Hedruris has a worldwide distribution, parasitizing lampreys, fishes, frogs, and lizards. In South America, 4 species have been reported on frogs (Hedruris heyeri, Hedruris juninensis, Hedruris moniezi, and Hedruris mucronifer), 3 on fishes (Hedruris basilichtensis, Hedruris orestiae, and Hedruris suttonae), and 1 on turtles (Hedruris dratini). We examined a frog (Pseudis minuta) found dead in the Pescado stream, Argentina, searching for parasites. A Hedruris sp. was found and subsequently subjected to integrative analyses. The 18S rDNA was sequenced, and specimens were examined using electron and optical microscopy. Genetic analysis grouped this nematode with H. dratini. Its morphology was similar to that species but differed in having bifid derid in frogs, compared to a simple deirid in turtles. This difference could result from various causes, such as host-parasite interaction or a teratological feature, or it could indicate high morphological variability. To resolve this, molecular analysis of all described Hedruris species is necessary, in addition to morphological studies. According to the prevalence and intensity of infection reported in the literature, the definitive host of H. dratini is likely the turtle. However, the nematode may use different hosts, or the frog may have ingested an amphipod harboring the parasite's intermediate stage. This is the first Hedruris parasite of frogs to be sequenced and represents, after H. mucronifer, the second report of the genus in anurans from Argentina.

The range of hosts a parasite can successfully occupy is partially determined by the niche breadth, that is, the set of environmental conditions necessary to maintain a stable population. Niche breadth is often quantified using host specificity, which encompasses the number of host species a parasite can exploit and the parasite's distribution among its hosts. Parasites with a wider niche breadth can potentially occupy more host species and are often more evenly distributed among hosts than parasites with a narrower niche breadth. However, parasites interact with potential hosts within the context of a geographic locality and the set of environmental characteristics associated with it. The extent to which environmental filters associated with host individuals and the geographic context explain variation in occupancy of parasites, and the extent to which variation in occupancy is associated with host range and specificity, is poorly understood. Using data from small mammals and ectoparasites in Vermont, I used a multiscale, multispecies occupancy model (MSOM) to (1) estimate ectoparasite occupancy at 10 geographic sites and on individual hosts within each site, (2) quantify the variation in occupancy explained by the site and host levels of the model using Bayesian R2, and (3) evaluate associations between explained variation and host range of ectoparasites. For ectoparasites collected from at least 4 different host species, I calculated structural specificity to determine the distribution of these parasites across the hosts, and β-specificity to evaluate changes in host use across habitats. Host range was significantly associated with host-level Bayesian R2: generalist parasites had more variation in occupancy explained by host-level covariates than specialist parasites. This result may be explained by differences in structural specificity: many generalists disproportionally occurred on a single-host species, suggesting that host characteristics act as habitat filters for these parasites. There were no significant associations between site-level Bayesian R2 and host specificity. However, some generalists demonstrated high β-specificity, suggesting these parasites may "switch" hosts, depending on host availability. These results highlight that the terms specialist and generalist are context dependent and may not accurately describe the niche breadth of parasite taxa. Understanding variation in host specificity as it pertains to potential habitat filters may be important for predicting which parasites can bypass host filters and "jump" to a novel host, which has implications for the surveillance and management of vector-borne diseases.

The Cyathocotylidae Mühling, 1896 is a small but broadly distributed family of digeneans parasitic in a wide range of vertebrate definitive hosts, from fish to mammals. Despite existing taxonomic questions, only a few studies have generated DNA sequence data from cyathocotylids, and only a single publication included sequence data from a cyathocotylid parasitic in snakes. Four genera are known to infect snakes: GogateaLutz, 1935, Szidatia Dubois, 1938, MesostephanoidesDubois, 1951, and SerpentostephanusSudarikov, 1961. Members of these genera were known from only Asia and Africa. In the present study, we describe 2 new species of Gogatea from snakes in Australia and 1 from Vietnam. The new species from Vietnam described herein is the first member of the genus that lacks a ventral sucker. We used partial sequences of the nuclear large ribosomal subunit (28S) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes to explore phylogenetic relationships among cyathocotylids and species differentiation. In addition, this is the first report of a cyathocotylid from snakes in Australia, thus posing interesting questions regarding the dispersal and historical biogeography of these parasites. Cyathocotylid genera from snakes have a long, convoluted taxonomic history. The genera Gogatea, Mesostephanoides, and Szidatia were distinguished from each other based on very small morphological differences. Therefore, the validity of Szidatia and Mesostephanoides was often questioned in the literature. Based on the detailed morphological analysis of our freshly collected high-quality specimens and comparison with published information, we synonymize Mesostephanoides and Szidatia with Gogatea.

