title: Description and life-cycle of Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea).
abstract: A new species of tapeworm, Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea), is described from the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), the main definitive host, and the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus and Capreolus pygargus), the main intermediate hosts, from Finland and Russia (Siberia and the Russian Far East). The new species was found once also in the wolf (Canis lupus) and the Eurasian elk/moose (Alces alces), representing accidental definitive and intermediate hosts, respectively. The conspecificity of adult specimens and metacestodes of Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. in various host species and regions, and their distinction from related species of Taenia, was confirmed by partial nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Morphologically, Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. can be separated unambiguously from all other species of Taenia by the shape of its large rostellar hooks, particularly the characteristically short, wide and strongly curved blade. If the large rostellar hooks are missing, Taenia lynciscapreoli may be separated from related species by a combination of morphological features of mature proglottids. It is suggested that Taenia lynciscapreoli has been present in published materials concerning the tapeworms of Lynx lynx and Lynx pardinus in Europe, but has been misidentified as Taenia pisiformis (Bloch, 1780). Taenia lynciscapreoli sp. n. has not been found in lynx outside the range of roe deer, suggesting a transmission pathway based on a specific predator-prey relationship. The present study applies a novel, simple approach to compare qualitative interspecific differences in the shape of rostellar hooks.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, P.O. Box 17, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Voitto
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Haukisalmi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals SB RAS, 630091, Frunze str. 11, Novosibirsk, Russia.
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konyaev
authors.affiliation: Immunobiology Program/Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, P.O. Box 21, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Antti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavikainen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, Elektroniikkatie 3, FI-90590 Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Marja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isomursu
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa, Hokkaido 078-8510, Japan.
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakao
keywords: Alces; Capreolus; Finland; Lynx; Russia; Siberia; Tapeworms; wolf