A new nematode, Pongobius hugoti gen. et sp. n. from the orangutan Pongo abelii (Primates: Hominidae)

Abstract

Light and scanning electron microscopical examination and molecular analysis of pinworm samples collected from the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) from Sumatra (Indonesia) revealed the presence of a new taxon, Pongobius hugoti gen. et sp. n. (Oxyuridae: Enterobiinae). The monotypic genus Pongobius is characterised by the presence of a triangular mouth, three rounded teeth and three chisel-like inner teeth in the buccal cavity, an oesophagus with a long pharyngeal part, corpus posteriorly slightly enlarged and continuing as a pyriform bulb, isthmus absent. These features differentiate P. hugoti from all members of the subfamily Enterobiinae. The male has a long caudal appendix (> 50% of total tail length). Molecular analysis of the new taxon is presented for more precise identification. © 2007 Parasitological Institute of SAS.