[Contribution to the study of Microphallidae travassos, 1920 (Trematoda). XLV. Description of Maritrema feliui n. sp., parasite of shrews (Mammals) in Spain].

Abstract

The authors describe and illustrate the morphology of the adult stage of Maritrema feliui n. sp. (Trematoda Microphallidae) obtained from the intestine of the shrew Crocidura russula (Hermann, 1780), definitive host of the fluke present in the estuary of the river Llobregat (Catalonia, Spain). The larval stages are found in two hosts obtained from the area: 1) Mercuria confusa (Frauenfeld) [= Pseudamnicola similis (Draparnaud)] (Mollusca: Hydrobiidae), and 2) Gammarus aequicauda (Martynov) (Crustacea: Amphipoda). The adult stage is anatomically related to the Maritrema with a mean size of the body, two equal suckers, a short oesophagus and long caeca, and a short and transversal cirrus pouch with a smooth and filiform cirrus. According to morphological and geographical affinities, the authors propose the synonymies of 1) Maritrema "opisthometra" sensu Bridgman et al., 1972 with M. chiriacae Deblock, 1975; 2) Maritrema longiforme Kifune et al., 1972, with Maritrema laricola Ching, 1963. Besides Maritreminoides congjiangensis Chiu et Gu, 1981 is transferred into the genus Quasimaritrema Deblock, 1973 according to Maritreminoides Rankin is invalidated.