species are described.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea * MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Gonads parasitology   MeSH
• Nematoda * MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Fish Diseases * parasitology   MeSH
• Perciformes * parasitology   MeSH
• Bass * parasitology   MeSH
• Fishes MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Iraq MeSH

Recent examinations of some marine fishes from off the southern coast of Iraq revealed the presence of two species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae): P. parabrevicollis n. sp. (males and subgravid and nongravid females) from the ovary of the bigeye snapper Lutjanus lutjanus Bloch (Perciformes, Lutjanidae) and Philometra sp. (subgravid females) from the ovary of the bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus) (Perciformes, Platycephalidae). Specimens of species are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopical examinations. Philometra parabrevicollis n. sp. is mainly characterised by the length of spicules (267-285 µm) and gubernaculum (159-168 µm), the gubernaculum/spicule length ratio (1:1.64-1.76), the structure of the gubernaculum distal tip and of the male caudal end, and the body length of males (4.03-4.90 mm). The description of this new species again confirms a high degree of host specificity of gonad-infecting species of Philometra in congeneric lutjanid hosts. Although Philometra sp. parasitising P. indicus in Iraqi waters was previously recorded, its subgravid females are described for the first time. A key to gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitic in fishes of the family Lutjanidae is provided.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea anatomy & histology   classification   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Host Specificity MeSH
• Fishes parasitology   MeSH
• Aquatic Organisms classification   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Iraq MeSH

Two gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) were recorded for the first time from marine perciform fishes off Tunisia and Libya: Philometra rara n. sp. from the rare, deep-water Haifa grouper Hyporthodus haifensis (Serranidae) off Libya and Philometra saltatrix Ramachandran, 1973 from the bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix (Pomatomidae) off Tunisia. Identification of both fish species was confirmed by molecular barcoding. Light and scanning electron microscope studies of Ph. rara n. sp. showed that it is characterized by the length of spicules (216-219 μm) and the gubernaculum (90-93 μm), the gubernaculum/spicules length ratio (1:2.32-2.43), and mainly by the shape and structure of the distal end of the gubernaculum (shovel-shaped with a wide median smooth field in dorsal view), appearing as having a dorsal protuberance in lateral view, and by the structure of the male caudal mound (dorsally interrupted); large subgravid females (70-137 mm long) are characterized by the presence of four oval submedian cephalic elevations, each of them bearing a pair of cephalic papillae of the outer circle. The finding of Ph. saltatrix off Tunisia confirms that this species is widespread throughout the Mediterranean region. A molecular analysis of our Ph. saltatrix specimens and other available philometrid cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) sequences showed that most species have robust clades. Sequences of Ph. saltatrix from Tunisia diverge from Ph. saltatrix from Brazil and the USA, suggesting that speciation is currently occurring between populations from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Deux espèces de Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) parasites des gonades sont, pour la première fois, signalées de poissons perciformes marins au large de la Tunisie et de la Libye : Philometra rara n. sp. (Serranidae) du mérou de Haïfa Hyporthodus haifensis, une espèce rare, au large de la Libye et Philometra saltatrix Ramachandran, 1973, du tassergal Pomatomus saltatrix (Pomatomidae) au large de la Tunisie. L’identification des deux espèces de poissons a été confirmée par barcode moléculaire. Des études en microscopie photonique et microscopie électronique à balayage de Ph. rara n. sp. ont montré que l’espèce se caractérise par la longueur des spicules (216-219 μm) et du gubernaculum (90-93 μm), le rapport gubernaculum/spicules (1: 2.32-2.43) et principalement par la forme et la structure de l’extrémité distale du gubernaculum (en forme de pelle avec un large champ médian lisse en vue dorsale), apparaissant comme ayant une protubérance dorsale en vue latérale, et par la structure du monticule caudal mâle (interrompu dorsalement); les grandes femelles subgravides (70-137 mm de long) se caractérisent par la présence de quatre élévations céphaliques ovales sous-médianes, chacune portant une paire de papilles céphaliques sur le cercle extérieur. La découverte de Ph. saltatrix au large de la Tunisie confirme que cette espèce est répandue dans la région méditerranéenne. Une analyse moléculaire de nos spécimens de Ph. saltatrix et d’autres séquences disponibles de COI de Philometridae montre que la plupart des espèces présentent des clades robustes. Les séquences de Ph. saltatrix en provenance de Tunisie divergent de Ph. saltatrix du Brésil et des États-Unis, ce qui suggère qu’une spéciation se produit actuellement entre les populations des deux côtés de l’océan Atlantique.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea anatomy & histology   classification   genetics   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Spirurida Infections epidemiology   parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Fish Diseases epidemiology   parasitology   MeSH
• Bass genetics   parasitology   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Fishes MeSH
• DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic veterinary   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Libya MeSH
• Mediterranean Sea MeSH
• Tunisia MeSH

