Four new species of Macropodinium (Ciliophora: Litostomatea) from Australian wallabies and pademelons.
Samples of Macropodinium spp. were collected from 3 new macropodid species: from 21 of 28 (75%) black-striped wallabies (Macropus dorsalis); 10 of 11 (91%) swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor); and 22 of 43 (51%) Tasmanian pademelons (Thylogale billardierii). The examination of ciliate morphology by silver impregnation and scanning electron microscopy led to the redescription of the genus Macropodinium and the description of 4 new species: Ma. tricresta sp. nov. and Ma. spinosus sp. nov. from M. dorsalis; Ma. maira sp. nov. from T. billardierii; and M. bicolor sp. nov. from W. bicolor; each species was strictly host specific. Cellular orientation was reinterpreted on the basis of vestibular morphology and it is concluded that Macropodinium spp. are laterally rather than dorso-ventrally compressed. The striated groove is thus dorso-ventral rather than lateral. Oral ciliation consisted of up to three bands: an adoral band composed of oblique kineties; a vestibular band of longitudinal kineties; and a preoral band of longitudinal kineties. Somatic ciliation occurred in two longitudinal bands: a dense band composed of several parallel kineties on the left side of the dorso-ventral groove; and a sparse band composed of a single kinety on the right internal side of the dorso-ventral groove. Few structures were homologous to those of other litostome ciliates, and thus the relationship of Macropodinium to other litostomes cannot yet be clearly defined.
Cameron
S L
SL
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. s.cameron@mailbox.uq.edu.au
O'Donoghue
P J
PJ
Adlard
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007614:Macropodidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000469:parasitology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D012834:Silver / Q000378:metabolism; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D013270:Stomach / Q000469:parasitology; D013559:Symbiosis
D012834:Silver