Nematode Parasites of Vertebrates in the Philadelphia Zoological Garden and Vicinity

Abstract

The Helminths herein reported are of importance because of their economic and taxonomic relations. To point this out, it is only necessary to mention Haemonchus, whose relation to the Bovidae and Ovidae is equivalent to those of Necator and Ancylostoma to the human host.Some are well-known roundworms having a world-wide distribution as parasites of animals, and are listed only on account of locality and museum interest; others, especially certain rare forms from uncommon hosts, are of greater interest and are discussed more fully. Certain details, at one time thought not.to be necessary and hence neglected are added because to-day they are indispensable for specific designation.Because of the abundance of material, it has been possible to supplement accounts given by other authors and to correct some errors due, no doubt, to poor or too few specimens. Several changes in systematic position of known forms and confirmation of others are made.A new name (D. histrix) is proposed for Dirofilaria subcutanea (Linstow, 1899) Boulenger, 1920. Eustrongylides larvae, of Ciurea, J. 1924, are included under the pre-adult stage of a new species (Eustrongylides wenrichi) because both are alike and their characters fit no other known species. New information is added about Trypanoxyuris trypanuris Vevers, 1923, and Cyrnea coloni Cram, 1927, amending their descriptions.Descriptions and illustrations of seven new species in as many genera are given. They are Acuaria (Dispharynx) resticula from a groove-billed ani, Ascaridia petrensa from a partridge, Dirofilaria spinosa from a porcupine, Physaloptera multiuteri from a monkey, Subulura pennula from a quail, Spironoura procera from a terrapin, and the above-mentioned pre-adult Eustrongylides wenrichi from a stream pike, brook-trout, calico bass, sunfish, and a frog.In all there are 162 determinations in 38 genera and 56 species, including new ones, from 150 hosts involving 117 different host species.Superparasitism and significant cases of parasitism are pointed out because they are of interest to one concerned with incidence and degree of infestation. Numerous records of new host-parasite relations and new localities will be of interest to students of distribution.