Biology of Monocystis clubae sp. nov. (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida) from an Indian earthworm Lampito mauritii (Annelida: Oligochaeta) of India

Abstract

Surveys of the endoparasitic acephaline gregarines in West Bengal revealed a new species of the genus Monocystis Stein, 1848, that resides in the seminal vesicle of the earthworm Lampito mauritii. Monocystis clubae sp. nov. is characterized by a club-shaped gamont having a taillike structure at the posterior end and measures 104.0–179.0 (160.0±24.5) µm x 62.5–71.0 (64.0±6.5) µm. Shape of the gametocysts are rounded to ovoid and measures 88.0–107.0 (104.0±1.3) µm x 86.0–102.0 µm (96.0±1.9) µm in diameter. Oocysts are navicular in shape and measures 9.6–11.0 (10.4± 0.3) µm x 7.3–8.0 (7.6±0.2) µm.