Gastrointestinal Helminths in Amietia sp. (Anura: Pyxicephalidae) from the Albertine Rift of Central Africa

Fourteen Amietia sp. (Pyxicephalidae), from the Albertine Rift of Democratic Republic of the Congo were examined for helminths. Five species of Nematoda were found: Amphibiophilus chabaudi, Aplectana praeputialis, Falcaustra congoensis, Foleyellides duboisi and Orneoascaris chrysanthemoides. Amphibiophilus chabaudi was the most numerous nematode (n = 40) with the highest prevalence (57 %). Five new host records are reported.

Rhabdias elegans (Nematoda: Rhabdiasidae) in the toad, Rhinella arenarum (Hensel, 1867) from Argentina

This study describes the morphology of Rhabdias elegans Gutierrez, 1945, isolated from the lungs of the toad Rhinella arenarum (Hensel, 1867) from Lomas de Tafi Tucumán, Argentina. This is the first record of R. elegans in R. arenarum from northwestern Argentina as previously described Rhabdias truncata is a species inquirendae. The distribution of R. elegans is extended since it was previously recorded in Buenos Aires, Chaco and Corrientes Provinces, Argentina. Our light microscopical study of morphological details of R. elegans revealed a few previously unreported structures in the apical region including position of the excretory pore and lateral sessile papillae in the tail. In addition, morphometric variability was observed on comparing present specimens and those described in previous studies. Our study made it possible to validate the occurrence of three Rhabdias species occurring in Argentina: R. elegans, R. füelleborni and R. cf. sphaerocephala. The information presented in this study represents an important contribution to the parasitological knowledge of R. arenarum from northwestern Argentina.

Endoparasites in two species of ranid frogs from Peninsular Malaysia, Odorrana hosii (Boulenger, 1891) and O. monjerai (Matsui and Jaafar, 2006), with comments on modes of infection

Odorranahosii and O.monjerai from Peninsular Malaysia were examined for endoparasites. Only Nematoda were found. For Odorranahosii, Amphibiocapillariabufonis, Cosmocercaornata and Abbreviata sp. (cysts) were found. For O.monjerai, A.bufonis and C.ornata were found. All are new host records.

Endoparasites in Limnonectes magnus (Anura, Dicroglossidae) from Samar Island, Philippines with description of a new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae)

Aplectana samarensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Limnonectes magnus (Anura, Dicroglossidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana samarensis sp. nov. represents the 53rd species assigned to the genus and the 6th species reported from the Oriental region. It is easily separated from the 5 species previously reported from the region by the presence of a gubernaculum and the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii has an irregular pattern, no precloacal papillae in rows; both A. akhrami and A. dubrajpuri lack a gubernaculum; A. duttaphryni has 3 pairs of precloacal papillae forming 2 rows; A. ranae has 7 pairs of precloacal papillae forming 2 rows; A. samarensis sp. nov. has 4 pairs of precloacal papillae in 2 rows. In addition to the new species, individuals of Falcaustra dubia and Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis as well as cestode plerocercoids were also found.

A new species of Aplectana (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) in Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae), from Hainan Province, China

Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the intestines of Goniurosaurus bawanglingensis (Squamata, Eublepharidae) is described and illustrated. Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. represents the 52nd species assigned to the genus and the 5th species reported from the Sino-Japanese region. It is easily separated from the 4 species previously reported from the region by the distribution pattern of male caudal papillae: A. macintoshii has an irregular pattern; A. hylae has no precloacal papillae; A. fujianae has 1 pair of precloacal papillae; A paucipapillosa has 3 pairs of precloacal papillae; Aplectana hainanensis sp. nov. has 7 pairs of precloacal papillae.

