A NEW RECORD AND NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS ACUARIA BREMSER, 1811 (ACUARIIDAE: NEMATODA) FROM SINDH / JUNGLE SAPRROW (PASSERIDAE: PASSERIFORMOES) IN LARKANA, SINDH, PAKISTAN.

I. Chandio*, A. M. Dharejo and M. M. Khan

Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro-76080, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author’s email: irshadchandio14@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted as part of a PhD project to introduce one of Sindh's bird species and helminthic parasites of Passer pyrrhonotus (Blyth, 1845) were examined from Larkana districts of Sindh Province, Pakistan. During present investigation for the helminthic parasites, total fourteen Passer pyrrhonotus (Sindh Jungle Sparrow) were examined from Larkana districts of Sindh Province, Pakistan. Out of fourteen birds, only one was found infected with five nematodes of genus Acuaria Bremser, 1811 (02♂, 03♀) belonging to Acuariidae: Nematoda, obtained from the intestine of Passer pyrrhonotus, were killed and processed in a 70% ethanol and glycerol solution for comprehensive study. The specimens were compared with the different species of genus Acuaria, reported from different birds around the world. The new species is named as Acuaria pakistanensis n.sp. The name of the new species relates to the name of the country from which it was obtained. However, this genus and host Passer pyrrhonotus (Sindh/ Jungle Sparrow) is reported first time from Pakistan.

https://doi.org/10.36899/JAPS.2022.6.0586
Published first online June 11, 2022

INTRODUCTION

Passer pyrrhonotus Blyth (1845) is a resident sedentary sparrow, endemic to Indus flood plain and its major tributaries and it has distinction of being largely confined to the territory of Pakistan throughout its known range. Chandio et al., (2019). It is a non-commensal sparrow adapted essentially to tree groves alongside water, especially in riverine forests and regions subjected to seasonal inundation. They are arboreal, however, it will gather weed and grass seeds from ground. They were noted by T.R. Bell as being fond of seeds of Polygonum plebeja. Roberts (1992)_. Probably they are for the most part granivorous in diet aside from when sustaining youthful.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total fourteen alive Passer pyrrhonotus (Sindh/ Jungle Sparrow) were brought to RLP-DZUSJ- (Research Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, University of Sindh, Jamshoro). For investigation of helminth parasites, after anaesthetizing hosts, internal organs were examined thoroughly. Out of fourteen birds, only one was found infected with five nematodes of genus Acuaria Bremser (1811) (02♂, 03♀) belonging to Acuariidae. Nematodes collected from intestine were dropped in 20% ethanol for cleaning purpose, then into test tube containing heated 70% ethanol, to avoid twisting and for instant death. For detailed study, nematodes were preserved in mixture of 70% ethanol and glycerol Sherwin and Schmidt (1988). For morphological study, temporary mounted slides were made and observed under light microscope. With the aid of the Lucida camera, diagrams were made and Nikon digital camera were used for the photography. The measurements were taken in millimeters (mm) and in micrometers (µm) for eggs.

RESULTS

Species: Acuaria pakistanensis n.sp.

Host: Passer pyrrhonotus (Blyth, 1945).

Site of infection: Intestine.

Locality: Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan.

No. of specimen recovered: Five (two ♂ and three♀).

Etymology:Pakistanensis, the name of the novel species, implies the country name in which it was collected.

Taxonomic status of species:

Family: Acuariidae (Seurat, 1913).

Genus: Acuaria (Bremser, 1811).

Species: Acuaria pakistanensis n.sp.

Description: Cylindrical, elongated and fragile are the nematodes (Fig.1A, 2A). Anterior extremity without any thickening or covering of the cuticles, but straight cordons (Fig.2A) directed in the posterior direction. Behind the nerve ring, cervical papillae; mouth with two straight lateral lips; Buccal cavity with thick walls and striated transversely (Fig.2A). The cylindrical esophagus, which consists of two parts (Muscular and Glandular).

Male: The body of the male worm is transparent, cylindrically long, and very thin (Fig.1A, 5A). The maximum body length is 6.9-7.5 mm and the width is 0.147-0.20 mm. Buccal capsule (Fig.5C) length: 0.142-0.173 mm. 0.19-0.20 mm long cephalic cordons. The esophagus (Fig.5B) is divided into two regions; 0.394-0.581 mm of muscular region and 0.934-1.638 mm of glandular region. 0.121-0.137 mm nerve ring from the anterior side. 0.022-0.027mm excretory pore. There are four pre-anal pairs and six pairs of post-anal caudal pfapillae (Fig.6D). Spicules are divergent and unequal. The left spicule is (Fig. 6B) 0.195-0.2 mm and 0.125-0.137 mm is right spicule in length (Fig. 6C). Transparent cone tail (Fig.4A, 6A).

Female:The female worm body (Fig.2A, 7A) is translucent, long, very delicate, 8.47-14.1 mm long, and 0.25-0.35 mm wide in size. Cordons (Fig.7D) total in length is 0.17-0.218 mm. Buccal capsule is quite thick and maximum 0.142 in length and minimum 0.2 mm is width. The esophagus (Fig. 7B) is divided into 0.28-0.342 mm anterior muscular portions and 0.55-0.934 mm long glandular portions. The ring of the nerve is located approximately 0.137-0.157 mm from the anterior end. There is a cone-shaped tail indeed. Eggs are smooth (Fig. 3A, 8A), shelled round, oval and thick (Fig.8A) (37-40 x 20-25) µm and the vulva is located 0.094-0.15 mm in the posterior fourth of the body.