Hepatozoon sp. stages were detected in histological sections of the muscles of 11 of 25 bobcats (Lynx rufus). Parasites were detected from the myocardium of 11, tongues of 4, and limb muscles of 5 of these animals, which had been hunted in Mississippi in 2017. The intensity of infection was highest in the heart. Only asexual stages (meronts) were detected. Three types of meronts (types 1, 2, and 3) were detected, based on structure and mode of division. Additionally, individual zoites were found in leukocytes in the blood vessels of the myocardium, but the stage was not identified. Based on genomic DNA characterized from paraffin-embedded myocardium sections from 1 bobcat using 18S rRNA gene, the Hepatozoon species from the bobcat was related to but distinct from other Hepatozoon spp. of felids. This is the first description of the development of Hepatozoon in the muscles of bobcats. A new name, Hepatozoon rufi, is proposed for this parasite in bobcats.

Nine species of HemirhamphiculusBychowsky and Nagibina, 1969 (Dactylogyridae) were recorded from 6 beloniform fishes during a survey of the monogenoids infecting these fishes in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida from September 2017 through December 2020. Five new species were collected, illustrated, and described: Hemirhamphiculus acarips n. sp., Hemirhamphiculus longiclathra n. sp., and Hemirhamphiculus lucernula n. sp. all from Strongylura notata (Poey) and Hemirhamphiculus bilobatus n. sp. and Hemirhamphiculus litus n. sp. both from Strongylura timucu (Walbaum). Four previously described species were transferred to Hemirhamphiculus: Hemirhamphiculus tylosuri (MacCallum, 1917) n. comb. [formerly Ancyrocephalus tylosuri (MacCallum, 1917) Johnston and Tiegs, 1922]; Hemirhamphiculus parvus (Linton, 1940) n. comb. (formerly Ancyrocephalus parvusLinton, 1940); Hemirhamphiculus cornutus (Williams and Rogers, 1972) n. comb. (formerly Ancyrocephalus cornutusWilliams and Rogers, 1972); and Hemirhamphiculus trullae (Williams, 1980) n. comb. (formerly Ancyrocephalus trullaeWilliams, 1980). The occurrence of He. trullae on Hyporhamphus meeki represents a new host record for the parasite. Three Indo-Pacific species of Dactylogyridae were transferred to Hemirhamphiculus: Pseudohaliotrematoides recurvatusYamaguti, 1968, as Hemirhamphiculus recurvatus (Yamaguti, 1968) n. comb.; Tylosuricola haikouensisZhang, 2001, as Hemirhamphiculus haikouensis (Zhang, 2001) n. comb.; and Xenentocleidus xenentodoni (Jain, 1961) Tripathi, Agrawal, and Pandey, 2007, as Hemirhamphiculus xenentodoni (Jain, 1959) n. comb. XenentocleidusTripathi, Agrawal, and Pandey, 2007, was synonymized with Hemirhamphiculus as its junior subjective synonym. Bychowskymonogenea Caballero and Bravo Hollis, 1972, and Bychowskymonogenea sogandaresi Caballero and Bravo Hollis, 1972, were placed as junior subjective synonyms of Hemirhamphiculus and He. tylosuri, respectively, and the Bychowskymonogeninae Caballero and Bravo Hollis, 1972, was rejected as a valid subfamily of the Dactylogyridae.

An updated checklist of leeches and oligochaetes (Annelida: Clitellata) that parasitize or prey upon wild North American amphibians and reptiles is presented: A total of 25 species grouped in 6 genera, 5 families, and 2 orders, are registered; these infect a total of 39 species of reptiles and 39 species of amphibians in the region. An illustrated identification key for the families and genera listed is proposed. Finally, a new record is made for Mexico: the leech Placobdella parasitica (Say, 1824) (Glossiphoniidae) parasitizing the Mesoamerican slider Trachemys venusta (Gray, 1856) (Emydidae) in the state of Tamaulipas.