A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda; Oxyuroidea; Pharyngodonidae) and other Nematodes in Cyrtodactylus epiroticus (Squamata; Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea

Spauligodon papuensis sp. nov. from the large intestines of Cyrtodactylus epiroticus (Gekkonidae) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Spauligodon papuensis sp. nov. represents the 54th species assigned to the genus and the second species from the Oceanic Region. The new species is separated from congeners by the unique combination of aspinose filamentous tail and no spicule in the male; and spinose filamentous tail, fusiform, flanged eggs, and postbulbar vulva in the female. Four additional species of nematodes were also found in C. epiroticus: mature specimens of Cosmocerca zugi, Falcaustra papuensis, Physalopteroides milnensis and larvae of Abbreviata sp.

Spinicauda sumatrana sp. nov. (Nematoda: Heterakidae) from Ludeking's Crested Dragon, Lophocalotes ludekingi (Agamidae), from the Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra

Spinicauda sumatrana sp. nov. is described from the large intestine of Ludeking's Crested Dragon, Lophocalotes ludekingi (Agamidae) from the Bukit Barisan Range of Sumatra. The new species is assigned to Spinicauda based on the presence of off-set lips in both male and female and a ventrally directed sucker combined with the absence of caudal alae in males. It is the 17th species assigned to the genus and differs from all congeners in the combination of spicule length, presence of a gubernaculum, presence of a tail filament and fourteen pairs of caudal papillae.

TWO NEW RECORDS OF ASCARID PARASITES OBSERVED IN SNAKES (COLUBRIDAE) OF ALBANIA

This paper gives two new records of ascarid parasites observed in snakes (Colubridae) of Albania.

A new species of Spauligodon (Nematoda; Oxyuroidea; Pharyngodonide) and other Helminths in Ptychozoon Kuhli (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from East Malaysia

Spauligodon geckonis sp. nov. from the intestines of Ptychozoon kuhli (Gekkonidae) from East Malaysia is described and illustrated. Spauligodon geckonis sp. nov. represents the 52nd species assigned to the genus and the third species from the Oriental Region. The new species is separated from congeners by the unique combination of aspinose filamentous tail and spicule in the male and spinose filamentous tail and fusiform, two knobbed eggs in the female. Gravid individuals 3 species of Nematoda, Meteterakis singaporensis, Physalopteroides grismeri, and Skrjabinelazia machidai, as well as larvae assignable to the Ascaridae were also found.

A new species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) and other helminths in Cyrtodactylus gubaot (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from the Philippines

Cosmocerca leytensis sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Cyrtodactylus gubaot (Squamata: Gekkonidae) collected on Leyte Island, Philippines is described and illustrated. Cosmocerca leytensis sp. nov. is the 30th species assigned to the genus, the 4th from the Oriental region, and the first from the Philippine Islands. The new species is most similar to those species possessing 4 pairs of plectanes, i.e., C. archeyi, C. australis, C. oroensis, and C sardiniae. Cosmocerca sardiniae lacks lateral alae; C. archeyi, C. australis, C. leytensis sp. nov. and C. oroensis possess lateral alae. Spicule length of C. oroensis is less than 75 μm, while C. archeyi, C. australis, and C. leytensis sp. nov. have spicule lengths greater than 75 μm. Males of C. australis possess 2 pairs of rosette caudal papillae, which are lacking in C. archeyi and C. leytensis sp. nov. Females of C. archeyi posses a conical tail, females of C. leytensis sp. nov. have a rounded posterior end supporting a flexible filament.

New species of Cosmocercoides (Nematoda; Cosmocercidae) and other helminths in Gonocephalus liogaster (Squamata; Agamidae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Cosmocercoides malayensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Gonocephalus liogaster (Squamata, Agamidae) from Peninsular Malaysia is described and illustrated. Cosmocercoides malayensis sp. nov. represents the 23rd species assigned to the genus and the 10th species from the Oriental biogeographical region. Cosmocercoides malayensis sp. nov. differs from the previously described Oriental species in number and position of rosette papillae; however, it is most similar to C. bufonis and C. rickae in that these 3 species have 6 post cloacal rosette papillae. Cosmocercoides bufonis possesses a prebulbar copular swelling, which is absent in C. malayensis; C. rickae posssesess somatic papillae, which are absent in C. malayensis. Three addtional nematode species were found, adult specimens of Meteterakis singaporensis and Orneoascaris sandoshami and larva of Physocephalus sp.

