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Updated morphological description and molecular analysis of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) iraqensis (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from Planiliza abu (Heckel) (Mugilidae) in Iraq Cover

Updated morphological description and molecular analysis of Neoechinorhynchus (Neoechinorhynchus) iraqensis (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from Planiliza abu (Heckel) (Mugilidae) in Iraq

Helminthologia
Volume 63 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)
By: ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,   and    
Open Access
|Apr 2026
Figures & tables

Figures & Tables

Figs. 1–6.

SEM images of specimens of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis collected from Planiliza abu in the Al-Gharraf River, Thi Qar Province, southern Iraq. Fig. 1. A near apical perspective of the proboscis with deeply imbedded apical hooks, two sensory pores on the neck and a prominent cuticular thickening forming the girdle (arrow). Fig. 2. The apical end of a proboscis showing the indentation marking the apical organ. Fig. 3. A proboscis showing various sizes of apical hooks in 2 circles and part of the girdle (arrow). Fig. 4. An example of an anterior hook deeply embedded in the proboscis. Fig. 5. The posterior part of a proboscis and neck with sensory pores and an inset magnifying part of the girdle. Fig. 6. Inset from Figure 5 showing pores and radiating stellate indentations emanating from this cuticular layer of the girdle as well as prevalent micropores.

Figs. 7–12.

SEM images of specimens of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis collected from Planiliza abu in the Al-Gharraf River, Thi Qar Province, southern Iraq. Fig. 7. A partially embedded posterior hook of one female. Fig. 8. A close up of two adjacent micropores just posterior to the posterior hook within the proboscis-neck continuous cuticular contour lines. Fig. 9. Micropores from the proboscis. Fig. 10. Micropores from the posterior trunk. Compare the two sets of micropores for size and distribution. Fig. 11. A ventral perspective of the bursa. Fig. 12. The posterior end of a female showing the sub-ventral position of the gonopore.

Figs. 13–16.

SEM images of specimens of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis collected from Planiliza abu in the Al-Gharraf River, Thi Qar Province, southern Iraq. Fig. 13. A high magnification of a female gonopore showing the thick lips and a peripheral ovoid indentation (arrow). Fig. 14. A higher magnification of part of the ovoid indentation around the gonopore in Figure 13 showing sensory pores (arrows). Fig. 15. A ripe egg. Fig. 16. A ripe egg teased to show an extensive network of fibrils.

Figs. 17–22.

Light microscope images of specimens of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis collected from Planiliza abu in the Al-Gharraf River, Thi Qar Province, southern Iraq. Fig. 17. Anterior part of a female specimen showing the proportional sizes of the proboscis, giant hypodermal nuclei (white arrow), and lemnisci (black arrow to smaller lemniscus). Fig. 18. A higher magnification of the anterior end of a female specimen showing the proboscis, curved receptacle, triangulate cephalic ganglion and apical sensory cord (arrow). Fig. 19. The proboscis, apical organ (white arrow) and beady body wall lining (black arrow) in 1 female specimen. Fig. 20. The bursa with possible sensory cells (arrow). Fig. 21. A female reproductive system showing vagina (V), sphincter (S), uterus (U), selective apparatus (SA), uterine bell (UB) primary dorsal bundle of ligaments (DL) (below) and the beady inner lining of the body wall (arrow). Fig. 22. Another perspective of a female reproductive system emphasizing the bundles of ligaments. The primary dorsal bundle is marked with an arrow.

Fig. 23.

Phylogenetic trees obtained of the 18S rDNA sequences of acanthocephalan species. Values on nodes are shown as maximum likelihood/Bayesian inference, the species names are shown next to the GenBank accession numbers, and the scale bars represent substitutions per site. Species sequenced in the present study are shown in bold red.

Neoechinorhynchus species information used for the phylogenetic analysis based on the 18S gene sequences for species that are present in the clade of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis_ The species sequenced during this study is shown in bold_

SpeciesHostHost originGenBank accession nos.References
Neoechinorhynchus sp. GL-2015Capoeta aculeataIranKU363972M. Adel and M. Dadar2016 (Unpubl. data)
Neoechinorhynchus sp. XL-2014Data not availableChinaKM507363X. Liu et al., 2014(Unpubl. data)
Neoechinorhynchus crassusCapoeta aculeataIranKU363971KU363974M. Adel and M. Dadar,2016 (Unpubl. data)
Neoechinorhynchus iraqensisPlaniliza abuIraqPV776638,PV776640Present study

Collections of Neoechinorhynchus iraqensis from Abu mullet Planiliza abu (Heckel) in Al-Gharraf River, Thi Qar Province, Southern Iraq_ Extreme parameters are bolded_

No.Months (Years)Number examined fishNumber infected fishNumber of parasitesPercentage of infectionIntensity of infection
1Dec 202223----
2Jan 2023831237.54.0
3Feb 2023162412.52.0
4Mar 20231071570.0*21.4
5Apr 202322124454.53.7
6May 20231037646473.86.1
7Jun 20231749426254.02.8
8Jul 202394396941.51.8
9Aug 202396444.161.0
10Sep 202390131314.11.0
11Oct 2023106----
12Nov 202371173023.91.8
13Dec 2023717129.91.7
Total or mean88427492931.03.4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/helm-2026-0004 | Journal eISSN: 1336-9083 | Journal ISSN: 0440-6605
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Language: English
Page range: 1 - 11
Submitted on: Nov 21, 2025
Accepted on: Feb 24, 2026
Published on: Apr 27, 2026
Published by: Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: Volume open
Keywords:
Neoechinorhynchus iragensis,
Planilizia abu,
Iraq,
Revised morphology and molecular biology
Related subjects:
Life sciences,
Zoology,
Ecology,
Life sciences, other,
Medicine,
Clinical medicine,
Microbiology, virology and infection epidemiology

© 2026 O. M. AMIN, A. CHAUDHARY, M. E. CARACCIOLO, A. H. ALI, N. Y. RUBTSOVA, M. H. AL-KURAIZY, H. S. SINGH, W. DE SOUZA, published by Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 63 (2026): Issue 1 (March 2026)
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