On two new species of Giardia parasitic in Indian mammals

Abstract

Two new species of Giardia are described: G. wenyoni sp.nov., from the duodenum of slender loris, Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus, and G. dasi sp.nov. from the duodenum of palm-civet, Paradoxurus hermaphroditus hermaphroditus.The distinguishing features of G. wenyoni are (measurements in microns): range of length 12·0–20·0, average 15·6; range of breadth 5·5–11·5, average 8·8; ratio of length to breadth 1·7; distance from anterior end to centre of nucleus 4·5; centre of nucleus to ends of lateral shields 7·0; ends of lateral shields to posterior end 3·6; breadth across centre of nucleus 7·7; length of the sucker 6·2; the ratio of body length to the length of sucker 2·5. The nuclei do not lie parallel to the axostyles. Each nucleus contains chromatin granules along the periphery.G. dasi is distinguished by its dimensions which are (in microns): range of length 11·8–20·0, average 15·5; range of breadth 5·0–12·5, average 7·2; ratio of length to breadth 2·1; distance from anterior end to centre of nucleus 4·7; centre of nucleus to ends of lateral shields 6·0; ends of lateral shields to posterior end 5·4; breadth across the centre of nucleus 6·6; length of the sucker 6·0; the ratio of body length to length of sucker 2·5. Chromatin granules are present in the form of a ring in the centre of the nucleus. The most characteristic feature of this organism is the presence of certain large granules in the cytoplasm.