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Autoimmune encephalitis is a group of disorders characterized by symptoms of dysfunction of the limbic and extra-limbic systems that occur in association with antibodies against intracellular antigens, synapses, or proteins located on the surface of nerve cells. Anti-NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor encephalitis was first described in 2007 and has become one of the most commonly recognized autoimmune encephalitides. The disease is predominantly female (81%) and affects young patients (37% <18 years old, 95% <45 years old), with up to 58% of women over 18 years old having ovarian teratoma. Clinical symptoms of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis include psychiatric disorders (anxiety, agitation, bizarre behavior, hallucinations, delusions, and memory impairment); seizures and epileptic states; and other neurologic symptoms (muscle tone abnormalities, eye movement disorders, and central ventilatory disorders). Diagnosis of this condition can be difficult due to the non-specific nature of the symptoms, often leading to delays in appropriate treatment. Early diagnosis and timely treatment of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, especially in young women with ovarian teratoma, has significantly improved the chances of full recovery and improved reproductive health outcomes for patients., (© 2024 The Author(s). International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and governments' response lead to dramatical change in quality of life worldwide. However, the extent of this change in Vietnamese medical and nursing students has not been documented., Objectives: The study aims to describe the quality of life and changes in quality of life of medical and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the association of quality of life and changes in quality of life with fear of COVID-19 and other socio-economic and demographic factors., Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study on all students of Hanoi Medical University from 3 majors: General Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Nursing (3672 invited students); from 7th to 29th of April 2020; using an online questionnaire that included demographic and academic information, the Vietnamese version of the SF-36 Quality of Life questionnaire and the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Linear and modified Poisson regression was used to examine the association between quality of life, changes in quality of life and other factors., Results: The number of participants was 1583 (response rate 43%). Among 8 dimensions of the SF-36 (ranged 0-100), Vitality had the lowest score with a median score of 46. The median physical composite score (PCS) of the sample was 40.6 (IQR:20.8-53.2), 33.5% of the sample had an above-population average PCS score. The median mental composite score (MCS) of the sample was 20.3 (IQR:3.8-31.7), and 98.2% had an MCS score below average. 9.9% (95%CI:8.5%-11.4%) of the population reported a significant negative change in the quality of life. Fear of COVID-19 was not associated with significant changes in quality of life, nor MCS while having some association with PCS (Coef:-5.39;95%CI:-3to-7.8). Perceived reduction in quality of life was also associated with: being on clinical rotation COVID-19 (PR:1.5;95%CI:1.05-2.2), difficulties affording health services (PR:1.4;95%CI:1.02-1.95), obesity (PR:2.38;95%CI:1.08-5.25) and chronic disease (PR:1.92;95%CI:1.23-3), typical symptoms (PR:1.85; 95%CI:1.23-2.78) and atypical symptoms of COVID-19 (PR:2.32;95%CI:1.41-3.81)., Conclusion: The majority of medical and nursing students had below average quality of life, with lower vitality and mental composite health score in the settings of COVID-19. Perceived decrease in quality of life was associated with clinical rotation, difficulties affording healthcare services and was not associated with Fear of COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Minh et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

A new snake of the genus Achalinus Peters, 1869 is described based on an adult male specimen from Son La Province, Vietnam. Achalinus vanhoensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: 1) maxillary teeth 32; 2) suture between the internasals distinctly longer than that between the prefrontals; 3) loreal fused with prefrontal, prefrontals stretch towards the supralabials; 4) dorsal scales in 252323 rows, keeled; 5) supralabials six (left) and seven (right); 6) infralabials six; 7) temporals 2+2, the two anterior temporals in broad contact with eye; 8) ventrals 176; 9) subcaudals 84, entire; 10) cloacal entire; 11) dorsum in preservative dark purple grey above; 12) venter somewhat lighter with yellow-edged scales in the chin region, including infralabials; 13) posterior edges of ventrals and subcaudals with yellow margin. In the molecular analysis, the new species is recovered as a sister taxon of Achalinus timi, a species endemic to Vietnam, and genetically the two species are around 5% divergent from each other based on a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene. This discovery brings the number of Achalinus species known from Vietnam to nine.

