During a helminthological survey of black coot, Fulica atra (Gruiformes: Rallidae), in Sindh Province of Pakistan, eight specimens of undescribed species of trematode belonging to genus Paramonostomum Lühe, 1909 were recovered from large intestine of the single host bird. Paramonostomum bubaki n. sp. differs from its congeners except P. macrovesiculum Dharejo et al., 2006 by having less attenuated anterior end, a pharynx, a bifurcal genital pore, a longer posttesticular space, a Y-shaped excretory vesicle, number of uterine loops (16), and large size of filamentous eggs. P. bubaki n. sp. resembles P. macrovesiculum Dharejo et al., 2006 collected from Fulica atra from Pakistan by having a pharynx but differs in larger body, smaller esophagus, a bifurcal genital pore, shape of cirrus sac, seminal vesicle and gonads, ceca reaching posterior extremity, and a longer posttesticular space. 1. Introduction Pakistan exhibits a certain cohesion of physical geography and climate which has a great bearing upon the distribution and habits of its bird fauna. Pakistan gets a large number of migrant birds from Europe and Central Asian countries every year. Birds from the North spend winters in different wetlands and have also been found living in the manmade ponds in Pakistan [1]. These habitats provide favorable environment for breeding as well as the development of populations of snails, crustaceans, and insect fauna, which enhances likelihood of acquiring parasitic infection [2]. Reports of Paramonostomum species in Pakistan are limited to those of Dharejo et al. [2] and Bhutta and Khan [3]. Other trematodes reported from Fulica atra in Pakistan are Cotylurus sindhense Birmani et al., 2009 [4], Echinostoma atrae Birmani et al., 2008 [5], and Paramonostomum macrovesiculum Dharejo et al., 2006 [2]. Snail species Thiara riquetti, Hydrobia vulva, Hydrobia ventrosa, Hydrobia salsa, and Peringia ulvae have been reported to be an intermediate hosts in life cycle of Paramonostomum species [6]. Fulica atra, a migratory game bird, is a popular food item in Sindh Province. Therefore, the interest was developed to investigate this bird for the presence of helminth parasites. 2. Materials and Methods Live one hundred and one black coot, Fulica atra Linnaeus (Gruiformes: Rallidae), collected from different water bodies of Sindh Province, Pakistan, during winter season (2007–2010) were examined for endohelminths. Trematodes were put into 0.9% saline, relaxed in hot water, fixed under slight cover glass pressure in alcohol-formalin-acetic acid (AFA), stained with borax carmine,
References
[1]
T. J. Roberts, The Birds of Pakistan, vol. I and II, Oxford University Press, Karachi, Pakistan, 1991.
[2]
A. M. Dharejo, F. M. Bilqees, and M. M. Khan, “Paramonostomum (Paramonostomum) macrovesiculum, new species (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) from Black Coot Fulica atra (Aves: Rallidae) of Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan,” Pakistan Journal of Zoology, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 313–316, 2006.
[3]
M. S. Bhutta and D. Khan, Digenetic Trematodes of Vertebrates from Pakistan, Bulletin of the Department of Zoology, University of the Panjab, New Series, article 8, Department of Zoology, University of the Panjab, 1975.
[4]
N. A. Birmani, A. M. Dharejo, and M. M. Khan, “Cotylurus sindhense, n.sp. (Digenea: Strigeidae) from Black Coot Fulica atra (Rallidae) of Manchhar Lake, Sindh, Pakistan,” Proceedings of Parasitology, vol. 48, pp. 133–138, 2009.
[5]
N. A. Birmani, A. M. Dharejo, and M. M. Khan, “Echinostoma atrae, new species (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) in Black Coot Fulica atra (Aves: Rallidae) of Manchhar Lake, Sindh, Pakistan,” Pakistan Journal of Zoology, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 379–383, 2008.
[6]
H. W. Stunkard, “Studies on the trematode genus Paramonostomum Lühe, 1909 (Digenea: Notocotylidae),” Biological Bulletin, vol. 132, no. 1, pp. 133–145, 1967.
[7]
A. Jones, R. A. Bray, and D. I. Gibson, Keys to the Trematoda, vol. 2, CABI Publishing and the Natural History Museum, London, UK, 2005.
[8]
S. Yamaguti, Synopsis of Digenetic Trematodes of Vertebrates, vol. I and II, Keigaku, Tokyo, Japan, 1971.
[9]
P. Foronda, J. C. Casanova, E. Figueruelo, A. Del Castillo, and C. Feliu, “A peculiar finding of Paramonostomum sp. (Digenea: Notocotylidae) in Fulica atra (Gruiformes) from the Canary Islands (West Africa),” Research and Reviews of Parasitology, vol. 63, no. 3-4, pp. 73–75, 2003.
[10]
S. Tanveer and M. Z. Chishti, “Studies on Notocotylid trematode genus Paramonostomum (Lühe, 1909) in domestic fowl and Common Coot in Kashmir with description of a new species,” Journal of Parasitological Diseases, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 95–99, 2001.
[11]
F. B. Drago, L. I. Lunaschi, A. C. Hinojosa-Saez, and D. González-Acu?a, “First record of Australapatemon burti and Paramonostomum pseudalveatum (Digenea) from Anas georgica (Aves, Anseriformes) in Chile,” Acta Parasitologica, vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 201–205, 2007.
[12]
P. C. Gupta and R. B. Singh, “Three new species of Paramonostomum (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) from avian hosts in Utter Pradesh,” Indian Journal of Parasitolgy, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 117–123, 1985.
[13]
K. Odening, “Paramonostomum antarcticum (Trematoda, Notocotylidae) in Larus dominicanus from South Shetlands (Antarctica),” Angewandte Parasitologie, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 137–143, 1982.
[14]
M. E. McDonald, Keys to tremaTodes Reported in Waterfowl, Resource Publication, 142, Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services, Washington, DC, USA, 1981.
[15]
P. C. Gupta and S. P. Gupta, “On four new species of the genus Paramonostomum Lühe, 1909 from avian hosts of Kanpur,” Indian Journal of Zootomy, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 25–30, 1976.
[16]
C. C. Velasquez, “Life history of Paramonostomum philippinensis sp. n. (Trematoda: digenea: notocotylidae),” Journal of Parasitology, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 289–292, 1969.
[17]
N. V. Jones and I. C. Williams, “Paramonostomum signiensis n.sp. (Trematoda: Notocotylidae) from the sheathbill, Chionis alba (Gmelin), at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands,” Journal of Helminthology, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 53–57, 1969.
[18]
H. L. Ching, “Three trematodes from the Harlequin duck,” Canadian Journal of Zoology, vol. 39, no. 3, pp. 373–376, 1961.
[19]
T. T. Dunagan, “Paramonostomum malerischi n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: notocotylidae) from the emperor goose (Philacte canagica L.) in Alaska,” The Journal of parasitology, vol. 43, no. 5, pp. 586–589, 1957.
[20]
W. L. Bullock, “Two new species of monostomes from the Canada goose with a review of Paramonostomum alveatum (Mehlis in Creplin, 1846),” The Journal of parasitology, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 371–378, 1952.
[21]
M. A. Moghe, “Two new species of trematodes from an Indian Ruff (Philomachus pugnax),” Parasitology, vol. 24, pp. 54–59, 1932.
[22]
H. W. Stunkard and F. W. Dunihue, “Notes on trematodes from a Long Island duck with description of a new species,” Biological Bulletin, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 179–186, 1931.