Cooperia acutispiculum n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Pallas, 1766)

Abstract

A new species of nematode, Cooperia acutispiculum, was collected from the small intestine of 3 out of 4 kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Pallas, 1766) and 2 out of 3 grey duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia (Linnaeus, 1758), culled in the Kruger National Park, Transvaal. The males of this species are unique amongst members of the genus Cooperia in that the spicules are acutely pointed and the lateral branches of the distal part of the dorsal ray are wavy in appearance. The females could not be identified because of simultaneous infection of the type host with Cooperia neitzi (Monnig, 1932).