J. Parasitol.. 68(6), 1982, pp. 1142-l 145 0...
J. Parasitol.. 68(6), 1982, pp. 1142-l 145
0 American Society of Parasitologists 1982
MEDIORHYNCHUS MATTEI SP. N.
(ACANTHOCEPHALA, GIGANTHORHYNCHIDAE) FROM
?
TOCKUS ERYTHRORHYNCHUS (AVES), THE RED-BEAKED HORNBILL,
.
IN WEST AFRICA
.
Bernard Marchand* and Georges Vassiliadesl
A B S T R A C T :
In Tockus erythrorhynchus (red-beaked hombill), a common bird in Senegal (West Africa) a new
acanthocephalan (Giganthorhynchidae) belonging to the genus Mediorhynchus has been discovered. This new
species is distinguished mainly by a unique proboscis armature (15 rows of 4 hooks and 10 to 12 rows of 6 to
8 spines), and by a cephalic dorsal protuberance involving a ventral position of the proboscis. Males were 2 to
3 cm long, females 3 to 11 cm long. This is the first record of Mediorhynchus in Senegal and in the Bucerotidae.
In the digestive tract of Tockus erythrorhyn-
boscis being ventral, making body asymmetrical ante-
chus, a common bird in West Africa, an acan-
riorly. Proboscis bent ventrally, with a 90 to 120” angle
between proboscis and body axes (Fig. 2). Such an
thocephalan was discovered that belongs to the
anterior asymmetry has not been clearly described in
genus Mediorhynchus Van Cleave, 19 16. Its
any other species of Mediorhynchus.
description is presented below.
Male (24-mm-long specimen): At the level of ante-
rior testis, body width 1.1 mm. Protoboscis (with hooks)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
350 prn long with 300 prn anterior diameter and 350
Since 1975,18 Hombills have been examine& among
Frn posterior diameter. Teloboscis (with spines) 450
them 12 were infected by one to 10 acanthocephalans
prn long with 400 pm anterior diameter and 600 prn
previously called Mediorhynchus sp. (Marchand and
posterior diameter. Neck about 250 prn long. Proboscis
Mattei, 1978).
receptacle 650 prn long and 220 prn wide. Lemnisci
Taxonomie material studied: one adult male and two
usually slightly subequal in length, about 2.2 mm long.
adult females (25 March 1977), three juvenile females
Anterior testis 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, 12.5 mm
(6 Feb. 198 l), three adult males and six adult females
from the anterior body end. Eight cernent glands, paired
(20 Feb. 198 l), and three adult females, the longest of
in four successive stages, each with single giant nucleus
which was 11 cm long (20 Feb. 1981).
(Fig. 4).
Female (30-mm-long specimen): Width about 2.5
Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n.
mm. Trunk with superficial pseudosegmentation
Description
beginning 3 mm from anterior end and extending to
the posterior end, 50 to 60 pseudosegments present.
Morphological characters common to bath sexes:
Protoboscis 400 prn long, mean diameter 350 prn.
Elongated Acanthocephala with an obvious pseudo-
Teloboscis 450 prn long, mean diameter 550 wrn. Neck
segmentation (Fig. 1). Body size unequal from one
about 200 grn long. On neck, 50 prn below basa1 circle
specimen to another but sexual dimorphism pro-
of proboscis spines, a sensory pit 50 wrn long and 35
nounced. Females 3 to 11 cm long, males 2 to 3 cm
prn wide. Proboscis receptacle 800 Mm long and 300
long. Proboscis armature similar in both sexes (Fig. 3)
prn wide. Lemnisci, subequal, 4 mm long. Uterine bel1
conical, truncated in two parts. Protoboscis with 15
beginning 800 prn from genital pore. Mature female
nearly longitudinal rows of four hooks each. Teloboscis
with numerous developing eggs (developing embryos)
spined with less uniform number and arrangement (10
and mature eggs (shelled acanthor before hatching).
to 12 nearly longitudinal rows of 6 to 8 spines each).
Fully formed eggs 75 prn long and 30 prn wide (Fig.
