dc.contributor.advisor | Svitin, R. | |
dc.contributor.advisor | Du Preez, L.H. | |
dc.contributor.author | Harnoster, Fransinah Florence | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2021-11-25T11:36:28Z | |
dc.date.available | 2021-11-25T11:36:28Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2021 | |
dc.identifier.uri | https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9750-1845 | |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10394/38002 | |
dc.description | MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus | en_US |
dc.description.abstract | Recent studies revealed that parasites outweigh their host species in terms of species richness.
This suggests parasitism as the most common lifestyle. In present times, parasites have an even
higher species richness and abundance mainly due to host species dispersal, invasion and
human activities. Of these, members of the family Cosmocercidae are found globally, most
commonly parasitising Anura. These nematodes were found to be one of the most abundant
groups of parasites with a wide host range which includes freshwater fish, amphibians, reptiles,
with some recorded in birds and mammals. Species of Cosmocercidae are distinguished mainly
by the differences in male genital morphology. Numerous inaccurate descriptions, redescriptions
and the synonymisation of found species, followed by the lack of male found specimens and
molecular data, caused taxonomic uncertainties in this group. Despite the numerous studies and
the development of advanced methods and techniques, fauna of cosmocercid nematodes in
South Africa is still represented by four species of Aplectana, Railiet and Henry, 1916 and one
species of Cosmocerca Diesing, 1861. As a result, the most common species found in many
amphibians (and reptiles) throughout South Africa is Cosmocerca ornata (Dujardin, 1845), initially
described from the European green (=edible) frog and European common frog in France. This
seems unlikely due to the geographical distance and difference in host species. In the present
study helminthological material was collected from 193 frog specimens and the nematodes were
studied under light microscopes. The morphological and morphometrical data illustrate significant
differences between found specimens in comparison to the known species. Morphological
differences are also supported by the molecular data of partial 18S and ITS-28S nuclear genes.
Species were morphologically different in the number and/or arrangement of papillae from the
known species with some resembling Aplectana capensis Baker, 1981 and A. macintoshii
Stewart, 1914. These characteristics are used as a common distinguishing feature in species
differentiation of cosmocercin nematodes. The number of host species was significantly extended
from the known records. Thus, we believe that cosmocercin fauna of South African amphibians
are more diverse than previously documented. | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | North-West University (South Africa) | en_US |
dc.subject | Taxonomy | en_US |
dc.subject | Amphibians | en_US |
dc.subject | Anura | en_US |
dc.subject | Nematoda | en_US |
dc.subject | Cosmocercidae | en_US |
dc.subject | Cosmocerca | en_US |
dc.subject | Aplectana | en_US |
dc.title | Cosmocercidae (Nematoda) of selected species of amphibians of South Africa | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.thesistype | Masters | en_US |
dc.contributor.researchID | 29732182 - Svitin, Roman (Supervisor) | |
dc.contributor.researchID | 12308218 - Du Preez, Louis Heyns (Supervisor) | |