Turtle acanthocephalans in the genus Neoechinorhynchus have complex life cycles and are thought to involve an ostracod intermediate host and a turtle definitive host. For Neoechinorhynchus emydis, an additional snail paratenic host is part of its life cycle. However, how snails become infected and whether other species of Neoechinorhynchus can be found in snails remains unclear. This study was conducted to understand the survival, development, and host use of 4 species of turtle acanthocephalans (Neoechinorhynchus chrysemydis, N. emydis, Neoechinorhynchus emyditoides, and Neoechinorhynchus pseudemydis) in their intermediate, paratenic, and definitive hosts. Using eggs recovered from adult acanthocephalans from naturally infected turtle hosts in Oklahoma, experimental infections were conducted in 2 species of ostracods and 1 species of freshwater snail. Ionomes also were generated for these acanthocephalans and their turtle definitive hosts to better understand resource competition. Upon ingestion by ostracods, eggs of all 4 species of acanthocephalans hatched in both ostracod species. However, no further acanthocephalan development occurred in Cypridopsis sp. ostracods, whereas all 4 acanthocephalan species grew and developed into infective juveniles over 28-32 days in Physocypria sp. ostracods. Of the 4 species of acanthocephalans, N. emydis grew faster early in ostracods and was the only species to survive and establish in snail hosts. This finding was supported by the observation of proboscis remnants in the feces of snails that ingested ostracods infected with N. chrysemydis, N. emyditoides, and N. pseudemydis. In contrast, when snails were exposed to eggs of all 4 acanthocephalan species, eggs were passed in the feces, resulting in no infections. The overall ionomic composition of adult acanthocephalans and their turtle hosts suggested that the hosts and parasites share host resources. However, specific elemental differences indicated that turtle acanthocephalans can accumulate heavy metals at concentrations higher than those in their hosts. Results of this study support previous field observations and hypotheses that (1) Physocypria sp. ostracods serve as intermediate hosts for N. chrysemydis, N. emydis, N. emyditoides, and N. pseudemydis; (2) N. emydis uses snail paratenic hosts, but snails are a non-viable route of transmission to turtles for N. chrysemydis, N. emyditoides, and N. pseudemydis; and (3) as adults, these 4 acanthocephalan species utilize their turtle definitive hosts similarly in terms of ionomic composition. This work challenges the traditional view of the acanthocephalan life cycle and sets the stage for future hypotheses.

During August 2021 and again in July 2022 and July 2023, 4 freckled madtoms, Noturus nocturnus, were collected from a creek in Columbia County, Arkansas (Ouachita River drainage), and their gills, gallbladder, fins, integument, musculature, and other major organs were examined for myxozoans. The gallbladder of 1 (25%) was infected with apparently novel myxozoans. Qualitative and quantitative morphological data were from preserved formalin-fixed myxospores. Molecular data include 2,059 bp (for a Myxidium sp.) and 951 bp (for an unobserved Myxozoa sp.) sequences of the partial small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis placed the Myxidium sp. among a clade of myxozoans that infect fish from the southern portion of North America. These represent the first myxozoans reported from the gallbladder of madtoms.

Cospeciation has been observed multiple times between parasites and their hosts. Here we compare the phylogeny of 2 different groups of chewing lice (Phthiraptera), one known for being host specific (Amblycera: Myrsidea) and one known for including many generalist species (Ischnocera: Brueelia-complex, specifically Guimaraesiella and Priceiella) with that of their songbird hosts (Passeriformes), which are participants in mixed-species feeding flocks in South China. Using event- (Jane) and distance-based (ParaFit) analyses we found that both groups of lice have phylogenies that are more similar than by chance to those of their hosts. However, more cospeciation and host-switching events were inferred for the Myrsidea data set, whereas more duplication events and losses were inferred for the Brueelia-complex data set. Even though these louse groups are found on roughly the same host species, the differences in sorting events may be linked to the different modes of dispersal. Whereas both groups transfer by direct contact, phoresy is recorded only in lice belonging to the Brueelia-complex.

Seventy of 190 (37%) mammals, representing 14 rodent and 2 lagomorph species examined in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in southern Nevada, were parasitized by sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura). Twelve species of sucking lice (5 species of Hoplopleruridae, 7 species of Polyplacidae) were recorded. Nine of these louse species (Hoplopleura difficilis, Hoplopleura ferrisi, Hoplopleura onychomydis, Hoplopleura reithrodontomyis, Fahrenholzia reducta, Haemodipsus setoni, Neohaematopinus citellinus, Neohaematopinus neotomae, and Polyplax auricularis) are reported from Nevada for the first time, and Po. auricularis is recorded from Peromyscus eremicus (cactus deermouse) for the first time. Infestation prevalences, mean intensities, sex ratios, host associations, and host specificity are presented and discussed for each louse-host interaction.