Protoboscis and teloboscis terminology as proposed by
5). Acanthor shell 7 prn thick, apparently constituted
Schmidt (1977). Hooks about 40 prn long and 13 to
of at least three successive layers. Dense outer layer
15 prn wide, roots about 50 prn long and 18 to 20 prn
thickest (5 pm). In mature ergs, acanthor surrounded
wide. Spines 10 to 15 brn long and 5 to 10 prn wide,
by shell, 65 prn long and 25 Km wide. Central pycnotic
with roots 12 to 20 prn long and 3 to 10 prn wide.
nuclear mass 25 rrn long and 15 wrn wide. Ergs and
Cephalic ganglion located in the anterior one-third of
shelled acanthors ellipsoid without polar swelling.
proboscis receptacle. Every living or fixed specimen
Longest female studied 11 cm long and 2.5 mm wide.
with a cephalic dorsal protuberance resulting in pro-
Diagnosis: Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n., parasite of
Tockus erythrorhynchus in West Africa, has a probos-
cis with 15 rows of four hooks each and 10 to 12 rows
Received 26 June 1981; revised 28 October 1981;
of six to 10 spines.
accepted 26 December 198 1.
Specimens deposited:
One male and one female.
* Departement de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sci-
Laboratoire de Zoologie des Vers du Muséum d’His-
ences, Université de Dakar, Sénégal.
toire Naturelle de Paris. Coll. No. 118 BB.
t I.S.R.A. Laboratoire National de 1’Elevage et de
Host: Tockus erythrorhynchus, red-beaked hombill
Recherches Vétérinaires, B.P. 2057 Dakar, Sénégal.
(Bucerotidae).
1142
MARCHAND AND VASSILIADES-A NEW SPECIES OF MEDIORHYNCHUS
1143
FIGURE 2. Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n. Anterior
end of body showing cephalic dorsal protuberance.
Locality: Rufisque (Cap-Vert peninsula) Senegal,
West Africa.
Site of infection: Small intestine.
Etymology: The species is named in honor of Pro-
fessor Xavier Mattei, who has contributed greatly to
our knowledge of Acanthocephala.
DISCUSSION
Following features show that this species
belongs to the genus Mediorhynchus Van Cleave,
19 16 revised by Golvan (1962) and by Schmidt
and Kuntz (1977): adults commonly found in the
intestine of birds, body with an obvious super-
ficial pseudometamerism, proboscis divided in
two conical truncated parts (protoboscis with
hooks and teloboscis with spines), testes located
in posterior half of body, male with eight cernent
glands associated in four successive pairs, pro-
tonephridia absent, and mature eggs surrounded
by a thick shell.
FIGURE 1. Mediorhymhus mattei sp. n. from Tockus
TO our knowledge, about 47 species have been
erythrorhynchus in Senegal, lateral view in toto.
described for the genus (Petrochenko, 195 8; Gol-
van, 1962). However, in the revision of Medio-
1144
THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY, VOL. 68 NO. 6, DECEMBER
1982
5 0 pm
05
03
FIGURES 3-5. Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n. 3. Proboscis, lateral view (protoboscis with hooks and teloboscis
with spines). 4. Dissected male genital apparatus (without testes) showing eight cernent glands, seminal vesicle,
SaefRigen’s pouch and copulatory bursa. 5. Mature eg.
f
rhynchus by Schmidt and Kuntz (1977) only 29
lews, Burhinus spp., in Egypt, has 24 rows of five
were included in their key, but three others (AL
to six hooks; M. wardi Schmidt and Canaris,
lagodekhiensis, M. passeris, and M. lophura) were
1967, parasite ofpasseriform birds in Kenya, has
thought probably valid. Species of Mediorhyn-
24 to 26 rows of six to eight hooks; M. textori
chus are commonly encountered worldwide as
Barus et al., 1978, parasite of Textor cucullatus
parasites of various vertebrates, mainly birds.
in Ghana, has 10 to 11 rows of nine to 10 hooks;
In Africa only 10 species have been reported.
M. giganteus Meyer, 193 1, parasite of domestic
Al1 of those species are different from ours for
turkey, Meleagridisgallopavo,
in East Africa, has
several reasons. Mediorhynchus conirostris Ward,
a proboscis with about 14 rows of five hooks,
1966 is parasite of rodents in Egypt and has a and the longest studied female was 11 cm long.
proboscis with 16 to 20 longitudinal rows of four
Thus M. giganteus is the species most similar
to five hooks each; M. numidae (Baer, 1925)
to M. mattei. In both species, the longest females
Meyer, 1932, parasite of a guinea fowl in South-
are 11 cm. Nevertheless hook numbers differ: 15
west Aftica, has 12 rows of three hooks; M. gal-
rows of four hooks in the Acanthocephala from
linarum (Bhalero, 1937) Van Cleave, 1947, par-
the hombill, instead of 14 rows of five hooks in
asite of gallinaceous birds in Aftica and India, has
M. giganteus. Moreover, M. giganteus (redrawn
18 to 22 rows of four to five hooks; M. tenuis
in Petrochenko, 1958) does not exhibit a dorsal
Meyer, 193 1, parasite of passeriform birds in
protuberance. Such a dorsal protuberance has
North Africa, has 24 rows of four to five hooks;
not been clearly described for Medio-
M. leptis Ward, 1966, parasite of hawks, Falco
rhynchus, but sometimes has been suggested (e.g.,
tinnunculus, in Egypt, has 22 rows of five to six
Meyer, 1932: Figs. 194, 198).
