Morphologic and Genetic Characterization of Protospirura canariensis n. sp. (Nematoda, Spiruridae), a Parasite of the Black Rat Rattus rattus (Rodentia, Muridae) from El Hierro Island (Canary Archipelago, Spain)

Simple Summary: A new spirurid nematode, Protospirura canariensis n. sp., a parasite of the black rat in El Hierro (Canary Islands, Spain), was described by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. The morphological characteristics of the new species and the existing Protospirura species, as well as their host species and geographical distributions, were useful criteria in distinguishing P. canariensis n. sp. from the remaining species of the genus. Novel molecular phylogenetic data of the new nematode were obtained, and were compared with those from available related Protospirura species. A new spirurid nematode, Protospirura canariensis n. sp., a parasite of the black rat Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 (Rodentia: Muridae), in El Hierro Island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was described by means of light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The most discriminating characteristics between the new species and the remaining species of the genus Protospirura were observed to be the following: (a) the number of tooth-like outgrowths in the sub-median and lateral lobes of the pseudolabia, both in males and females (2 and 4, respectively); (b) the size of the right and left spicules in males (643-715 mu m and 309-412 mu m, respectively); and (c) the numbers and arrangements of the cloacal papillae in males. The new species has a total of 17 cloacal papillae (4 large and pedunculated pairs of precloacal papillae, an unpaired precloacal papilla and 4 pairs of postcloacal papillae). The arrangement of the postcloacal papillae are as follows: the first pair are large, pedunculated and placed near the posterior edge of cloaca; the three remaining postcloacal pairs are grouped and located near the posterior tip. In the latter group, the papillae in the first pair are large and pedunculated. The parasitized hosts and their geographical distributions were also useful criteria in distinguishing P. canariensis n. sp. from the remaining species of the genus Protospirura. In addition, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) sequence of the new species was obtained and compared with the available data of related species.

Automated summary

A new spirurid nematode, Protospirura canariensis n. sp., was described as a parasite of the black rat Rattus rattus in El Hierro Island, Spain. The distinguishing characteristics of P. canariensis n. sp. from other Protospirura species include the number of tooth-like outgrowths in the pseudolabia, the size and arrangement of male spicules, and the number and arrangement of cloacal papillae. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted on the new species and compared with related species.