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, three new species of philometrids (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from females collected in marine perciform fishes off the northern coast of Australia: Philometra gracilis n. sp. and Philometroides branchiarum n. sp. from tissues behind the gills and gill arches, respectively, of the John's snapper Lutjanus johnii (Bloch) (Lutjanidae), and Philometroides stomachicus n. sp. from the stomach wall of the blackspotted croaker Protonibea diacanthus (Lacépède) (Sciaenidae). Philometra gracilis differs from other congeners described from the Lutjanidae mainly in the presence of large caudal projections, short gravid females (28-42 mm long), the oesophageal gland extending anteriorly far anterior to the level of the nerve-ring, the site in the host and its geographical distribution. Philometroides branchiarum is mainly characterised by the possession of conspicuous, sclerotised oesophageal teeth and very short gravid females (6-8 mm long), whereas P. stomachicus can be differentiated by the body length of gravid females (85-90 mm), the length of the oesophagus (2.67 mm) representing 3% of the body length, the maximum width/body length ratio of gravid females (1:28-32), cuticular bosses densely distributed throughout the body but absent from the oesophageal region, the absence of oesophageal teeth and caudal projections, and the site in the host. The presence of P. gracilis and P. branchiarum in L. johnii and that of P. stomachicus in P. diacanthus confirm the possibility of the coexistence of more philometrid species in different sites within sympatric specimens of one and the same definitive host.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea anatomy & histology   classification   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Perciformes parasitology   MeSH
• Gills parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Australia MeSH
• Pacific Ocean MeSH

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, two new species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from two species of Mycteroperca Gill (Serranidae), marine perciform fishes, in coastal waters off Florida, USA: Philometra deburonae n. sp. from the inner side of operculum of the yellowfin grouper Mycteroperca venenosa (L.) and P. incognita n. sp. from the ovary of the gag M. microlepis (Goode & Bean). Philometra deburonae n. sp. is mainly characterised by the body length of males (1.90-2.38 mm), the length of the spicules (78-84 µm) and gubernaculum (54 µm) and the presence of small outer cephalic papillae, a pair of fairly large caudal projections and the oesophageal gland extending anteriorly beyond the nerve-ring in subgravid females. Philometra incognita n. sp. is distinguished by the caudal mound consisting of two lateral reniform parts widely separated dorsally from each other, the absence of a pair of large papillae situated posteriorly to the cloaca, the shape and structure of the distal end of the gubernaculum plus the lengths of the spicules (117-141 µm) and gubernaculum (60-81 µm) in the male, the absence of caudal projections and the comparatively large larvae in the uterus (660-675 µm long) of the gravid female, as well as, the body length of both males (2.45-3.11 mm) and gravid females (120-180 mm). The present descriptions of an additional two new philometrids increases the number of recorded nominal species of Philometra parasitising groupers (Serranidae) in the Gulf of Mexico to nine.

• MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Nematoda anatomy & histology   classification   MeSH
• Bass parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
• Geographicals
• Atlantic Ocean MeSH
• Gulf of Mexico MeSH
• United States MeSH

