NEMATODES OF ARMADILLOS IN PARAGUAY - A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES ASPIDODERA-ESPERANZAE (NEMATODA, ASPIDODERIDAE)

Twelve species of nematodes comprising 9 genera were recovered from th e gastrointestinal tract of 2 Euphractus sexcinctus and 2 Dasypus nove mcinctus captured in the Department of San Pedro, Paraguay. All armadi llos were infected with 1 or more species of nematode. The following n ematodes were recovered: Mazzia mazzia, Spirura guianensis, Trichoheli x tuberculata, Ancylostoma sp., Moennigia complexus, Moennigia pintoi, Ascaris dasypodina, Cruzia tentaculata, Aspidodera fasciata, Aspidode ra scoleciformis, Aspidodera esperanzae n. sp., and Heterakinae gen. s p. This report describes a new species of the Aspidodera nematode, Asp idodera esperanzae n. sp., the first species to be reported bearing ce phalic cordons made up of 7 longitudinal loops in the subfamily of Asp idoderinae. This study also documents a new host record for S. guianen sis and shows a new geographical distribution in Paraguay for M. mazzi a, S. guianensis, T. tuberculata, M. complexus, and M, pintoi.