Ditrypanocystis cirratuli [Sporozoa, Archigregarinida] parasitic in Cirratulus cirratus from Plymouth

Abstract

The polychaete worms Cirratulus cirratus and Cirriformia tentaculata harbour a number of archigregarines which have frequently been confused in the past. An attempt is made to clarify the situation and a new parasite, Ditrypanocystis cirratuli, previously described only from C. tentaculata from St Andrews, is recorded from C. cirratus from Plymouth and described. The nomenclature of the archigregarines from C. cirratus is discussed.