Robustostrongylus		Contents		Rev 06/10/2025
		Classification		Biology and Ecology
		Morphology and Anatomy		Life Cycle
Return to Robustostrongylus Menu				Ecosystem Functions and Services
		Distribution		Management
Return to Haemonchidae Menu		Feeding		References
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Classification:

Chromadorea

Chromadoria

Rhabditida

  Rhabditina

   Trichostronglyloidea

    Haemonchidae

Ostertagiinae

Robustostrongylus Hoberg, Abrams & Pilitt, 2009

Type species of the genus: Robustostrongylus aferensis Hoberg, Abrams & Pilitt, 2009

Synonyms:

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Morphology and Anatomy:

Characterized by:

• Ventriculus-like, bilobed esophago-intestinal valve (cardia) at the junction of the esophagus and intestine,
• Synlophe with unusually robust ridges,
• Cervical papillae and excretory pore located posterior to the mid-esophagus,
• Unusually large diameter in males and females
• Cuticle with well-developed synlophe: bilaterally symmetrical, similar in males and females, ridges robust, blunt, knob-like in transverse sections of body.
• Nerve ring and orifices of subventral glands adjacent, in anterior third of cervical region.
• Cervical papillae miniscule, thorn-like, situated posterior to level of excretory pore.
•  Esophagus well-developed with slightly broadened, bulb-like base
• Esophageal-intestinal valve (cardia) prominent, bilobed, constricted, ventriculus-like, with oblique musculature.
• Males and females monomorphic.
• Relatively anterior position of the vulva,

Ref: Hoberg et al., 2009

• Male: Bursa prominent, structure is 2-1-2, with subequal Rays 2/3, strongly reduced and robust Rays 8, and relatively narrow Rays 9/10 contained within a reduced, laterally inflated dorsal lobe. Spicules  filamentous and tripartite; Gubernaculum cryptic, alate, and heart-shaped in the anterior. .

  Female: Didelphic, amphidelphic, ovaries strongly convoluted, spiraled around intestine. Vulva a transverse slit at 68-75%  of body length from anterior; Cuticular inflations and fans absent; Synlophe modified as platelike structures posterior to vulva. Perivulvar pores bilateral, located subventrally posterior to vulva in subventral.

..

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Distribution:

Described from hosts collected in Uganda.

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Economic Importance:

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Hosts:

African antelope: Kobus kob (kob) and Alcelaphus buselaphus jacksoni (hartebeest).

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Feeding:

Food Sources and Feeding strategies for the genus Robustostrongylus

Parasites of gastro-intestinal system; abomasal nematodes

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Life Cycle:

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Damage:

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Management:

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References:

Hoberg, E.P., Abrams, A. and Pilitt, P.A. 2009. Robustostrongylus aferensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) in Kob (Kobus kob) and Hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus jacksoni) (Artiodactyla) from Sub-saharan Africa, with further ruminations on the Ostertagiinae. J. Parasitology 95:702-717.

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