DISCUSSION

Description of present nematodes is based on two male and three female species. According to literature, to contain parasites from bird nematodes, the Acuaria genus Bremser (1811) was established. Acuaria anthuris Rudolphi (1819), syn.., is the type species. A. Nebrashensis Williams (1929) in Oriolus galbula ,Coracias garrula; Europe. Also from Canada, Europe, U.S.A. India, Japan Rudolphi (1819), Williams (1929) in Corvus, Urocissa, Pyrrhocorax, Dendrocitta, Pica.

Other genus, species include Acuaria anththuris (A. nebraskensis) in American crow (C. barachyrhynchos),Acuaria minor Williams (1929) in Sturnella neglecta,; Acuaria cyanocitta Boyd (1956) ; A. condonspinosa in Vireo griseus Novebora-censis, Barus and Garrido (1968) ; A. coloradensis in Tachycineta thalassina Sherwin and Schmidt (1988) ; A. wangi in Hylophylax naevioides Zhang et al., (2003) ; A. irhami, in Dicrurus hottentottus jentincki, Dewi and Zhang (2010) ; A. paraguaynesis in Siryster sibilator Mutafchiev et al., (2012) and Acuaria Skrjabini Ozerskaya (1926) in Passer domesticus biblicus, Mohammad et al., (2012) .

The nematode A. skrjabini Ozerskaya (1926) was formerly described from various type of birds of Aidemosyne modesta, Poephila acuticauda and Erythrura psittacea Mc Orist et al., (1982) ; saturatus, Sturnus cineraceus Sato et al., (2005) from Japanese in Passer montanus Sato et al., (2005); and Mohammad et al., (2012) from Passer domesticus biblicus

Mohammad K.M, et al., (2012) distinguishes Acuaria Skrjabini Ozerkaya (1926) in body length and width, esophagus and cordon length and 7 post anal caudal papillae pairs from present male specimen.

Mohammad K.M, et al., (2012) distinguishes AcuariaSkrjabini Ozerkaya (1926) in larger body length, larger esophagus, vulva, cordon length and eggs size (301-450 x 205-302 vs 37-40 x 20-25) from present female specimen.

Mutafehiev Y et al., (2012) distinguishes A. paraguayensis in body size, small esophagus region, and longer cordon, shape of spicules and length of left and right from present male specimen. However, post anal pairs of caudal papillae is the same in number.

1. paraguayensis Mutafehiev Y et al., (2012) distinguishes in body length, cordon length, muscular and glandular regions, vulva and eggs size (34-36 x 23-24 vs 37-40 x 20-25) from present female specimen.

Dewi & Zang, (2010) distinguishes A. irhami in body size, cordon length longer, smaller esophagus, the right spicule is smaller, but has a slight variation in length of left spicule (0.18-0.21 vs 0.195-0.2) from the current male specimen but identical in having six post-anal pairs of caudal papillae.

Dewi & Zang (2010) only identified male specimen because a female was not found.

Zang et al., (2003) distinguishes A. wandgi in smaller body size, cordon length larger, small esophagus, spicules are sub-equal, and left spicule length, right spicule is smaller in size, but identical in having the same number of caudal papillae pairs from current male specimen.

Zang et al., (2003) distinguishes A. wandgi in body length is smaller, length of muscular and glandular esophagus, vulva length and ellipsoid shape of eggs and in size (31-37x 18-22 vs. 37-40 x 20-25) from current female specimen.

Sharwin and Schmidt (1988) distinguishes A.coloradensis in smaller size of body, length of cordon, esophagus is smaller in length, and left and right spicules are shorter in length and seven pairs of post-anal caudal papillae from current male specimens. In 1988, only male specimen was identified by Sharwin and Schmidt.

Barus and Garrido (1968) distinguishes A. condonspinosa in body length is smaller, both region of esophagus are smaller in length, left and right spicules in length from current male specimen but resembles in post-anal caudal papillae pairs.

Barus and Garrido (1968) distinguishes A. condonspinosa in size of body is small, small esophagus regions are small in length, length of cordon and vulva and size of eggs (36-39 x 27-29 vs. 37-40 x 20-25) from the present female specimen.

Boyd (1956) distinguishes A. cyanocitta in size of body, esophagus, cordon length, longer left and right spicules from current male specimen, but is close to having the same pairs of caudal papillae.

Boyd (1956) distinguishes A. cyanocitta in body is larger, muscular region of esophagus is smaller but glandular region of esophagus is longer, length of cordon and vulva and size of eggs (42 x 24 vs. 37-40 x 20- 25) from current female specimen.

Williams (1929) distinguishes A. minor in body size is smaller, cordon length, region of esophagus are smaller, left spicule is shorter and right spicule is longer from present male specimen but resembles the same caudal papillae post anal pairs.

Williams (1929) distinguishes A. minor in body size is smaller, length of cordon and esophagus, vulva from present female specimen but resembles almost the same (36-40 x 23-25 vs. 37- 40 x 20-25) egg size.

Williams (1929) distinguishes A. anthuris (A. nebraskensis) in greater body size, cordon length, length of esophagus, spicules length of left and right spicules and eight pairs of post-anal caudal papillae from present male specimen.

Williams (1929) A. anthuris (A. nebraskensis) distinguishes in size of body is larger, longer cordon, esophagus in length and eggs size are larger (41-45 x 24-29 vs. 37-40 x 20-25) from current female specimens.

Tables - 01 and 02 include the comparative morphometric characteristics of the current specimen and its comparative specimen.

Table 01: Morphological and Meristic features for males of Acuaria (Skrjabini Ozerskaya 1926), in the present study and other studies.

Table 02: Morphological and Meristic features for females of Acuaria (Skrjabini Ozerskaya1926).

Conclusion: A nova Acuaria pakistanensis species is postulated based on the diagnostic differences discussed above. However, the genus and host Passer pyrrhonotus have been reported from Pakistan for the first time.

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