Dr. Éva Murai szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 4. 1987 (Budapest, 1987)
Raina, M. K., Sey, O.; Khan, M. D.: Paramphistomes (Trematoda: Amphistomida) of domestic ruminants in Kashmir, India
P. e piclitum was originally described by FISCHOEDER (1904) from Saigon and was later reported from Pakistan by GUPTA (1963) and from India by GUPTA and NAKHASI (1977). SEY (1979) treats Cotylophoron indicum Stiles et Goldberger, 1910; Paramphistomum thapari Price et Mcintosh, 1953 and Srivastavaia indica Singh, 1970 as its synonyms which is followed here also. Paramphistomum gracile Fischoeder, 1901 P. gracile was noted in 21 samples (cattle= 8; sheep= 7; goat= 3; and buffalo- 3) and is the second most common paramphistome in the present collection. Its pharynx is of the Calicophoron type and all the three layers of the circular muscles were noted to be present, the middle one, however, is very weakly developed and the inner one consists of a single row of fibres. Pharyngeal papillae were seen in the anterior region of the pharynx. The inner longitudinal muscles were observed to be well developed whereas the outer longitudinal muscles form a very thin layer. The acetabulum is similar to P. epiclitum in being of the Paramphistomum type, however, the different muscle counts observed are: D. E. C. 1= 25-35; D.E. C. 2= 20-40; D. I. C. = 45-65; V. E. C. = 20-48; V. I. C. = 66-74 and M.E. C. = 15-20. The genital opening is of the Gracile type, there being no circular and radial muscle fibres. P. gracile has been found in the domestic ruminants of Kashmir for the first time in the present investigation, whereas the only other two species reported so far from Kashmir by BALI and FOTEDAR (1972a) and BALI (1976) are P. skrjabini Popova, 1937 and P. cervi (Zeder, 1790), respectively. Unfortunately, their description of P. skrjabini is without any reference to the histomorphology of the muscular organs and this species has been synonymised with Calicophoron calicophorum by EDUARDO (1983). Regarding P. cervi , no description at all has been furnished by BALI (19 76). In view of this it is not certain whether the reports of these two species from Kashmir are correct and therefore need further investigation. It may not be cut of place to mention that SEY (1979) also doubts the earlier reports of P. cervi from India and in his opinion based on a survey, this species "is not found in India". In view of these facts the paramphistomes of the Indian region need a thorough survey to bring out a complete and correct picture of the various forms known there. Calicophoron calicophorum (Fischoeder, 1901) Näsmark, 1937 (Figs 2 and 3) C. calicophorum , in its prevalence among the domestic ruminants of Kashmir has a fourth place as per the present investigation (found in 7 cattle, 5 sheep, and 2 goat samples). This species has all the muscular organs and genital opening of the Calicophoron type. The middle layer of the circular muscles of the pharynx was seen to be absent in the present study. The acetabular muscle counts were observed to be as: D. E. C. = 12-25; D. I. C. = 40-65; V. E,C.= 10-20; V. I. C. = 55- 64; M. E. C. = 14- 17. Sometimes a few muscle units may lie outside the group of dorsal exterior circular fibres giving an appearance of D.E.C. 2 series but in reality there is no such series in this form. The genital opening is characterised by the presence of a retractile genital pillar (Fig. 3). BALI (1971) gives a gross morphological description of this species and later in 1976 mentions it in his check-list of paramphistomes without giving any reference to the muscles of various organs. It may not be out of place to mention that without studying the musculature of various organs, it is not possible to identify the species. He has recorded this species in sheep and in the present investigation it is also being reported from cattle and goat. Calicophoron papillosum (Stiles et Goldberger, 1910) (Fig. 4) C. papillosum is similar to C. calicophorum in having acetabulum and pharynx of the Calicophoron type but the terminal genitals in C. papillosum are of the papillogenitalis type (Sensu EDUARDO, 1980a) (Fig. 4) The acetabular circular muscle counts noted in the present study are: D. E.C.= 19-25; D. I. C. = 30-40; V. E. C. = 11-15; V. I. C. = 33-40; and M. E. C. = 7- 12 scattered units. The papillogenitalis type of genital opening is characterised by the presence of small papillae lining the surface of the genital fold. Overall the terminal genitalia are comparatively smaller and the radial muscles are clearly seen. This species was found in two samples only, one each from cow and buffalo, and is being reported for the first time from Kashmir and Indian region.