Background: Most (82%) of the 46 recognized species of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) Verma and Datta, 1929 are known from Asian freshwater fishes. Only three species of Acanthosentis are known from marine or brackish water fishes from India and Pakistan. We have discovered another marine species of Acanthosentis in the Pacific Ocean, off Vietnam., Purpose: The purpose is to describe the new species morphologically and molecularly and provide new information of its evolutionally relationships with other species of the subgenus., Methods: Standard methods of collection and examination of marine hosts, processing and illustrating of specimens, and taxonomic identification of parasites using the extensive collection of the lead author were used. Specimens were further studied using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis and ion sectioning of hooks, SEM analysis, and molecular sequencing. Type specimens were deposited at the Harold W. Manter Lab. collection, Lincoln, Nebraska., Results: Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) fusiformis n. sp. is described from the catfish, Arius sp. (Ariidae: Siluriformes) off the Pacific Coast of Vietnam at Bac Lieu in the Gulf of Thailand. The three other marine Indian species include A. (A.) arii Bilqees, 1971 which is also described from a similar catfish, Arius serratus Day off the Karachi coast in the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean. Our new species from Vietnam is distinguished from the other 46 species by a combination of characters including a small fusiform trunk, complete circles of small hollow spines covering the entire trunk, prominent double apical organs often extending posteriorly past posterior hooks, middle and posterior hooks of equal size slightly smaller than anterior hooks, large neck continuous with the outline of the proboscis without distinct separation, big drop-shaped cephalic ganglion, extension of the proboscis receptacle anteriorly past the base of the proboscis up to the insertion point of the posterior hooks, presence of two para-receptacle structures (PRSs), free unattached thick lemnisci, short female reproductive system with filamentous attachment of the distal end of the uterine bell to the ventral body wall, and small narrowly ellipsoid eggs with thickened polar ends. Partial sequences of the 18S and internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) of ribosomal RNA were generated and used for phylogenetic analyses to confirm the taxonomic identity of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) fusiformis n. sp., Conclusions: We describe unique morphological features of A. fusiformis never before known in the subgenus Acanthosentis. The uniqueness of A. fusiformis is further demonstrated by its EDXA fingerprint characterized by high levels of calcium and phosphorous in hooks. The zoogeography of species of Acanthosentis is elucidated in the Indian subcontinent, the Caribbean, China, and Africa. Molecular data have been available only in few species of Acanthogyrus (Acanthosentis) to date on GenBank database. For 18S, only two sequences from unknown Acanthosentis sp. from India are available, while for the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, only sequences of A. cheni from China and of two unidentified species from Malaysia are available. Additional studies of species of Acanthosentis based on morphological and molecular genetic data will be needed to reconstruct the evolutionary history and phylogenetic affinities of this group of acanthocephalans.

A new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus from Vientiane Province, northern Laos is described based on morphological and molecular data. Cyrtodactylus muangfuangensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from remaining congeners by the following combination of characters: maximum SVL 83.9 mm; dorsal pattern consisting of dark nuchal loop, nape band and five dark transversal bands between limb insertions; intersupranasals two; dorsal tubercles present on occiput, body, hind limbs and tail base; 15 or 16 irregular dorsal tubercle rows at midbody; lateral folds clearly defined, without interspersed tubercles; 31-37 ventral scales between ventrolateral folds; six precloacal pores and 15 femoral pores in males, which are interrupted by six to eight poreless scales; six precloacal pitted scales plus in total 10-15 pitted femoral scales in females, which are separated by six to eight poreless scales; enlarged precloacal and femoral scales present; two or three postcloacal tubercles; median subcaudal scales transversely enlarged. In molecular analyses, the new species is strongly supported as a member of the Cyrtodactylus phongnhakebangensis species group, and weakly corroborated as a sister taxon to C. pageli. Pairwise genetic comparison shows that it is at least 18% divergent from other congeners in the species group based on a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I gene.