Cannabinoid abuse and addiction: Clinical and preclinical findings

Cannabinoid abuse disorders represent a widespread public health issue, but there are no approved medications for their treatment. This review describes efforts to understand the mechanisms of cannabinoid abuse and its adverse effects, to identify molecular targets for pharmacotherapy, and to evaluate potential treatments in human volunteers and animal models of cannabinoid reward, withdrawal, and relapse.

Description of a New Species of Parapharyngodon (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from Mexico with a List of Current Species and Key to Species from the Panamanian Region

Parapharyngodon guerreroensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of Lepidophyma smithii from Mexico is described and illustrated. A list of nominal species and a key to species from the Panamanian region are provided. Parapharyngodon guerreroensis n. sp. is the 57th species assigned to the genus and the 10th from the Panamanian region. It differs from other species in the genus in that males possess 3 pairs of caudal papillae, an anterior cloacal lip supporting 4 digitiform processes, and a blunt spicule 67-104 μm in length, while females possess long flexible caudal appendages.

Pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid signalling alters binge-type eating behaviour in female rats

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Binge eating disorder (BED) is characterized by excessive food intake during short periods of time. Recent evidence suggests that alterations in the endocannabinoid signalling could be involved in the pathophysiology of BED. In this study, we investigated whether pharmacological manipulation of endocannabinoid transmission may be effective in modulating the aberrant eating behaviour present in a validated rat model of BED.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Binge-type eating was induced in female rats by providing limited access to an optional source of dietary fat (margarine). Rats were divided into three groups, all with ad libitum access to chow and water: control (C), with no access to margarine; low restriction (LR), with 2 h margarine access 7 days a week; high restriction (HR), with 2 h margarine access 3 days a week.

KEY RESULTS

Compared with the LR group, the HR group consumed more margarine and this was accompanied by an increase in body weight. The cannabinoid CB₁/CB₂ receptor agonist Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol significantly increased margarine intake selectively in LR rats, while the fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB597 showed no effect. The CB₁ receptor inverse agonist/antagonist rimonabant dose-dependently reduced margarine intake in HR rats. Notably, in HR rats, chronic treatment with a low dose of rimonabant induced a selective long-lasting reduction in margarine intake that did not develop tolerance, and a significant and persistent reduction in body weight.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Chronic pharmacological blockade of CB₁ receptors reduces binge eating behaviour in female rats and may prove effective in treating BED, with an associated significant reduction in body weight.

New species of Oswaldofilaria (Nematoda; Filarioidea; Onchocercidae) and other helminths in Acanthosaura cardamomensis (Sauria; Agamidae) from Indochina Peninsula

Oswaldofilaria acanthosauri sp. nov. from the body cavity of the Cardamom Mountain horned agamid, Acanthosaura cardamomensis (Sauria: Agamidae), collected in Pursat Province, Cambodia is described. Of the 14 species assigned to Oswaldofilaria, O. acanthosauri sp. nov. is most similar to those species with spicular ratio of less than 2, namely, O. brevicaudata and O. chlamydosauri. Oswaldofilaria acanthosauri sp. nov. is easily separated from these 2 species in that O. brevicaudata is a South American species and in O. chlamydosauri the distal ends of the spicules are pointed not blunt. Mature individuals of 2 additional species of Nematoda, Meteterakis singaporensis and Orneoascaris sandoshami, as well as larvae assignable to Ascariidae were found. Acanthosaura cardamomensis represents a new host record for Meteterakis singaporensis, Orneoascaris sandoshami and Ascariidae (larvae).