ACANTHOCEPHALANS PROSTHENORCHIS CF. ELEGANS (ARCHIACANTHOCEPHALA: OLIGACANTHORHYNCHIDAE), PARASITES OF PRIMATES IN THE MOSCOW ZOO.

Abstract

Acanthocephalans Prosthenorchis cf. elegans were found in primates in the Moscow Zoo. The larvae of these parasites (cistacanths) were found in cockroaches Blattella germanica that had been captured near aviaries of infected animals. Descriptions and drawings of adult parasites and their larvae are given. Analysis of Prosthenorchis cf. elegans genes ITS 1 rDNA and CO 1 mtDNA shows phylogenetic relations of these parasites with several representatives of the class Archiacanthocephala. The obtained molecular data, however, do not support the monophyly of the family Oligacanthorhynchidae and the order Oligacanthorhynchida.