Spiral valves from specimens of the giant electric ray Narcine entemedor Jordan & Starks, 1895 were examined in search of tapeworms at 2 localities of the Mexican tropical Pacific Ocean. Acanthobothrium oceguerai n. sp. is described herein based on material from Ventanilla, Oaxaca and from Acapulco Bay, Guerrero. The new species is a category 6 species, distinguished by being apolytic, retaining proglottids on the strobila until they are gravid, having strobila of 166-322 proglottids, having a small scolex and very long bothridia relative to the scolex, and having abaxial prongs that are short and thin in comparison to the axial prongs, which are longer and more robust. Acanthobothrium oceguerai n. sp. can be differentiated from other members of category 6 by the hooks, which are shorter, more robust, and smaller than those of the other members of this category. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 28S rRNA locus placed Acanthobothrium oceguerai n. sp. as sister to an unidentified species of larval Acanthobothrium from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene and nuclear 18S rDNA were generated to provide support for future taxon sampling. Acanthobothrium oceguerai n. sp. is the fifth species of cestode reported from N. entemedor in the tropical eastern Pacific.

Dicyemids (Phylum Dicyemida) are endosymbionts present in the kidneys of benthic cephalopods. They usually consist of 10 to 40 cells and are characterized by 2 distinct body types: vermiform individuals and infusoriform larvae. Vermiform individuals remain attached to the internal surface of the host's renal appendages, while infusoriform larvae leave the renal sac to search for a new host. To investigate how dicyemids respond to various host and environmental cues, we evaluated phototaxis, chemotaxis, thigmotaxis, and rheotaxis responses of vermiform individuals and infusoriform larvae of 2 dicyemid species in a laboratory setting. Vermiform individuals did not exhibit phototaxis and chemotaxis to the major components of the host: urine, tissue fluids, or extracts of the host gills. However, they showed positive thigmotaxis and positive rheotaxis to slow water flow, probably contributing to enabling attachment to the renal appendages and remaining in the renal sac, respectively. The infusoriform larvae exhibited negative chemotaxis to host blood and negative thigmotaxis, but there was no evidence of phototaxis and rheotaxis. Negative thigmotaxis may facilitate the release of infusoriform embryos from the renal appendages. Negative chemotaxis to the host blood suggests that the infusoriform larvae do not enter through the vascular system to gain access to the renal sac, so the process by which infusoriform larvae enter the cephalopod host is yet to be determined.

This paper provides a summary of new and revised records of pentastomes published since 1985 and also presents a checklist of all pentastome records from Australian reptiles and amphibians. The need to identify pentastome species, through both morphological and molecular characterization, is highlighted to enable a determination of the true diversity of pentastome species and their distribution within amphibians and reptiles in Australia.

Parasitic infection with Toxoplasma gondii is prevalent in human and animal populations worldwide. Goat production for food and fiber has increased in popularity, and consumer demand for meat and dairy products has led to higher rates of human consumption in the United States. This trend has increased the importance of assessing the public health significance of these dietary commodities. The occurrence of T. gondii and its relevance to commercial goat production for the human food market in Mississippi has not been previously addressed. This study estimated the seroprevalence of T. gondii in breeding-age goats raised for human consumption from 4 counties in southwestern Mississippi. One hundred and forty-four goat serum samples were collected between August 2007 and April 2008 from Hinds (n = 55), Adams (n = 36), Yazoo (n = 36), and Copiah (n = 17) counties. The overall seroprevalence was 12.5% (18/144) and raises concern and justification for preventative measures including periodic surveillance of goat herds and production facilities to ensure a safe food commodity and food hygiene education for consumers.

Herein we describe a single nucleotide polymorphism-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to rapidly detect and differentiate variants belonging to the European and North American lineages of Echinococcus multilocularis in clinical samples. This is an extremely relevant and applicable test in North America because the range of E. multilocularis continues to expand across the continent and because of a rise in prevalence in wildlife, domestic animals, and humans. The endemic North American (NA) and introduced European (EU) variants are believed to have different pathogenic potentials, with the EU variants being more infective and pathogenic than the NA variants. The rise of the EU variants of E. multilocularis increases the risk of spillover from wildlife to humans because of its increased potential for infectivity. Current PCR-based diagnostics can detect E. multilocularis deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), but DNA sequencing is required to identify the specific variant. Our assay provides a straightforward conventional PCR method to differentiate the NA and EU variants, and we suggest this same approach could be used for the diagnosis of other parasites or variants that are genetically very similar. As surveillance continues for E. multilocularis across North America, identifying the different genetic variants from different geographic regions will become essential to understanding the current epidemiological shift that the parasite is experiencing, as well as informing public health decisions in affected areas.

Avian haemosporidians are a diverse group of protozoan parasites that infect a wide range of host species. Waterfowl are an ecologically and economically important group of hosts that have been underrepresented in studies of haemosporidians. Diving ducks have unique life history traits, and morphological, behavioral, and dietary differences separate them from more common dabbling ducks. Greater scaup (Aythya marila) and lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) are closely related diving ducks with declining population trends in North America. To better understand the diversity of haemosporidians within diving ducks and factors related to host infections in scaup, we surveyed 82 hunter-donated waterfowl from 8 species of divers, sea ducks, and dabblers from Green Bay, Wisconsin from 2019 to 2021. We used molecular detection methods and phylogenetic and statistical analyses to describe the diversity, host associations, and prevalence of haemosporidians. We detected 14 unique genetic lineages of haemosporidians, including 4 novel lineages. We identified at least 1 lineage of haemosporidian in each of the 8 host species of divers, sea ducks, and dabblers examined. Lesser scaup had more diverse haemosporidian communities than did greater scaup, but lineages showed no clustering among these hosts when incorporated in phylogenetic analyses with lineages from other Nearctic waterfowl. Female lesser scaup had the highest infection prevalence, but there was no effect of host age or year of sampling. Our findings underscore the importance of species and sex differences that could lead to a higher risk of infections. Our results also fill an important geographical sampling gap for haemosporidians along a key migratory route. Increased monitoring of haemosporidians in waterfowl could contribute to insights into parasite evolution and ecology and the conservation and management of host populations.

The structure of the envelopes (capsule and cyst) surrounding metacercariae of Stephanostomum baccatum (Nicoll, 1907) in the second intermediate host, the yellowfin sole Limanda aspera (Pallas 1814), is examined with the methods of light and transmission electron microscopy. The cyst, presumably formed by secretions of the metacercarial tegument, consists of 2 layers: the outer, very thin layer of an electron-dense, finely granular substance and the inner layer composed of loose material of a moderate electron density that includes dense bodies varying in size, shape, and localization. The capsule, formed by the host's cells, is also organized into 2 distinct layers. The inner layer of the capsule is loose, consisting of evenly spaced debris of degenerated cells and lipid droplets with inclusions of intact macrophages between them. The outer layer of the capsule consists of parallel rows of cells arranged around the parasite, with fibroblasts and macrophages being dominant types and granulocytes and lymphocytes found in smaller numbers. Aggregations of collagen fibers are located in narrow spaces between the cells. The number of lipid droplets in the outer layer is significantly smaller than in the inner layer. The capsules formed around the examined trematodes have several structural features that distinguish them from those of S. baccatum and Stephanostomum sp. metacercariae recovered from other fishes of the family Pleuronectidae. The major morphological features of such capsules are the lack of epithelioid or giant multinucleated cells and the presence of numerous lipid droplets. Investigating the structural details of the envelopes surrounding metacercariae in trematodes, as well as other helminths, contributes to our scientific understanding of parasite biology, which can, in turn, have broader implications for understanding host-parasite interactions and evolutionary biology.