hooks; M. kuntzi Ward, 1960, parasite of cur-
Furthermore, Tockus erythrorhynchus is a pre-
MARCHAND AND VASSILIADES-A NEW SPECIES OF MEDIORHYNCHUS
1145
viously unknown host and Senegal a previously
MARCHAND, B., AND X. MATTEI. 1978. La sperma-
unknown locality for any species of Mediorhyn-
togenèse des Acanthocéphales. IV. Le dérivé
chus.
nucléocytoplasmique. Biol. Cell. 31: 79-90.
MEYER, A. 1932. Acanthocephala. Bronns Klassen
und Ordnungen des Tierreichs 4(2, 2, 1): l-332.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
P ETROCHENKO, V. 1. 1958. Acanthocephalaofdomes-
We are very grateful to Professor X. Mattei
tic and wild animals. Vol. II. K. 1. Skrjabin (ed.),
who collected the birds. This study was made
Izdatel’stvo Akademii Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 478
p. (Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jeru-
possible by the “Direction des Eaux, Forêts et
Salem, 197 1).
Chasses” (Scientific hunting licence No. 4368).
SCHMIDT, G. D. 1977. Praesomal musculature of the
acanthocephalan genus Mediorhynchus Van Cleave
LITERATURE CITED
1916. J. Parasitol. 63: 112-l 16.
BARUS, V., W. SIXL, AND G. MAJUMDAR. 1978. Hel-
-, A N D R. E. KUNTZ.
1977. Revision of Medio-
minths of the ploceid Textor cucullatus from
rhynchus Van Cleave 19 16 (Acanthocephala) with
Ghana. Angew. Parasitol. 19: 11 l-l 14.
a key to species. J. Parasitol. 63: 500-507.
GOL~AN, Y. J. 1962. Le phylum des Acanthocephala.
La classe des Archiacanthocephala (A. Meyer
1931). Ann. Parasitol. Hum. Comp. 37: l-72.
0 American Society of Parasitologists 1982
MEDIORHYNCHUS MATTEI SP. N.
(ACANTHOCEPHALA, GIGANTHORHYNCHIDAE) FROM
?
TOCKUS ERYTHRORHYNCHUS (AVES), THE RED-BEAKED HORNBILL,
.
IN WEST AFRICA
.
Bernard Marchand* and Georges Vassiliadesl
A B S T R A C T :
In Tockus erythrorhynchus (red-beaked hombill), a common bird in Senegal (West Africa) a new
acanthocephalan (Giganthorhynchidae) belonging to the genus Mediorhynchus has been discovered. This new
species is distinguished mainly by a unique proboscis armature (15 rows of 4 hooks and 10 to 12 rows of 6 to
8 spines), and by a cephalic dorsal protuberance involving a ventral position of the proboscis. Males were 2 to
3 cm long, females 3 to 11 cm long. This is the first record of Mediorhynchus in Senegal and in the Bucerotidae.
In the digestive tract of Tockus erythrorhyn-
boscis being ventral, making body asymmetrical ante-
chus, a common bird in West Africa, an acan-
riorly. Proboscis bent ventrally, with a 90 to 120” angle
between proboscis and body axes (Fig. 2). Such an
thocephalan was discovered that belongs to the
anterior asymmetry has not been clearly described in
genus Mediorhynchus Van Cleave, 19 16. Its
any other species of Mediorhynchus.
description is presented below.
Male (24-mm-long specimen): At the level of ante-
rior testis, body width 1.1 mm. Protoboscis (with hooks)
MATERIALS AND METHODS
350 prn long with 300 prn anterior diameter and 350
Since 1975,18 Hombills have been examine& among
Frn posterior diameter. Teloboscis (with spines) 450
them 12 were infected by one to 10 acanthocephalans
prn long with 400 pm anterior diameter and 600 prn
previously called Mediorhynchus sp. (Marchand and
posterior diameter. Neck about 250 prn long. Proboscis
Mattei, 1978).
receptacle 650 prn long and 220 prn wide. Lemnisci
Taxonomie material studied: one adult male and two
usually slightly subequal in length, about 2.2 mm long.
adult females (25 March 1977), three juvenile females
Anterior testis 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, 12.5 mm
(6 Feb. 198 l), three adult males and six adult females
from the anterior body end. Eight cernent glands, paired
(20 Feb. 198 l), and three adult females, the longest of
in four successive stages, each with single giant nucleus
which was 11 cm long (20 Feb. 1981).
