First report of Lymnaea columella Say, 1817 (Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae) naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica (Linnaeus,1758) (Trematoda: Digenea) in Argentina

We report the first evidence of natural infection of Lymnaea columella with Fasciola hepatica in Argentina. A sample of 601 snails was collected in May 2003 in northeastern Corrientes, a province bounded on the north by Paraguay, on the east by Brazil and on the southeast by Uruguay. Among 500 examined snails, 44 (8.8%) were exclusively infected with F. hepatica. Parasite identification was based on morphological features of cercariae from snails, and of eggs and adult flukes from Wistar rats. We discuss the events suggesting that an enzootic transmission cycle of F. hepatica has been recently established in northeastern Corrientes.

Activity of Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii N.E.B. (Euphorbiaceae) latex against Lymnaea columella (Say, 1817) (Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae), intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, Linnaeus, 1758 (Trematoda: Fasciolidae). 2: limited field-testing

The molluscicidal evaluation of Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii (Crown of thorns) against Lymnaea columella snails, intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, in irrigation ditches of the Pisciculture Station at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, was studied under limited field conditions. An aqueous solution of the latex at 5 mg/l was tested in two irrigation ditches (experimental and control ditches), after initial sampling of the snail population present. Twenty-four hours after application of the product, it was verified that 97.4% of free L. columella snails and 100% of snails of the same species captive in cages and used as sentinels at three points equidistant from the application site in the experimental ditch, died. For Biomphalaria tenagophila and Melanoides tuberculata snails, present in the experimental ditch, the mortality was 100%, for the species Pomacea spp. the mortality was 40%. No mortality was verified in the free mollusks, or in the sentinels in the ditch used as control. E. splendens var. hislopii latex is thus an efficient natural molluscicide, which may be used as an alternative control agent against L. columella.

Isospora araponga sp. n. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae), a new species of Isospora Schneider from a bare-throated bellbird, Procnias nudicollis (Vieillot, 1817) (Passeriformes: Cotingidae) from Brazil

Faecal samples from a couple of bare-throated bellbirds Procnias nudicollis imported from Brazil to Barcelona Zoo contained oocysts of Isospora araponga n. sp. Sporulated oocysts were subspherical to broadly ellipsoidal, 19.5 (17-22) × 15.5 (14-16.5) µm, shape index (length:width ratio) 1.26 (1.13-1.38) with smooth and colourless bilayered wall, about 1 µm thick, and with varying number (1-3) of polar granule, but without a micropyle or residuum. The sporocysts were ellipsoidal, slightly asymmetric, 12.5 (12-13) × 8.5 (7.5-9) µm with barely visible Stieda body and indistinguishable substieda body. Sporozoites were elongated, possessing smooth surface and two distinct refractile bodies.