Trypanorhynch cestodes of elasmobranchs from the Persian Gulf

Abstract

The first large scale study of trypanorhynch cestodes of elasmobranchs from the Persian Gulf was carried out during November to December 2007. A total of 194 elasmobranch specimens belonging to six families and 15 species was infested with the following cestodes, most representing new locality and 23 new host records: Kotorella pronosoma (Stossich, 1901), Kotorella sp. and Nybelinia spp. from the stomach, and Pterobothrium lesteri Campbell & Beveridge, 1996, Pseudogrillotia perelica (Shuler, 1938), Callitetrarhynchus gracilis Pintner, 1931, Proemotobothrium southwelli Beveridge & Campbell, 2001, Otobothrium carcharidis (Shipley & Hornell, 1906), Otobothrium sp., Halysiorhynchus macrocephalus (Shipley & Hornell, 1906), Trygonicola macropora (Shipley & Hornell, 1906), Eutetrarhynchus platycephali Palm, 2004, Eutetrarhynchus sp., Oncomegoides celatus Beveridge & Campbell, 2005, Parachristianella monomegacantha Kruse, 1959, P. indonesiensis Palm, 2004, Parachristianella sp., Pseudochristianella southwelli Campbell & Beveridge, 1990, Prochristianella macracantha Palm, 2004, Prochristianella spp. and Dollfusiella spp. from the host intestine. The most abundant trypanorhynchs were Dollfusiella that were found inseven different elasmobranch species. Pastinachus cf. sephen (Forsskål) was most species rich, with at least eight different trypanorhynch species. Highest prevalence (100%) was recorded for Pseudochristianella southwelli with a maximum intensity of 24 in Rhinobatos cf. punctifer Compagno & Randall (n=5). Within the elasmobranchs, highest prevalence (83.3%) was seen for Otobothrium carcharidis with a maximum intensity of 39 in Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell). Host specificity values were recalculated for Kotorella pronosoma, Pseudogrillotia perelica, Callitetrarhynchus gracilis and Proemotobothrium southwelli.