Acta Parasitologica, Vol. 52, No. 2, 2007, 135–141. DOI: 10.2478/s11686-007-0018-z František Moravec1*, Vladimíra Hanzelová2 and Daniel Gerdeaux3 –
New data on the morphology of Comephoronema oschmarini (Nematoda, Cystidicolidae), a little-known gastrointestinal
parasite of Lota lota (Teleostei) in Palaearctic Eurasia
1Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Branišovská 31, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; 2Parasitological Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia; 3Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Station d'Hydrobiologie Lacustre, 75, avenue de Corzent, BP 511, 74 203 Thonon-les-Bains, France
*Corresponding author: moravec@paru.cas.cz
ABSTRACT
The nematode Comephoronema oschmarini Trofimenko, 1974 (Cystidicolidae) was found in the stomach of the burbot Lota
lota (Linnaeus) of Lake Geneva, Savoy, France, collected on 23 March 2000 [prevalence 60% (3/5); intensity of infection 2–66
(mean 35)]. This material made it possible to study in detail the morphology of this so far little-known parasite, using both
light and scanning electron microscopy (the latter not previously used for this species). The SEM examination showed taxonomically
important morphological features, not previously reported, including the presence of distinct terminal pseudolabial
projections (protuberances), four submedian labia, four bilobed submedian sublabia, and only four cephalic papillae. Deirids
were found to be bifurcated. Adescription of the true arrangement of the two last pairs of minute caudal papillae and phasmids
in the male is given. Species of Comephoronema Layman, 1933 are considered to be closely related to those of Ascarophis van
Beneden, 1871. A key to valid species of Comephoronema is provided.
KEY WORDS: Parasitic nematode, Comephoronema, morphology, fish, Lota lota, Lake Geneva, France