Dr. Murai Éva szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 14. (Budapest, 1982)
Characterisation of the amphistomes recovered Paramphistomum cervi (Zeder, 1790) (Pigs. 1-3) It was found only in one sample, thus it seems to be a rare fluke in Iran. It has a Liorchis-type of pharynx (Fig. 1), Gracile-type of genital opening (Fig. 2) and Paramphistomum-type of acetabulum (Fig. 3). These features are reliable characters to distinguish it from the closely related other species (P. gotoi, P. gracile ) which are also found in this country. Intermediate hosts are various Planorbid snails throughout its distributional area (SEY, 1982a). Paramphistomum gotoi Fukui, 1922 (Fig. 4) Two out of the fourteen samples contained this species. Its pharynx is Liorchis- (Fig. 4), the genital opening Gracile-, the acetabulum Paramphistomum-type. This species is closely related to the preceding one but differs from it by having larger papillae found in the pharynx and by the position of the blind caeca; they usually meet dorso-medially (in P. cervi the caeca do not meet dorso-medially) . It has an Asiatic distribution in the Palaearctic region and it has been found once in Europe (SEY, 1978). Its intermediate host is known neither in Asia nor in Europe. Paramphistomum gracile Fischoeder, 1901 (Fig. 5) This species is very similar to P. cervi on the basis of gross morphology and these two species were often confused throughout their distributional area. It has Paramphistomum-type of pharynx and acetabulum and Gracile-type of genital opening. Structural differences of the pharynx of P. cervi (Fig. 1) and of P, gracile (Fig. 5) are reliable specific features. P. gracile is a new species for Iran and, at the same time, this country is in its westernmost distributional area. Otherwise it has Oriental distribution where it is very common species, i.e. in India (SEY, 1979). Its intermediate host is unknown. Paramphistomum microbothrium Fischoeder, 1901 (Figs. 5-6) Papers dealing with studies of amphistomes of Iran have also reported its occurrence in the south western part of this country. This species was found in the sample derived from sheep in the south of Iran. It has Calicophoron-type of pharynx (Fig. 5), Paramphistomum-type of acetabulum and Microbothrium-type of genital opening (Fig. 6). The distributional area of this species in Iran coincides with that of its intermediate host, Bulinus truncatus (ARFAA et al. 1973). Gastrothylax crumenifer (Creplin, 1847) (Figs. 7-9) This species seems to be the most common --umen fluke in Iran; nine samples of the fourteen contained specimens. It has Gastrothylax-type of pharynx (Fig. 7) and acetabulum (Fig. 8) and GracileLegend to Figures Figs. 1-15: Median sagittal sections of muscular organs Figs. 1-3: Pharynx, genital opening and acetabulum of Paramphistomum cervi Fig. 4: Pharynx of Paramphistomum gotoi Fig. 5: Pharynx of Paramphistomum gracile Fig. 6: Genital opening of Paramphistomum microbothrium Figs. 7-9: Pharynx, genital opening and acetabulum of Gastrothylax crumenifer Fig. 10: Acetabulum of Gastrothylax compressus Figs. 11-12: Acetabulum and genital opening of Calicophoron papillosum Figs. 13-15: Pharynx, genital opening and acetabulum of Gigantocotyle explanation Fig. 16: Transverse section of pharynx of Orthocoelium scoliocoelium Figs. 17-18: Median sagittal sections of genital opening (Fig. 17) and acetabulum (Fig. 18) of Ortocoelium scoliocoelium (Photo by O. SEY)
