Promoniliformis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
Class: | Archiacanthocephala |
Order: | Moniliformida |
Family: | Moniliformidae |
Genus: | Promoniliformis Dollfus and Golvan, 1963 [1] |
Species: | P. ovocristatus |
Binomial name | |
Promoniliformis ovocristatus (Linstow, 1897) | |
Synonyms | |
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Promoniliformis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans (thorny-headed or spiny-headed parasitic worms) containing a single species, Promoniliformis ovocristatus, that infests tenrecs in Madagascar. The genus Promoniliformis Dollfus and Golvan, 1963 [1] is characterized by possessing two distinct kinds of proboscis hooks. [2] There is only one species in this genus.
Promoniliformis ovocristatus was originally named Echinorhynchus ovocristatus by von Linstow in 1897 and renamed Moniliformis ovocristatus by Petrotschenko in 1958 and later Heteracanthorhynchus echinopsi by Hörchner in 1962. In 1963 Dollfus and Golvan introduced the present genus and species. [3] P. ovocristatus is the type species. [4] The National Center for Biotechnology Information does not indicate that any phylogenetic analysis has been published on Promoniliformis that would confirm its position as a unique genus in the family Moniliformidae. [5]
The largest female was 222 mm long and 1.1 to 1.5 mm wide whereas the largest male was much smaller at 65 mm long and 0.85 to 1 mm wide. There is no pseudosegmentation as seen in Moniliformis species. The proboscis is 0.550 mm long and 0.250 to 0.300 mm wide at the widest point. The proboscis contains 20 to 24 longitudinal rows of 8 to 10 hooks each with the 4 or 5 superior hooks being large and possessing well-developed roots whereas the 4 or 5 inferior hooks are small and have reduced roots. The receptacle measures 0.550 to 0.650 mm long with a maximum width of 0.125 mm. It is the type species. [1]
The distribution of P. ovocristatus is determined by that of its hosts. P. ovocristatus has been found in Madagascar. [6]
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 Promoniliformis are not known, without exception for the order Moniliformida, this intermediate host is an insect. 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 are passed in the feces of the definitive host and the cycle repeats. There are no known paratenic hosts (hosts where parasites infest but do not undergo larval development or sexual reproduction) for Promoniliformis. [9]
Promoniliformis ovocristatus has been found parasitizing tenrecs [6] including the tailless tenrec (Tenrec ecaudatus) and the lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi). There are no reported cases of P. ovocristatus infesting humans in the English language medical literature. [8]
Gigantorhynchus is a genus of Acanthocephala that parasitize marsupials, anteaters, and possibly baboons by attaching themselves to the intestines using their hook-covered proboscis. Their life cycle includes an egg stage found in host feces, a cystacanth (larval) stage in an intermediate host such as termites, and an adult stage where cystacanths mature in the intestines of the host. This genus is characterized by a cylindrical proboscis with a crown of robust hooks at the apex followed by numerous small hooks on the rest of the proboscis, a long body with pseudosegmentation, filiform lemnisci, and ellipsoid testes. The largest known specimen is the female G. ortizi with a length of around 240 millimetres (9.4 in) and a width of 2 millimetres (0.08 in). Genetic analysis on one species of Gigantorhynchus places it with the related genus Mediorhynchus in the family Gigantorhynchidae. Six species in this genus are distributed across Central and South America and possibly Zimbabwe. Infestation by a Gigantorhynchus species may cause partial obstructions of the intestines, severe lesions of the intestinal wall, and may lead to death.
Moniliformidae is a family of parasitic spiny-headed worms. It is the only family in the Moniliformida order and contains three genera: Australiformis containing a single species, Moniliformis containing eighteen species and Promoniliformis containing a single species. Genetic analysis have determined that the clade is monophyletic despite being distributed globally. These worms primarily parasitize mammals, including humans in the case of Moniliformis moniliformis, and occasionally birds by attaching themselves into the intestinal wall using their hook-covered proboscis. The intermediate hosts are mostly cockroaches. The distinguishing features of this order among archiacanthocephalans is the presence of a cylindrical proboscis with long rows of hooks with posteriorly directed roots and proboscis retractor muscles that pierce both the posterior and ventral end or just posterior end of the receptacle. Infestation with Monoliformida species can cause moniliformiasis, an intestinal condition characterized as causing lesions, intestinal distension, perforated ulcers, enteritis, gastritis, crypt hypertrophy, goblet cell hyperplasia, and blockages.
Moniliformis moniliformis is a parasite of the Acanthocephala phylum in the family Moniliformidae. The adult worms are usually found in intestines of rodents or carnivores such as cats and dogs. The species can also infest humans, though this is rare.
Acanthocephaloides is a genus of parasitic worms belonging to the family Arhythmacanthidae.
Paraprosthenorchis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans. It contains a single species, Paraprosthenorchis ornatus, which infests the Chinese pangolin in Vietnam.
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.
Floridosentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Tanaorhamphus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Tanaorhamphus longirostris, that infests animals.
Cathayacanthus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Machadosentis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Machadosentis travassosi, that infests animals.
Gracilisentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Pandosentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Microsentis is a monotypic genus of worms belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
Dispiron is a genus in Acanthocephala belonging to the family Neoechinorhynchidae.
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.
Mayarhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Mayarhynchus karlae, that infests animals.
Paralongicollum is a genus in Acanthocephala, the thorny-headed worms, also known as spiny-headed worms.