Morphology and molecular analysis ofOncicola venezuelensis(Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from the ocelotLeopardus pardalisin Brazil

A groundbreaking discovery reveals the ultrastructural details of Oncicola venezuelensis, a parasitic acanthocephalan, including its unique proboscis with 36 hooks arranged in six longitudinal rows. This study, conducted in Serra da Capivara National Parkmarks the first genetic analysis of this species, providing new sequences for ribosomal DNA regions (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and partial 28S rRNA. The research combines morphological, ultrastructural, and molecular data to deepen our understanding of Oncicola diversity, confirming its close phylogenetic relationship with the Oligacanthorhynchidae family. The findings highlight the importance of genetic profiling in unraveling the complexity of parasitic species, offering insights into their evolutionary ties with mammalian hosts.

Santos, E. G. N., Chame, M., Chagas-Moutinho, V. A., & Santos, C. P. (2016). Morphology and molecular analysis ofOncicola venezuelensis(Acanthocephala: Oligacanthorhynchidae) from the ocelotLeopardus pardalisin Brazil. Journal of Helminthology, 91(5), 605–612. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x16000651