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies of nematode specimens (males and mature females) collected from the ovary of groupers (Serranidae, Perciformes) in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia (near Tunis and Sfax), two gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) are reported: Philometra inexpectata n. sp. from the mottled grouper Mycteroperca rubra and P. jordanoi (López-Neyra, 1951) from the dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus. Identification of both fish species was confirmed by molecular barcoding. The new species is mainly characterized by the length of equally long spicules (147-165 μm), the gubernaculum (63-93 μm long) bearing at the tip two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field, a V-shaped mound on the male caudal extremity, the presence of a pair of large caudal papillae located posterior to the cloaca and by the body length of the males (1.97-2.43 mm). Philometra inexpectata n. sp. is the fifth known gonad-infecting philometrid species parasitizing serranid fishes in the Mediterranean region. The males of P. jordanoi were examined by scanning electron microscopy for the first time; this detailed study revealed some new taxonomically important morphological features, such as the number and arrangement of cephalic and caudal papillae, presence of amphids and phasmids and mainly the lamellate structures at the posterior end of the gubernaculum. A key to gonad-infecting species of Philometra parasitic in serranid fishes is provided.

Sur la base d’études, au microscope photonique et électronique, de spécimens de nématodes (mâles et femelles mûres) recueillis dans les ovaires de mérous (Serranidae, Perciformes) de la mer Méditerranée au large de la Tunisie (près de Tunis et Sfax), deux espèces de Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda, Philometridae) parasites de gonades sont signalées : Philometra inexpectata n. sp. du mérou royal Mycteroperca rubra et P. jordanoi (López-Neyra, 1951) du mérou noir Epinephelus marginatus. L’identification des deux espèces de poissons a été confirmée par les codes-barres moléculaires. La nouvelle espèce est caractérisée principalement par la longueur des spicules (147-165 μm), de tailles égales, le gubernaculum (63-93 μm de long) portant à sa pointe deux parties lamellaires dorsolatérales séparées l’une de l’autre par un champ médian lisse, une bosse en forme de V sur l’extrémité caudale du mâle, la présence d’une paire de grandes papilles caudales situées en arrière du cloaque et par la longueur du corps des mâles (1.97-2.43 mm). Philometra inexpectata n. sp. est la cinquième espèce de Philometridae des gonades de poissons Serranidae dans la région méditerranéenne. Les mâles de P. jordanoi ont été examinés par microscopie électronique à balayage pour la première fois ; cette étude détaillée a révélé quelques nouvelles caractéristiques morphologiques taxinomiquement importantes, telles que le nombre et la disposition des papilles céphaliques et caudales, la présence d’amphides et de phasmides et principalement les structures lamellaires à l’extrémité postérieure du gubernaculum. Une clé des espèces de Philometra parasites des poissons Serranidae est fournie.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea anatomy & histology   classification   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Spirurida Infections parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Fish Diseases parasitology   MeSH
• Ovary parasitology   MeSH
• Bass parasitology   MeSH
• Food Parasitology MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Mediterranean Sea MeSH

Based on light and scanning electron microscopical studies, the following five species of philometrid nematodes (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from marine fishes from off Basrah, southern Iraq (Arabian Gulf): Philometra iraqiensis n. sp. (females) from the abdominal cavity and ovary of the Klunzinger's mullet Liza klunzingeri (Day) (Mugiliformes: Mugilidae), P. megalaspidis n. sp. (females) from the ovary of the torpedo scad Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus) (Perciformes: Carangidae), Philometra sp. 1 (females) from the ovary of the greater lizardfish Saurida tumbil (Bloch) (Aulopiformes: Synodontidae), Philometra sp. 2 (females) from the ovary of the bartail flathead Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus) (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) and Philometroides eleutheronemae Moravec & Manoharan, 2013 (male and females) from the ovary of the fourfinger threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Shaw) (Perciformes: Polynemidae). The new species are characterised mainly by the body length, the length and structure of the oesophagus and caudal end and by the family of their fish hosts. The male and the gravid female of P. eleutheronemae are described for the first time; the finding of this species in Iraqi waters represents the first record of this nematode in the region of the Arabian (=Persian) Gulf.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea anatomy & histology   classification   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Oceans and Seas MeSH
• Perciformes parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Iraq MeSH
• Oceans and Seas MeSH

