<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>During a histopathological survey of the geoduck, Panopea
                        abbreviata (Hiatellidae), and the razor clam, Ensis macha (Pharidae), in northern Patagonian gulfs (Argentina), turbellarian worms were found in the intestine lumen. In this work, we described a new species of Paravortex (Platyhelminthes, Graffillidae). We collected the hosts by scuba diving and dissected alive for studying the turbellarians. In this new species, the pharynx continues in a short esophagus and the latter in a saccular intestine. Gravid specimens have from 2 to 8 twin embryos in the parenchyma. A short penis papilla arises from the seminal vesicle and the gonopore presents a strong sphincter. This species resembled P. nicolli Szidat, 1965, which was described paraziting Mytilus edulis platensis in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The new species can be differentiated from P. nicolli mainly by the presence of a penis papilla and a sphincter between genital atrium and gonopore. This turbellarian species was significantly more prevalent in geoducks (28 %, n = 210) than in razor clams (6 %, n = 480) (KW, p &lt; 0.0001). For both host species, no evidence of direct physical damage caused by turbellarians was observed.</p></abstract>

During a histopathological survey of the geoduck, Panopea
                        abbreviata (Hiatellidae), and the razor clam, Ensis macha (Pharidae), in northern Patagonian gulfs (Argentina), turbellarian worms were found in the intestine lumen. In this work, we described a new species of Paravortex (Platyhelminthes, Graffillidae). We collected the hosts by scuba diving and dissected alive for studying the turbellarians. In this new species, the pharynx continues in a short esophagus and the latter in a saccular intestine. Gravid specimens have from 2 to 8 twin embryos in the parenchyma. A short penis papilla arises from the seminal vesicle and the gonopore presents a strong sphincter. This species resembled P. nicolli Szidat, 1965, which was described paraziting Mytilus edulis platensis in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The new species can be differentiated from P. nicolli mainly by the presence of a penis papilla and a sphincter between genital atrium and gonopore. This turbellarian species was significantly more prevalent in geoducks (28 %, n = 210) than in razor clams (6 %, n = 480) (KW, p < 0.0001). For both host species, no evidence of direct physical damage caused by turbellarians was observed.

Paravortex panopea n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela) on clams from the northern Patagonian coast, Argentina: pathogeny and specificity

División Zoología Invertebrados. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina

CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

Centro Nacional Patagónico (CONICET), Boulevard Brown 2915, U9120ACD, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina

Helminthologia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

During a histopathological survey of the geoduck, Panopea
                        abbreviata (Hiatellidae), and the razor clam, Ensis macha (Pharidae), in...

Paravortex panopea n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela) on clams from the northern Patagonian coast, Argentina: pathogeny and specificity

Published Online: May 17, 2011

Page range: 94 - 100

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-011-0016-4

Keywords
Turbellaria, Graffillidae, mollusca, bivalvia, parasite, specificity

© 2011 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice, Slovakia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Paravortex panopea n. sp. (Platyhelminthes: Rhabdocoela) on clams from the northern Patagonian coast, Argentina: pathogeny and specificity

Published Online: May 17, 2011

Page range: 94 - 100

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11687-011-0016-4

KeywordsTurbellaria, Graffillidae, mollusca, bivalvia, parasite, specificity

© 2011 Institute of Parasitology, SAS, Košice, Slovakia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Turbellaria, Graffillidae, mollusca, bivalvia, parasite, specificity