| Triaspiron | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Acanthocephala |
| Class: | Eoacanthocephala |
| Order: | Gyracanthocephala |
| Family: | Quadrigyridae |
| Subfamily: | Pallisentinae |
| Genus: | Triaspiron Smales, Aydogdu and Emre, 2012 [1] |
| Species: | T. aphanii |
| Binomial name | |
| Triaspiron aphanii Smales, Aydogdu and Emre, 2012 | |
Triaspiron is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans (thorny-headed or spiny-headed parasitic worms) containing a single species, Triaspiron aphanii.
T. aphanii resembles Raosentis Datta, 1947 by having a small spindle shaped trunk. Triaspiron differs from Raosentis in the shape of the proboscis (cylindrical not globular), proboscis armed with 16 hooks divided into three circles (not four circles), and a total of between 26 and 30 hooks in all. Triaspiron also differs by the spines on the trunk: there are two separate regions of spines in the anterior region arranged in up to 40 circular rows, not a single field with 9 to 17 rows of spines. [1]
Triaspiron also resembles the genus Acanthogyrus Thapar, 1927, by having three circles of hooks on the proboscis. Triaspiron differs from Acanthogyrus in having fewer proboscis hooks, 16 compared with between 18 and 24, that are arranged in three circles, one anterior circle followed by an unarmed region followed by two posteriorly circles instead of three circles of hooks evenly spaced. It also has two fields of trunk spines instead of one. Triaspiron aphanii is the type species. [1]
The National Center for Biotechnology Information does not indicate that any phylogenetic analysis has been published on Triaspiron that would confirm its position as a unique order in the family Quadrigyridae. [2]
The distribution of T. aphanii is determined by that of its hosts, which are found in Kirkgöz Springs, Antalya, Turkey. [1]
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 Triaspiron are not known. 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 are no known paratenic hosts (hosts where parasites infest but do not undergo larval development or sexual reproduction) for Triaspiron.
Triaspiron was found to infest 90% of a sample of Iridescent toothcarp (Aphanius mento). [1] There are no reported cases of any Triaspiron species infesting humans in the English language medical literature. [4]
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.
Eocollis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Cathayacanthus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Machadosentis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Machadosentis travassosi, that infests animals.
Quadrigyrus is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Palliolisentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Pararaosentis is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Pararaosentis golvani.
Gracilisentis is a genus in Acanthocephala.
Wolffhugelia is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Wolffhugelia matercula, that infests animals.
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.
Acanthodelta is a genus of acanthocephalan.
Paraechinorhynchus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Paraechinorhynchus kalriai, that infests the rohu.