Quimperia lanceolata Gendre, 1926

Figs. 19–21

Description. Small nematodes with smooth cuticle. Broad lateral cervical alae present, initiating short distance posterior to base of lips and extending posteriorly to level of small deirids situated somewhat anterior to level of posterior end of oesophagus (Figs. 19A–C, 20C,E,F). Buccal cavity absent. Mouth triangular, with 3 small lips. Oral aperture surrounded by 4 submedian double papillae and 2 small lateral amphids (Figs. 19D, 20A–C). Oesophagus divided into 2 portions; anterior narrow cylindrical muscular portion extends to level of nerve ring, posterior longer muscular-glandular portion somewhat broader towards its posterior end (Fig. 19A,B). Excretory pore at level of nerve ring. Deirids just posterior to posterior ends of cervical alae (Figs. 19A,B, 20F). Tail of both sexes conical, pointed.

Male (1 specimen). Length of body 9.8 mm and maximum width 245. Nerve ring, excretory pore and deirids 340, 340 and 911, respectively, from anterior extremity. Lateral alae 653/762 long and 45 wide. Total length of oesophagus 938; anterior portion of oesophagus 288 long and 33 wide; posterior portion 612 long and 96 wide; minimum width of oesophagus 30. Ventral precloacal sucker slightly muscular, 394 from cloacal aperture (Figs. 19E,F, 21A). Preanal papillae: 4 subventral pairs (1 of them anterior to sucker) and 1 unpaired median papilla situated anteriorly to cloaca. Postanal papillae: 6 pairs (4 subventral and 2 lateral). Pair of small lateral phasmids located between lateral pairs of postanal papillae (Figs. 19E,F, 20D,G, 21B). Spicules short, 341 long (Fig. 19E). Gubernaculum moderately sclerotised, 36 long. Caudal end ventrally curved, ending in point. Length of tail 231.

Female (1 gravid specimen). Body length 15.6 mm, width 258. Nerve ring, excretory pore and deirids 367, 367 and 966, respectively, from anterior extremity. Cervical alae 789 long and 30 wide. Total length of oesophagus 1.0 mm; its anterior portion 340 long, 36 wide; posterior portion 625 long, 99 wide. Vulva not elevated, postequatorial, 10.2 mm from anterior extremity (at 65% of body length). Vagina short, directed anteriorly from vulva. Uterus opposed. Eggs irregularly oval, thin-walled, non-embryonated, size 69–75 × 54–60 (Fig. 19G). Tail conical with pointed end, 231 long (Fig. 19H).

Host: Tailspot ctenopoma Ctenopoma cf. kingsleyae Günther ( Anabantidae, Perciformes).

Site of infection: Intestine.

Locality: Forest stream adjacent to Sangha Lodge, 02°59'06''N; 16°13'59''E (Congo basin), DSPA, Central African Republic (collected 14 September 2012) .

Prevalence and intensity: 1 fish infected/3 fish examined; 2 nematodes.

Deposition of voucher specimen: IPCAS N-1139 (mounted on SEM stub).

Remarks. This species was originally described by Gendre (1926) from an undetermined fish („poisson acanthoptérygien“) in Guinea. Later, based on specimens from Ctenopoma kingsleyae Günther in Senegal, Vassiliadẻs (1971, 1972, 1976) redescribed Q. lanceolata and carried out some experiments to elucidate the life cycle of this nematode. The morphology of present specimens is more or less in agreement with this redescription (although some measurements are somewhat greater), the host species is probably identical with that reported by Vassiliadẻs (1971), so there is no doubt that they belong to Q. lanceolata .

The SEM examination, for the first time used in this species, made it possible to study some morphological features in more detail. The gubernaculum, the median precloacal papilla and phasmids in the male are reported here for the first time; contrary, neither conical projections on lips nor male caudal alae mentioned by Vassiliadẻs (1971) were observed. The present finding of Q. lanceolata in the Central African Republic represents a new geographical record of this species.