| Paralongicollum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
| Class: | Palaeacanthocephala |
| Order: | Echinorhynchida |
| Family: | Pomphorhynchidae |
| Genus: | Paralongicollum Amin, Bauer & Sidorov, 1991 [1] |
Paralongicollum is a genus in Acanthocephala, the thorny-headed worms, also known as spiny-headed worms.
The genus was described by Amin, Bauer & Sidorov, 1991. The National Center for Biotechnology Information does not indicate that any phylogenetic analysis has been published on any Paralongicollum species that would confirm its position as a unique order in the family Pomphorhynchidae. [2]
Paralongicollum species consist of a proboscis covered in hooks and a trunk.
The genus Paralongicollum contains three species.
The distribution of Paralongicollum is determined by that of its hosts. [5]
The life cycle of an acanthocephalan consists of three stages beginning when an infective acanthor (development of an egg) is released from the intestines of the definitive host and then ingested by an arthropod, the intermediate host. Although the intermediate hosts of Paralongicollum are arthropods. When the acanthor molts, the second stage called the acanthella begins. This stage involves penetrating the wall of the mesenteron or the intestine of the intermediate host and growing. The final stage is the infective cystacanth which is the larval or juvenile state of an Acanthocephalan, differing from the adult only in size and stage of sexual development. The cystacanths within the intermediate hosts are consumed by the definitive host, usually attaching to the walls of the intestines, and as adults they reproduce sexually in the intestines. The acanthor is passed in the feces of the definitive host and the cycle repeats. There may be paratenic hosts (hosts where parasites infest but do not undergo larval development or sexual reproduction) for Paralongicollum. [8]
Paralongicollum parasitizes animals. There are no reported cases of Paralongicollum infesting humans in the English language medical literature. [7] P. sergenti might be a vector for another parasite in humans. [9]
Promoniliformis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Promoniliformis ovocristatus, that infests tenrecs in Madagascar. The genus PromoniliformisDollfus and Golvan, 1963 is characterized by possessing two distinct kinds of proboscis hooks. There is only one species in this genus.
Pomphorhynchidae is a family of parasitic worms from the order Echinorhynchida.
Tchadorhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans. It contains a single species, Tchadorhynchus quentini, which infests hyenas in Chad.
Prosthenorchis is a genus of parasitic worms belonging to the family Oligacanthorhynchidae. Prosthenorchis have a trunk up to 50 mm long, a proboscis that is not ornate with three barbed hooks in each of 12 rows. They have complex hook roots with large manubria, and a small discoid posterior hook base. There are up to 23 festoons. Gonopore is subterminal. The primary host are primates in South America and Felidae in Africa with cockroaches and beetles as intermediate hosts.
Multisentis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans. It contains a single species, Multisentis myrmecobius , parasite of the numbat from which it derives its species name. It was found in south-western Australia.
Neoncicola is a genus of parasitic worms containing nine species and belongs to the family Oligacanthorhynchidae.
Floridosentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Tanaorhamphus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Tanaorhamphus longirostris, that infests animals.
Eocollis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Pararaosentis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Pararaosentis golvani.
Triaspiron is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Triaspiron aphanii.
Caballerorhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Caballerorhynchus lamothei, that infests animals.
Femogibbosus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Femogibbosus assi, that infests animals.
Pandosentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Wolffhugelia is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Wolffhugelia matercula, that infests animals.
Nephridiacanthus is a genus of parasitic worms belonging to the family Oligacanthorhynchidae.
Hexaspiron is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Gorytocephalus is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Octospiniferoides is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Intraproboscis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans that infest African black-bellied pangolin in the Central African Republic. Its body consists of a proboscis armed with hooks which it uses to pierce and hold the gut wall of its host, and a long trunk. It contains a single species, Intraproboscis sanghae. This genus resembles species in the genus Mediorhynchus but is characterized by infesting a mammal instead of birds, and having a simple proboscis receptacle that is completely suspended within the proboscis, the passage of the retractor muscles through the receptacle into the body cavity posteriorly, absence of neck, presence of a parareceptacle structure, and a uterine vesicle. The proboscis is armed with 34–36 rows of 6 to 7 hooks anteriorly and 15–17 spinelike hooks posteriorly which are used to attach themselves to the intestines of the host. The female worms are up to 180 millimetres long, virtually all of which is the trunk, and 2 millimetres wide.