Abstrait

Brachylaima Aegyptica n. sp. (Trematoda: Brachylaimidae), from the Bile Ducts of the Golden Spiny Mouse, Acomys Russatus Wagner, 1840 (Rodentia: Muridae), Egypt

Enayat Salem Reda and Eman A El-Shabasy

From family Brachylaimidae, a trematoda species was obtained from the bile ducts of Acomys russatus (Rodentia: Muridae) from Saint Catherine mountain, South Sinai, Egypt. Sven out of nine (77.78%) of examined mice were infected. Scanning electron microscopy is used to describe the adult stage morphologically and anatomically by light microscopy. A comparison is made with other brachylaimid species known to infect rodents. Specific characteristics such as lanceolate shape; shoulders unique cephalic cone; both suckers are conspicuously close to each other; an aspinous tegument; well-developed excretory system; uterus extends to the posterior margin of the ventral sucker only; vitelline follicles distribution. In addition, Acomys russatus bile ducts are an exceptional microhabitat. Transverse folds, cobblestones, three types of papillae and cytoplasmic ridges were detected by scanning electron microscope. No other known Brachylaima species exhibits all of these features. B. aegyptica n. sp. seems to be the second brachylaimid species of this genus found in Egyptian mammals since 1899 when Looss collected B. aequans from Gerbillus aegypticus.