Background: Of the 43 valid species of Rhadinorhynchus Lühe, 1911, 20 species are now known from the Pacific Ocean off Australia, Japan, and Vietnam. We have already described over 50 species and higher taxa from the Pacific Ocean off Vietnam over the last 15 years., Purpose: The present research is a continuation of our efforts to taxonomically map new acanthocephalan taxa, especially from Vietnam. Some of our collections in 2016 and 2017 revealed the presence of new species of the genus Rhadinorhynchus from various species of marine fish off the Pacific coast of Vietnam. We provide descriptions of these new species here., Methods: Standard methods of collection and examination of marine hosts, processing and illustrating of specimens, and taxonomic identification of parasites using the extensive collections of the lead author were used. Type specimens were deposited at the Harold W. Manter Lab. collection, Lincoln, Nebraska., Results: Three species Rhadinorhynchus are described from marine fish off the Vietnamese coast. Rhadinorhynchus circumspinus n. sp. with fusiform trunk, 1 field of anterior trunk spines, and anteriorly globular proboscis with up to 21 dorsoventrally differentiated hooks in 17-18 rows is described from Triacanthus biaculeatus Bloch (Triacanthidae) off Hai Phong. Rhadinorhynchus pacificus n. sp. with cylidrical trunk and proboscis with up to 25 dorso-ventrally similar hooks in 14-18 rows and trunk spines in 2 fields of dorsal, ventral and lateral spines is described from Auxis thazard (Lacepède) and Auxis rochei (Lacepède) (Scombridae) off Nha Trang. Rhadinorhynchus multispinosus n. sp. with cylindrical trunk and proboscis with up to 32 dorso-ventrally differentiated hooks in 12 rows, and many trunk spines in 2 fields of dorsal, ventral and lateral spines is described from Decapterus maruadsi (Temminck and Schlegel) (Carangidae) also off Hai Phong. Rhadinorhynchus polynemi Smales, 2014 of Australia is not the Indian species (with smallest basal hooks) as the basal hooks are largest and is now named Rhadinorhynchus australis nom. nov. (=Rhadinorhynchus polynemi Smales, 2014). Rhadinorhynchus trivandricus George and Nadakal, 1978 with smallest basal hooks and 8 pyriform cement glands is relegated to genus Indorhynchus Golvan, 1969., Conclusions: With the description of these 3 new species, the numner of valid species of Rhadinorhynchus has now increased to 46. We include a new generic diagnosis to accommodate the increased knowledge of variability within this genus.

Specimens of 3 species of Neoechinorhynchus Stiles and Hassall, 1905, were collected from a number of species of marine fish along the Pacific coast of Vietnam. New information is added to the descriptions of Neoechinorhynchus ( Neoechinorhynchus ) longnucleatus Amin, Ha, and Ha, 2011, and its wider host and geographical distribution are reported. Similarly, more descriptive information and host and geographical records are added to our knowledge of Neoechinorhynchus ( Hebosoma ) manubrianus Amin, Ha, and Ha, 2011, and Neoechinorhynchus ( Neoechinorhynchus ) dimorphospinus Amin and Sey, 1996 . The latter species was previously known only from the Persian Gulf. The presence of the para-receptacle structure was documented in all 3 species of Neoechinorhynchus reported. The molecular characterization of N. dimorphospinus was carried out using a partial 18S rDNA sequence. The phylogenetic analysis showed that most species of Neoechinorhynchus are very closely related, while N. dimorphospinus was distinct from others in the tree. Metal analysis of hooks of N. dimorphospinus using Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis also distinguished its characteristic finger print of high phosphorus and calcium and low sulfur levels.

