2018 Vol.24 No.2 PP 339-344

EPISTHMIUM ALYKHANI SP.NOV.. (TREMATODA: ECHINOSTOMATIDAE) FROM THE CATTLE EGRET (BUBULCUS IBIS) IN LARKANA SINDH, PAKISTAN.

^*SANJOTA N.DAS¹, H. A. SAEED, R. R. GHAZI² AND G.S. GACHAL¹

¹Department of Zoology,
University of Sindh, Jamshoro, SINDH, PAKISTAN.
²Vertebrate Pest Control Laboratory,
Southern Zone Agricultural Research Centre,
Karachi University Campus, KARACHI 75270.
*Corresponding Author : Email : drsanjota@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The helmintho fauna of ten specimens of Cattle egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) from Larkana Sindh, Pakistan was studied. From all the specimens studied, the 30% were positive for helminths. The genus Episthmium⁹, was recovered in small intestine of Cattle egret and proposed as new species Episthmium alykhani sp.n. The new species is characterized by having: Body of parasite is flattened 6-6.24 by 2-2.5, Head collar bears 18 spines, Pre-pharynx absent, Ventral sucker is rounded, Testes tandem,anterior testis is cup shaped 0.7-0.79 by 1.52-1.63, posterior testis is roughly spherical 1- 1.2 by 1.2-1.3, Ovary horizontal elongated 0.3-0.4 by 0.8-0.86, Vitellaria dense commence from below the bifurcation reaches upto the anterior region of posterior testis.Eggs 0.17-0.22 by 0.08-0.091.

Key words : Bubulcus ibis, Episthmium alykhani sp.n., Larkana, Pakistan, Sindh.