(Fig. 4).
Female (30-mm-long specimen): Width about 2.5
Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n.
mm. Trunk with superficial pseudosegmentation
Description
beginning 3 mm from anterior end and extending to
the posterior end, 50 to 60 pseudosegments present.
Morphological characters common to bath sexes:
Protoboscis 400 prn long, mean diameter 350 prn.
Elongated Acanthocephala with an obvious pseudo-
Teloboscis 450 prn long, mean diameter 550 wrn. Neck
segmentation (Fig. 1). Body size unequal from one
about 200 grn long. On neck, 50 prn below basa1 circle
specimen to another but sexual dimorphism pro-
of proboscis spines, a sensory pit 50 wrn long and 35
nounced. Females 3 to 11 cm long, males 2 to 3 cm
prn wide. Proboscis receptacle 800 Mm long and 300
long. Proboscis armature similar in both sexes (Fig. 3)
prn wide. Lemnisci, subequal, 4 mm long. Uterine bel1
conical, truncated in two parts. Protoboscis with 15
beginning 800 prn from genital pore. Mature female
nearly longitudinal rows of four hooks each. Teloboscis
with numerous developing eggs (developing embryos)
spined with less uniform number and arrangement (10
and mature eggs (shelled acanthor before hatching).
to 12 nearly longitudinal rows of 6 to 8 spines each).
Fully formed eggs 75 prn long and 30 prn wide (Fig.
Protoboscis and teloboscis terminology as proposed by
5). Acanthor shell 7 prn thick, apparently constituted
Schmidt (1977). Hooks about 40 prn long and 13 to
of at least three successive layers. Dense outer layer
15 prn wide, roots about 50 prn long and 18 to 20 prn
thickest (5 pm). In mature ergs, acanthor surrounded
wide. Spines 10 to 15 brn long and 5 to 10 prn wide,
by shell, 65 prn long and 25 Km wide. Central pycnotic
with roots 12 to 20 prn long and 3 to 10 prn wide.
nuclear mass 25 rrn long and 15 wrn wide. Ergs and
Cephalic ganglion located in the anterior one-third of
shelled acanthors ellipsoid without polar swelling.
proboscis receptacle. Every living or fixed specimen
Longest female studied 11 cm long and 2.5 mm wide.
with a cephalic dorsal protuberance resulting in pro-
Diagnosis: Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n., parasite of
Tockus erythrorhynchus in West Africa, has a probos-
cis with 15 rows of four hooks each and 10 to 12 rows
Received 26 June 1981; revised 28 October 1981;
of six to 10 spines.
accepted 26 December 198 1.
Specimens deposited:
One male and one female.
* Departement de Biologie Animale, Faculté des Sci-
Laboratoire de Zoologie des Vers du Muséum d’His-
ences, Université de Dakar, Sénégal.
toire Naturelle de Paris. Coll. No. 118 BB.
t I.S.R.A. Laboratoire National de 1’Elevage et de
Host: Tockus erythrorhynchus, red-beaked hombill
Recherches Vétérinaires, B.P. 2057 Dakar, Sénégal.
(Bucerotidae).
1142
MARCHAND AND VASSILIADES-A NEW SPECIES OF MEDIORHYNCHUS
1143
FIGURE 2. Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n. Anterior
end of body showing cephalic dorsal protuberance.
Locality: Rufisque (Cap-Vert peninsula) Senegal,
West Africa.
Site of infection: Small intestine.
Etymology: The species is named in honor of Pro-
fessor Xavier Mattei, who has contributed greatly to
our knowledge of Acanthocephala.
DISCUSSION
Following features show that this species
belongs to the genus Mediorhynchus Van Cleave,
19 16 revised by Golvan (1962) and by Schmidt
and Kuntz (1977): adults commonly found in the
intestine of birds, body with an obvious super-
ficial pseudometamerism, proboscis divided in
two conical truncated parts (protoboscis with
hooks and teloboscis with spines), testes located
in posterior half of body, male with eight cernent
glands associated in four successive pairs, pro-
tonephridia absent, and mature eggs surrounded
by a thick shell.