Health insurance reform for children younger than 6 years of age was implemented in 2005. The study aimed to describe the health insurance card status, health care services use, and associated factors. The cross-sectional study was conducted with 210 Hmong mothers of children younger than 6 years of age, and of those, 118 mothers having an ill child in the previous 4 weeks were selected in this study. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were applied to predict the associated factors. In all, 42.9% of children had health insurance cards and 45.8% ill children accessed public health facilities. The factors included children's age, mothers' knowledge of the free health care policy, mothers' knowledge about one sign of lung infection of their children associated with health insurance status, and health care services use. In conclusion, the 2005 reform of child health insurance policy has brought a modest impact on insurance coverage of children younger than 6 years of age and health care services use. Mothers' knowledge of free health care policy should be improved., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

We describe a new species of the genus Lycodon based on an adult male specimen from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Lycodon namdongensis sp. nov. is differentiated from its congeners by a combination of the following characters: dorsal scales in 17-17-15 rows, all smooth; supralabials 8; infralabials 10; one large loreal on each side, separated from the eye; cloacal single; ventral scales 218 (plus two preventral scales); subcaudals 85, paired; a total length of 723 mm; tail / total length ratio 0.205; dorsal head pattern whitish grey; dorsal surface of body with 23 narrow greyish cream bands; dorsal surface of tail with 14 cream bands; ventral surface of body mostly cream with a few small dark spots posteriorly; ventral surface of tail dark grey. Based on molecular comparisons, Lycodon namdongensis sp. nov. is recovered as a sister species to L. futsingensis with strong support values from all three analyses. The new species is at least 6.5% genetically divergent from other species within this clade as shown by a fragment of more than 1000 pbs of the mitochondrial cytochrome b. This discovery increases the number of Lycodon species known from Vietnam to 15.

Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) johnii Yamaguti, 1939 is redescribed from Eleutheronema tetradactylum (Polynemidae), Johnius carouna (Sciaenidae), Johnius sp., and Otolithes ruber (Sciaenidae) along the north and south coasts of Vietnam. Our description completes missing and inadequate information in the original descriptions and line drawings from Johnius goma in Japan and from Pseudosciaena diacanthus in the Indian Ocean. We add new information documented by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photomicroscopy, and explore the wide morphological diversity attributed to host species. The redescription includes: worms cylindrical with round proboscis with prominent apical organ, and large anterior hooks distant from small middle and posterior hooks; neck longer than the proboscis, nucleated lemnisci subequal, and receptacle with large basal triangulate cephalic ganglion and attached para-receptacle structure (PRS); male reproductive system in posterior half of trunk; adult females with introvert genital vestibule; and eggs spherical or rectangular. Gallium cuts and X-ray scans of hooks show high concentrations of sulfur on edge layer aiding in forming hardened calcium phosphate apatite of that layer with calcium and phosphorus in higher concentration in central part of hook. Molecular results consistently yielded a strongly supported distinct clade for the Neoechinorhynchus species from Vietnam for both 18S gene and the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region of ribosomal RNA. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that N. johnii occupies a separate position in the trees, probably indicating an Asian origin of this species., (© O.M. Amin et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2019.)

Rhadinorhynchus laterospinosus Amin, Heckmann & Ha, 2011 (Rhadinorhynchidae) was described from a single female collected from a trigger fish, Balistes sp. (Balistidae) from the northern Pacific coast of Vietnam in Halong Bay, Gulf of Tonkin. More recent collections of fishes in 2016 and 2017 revealed wider host and geographical distributions. We report this Acanthocephala from nine species of fish representing six families (including the original record from Balistes sp.) along the whole Pacific coast of Vietnam. The fish species are Alectis ciliaris (Carangidae), Auxis rochei (Scombridae), Auxis thazard (Scombridae), Leiognathus equulus (Leiognathidae), Lutjanus bitaeniatus (Lutjanidae), Megalaspis cordyla (Carangidae), Nuchequula flavaxilla (Leiognathidae), and Tylosurus sp. (Belonidae). We provide a complete description of males and females of R. laterospinosus, discuss its hook metal microanalysis using EDAX, and its micropores. Specimens of this species characteristically have lateral trunk spines bridging the anterior ring of spines with posterior field of ventral spines and a proboscis with 15-19 longitudinal alternating rows of 21-26 hooks each varying with host species. We demonstrate the effect of host species on the distribution and size of the trunk, proboscis, proboscis hooks, trunk spines, and reproductive structures. The molecular profile of this acanthocephalan, based on 18S rDNA and cox1 genes, groups with other Rhadinorhynchus species and further seems to confirm the paraphyly of the genus, which is discussed., (© O.M. Amin et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2019.)

