Two newly recognized species of Hemidactylus (Squamata, Gekkonidae) from the Arabian Peninsula and Sinai, Egypt

A recent molecular phylogeny of the Arid clade of the genus Hemidactylus revealed that the recently described H. saba and two unnamed Hemidactylus species from Sinai, Saudi Arabia and Yemen form a well-supported monophyletic group within the Arabian radiation of the genus. The name ‘Hemidactylus saba species group’ is suggested for this clade. According to the results of morphological comparisons and the molecular analyses using two mitochondrial (12S and cytb) and four nuclear (cmos, mc1r, rag1, rag2) genes, the name Hemidactylus granosus Heyden, 1827 is resurrected from the synonymy of H. turcicus for the Sinai and Saudi Arabian species. The third species of this group from Yemen is described formally as a new species H. uliisp. n. The phylogenetic relationships of the members of ‘Hemidactylus saba species group’ are evaluated and the distribution and ecology of individual species are discussed.

Parasites of livestock in Asir Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia

Thirteen parasite species, three trematodes, five cestodes, one nematode, and four arthropods, have been reported in livestock in Asir, southwestern Saudi Arabia. The occurrence of Dicrocoelium dendriticum in imported sheep and Paramphistomum cervi in indigenous cattle is recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia.

Zoonotic parasite infections of the Arabian sacred baboon Papio hamadryas arabicus Thomas in Asir Province, Saudi Arabia

Evidence of zoonotic parasite infection was recorded in the faeces of the Arabian Sacred Baboon in human populated residential and non-residential areas in Asir, Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Cysts of Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica, and ova of Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Ascaris sp., Trichuris sp., and a hookworm were encountered in 45 (about 39%) of 115 faecal samples examined. A higher rate of infection was observed in the residential areas. Most of the parasites recovered in the baboons were also found to infect humans in these areas. Since this primate has previously been reported to be of zoonotic potential, it is suggested that serious measures should be brought into effect to prevent human-baboon contact in the areas investigated.

Incidence and intensity of Onchocerca fasciata Railliet and Henry, 1910 in local camels in Saudi Arabia

Onchocerca fasciata Railliet & Henry, 1910, which occurs in subcutaneous nodules, shows a site preference to the anterior parts of its host, Camelus dromedarius L., i.e. the nuchal ligaments, neck, and shoulders. Although the incidence of infection was generally high (59%), the infected camels did not exhibit any apparent disease. The intensity of infection ranged between 2 and 29, with a mean of 10.8 nodules per infected host.

Pharyngodonids (Oxyuroidea; Nematoda) of Agama adramitana in Saudi Arabia with notes on Parapharyngodon

Two species of pharyngodonid (Oxyuroidea; Nematoda) parasites were collected from Agama adramitana in Saudi Arabia: Thelandros popovi Markov and Bogdanov, 1963 is redescribed and Parapharyngodon adramitana n. sp. is described for the first time. The new species resembles P. almoriensis and P. kasauli from Agama tuberculata and Uromastix hardwickii, respectively; the genital cone is relatively well-developed, broad lateral alae terminate abruptly 50 to 90 μm anterior to the anus in males, and the caudal extremity of females is abruptly truncate and bears a short spinelike caudal appendage. In P. adramitana the genital cone is less developed and the caudal appendage of the female is more robust than in P. almoriensis and P. kasauli. Parapharyngodon echinatus and P. micipsae are briefly redescribed and differentiated on the basis of material from Tarentola mauritanica (Gekkonidae) from France. Parapharyngodon acanthura (Linstow, 1904) is considered a valid name; it is not a synonym of P. micipsae as Seurat (1917) suggested. In addition, phylogenetic implications of larval morphology and the systematic position of Parapharyngodon are discussed.

Observations on the host specificity of Hymenolepis straminea (Goeze)

The experimental infection of rodents as potential, definitive hosts with Hymenolepis straminea indicated that hamsters and field mice were susceptible to infection. By comparison, laboratory mice exhibited a significantly lowered susceptibility. Artificially induced depression of the immune response enabled the parasite to be cultured in several strains of laboratory mice, and suggested that the thymus played a major role in rejection of the parasite.