FIGURE 1. Mediorhymhus mattei sp. n. from Tockus
TO our knowledge, about 47 species have been
erythrorhynchus in Senegal, lateral view in toto.
described for the genus (Petrochenko, 195 8; Gol-
van, 1962). However, in the revision of Medio-
1144
THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY, VOL. 68 NO. 6, DECEMBER
1982
5 0 pm
05
03
FIGURES 3-5. Mediorhynchus mattei sp. n. 3. Proboscis, lateral view (protoboscis with hooks and teloboscis
with spines). 4. Dissected male genital apparatus (without testes) showing eight cernent glands, seminal vesicle,
SaefRigen’s pouch and copulatory bursa. 5. Mature eg.
f
rhynchus by Schmidt and Kuntz (1977) only 29
lews, Burhinus spp., in Egypt, has 24 rows of five
were included in their key, but three others (AL
to six hooks; M. wardi Schmidt and Canaris,
lagodekhiensis, M. passeris, and M. lophura) were
1967, parasite ofpasseriform birds in Kenya, has
thought probably valid. Species of Mediorhyn-
24 to 26 rows of six to eight hooks; M. textori
chus are commonly encountered worldwide as
Barus et al., 1978, parasite of Textor cucullatus
parasites of various vertebrates, mainly birds.
in Ghana, has 10 to 11 rows of nine to 10 hooks;
In Africa only 10 species have been reported.
M. giganteus Meyer, 193 1, parasite of domestic
Al1 of those species are different from ours for
turkey, Meleagridisgallopavo,
in East Africa, has
several reasons. Mediorhynchus conirostris Ward,
a proboscis with about 14 rows of five hooks,
1966 is parasite of rodents in Egypt and has a and the longest studied female was 11 cm long.
proboscis with 16 to 20 longitudinal rows of four
Thus M. giganteus is the species most similar
to five hooks each; M. numidae (Baer, 1925)
to M. mattei. In both species, the longest females
Meyer, 1932, parasite of a guinea fowl in South-
are 11 cm. Nevertheless hook numbers differ: 15
west Aftica, has 12 rows of three hooks; M. gal-
rows of four hooks in the Acanthocephala from
linarum (Bhalero, 1937) Van Cleave, 1947, par-
the hombill, instead of 14 rows of five hooks in
asite of gallinaceous birds in Aftica and India, has
M. giganteus. Moreover, M. giganteus (redrawn
18 to 22 rows of four to five hooks; M. tenuis
in Petrochenko, 1958) does not exhibit a dorsal
Meyer, 193 1, parasite of passeriform birds in
protuberance. Such a dorsal protuberance has
North Africa, has 24 rows of four to five hooks;
not been clearly described for Medio-
M. leptis Ward, 1966, parasite of hawks, Falco
rhynchus, but sometimes has been suggested (e.g.,
tinnunculus, in Egypt, has 22 rows of five to six
Meyer, 1932: Figs. 194, 198).
hooks; M. kuntzi Ward, 1960, parasite of cur-
Furthermore, Tockus erythrorhynchus is a pre-
MARCHAND AND VASSILIADES-A NEW SPECIES OF MEDIORHYNCHUS
1145
viously unknown host and Senegal a previously
MARCHAND, B., AND X. MATTEI. 1978. La sperma-
unknown locality for any species of Mediorhyn-
togenèse des Acanthocéphales. IV. Le dérivé
chus.
nucléocytoplasmique. Biol. Cell. 31: 79-90.
MEYER, A. 1932. Acanthocephala. Bronns Klassen
und Ordnungen des Tierreichs 4(2, 2, 1): l-332.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
P ETROCHENKO, V. 1. 1958. Acanthocephalaofdomes-
We are very grateful to Professor X. Mattei
tic and wild animals. Vol. II. K. 1. Skrjabin (ed.),
who collected the birds. This study was made
Izdatel’stvo Akademii Nauk SSSR, Moscow, 478
p. (Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jeru-
possible by the “Direction des Eaux, Forêts et
Salem, 197 1).
Chasses” (Scientific hunting licence No. 4368).
SCHMIDT, G. D. 1977. Praesomal musculature of the
acanthocephalan genus Mediorhynchus Van Cleave
LITERATURE CITED
1916. J. Parasitol. 63: 112-l 16.
BARUS, V., W. SIXL, AND G. MAJUMDAR. 1978. Hel-
-, A N D R. E. KUNTZ.
1977. Revision of Medio-
minths of the ploceid Textor cucullatus from
rhynchus Van Cleave 19 16 (Acanthocephala) with
Ghana. Angew. Parasitol. 19: 11 l-l 14.
a key to species. J. Parasitol. 63: 500-507.
GOL~AN, Y. J. 1962. Le phylum des Acanthocephala.
La classe des Archiacanthocephala (A. Meyer
1931). Ann. Parasitol. Hum. Comp. 37: l-72.