Adults of Skrjabinolecithum spinosum n. sp. were discovered in Mugil cephalus from the Gulf of Peter the Great in southern Far-East Russia. Additionally, adults of Unisaccus tonkini n. sp. were found in the intestine of Moolgarda cunnesius and Moolgarda seheli from the coastal waters of Cat Ba Island, Tonkin Bay, northern Vietnam. Skrjabinolecithum spinosum n. sp. possesses a larger body, and ventral and oral sucker size in comparison with Skrjabinolecithum vitellosum, a smaller pharynx size and body length/width rate ratio in comparison to Skrjabinolecithum pyriforme, a smaller body length and prepharynx size in comparison to Skrjabinolecithum lobolecitum and a smaller pharynx length and egg size in comparison to Skrjabinolecithum indicum and S. lobolecitum. The new species also differs from S. indicum, S. lobolecitum and S. vitellosum by the form of the testis, and from the last two species by the presence of a two-branched intestine. The morphometric parameters of S. spinosum n. sp. are similar to those of Skrjabinolecithum spasskii. However, S. spinosum n. sp., unlike S. spasskii, has an armed hermaphroditic duct. Unisaccus tonkini n. sp. is similar to Unisaccus spinosus (Martin, 1973), Unisaccus brisbanensis (Martin, 1973) and Unisaccus overstreeti (Ahmad, 1987) in body size but differs in oral sucker, pharynx and hermaphroditic sac size from U. spinosus, and in ventral sucker and ovary size from U. brisbanensis and U. overstreeti. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, based on combined data of internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and partial 28S rRNA gene sequences, confirmed the validity of S. spinosum n. sp. and U. tonkini n. sp. Analysis of interrelationships of the family Haploporidae, including molecular data on new species, showed that the Waretrematinae subfamily is more heterogeneous in comparison with Haploporinae and Forticulcitinae, and includes U. tonkini n. sp.

Three species of acanthocephalans are described from fishes caught in the Pacific coast off eastern Vietnam and from amphibians in the midlands in 2016: (1) Acanthocephalus parallelcementglandatus Amin, Heckmann, Ha, 2014 (Echinorhynchidae), described from 1 male specimen is now fully described from males and females collected from 2 species of amphibians, the similar frog Hylarana attigua Inger, Orlov, Darevsky and the odorous frog Odorrana sp. Fei, Ye, Huang (Ranidae) in Huong Thuy, Hue City and Chu Yang Sin Park, central Vietnam, respectively, as well as from the needlefish Tylosurus sp. Cocco (Belonidae) in Binh Thuân in the Pacific South. The allotype female is designated. Neoechinorhynchus (N.) pennahia Amin, Ha, Ha, 2011 described from 1 female specimen is now fully described from males and females collected from the Toli shad (Chinese herring), Tenualosa toli (Valenciennes) (Clupeidae) in the Pacific north coast off Haiphong. The allotype male is designated. One specimen of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) longnucleatus Amin, Ha, Ha, 2011 is also reported from the common ponyfish, Leiognathus equulus (Forssskål) (Leiognathidae) in the Pacific south coast of Nha Trang and its ecology briefly discussed.

