Description of Two Cestode Parasites: Oochoristica mutabilis and Oochoristica Sp. Nov. (Eucestoda: Cyclophyllidea) from the Rough Tail Rock Agama stellio (Agamidae) in Egypt

In the present study, the morphological and morphometric characterization of Oochoristica mutabilis and a new species of the same genus Oochoristica sp.nov., anoplocephalid cestode parasites infecting the small intestine of the rough tail rock Agama stellio (f:Agamidae) in South Sinai, Egypt were described by means of light microscopy as a first description from this host in Egypt. Two species of cestode parasites of the genus Oochoristica were recovered with no mixed infection between them. The first species was Oochoristica mutabilis with a percentage of 29.6% (8/27), it was characterized by the presence of a strobila which was 14.6 mm (11.5-22.3) long; each composed of 33(28-39) proglottids. Scolex was wide with four large circular suckers, no hooks or crown; neck region is evident. Testes in median mass situated in posterior half of proglottid extended laterally to vitellarium. The ovary was bilobed, vitellaria entire. Gravid proglottids contained in a uterine capsule with numerous oncospheres. Oochoristica sp.nov. was the second species isolated with a percentage of 22.2% (6/27) and it was described for the first time and no records regarding the description of this species were previously recorded in Egypt, the average length of longest complete adult worm was 16.3 mm (13.5-26.8) and composed of 36(29-41) proglottids. This species shared most of the morphological characteristics of the first species except for the followings: a narrow scolex with 4 small suckers, non hooked cap like crown in the top, the testicular mass was less in number, the genital atrium was largely muscular with a wide, lipped and projected genital pore. By comparison, this species possessed new morphological characteristics which should consider this species as a new one with a new host record in Egypt.