A new species of entomopathogenic nematode Oscheius safricana n. sp. (Nematoda: Rhabditidae) from South Africa

• Published in: Archiv für Phytopathologie und Pflanzenschutz Vol. 51; no. 5-6; pp. 309 - 321
• Main Authors: Serepa-Dlamini, Mahloro Hope, Gray, Vincent Myles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03-04-2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Entomopathogenic nematodes; Fossils; Gene sequencing; Heterorhabditis; infective juveniles; Light microscopy; Microscopy; New species; Nucleotide sequence; Oscheius; Pharynx; Photorhabdus; Physical characteristics; Scanning electron microscopy; Serratia marcescens; Shells; Spacer region; Spicules; Steinernema; Xenorhabdus; South Africa
• ISSN: 0323-5408; 1477-2906
• DOI: 10.1080/03235408.2018.1475281

In a recent entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) survey in the North West province of South Africa, Oscheius safricana was isolated from soil samples using the Galleria mellonella bait method. Morphological studies using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, molecular analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), D2\D3 expansion segments of the large subunit rDNA gene (LSU) and concise small subunit rDNA gene (SSU), revealed that it was a new species, described herein as Oscheius safricana n. sp. Oscheius safricana n. sp. was characterised by unique ribosomal DNA sequences, amphidelphic reproduction, six separate lips each two bristle-like sensillae, narrow pharynx, valvated basal bulb, lateral field with four lines, leptoderan and closed bursa and fused spicules. This EPN belongs to the group Insectivorus and is morphologically closest to O. necromenus, O. chongmingensis and O. carolinensis. Oscheius safricana n. sp. is symbiotically associated with Serratia marcescens strain MCB.
http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:642E1B7E-B88F-4CE0-9D06-4FA9ECA48847