Adult Aphanurus mugilis Tang, 1981 worms were detected in the intestine of Moolgarda engeli in the shallow waters off Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. Tang (1981) first described this species in Mugil cephalus off China. The worms in Vietnamese mullet were identical to Chinese specimens in a number of morphometric characteristics, with the exception of body and ovary size. In the present study, morphological characteristics, and the first molecular data for A. mugilis are provided. Additionally, molecular phylogenetic analysis of the family Hemiuridae was performed. The results of our molecular phylogenetic study indicate that the presence or absence of an ecsoma was not associated with molecular data for hemiurid subfamilies differentiation. The basal position of Bunocotylinae on the molecular-based phylogenetic tree indicated a primordial nature of ecsoma of hemiurid trematodes. Considerable molecular differentiation of Bunocotylinae from other hemiurids indicated the possibility of the recognition of the family Bunocotylidae Dollfus, 1950. Assuming that Machidatrema chilostoma is considered within the Bunocotylinae, the paraphyly of the Lecithasterinae was supported., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Adults of Haplosplanchnus pachysomus (Eysenhardt, 1829) were found in the intestine of Liza engeli (Bleeker) from the coastal waters of Cat Ba Island, Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam. Additionally, Provitellotrema crenimugilis Pan, 1984 was discovered in Liza haematocheila (Temminck & Schlegel) from Vostok Bay, Gulf of Peter the Great, southern Far-East Russia. Data concerning morphology, 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA of these worms were obtained.The molecular data confirmed the validity of these species and showed that specimens identified as H. pachysomus are closely related to specimens of H. pachysomus found in Spain, and that P. crenimugilis is closely related to Haplosplanchnus purii. Molecular differentiation of P. crenimugilis and H. purii was 0.92% by combined ribosomal gene sequences that confirmed species validity. Molecular differentiation between P. crenimugilis and H. purii, on the one hand, and H. pachysomus, on the other hand, was much higher, suggesting that the sequence for H. purii in GenBank is for a misidentified species of the genus Provitellotrema Pan, 1984.

Intraspecific genetic differentiation of the trematode Skrjabinolecithum spasskii and its phylogenetic relationships with other species of the family Haploporidae were studied by comparing the nucleotide sequences of a part of the 28S rRNA gene and the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region. Trematodes were isolated from so-iuy mullet Liza haematocheila fishes collected in rivers of Primorye and flathead grey mullet Mugil cephalus fishes collected in water bodies of Vietnam (27 fishes in total). A phylogenetic analysis showed that S. spasskii is close to species of the genus Capitimitta of the subfamily Waretrematinae. By intraspecific variation of rDNA sequences, trematodes were divided into three groups with tree different genotypes, which had fixed nucleotide substitutions. Genotype I was found in trematodes from fishes collected in Primorye. Genotype II was detected in trematodes from M. cephalus fishes collected in the Tonkin Bay, Cat Ba Island, Vietnam. Genotype III was found in five trematodes from L. haematocheila collected in the Kievka River, Primorye. The genetic distances between genotypes I and III from Primorye were 0.4 and 0.65% by 28S and ITS rDNA sequences, respectively. The lowest genetic distances were observed between genotypes II (Vietnam) and III (Primorye), 0.1 and 0.33% by 28S and ITS rDNA sequences, respectively. Possible causes of genetic differentiation of S. spasskii from different geographic locations and different definitive host species are discussed.