Hassalstrongylus Durette-Desset, 1971 (Nematoda: Heligmonellidae), includes 19 species that are distributed from the southwestern United States to central-western Argentina. Hassalstrongylus aduncus is a parasitic nematode of rodents from the subfamilies Arvicolinae, Murinae, and Sigmodontinae, and has been recorded from southern Virginia and Oklahoma to Costa Rica. This species was described by Chandler in 1932; the morphology of the synlophe was not included. Subsequently, in 1972, Durette-Desset described only the synlophe of the middle region of the body in both sexes. Despite its wide geographical distribution, to date, there has been no redescription that includes information complementary to the morphology of the synlophe, such as a study of the body surface or a molecular phylogenetic analysis. We reevaluated the morphology of some specimens that were presumably similar to H. aduncus parasite of Sigmodon sp. from Jalisco, Mexico, and it was determined that these corresponded to an undescribed species of the genus. Herein, we present a redescription of H. aduncus parasite of Sigmodon toltecus from Hidalgo, Mexico, with morphological traits such as the excretory pore, deirids, and ovijector, and provide a description of the synlophe in the anterior and posterior regions of both sexes and include scanning electron microscopy images. Hassalstrongylus geolayarum n. sp. is differentiated from H. aduncus by the number of ridges in the middle region of the body (23 vs. 21), as well as proportions between some traits of males and females such as total length/spicule length, total length/gubernaculum length, total length/length of the esophagus and total length/distance of the vulva and the size of the eggs (42 vs. 58 μm). Phylogenetic analysis is based on partial sequences of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 + 5.8S + ITS2) of the rDNA, using the maximum-parsimony, maximum-likelihood, and Bayesian inference methods revealed the close relationship of H. aduncus + H. geolayarum n. sp. within the Heligmosomoidea and confirmed the placement of the Hassalstrongylus monophyletic clade well-supported within Heligmonellidae. The new species presented a genetic divergence of 3.4-3.8% relative to H. aduncus. This is the first species of the genus described in Mexico. Presumably, there are more species not yet described throughout the geographic range of H. aduncus. A taxonomic review and molecular phylogenetic analysis are required in which more species and genes are analyzed in Heligmosomoidea to confirm the status of the nonmonophyletic groups recovered here.

Sarcocystis infections were found for the first time in the muscles of 3 of 3 gray wolves (Canis lupus) from Minnesota. Two kinds (thin-walled and thick-walled) of sarcocysts were detected, based on the appearance of the sarcocyst wall. In wolf 1, sarcocysts were thin-walled (<0.5 μm), and without any visible protrusions. Ultrastructurally, the sarcocyst wall was type 1a and identical to Sarcocystis svanai of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). The second kind of sarcocyst, with a relatively thicker (>1 μm) sarcocyst wall, was detected in wolves 2 and 3. Ultrastructurally, the sarcocyst wall had undulating, pleomorphic villar protrusion of type 9c; these sarcocysts were identical to Sarcocystis caninum from the domestic dog. Molecularly, the 2 Sarcocystis species were characterized using 18S, 28S, COI, ITS-1, and rpoB genetic markers. All these markers showed 100% identity to either of the 2 species previously described from the domestic dog. The thick-walled sarococyst corresponded to Sarcocystis caninum, whereas the thin-walled sarcocyst corresponded to Sarcocystis svanai.

Nematodes collected from the intestine of sompat grunt Pomadasys jubelini Cuvier, 1830 from Hann Bay in Dakar, Senegal represent a new species described herein as Dichelyne (Neocucullanellus) dakarensis n. sp., and investigated with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy. The new species differs from its congeners based on several characteristics, especially because the subgenus Neocucullanellus is the only 1 that has 2 ceca. In addition, the new species diagnosis is based on the number and arrangement of the caudal papillae as well as the size of the veil of spicules. Morphological data were supported by molecular analysis. Results obtained using SSU rDNA and COI distinguished the present specimens from other cucullanids. Molecular data indicated the close relatedness between the new species and Dichelyne cotylophora Ward and Magath, 1917.

Trichinella murrelli Pozio and La Rosa, 2000, is the primary sylvatic trichinellid encountered in temperate North America. During a survey for Sarcocystis in wild canids, a single worm matching the morphology of encapsulated Trichinella was observed in a muscle tissue squash from a gray fox male originating from Pennsylvania. The worm was photographed and then separated from the host tissue by artificial digestion, and genomic DNA was extracted from the worm. This DNA was subjected to species-specific multiplex PCR and short-read genomic sequencing. The banding pattern of the multiplex PCR indicated that the worm was T. murrelli, and the sequence of the mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene and the ribosomal 18S ribosomal RNA, Internal Transcribed Spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA, Internal Transcribed Spacer 2, and 28S ribosomal RNA confirmed the diagnosis. This is the first report of T. murrelli in gray foxes that includes assays for assigning parasite species. This report confirms suspected data from surveys conducted over 30 yr ago and establishes a new host record for T. murrelli.