title: Larval spirurida (Nematoda) from the crab Macrophthalmus hirtipes in New Zealand.
abstract: Previously undescribed third-stage larvae of two species of Spirurida were found in the haemocoel of the stalk-eyed mud crab Macrophthalmus hirtipes (Heller) (Ocypodidae) in New Zealand. Examinations by light and scanning electron microscopy showed that the larger larvae (about 7 mm long) belonged to a species of Ascarophis van Beneden, 1871 (Cystidicolidae), the genus including parasites of fishes, whereas the smaller larvae (about 4-5 mm long) belonged to the Acuariidae, a family with species parasitic as adults mostly in aquatic birds. In a sample of 82 specimens of M. hirtipes collected in July 2002 from Papanui Inlet, on Otago Peninsula, South Island, 74 crabs (90.2%) were infected with larval nematodes with an intensity of 1-18 (mean 4.6) nematodes per crab; no distinction between nematode species was made in these estimates, although juvenile Acuariidae greatly outnumbered larval Ascarophis. Apparently, crabs play a role as intermediate hosts of these nematode species. This is the first record of larval representatives of Cystidicolidae and Acuariidae from invertebrates in the Australasian Region.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branisovská 31, 370 05 Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic. moravec@paru.cas.cz
authors.forename: Frantisek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moravec
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Fredensborg
authors.forename: A David M
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Latham
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Poulin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003386:Brachyura / Q000469:parasitology*; D007814:Larva / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009520:New Zealand; D017174:Spirurida / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure