Redescription, systematic status and molecular characterisation of Multicaecum heterotis Petter, Vassiliadès et Marchand, 1979 (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae), an intestinal parasite of Heterotis niloticus (Osteichthyes: Arapaimidae) in Africa

A key discovery in the study of intestinal parasites of the African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) has been made, confirming that Multicaecum heterotis belongs to the genus Multicaecum rather than Brevimulticaecum. This was achieved through detailed morphological examination using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, which revealed previously unreported features such as dentigerous ridges on the inner edges of the lips. Additionally, this is the first species of the genus Multicaecum to be sequenced, providing partial sequences of the 18S rDNA and ITS2 regions for molecular characterization. The study also provides a key to distinguish between Brevimulticaecum and Multicaecum species, contributing significantly to our understanding of nematode taxonomy and systematics.

Mašová, Š., Moravec, F., Baruš, V., & Seifertová, M. (2010). Redescription, systematic status and molecular characterisation of Multicaecum heterotis Petter, Vassiliadès et Marchand, 1979 (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae), an intestinal parasite of Heterotis niloticus (Osteichthyes: Arapaimidae) in Africa. Folia Parasitologica, 57(4), 280–288. https://doi.org/10.14411/fp.2010.034