Based on light and electron microscopical studies of males and mature females, two new gonad-infecting species of Philometra Costa, 1845 (Nematoda: Philometridae) are described from the ovary of groupers, Epinephelus spp. (Perciformes; Serranidae), in the Mediterranean Sea off Tunisia (near Sfax): Philometra aenei n. sp. from the white grouper E. aeneus (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire) and P. tunisiensis n. sp. from the goldblotch grouper E. costae (Steindachner). Identification of both fish hosts was confirmed by barcoding of the infected fish specimens. Philometra aenei is mainly characterised by the length of conspicuously distended spicules (108-123 µm), the presence of a distinct dorsal barb at the middle region of the gubernaculum and a distinct protuberance consisting of two dorsolateral lamellar parts separated from each other by a smooth median field at its distal tip, a V-shaped mound on the male caudal extremity and by the body length of the males (2.34-3.05 mm). The male of this species was found to possess minute deirids in the cervical region, which is quite exceptional within the Philometridae. Philometra tunisiensis is distinguished from other gonad-infecting congeneric species parasitising serranids by the length of the needle-like spicules and gubernaculum (201-219 and 78-87 µm, respectively), spicule length representing 9-11% of body length, the gubernaculum/spicules length ratio of 1:2.52-2.77, the length of oesophagus in the male comprising 15-16% of the body length, the absence of a dorsal protuberance on the distal lamellar part of the gubernaculum and a pair of large papillae posterior to the cloaca, a dorsally interrupted mound on the male caudal extremity and the body length of the male (2.01-2.42 mm). The presence of three morphologically very different species of Philometra in congeneric hosts in the Mediterranean Sea confirms a high degree of host specificity of these gonad-infecting nematodes parasitising groupers.

• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea anatomy & histology   classification   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Species Specificity MeSH
• Gonads parasitology   MeSH
• Host Specificity * MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Perciformes parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Mediterranean Sea MeSH
• Tunisia MeSH

A redescription of Philometra globiceps (Rudolphi 1819), the type species of Philometra Costa 1845 (Philometridae), is provided on the basis of specimens collected from the gonads, stomach, pyloric caeca, intestine and gallbladder of the marine fish Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus (Uranoscopidae, Perciformes) caught in the Ionian Sea off Ugento, southern Italy. Light microscopical and scanning electron microscopical examinations (latter used for the first time in this species) of the specimens revealed some previously unreported morphological features, such as the location of submedian pairs of cephalic papillae of external circle on four elevated cuticular lobes in gravid females, the presence of amphids, genital papillae and phasmids in males, the lamellate structure of the distal end of gubernaculum appearing as a dorsal protuberance in lateral view and the structure of the male caudal end. A taxonomically important feature of P. globiceps is the details in the dorsal transverse lamella-like structures on the distal end of the gubernaculum, by which this species can be separated from other gonad-infecting species of this genus. Apparently, P. globiceps is a specific parasite of U. scaber and all previous records of this species from hosts belonging to other fish families are evidently based on misidentifications.

• Keywords
• Dracunculoidea, Italy, Marine fish, Parasitic nematode, Uranoscopus,
• MeSH
• Cecum parasitology   MeSH
• Dracunculoidea isolation & purification   ultrastructure   MeSH
• Gonads parasitology   MeSH
• Spirurida Infections parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Microscopy, Electron, Scanning MeSH
• Fish Diseases parasitology   MeSH
• Perciformes parasitology   MeSH
• Stomach parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Italy MeSH

A new nematode species, Philometra barnesi sp. n. (Philometridae), is described from the ovary of the marine teleost Pomadasys argenteus (Fosskål) (Haemulidae) off the northern coast of Australia (near Darwin). The new species is characterized by short subequal spicules (84 and 87 μm long), a gubernaculum without a dorsal protuberance at its distal tip, the structure of male anterior and posterior body ends, the body lengths of males (1.67 mm) and gravid females (320-597 mm) and the structure of the oesophagus and caudal end of gravid females. Philometra barnesi is the sixth nominal gonad-infecting species of this genus recorded from marine fishes in Australian waters and the third species of philometrids described from fishes of the family Haemulidae.

• Keywords
• Australia, Dracunculoidea, Marine fish, Nematode parasite,
• MeSH
• Dracunculoidea classification   genetics   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Gonads parasitology   MeSH
• Spirurida Infections parasitology   veterinary   MeSH
• Fish Diseases parasitology   MeSH
• Perciformes parasitology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Male MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Geographicals
• Australia MeSH