The occurrence of acanthocephalans of the genus Neoechinorhynchus Stiles and Hassall, 1905 in Vietnamese waters is reported for the first time. Six new species are described from seven species of marine fish of the families Belonidae, Clupeidae, Megalopidae, Mugilidae, and Sciaenidae, collected in Halong Bay of the eastern seaboard of Vietnam in 2008 and 2009. These are Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) plaquensis n. sp. characterized by dermal plaques covering the entire trunk; Neoechinorhynchus manubriensis n. sp. with very long anterior proboscis hooks having roots with prominent anterior manubria and very small and equal middle and posterior hooks, two pseudo-retractors in the receptacle, simple vagina, and terminal gonopore; Neoechinorhynchus pennahia n. sp. with equal anterior and middle proboscis and somewhat smaller posterior hooks, and terminal female gonopore; Neoechinorhynchus ampullata with many giant nuclei in the body wall and lemnisci and a parareceptacle structure complex which includes pumping ampullas reported for the first time; Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) longinucleatus n. sp. with very long giant nuclei in the Lemnisci, anteriorly twisted vagina, and subterminal female gonopore. Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) ascus n. sp. is the second species of Neoechinorhynchus found with the parareceptacle structure/ampulla complex. Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) johnii Yamaguti, 1929 of Bilqees, 1972 is not N. johnii because of proboscis armature and other discrepancies with the Yamaguti material. Notes on host distribution and feeding habits are also included.

Adults of 2 new species and 2 new genera of acanthocephalans in class Archiacanthocephala, collected between 1998 and 2004 in Vietnam from the intestines of mammals, are described, i.e., Cucullanorhynchus constrictruncatus n. gen., n. sp. (Oligacanthorhynchidae) from a leopard Panthera pardus (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Felidae) and Paraprosthenorchis ornatus n. gen. n. sp. (Oligacanthorhynchidae) from the Chinese pangolin Manis pentadactyla (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Manidae). Adult Sphaerechinorhynchus macropisthospinus Amin, Wongsawad, Marayong, Saehoong, Suwattanacoupt, and Sey, 1998 (Plagiorhynchidae) are described for the first time from 2 females collected from a tiger Panthera tigris (Linnaeus) (Mammalia: Felidae) and from 1 male from a water monitor Varanus salvator Laurenti (Reptilia: Varanidae). Characteristic features distinguishing the new species or genera from related taxa are as follows. The trunk of C. constrictruncatus has an anterior hood in both sexes and a posterior constriction in females. The anterior trunk of P. ornatus has many small festoons and proboscis hooks are inserted in elevated papillae separated by beady, near hexagonal, ornate grids.

Adults of 2 new species in 2 orders of acanthocephalans obtained from the intestines of terrestrial amphibians and reptiles collected between 1998 and 2004 in Vietnam are described here. Pseudoacanthocephalus nguyenthileae n. sp. (Palaeacnthocephala: Echinorhynchidae) was collected from 5 species of terrestrial amphibians: (1) the common Sunda toad Bufo melanostictus Schneider (Bufonidae); (2) Paa verucospinosa (Bourret); (3) Gunther's Amoy frog Rana guentheri Boulenger; (4) Taipei frog R. taipehensis Denburgh (Ranidae), and (5) the Burmese whipping frog Polypedates mutus (Smith) (Racophoridae); as well as from the Chinese cobra Naja atra Cantor (Reptilia: Elapidae) and house gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Dumeril and Bibron (Reptilia: Gekkonidae). Sphaerechinorhynchus maximesospinus n. sp. (Plagiorhynchidae: Sphaerechinorhynchinae) was isolated from a king cobra Ophiophagus hannah (cantor) (Reptilia: Elapidae). Cystacanths of Porrorchis houdemeri (Joyeux and Baer, 1935) Schmidt and Kuntz, 1967 (Plagiorhynchidae: Porrorchinae) obtained from the mesenteries of banded krait Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider) (Reptilia: Elapidae), a paratenic host, are reported for the first time. Keys to the species of Pseudoacanthocephalus and Sphaerechinorhynchus are included. Characteristic features distinguishing the new species from related taxa include: P. nguyenthileae has 15-19 (usually 16-18) proboscis hook rows, each with 5-6 hooks that progressively increase in length and size posteriorly. The largest, intermediate, and smallest proboscis hooks of S. maximesospinus are the middle, anterior, and posterior hooks, respectively; the proboscis and neck are enclosed in a membrane. Morphometric characteristics of P. nguyenthileae show host-related variability.