Parocooperia devossi n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichostrongylidae) from the bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus (Pallas, 1766)

Abstract

A new species of Paracooperia Travassos, 1935 was found in the small intestines of 4 bushbuck, Tragelaphus scriptus (Pallas, 1766), and 3 greater kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros (Pallas, 1766), all culled in the Kruger National Park. The nematodes appear to be widespread in the Park, since the bushbuck originated from Skukuza in the central part of the Park, 2 of the 3 kudu from near Malelane in the south and the remaining kudu from Pafuri in the extreme north. The worms are named Paracooperia devossi after Dr V. de Vos of the Kruger National Park and can be differentiated from the closely related Paracooperia tragelaphi Gibbons & Khalil, 1980 by the single indistinct ridge on 1 of the branches of the spicules. Furthermore, the spicules end as fairly large ovoid knobs, and vulvar flaps are present in the females.