Identification et biologie du Gongylonème parasite du Macroscélide en Tunisie

Abstract

The Gongylonematid parasite in the elephant shrew Elephantulus rozeti (Macroscelidae) in Tunisia was identified as Gongylonema brevispiculum Seurat, 1914. Its larval form obtained from experimentally infected intermediate hosts, differs from those of other Gongylonematids. In the genus Gongylonema four types of larvae were recognized. They are characterized by the size and the cephalic and caudal structure of the larvae. The cellular reactions caused by the larvae of G. brevispiculum in the insect muscle are similar to those caused by infections with larvae of Acuarid nematodes.