Trypanosomes of African fresh-water fish: an addendum

Abstract

In a paper recently published in Parasitology (Baker, 1960), I referred to the description of trypanosomes from the fish Malapterurus electricus and Labeo macrostoma by Rodhain (1908). Most regrettably, I was unaware until after my paper was printed of the existence of a later publication by Rodhain (1942) in which these trypanosomes were named Trypanosoma malopteruri (sic.) and T. gandéi, respectively. Rodhain's descriptions are rather brief, and it is difficult to compare them with those of earlier authors, which are often also lacking in detail: however, in the light of present knowledge of the morphological variability of these large trypanosomes and their wide host-ranges (in the few cases in which these are known), there seems to be no sure ground for regarding T. malopteruri and T. gandéi as valid species: possibly both are synonyms of T. toddi Bouet (1909), if it be assumed that Bouet saw only the larger forms of a pleomorphic species.