Search

A hypotrichous ciliate, Paragonostomoides xianicum n. sp., was discovered in soil on the surface of the Xi’an Circumvallation, Xi'an, China. Its morphology and some major ontogenetic stages were studied and the phylogenetic position was estimated using standard methods Paragonostomoides xianicum n. sp. is characterized as follows: body size about 75–90 × 15–25 μm in vivo, elliptical and flexible; colourless mitochondrion-like cortical granules scattered throughout cell surface, about 0.8 × 0.6 μm in size; contractile vacuole positioned at mid-body; frontoventral row IV extends beyond buccal vertex and frontoventral row VI extends to about body end; frontoventral cirri not in pairs; transverse cirri absent; three caudal cirri; two macronuclear nodules and one to four micronuclei. The ontogenetic process in P. xianicum n. sp. is basically similar to that in Metagonostomum gonostomoidum and Gonostomum -species and featured by: frontoventral-transverse cirri develop in five-anlage pattern, the rearmost cirri generated in the two rightmost FV anlagen are not set off posteriorly (like an ordinary TC), as well as FVT-anlagen n and n-1 form in secondary mode in P. xianicum . Phylogenetic analyses based on small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence data reveal a close relationship of P. xianicum n. sp. with Cotterillia bromelicola and two Gonostomum -species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterotrichs are generally larger than ciliates of other groups with a seemingly cosmopolitan distribution, and recent studies have demonstrated that they exhibit great biodiversity. In the present work, we investigated the morphology and small subunit rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences of three heterotrichous species, including that of a new one, Anigsteinia paraclarissima spec. nov. The new organism is morphologically very similar to A. clarissima , however, it can be distinguished from the latter by the larger dimensions and more somatic kineties (25–32 vs. 18–26), and its sequence similarity of SSU rRNA gene is 97.14% which indicate that it is a distinct species. Detailed morphological and molecular data for Blepharisma bimicronucleatum are supplied together for the first time in this study. In addition, the morphology of a poorly known species, Spirostomum yagiui is redescribed and an improved species diagnosis is provided. Finally, based on phylogenetic analyses of SSU rRNA gene sequences data, the Spirostomum group contains two main clades based on the type of the macronucleus. Spirostomum yagiui was newly sequenced here and clustered with the other S. yagiui populations and positioned within the Spirostomum assemblage. The Anigsteinia clade, including A. paraclarissima and A. clarissima , clustered within the family Spirostomidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel parasitic ciliate Fusiforma themisticola n. gen., n. sp. was discovered infecting 4.4% of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto libellula. Ciliates were isolated from a formaldehyde-fixed whole amphipod and the DNA was extracted for amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses showed unambiguously that this ciliate is an apostome and about 2% divergent from the krill-infesting apostome species assigned to the genus Pseudocollinia. Protargol silver impregnation showed a highly unusual infraciliature for an apostome. There are typically 8 (6-9) bipolar somatic kineties covering the banana-shaped body. The anterior end of the oral cavity begins about 1/3 of the body length from the anterior end and is composed of an inpocketing that is lined on its anterior and left wall with an oral field of densely packed ciliated kinetosomes. Stomatogenesis begins with some dedifferentiation of the parental oral field and elongation of its paroral and oral kineties. A new oral field develops midventrally and the paroral and oral kineties break to form the oral apparatus of the opisthe, which completes development by additional kinetosomal proliferation and migration of the paroral. This morphology is novel among apostomes and justifies the establishment of a new genus and species. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Two new marine scuticociliates, Sathrophilus planus n. sp. and Pseudoplatynematum dengi n. sp., isolated from coastal waters of Qingdao, northern China, were investigated using live observation and silver impregnations. Sathrophilus planus can be recognized by its elongate and conspicuously flattened body, ca. 16 somatic kineties, single postoral kinety, extremely elongated first kinety row of membranelle 1, and its marine habitat. Among these features, the structure of membranelle 1 is the most characteristic and enables this species to be easily distinguished from its congeners. Pseudoplatynematum dengi is characterized by the following features: cell surface conspicuously strengthened and notched; prominent spines both at anterior and posterior ends of cell; membranelles 1 and 2 three-rowed, membranelle 3 single-rowed; paroral membrane composed of two parts, anterior end of upper part extending to about level of membranelle 2; ca. 20 somatic kineties, one postoral kinety; single prolonged caudal cilium; contractile vacuole caudally positioned. The diagnosis of the genus Pseudoplatynematum was renewed to include some new characteristics revealed by silver impregnation methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Aspidisca hongkongensis spec. nov., a large marine form isolated from the coastal waters near Hong Kong, were investigated. It differs from the congeners by the combination of cell size (about 90×60μm in vivo), 9–11 conspicuous dorsal ridges, one fine and seven strong frontoventral cirri, six membranelles in anterior portion of adoral zone, and 17–23 membranelles in posterior portion of adoral zone. The comparison with similar congeners clearly supports the distinction of this new species based on morphological and small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequence studies. The SSU rRNA gene sequence similarity within the genus is about 75.3–92.1% which indicates that this is a distinct form. Phylogenetic trees based on SSU rRNA gene information show that A. hongkongensis groups with A. leptaspis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Species composition and distribution of large intestinal ciliates was investigated in the feces from 13 Cypriot wild donkeys, free-living in the Karpaz national park, Northern Cyprus. We identified 16 ciliate genera and 22 species. This is the first report on intestinal ciliates in Cypriot wild donkeys, and no endemic species were observed. The genus Cycloposthium occurred in all animals. The mean number of ciliates was 3.0±2.5×104 cellsml−1 of feces and the mean number of ciliate species per host was 6.5±4.8. Characteristics of the wild donkey ciliates was almost identical to those reported in other equids from various regions around the world. We thus conclude that there is no pronounced geographic variation in the intestinal ciliate fauna of equids. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]