[Difficilina cerebratuli gen. et sp. n. (Eugregarinida: Lecudinidae)--a new gregarine species from the nemertean Cerebratulus barentsi (Nemertini: Cerebratulidae)].
A new species of aseptate gregarine, Difficilina cerebratuli gen. et sp. n. (order Eugregarinida Leger, 1900; suborder Aseptata Chakravarty, 1960; family Lecudinidae Kamm, 1922) from the gut of the White Sea nemertean Cerebratulus barentsi Bürger, 1895, has been described. The electron and light microscopic data on trophozoites are presented. Their general morphology resembles the representatives of the genus Lecudina, but the features of the epicyte ultrastructure are different from Lecudina and similar to those of the Lankesteria spp. Taxonomy of the described species is discussed. Certain ultrastructural characters are included in its generic and specific diagnoses. Genus Difficilina gen. n. Type species: Difficilina cerebratuli sp. n.


METHODS
Characters of the family. Free trophozoites elongated, anterior end rounded, without hooks or exfoliations, not separated from the rest of the body, with well-developed terminal smooth area. The epicytic folds undulating vertically, in cross sections--monomorphic, finger-shaped, with strongly developed cell-coat, with additional electron-dense axial structure ("middle axis") at the tops; number of rippled dense structurtes and apical filaments 3, the furthers are thick and slightly flattened in diameter. Other stages unknown. In testinal parasites of nemerteans.


METHODS
The new genus differs from Lecudina by presence of smooth area at the apical pole of the body and the epicyte structure: vertically undulating monomorphic finger-shaped (in cross section) epicytic folds, oligomerization of the rippled dense structures and apical filaments, and development of the "middle axis". It also differs from Lankesteria by the shape of the body, vertical undulation of the folds, and non-tunicate host. Difficilina cerebratuli sp. n.


METHODS
Characters of the genus. Free trophozoites slightly bent, up to 250 x 70 microm. Anterior end with less granular cytoplasm; with feebly marked apical papilla encircled by the smooth area. Posterior end pointed. The average height of the epicytic folds is 280 nm, thickness--160 nm, average distance between folds is 130 nm. Endoplasm contains a number of accumulations of the fibrillar matter. Nucleus spherical 14-26 microm in diameter, localized in the middle or in the fore third of the body, carries 1-2 karyosomes of various size. Other stages unknown. TYPE SERIES: Microscopical slide with 7 trophozoites (Bouin, Delafield's haematoxylin) is kept in the Zoological museum of the Moscow State University (collection number: Z-2). In addition, two syntypes are observed with TEM and two other syntypes--with SEM. TYPE HOST: Cerebratulus barentsi Bürger, 1895 (Nemertini: Cerebratulidae).


METHODS
Intestine (?). TYPE LOCALITY: White Sea Biological Station of the Moscow State University, Yeremeyevsky Rapid, Velikaya Salma Strait, Kandalaksha Bay, White Sea.
Simdianov
T G
TG
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000469:parasitology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000469:parasitology*