L. Forró szerk.: Miscellanea Zoologica Hungarica 12. 1998 (Budapest, 1998)

Tenora, F., Gubányi, A.; Eszterbauer, E.: Morphological investigation of Mesocestoides (Cestoda, Mesocestoididae) species parasitizing Vulpes vulpes in Hungary

Mesocestoides litteratus (Batsch, 1786) (Figs 8, 10, 12, 14) (syn. Taenia literrata Batsch, 1786, M. canislagopodis (Rudolphi, 1810) sensu Zschokke, 1889, M. lineatus f. litterata Witenberg, 1934) Description: Strobila 57 to 568 mm long, containing 95 to 474 segments; anterior width 97 to 414 (mean 247), posterior width 147 to 588 (mean 307) and length 89 to 579 (mean 223) in immature segments; anterior width 103 to 443 (mean 272), posterior width 150 to 531 (mean 342) and length 126 to 392 (mean 275) in mature segments; anterior width 87 to 1453 (mean 780), posterior width 116 to 1886 (mean 1067), length on left side 145 to 3020 (mean 1766) and length on right side 143 to 3044 (mean 1774) in segments containing uterus; anterior width 220 to 1452 (mean 634), posterior width 371 to 1726 (mean 871), length on left side 943 to 3024 (mean 1980) and length on right side 980 to 3048 (mean 1990) in gravid segments. Scolex 589 (443-806) by 589 (353-736), unarmed. Suckers arranged in two pairs, 242 (185-344) by 206 (130-273). Neck slender and short, testes numerous, maximum diameter 14 to 76 (mean 42), surrounding the genital glands. Cirrus pouch elongated, 74 to 278 (mean 170) in length and 48 to 96 (mean 70) in width, located anteriorly, near middle of segment. Ovaries, consisting of two lobes, situated posteriorly, 152 (73 to 208) by 186 (98 to 288). Vitelline glands ovoid in dorsoventral view, 110 (56 to 160) by 65 (28 to 116). Paruterine organ present, more or less spherical and develops into caudal appendage. Size of paruterine organ 982 (94 to 1432) by 705 (56 to 973). Eggs spherical, containing ovoid onchosphere, 16 to 304 (mean 164) in diameter. Identification key for the species of the genus Mesocestoides Vaillant, 1863, recovered from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in Hungary la. Cirrus pouch elongated, 48 to 96 (mean 70) in width, located anteriorly, near middle of segment, maximum diameter of testes 14 to 76 (mean 42) Mesocestoides litteratus (Batsch, 1786) 2a. Cirrus pouch oval, 118 to 244 (mean 165) in width, situated anteriorly, near middle of segment, maximum diameter of testes 56 to 213 (mean 115) Mesocestoides lineatus (Goeze, 1782) Railliet, 1893 Hitherto the most important features for discrimination of species of the genus Mesocestoides proved to be the shape of the cirrus and the cirrus pouch. According to our results besides the above-mentioned facts the shape of the testes, especially the maximum diameter of the testes can serve to distinguish the Mesocestoides species from each other, recovered from red fox. Considerable inter- and intraspecific morphological variation has been found in other characters CD1-2, AD3-4, AD5-6, BD1-2, BD3-4, BD5-6, VD1-2, VD3-4, UD1-2, TJD3-4, DD1-2, DD3-4, DD1-3, DD2-4, DOl-2, PD1-2, PD3-4, which can be explained by individual specific immune reaction, unique condition and feeding habit of host. Foxes feed on plants in spring and certain plants may decrease the prevalence of Mesocestoides. On the other hand, Mesocestoides exhibits a seasonal periodicity having lower prevalence in summer than winter (Loos-Frank & Zeyhle 1982). Consequently, our materials might contain tapeworms of different age and Mesocestoides can stay alive more or less during the lifetime of its host.