Description of a new species of sucking louse Hoplopleura kuhnludwigi (Phthiraptera: Anoplura: Hoplopleuridae) from the Cape York rat Rattus leucopus cooktownensis (Rodentia: Muridae) in Australia using conventional methodology and novel epiflourescence microscopy
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCUAbstract
A new species of sucking louse, Hoplopleura kuhnludwigi (Phthiraptera: Hoplopleuridae), from the Cape York rat Rattus leucopus cooktownensis Tate, 1951 (Rodentia: Muridae) is described and illustrated with photos and drawings. The host rat(s) were trapped in Northeast Queensland, Australia and identified using morphological characters and DNA sequencing. Hoplopleura kuhnludwigi is the first louse species to be described on R. leucopus. The morphology of the new louse species is contrasted with the morphology of Hoplopleura spp. previously described in Australian murids and shown to be different from other louse species that infest Australian native murids. Both conventional lice processing and staining methodology and a novel method, based on autofluorescence of chitin, have been used to describe and illustrate the diagnostic characters of H. kuhnludwigi. Processing of H. kuhnludwigi for epifluorescence microscopy (EM) is fast and easy, and the examination of the lice processed by this method can improve the accuracy of the description and identification of the lice species from genus Hoplopleura and potentially other louse species.
Journal
Parasitology International
Publication Name
Parasitology International
Volume
106
ISBN/ISSN
1873-0329
Edition
N/A
Issue
N/A
Pages Count
18
Location
N/A
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Url
N/A
Publisher Location
N/A
Publish Date
N/A
Url
N/A
Date
N/A
EISSN
N/A
DOI
10.1016/j.parint.2024.103002