Renicola glacialis sp. nov., a New Trematode from the North Sea Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis (L.), with Observations on its Pathology

• Published in: Journal of Helminthology
• Main Authors: Riley, J., Wynne Owen, R.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1972
• Subjects: Animal Science and Zoology; General Medicine; Parasitology; Fulmar; Fulmarus glacialis
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x00022124; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022149X00022124

A new species Renicola glacialis sp. nov., belonging to the trematode genus Renicola , is described. The species is distinguished from most other renicolids by its relatively large size. Two other species within this size range have been recorded; while it is easy to separate R. glacialis from one of these species ( R. goliath Wright, 1957) the poor description of the other ( R. secunda Skrjabin, 1924) renders a detailed comparison meaningless. However, the differences in host and geographic location between this and R. glacialis are considered sufficiently great to justify the erection of a new species. The pathology of R. glacialis is discussed; recently established worms elicit only a slight host tissue response, but older infections are invested by a thick connective tissue sheath. The latter shows maximum development around dead worms and is accompanied by pronounced eosinophilia. Attention has been drawn to the use of the excretory vesicle as a diagnostic character. Four distinctly different forms have been described, and it is suggested that this character, together with certain other morphological features, would provide a useful key for the identification of renicolids once such information is available.