New Cestode of the Genera Diplopylidium (Eucestoda: Dipylidiiae) Parasitizing Felis domesticus in Maharashtra: A Morphological Study
Ishrat Vasi Shaikh *
Department of Zoology, Abeda Inamdar Senior College, Azam Campus, Camp, Pune – 411001, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Diplopylidium alii n. sp. belonging to order Dilepididea is described from Felis domesticus collected from Tal. Jalna of Jalna district, M.S. India. The collected cestodes were flattened and preserved in formalin. The preserved worms were stained with Harris haematoxylene, dehydrated in alcohol and mounted in D.P.X. Figures were drawn using camera lucida. The present species has dome shaped scolex; rostellar hooks in 6 rows and 38 in number; testes medium, almost round, 215-225 (219) in number; cirrus pouch large, sickle shaped; ovary distinctly bilobed; vagina is posterior to the cirrus pouch and vitelline gland medium in size, triangular with irregular margin. The present worm has significant morphological variations to accommodate it as a new species.
Keywords: Intestinal parasite, taxonomy, rostellar hooks, helminthology, tapeworm, morphology, Jalna