Ruminal ciliate diversity of domestic cattle in Antalya, Turkey, with special emphasis on morphology of Entodinium rostratum (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae)

Abstract

The ruminal ciliate diversity of domestic cattle living in Antalya, Turkey was investigated and 29 species and 9 morphotypes belonging to 10 genera were detected. The average density (±SD) of ciliates in the ruminal contents of 15 individuals of domestic cattle (Bos taurus taurus) was 100.0 (±74.4)×104 cells ml–1. For individual cattle, the total number of species per animal ranged from 7.0 to 17.0 with an average of 11.4±3.2 (SD). Of the ciliate species found, Isotricha prostoma and Entodinium simulans were the most abundant occurring in all cattle, each with a prevalence of 100%, whereas Diplodinium rangiferi, E. rectangulatum, Ostracodinium clipeolum, O. gracile and O. trivesiculatum were detected in only one animal (6.7% prevalence). Morphology of Entodinium rostratum (Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae) was researched, and the infraciliary band pattern of this ciliate was described for the first time. The buccal infraciliary band pattern of E. rostratum is composed of two polybrachykineties, paralabial kineties, and vestibular fibrils. The adoral polybrachykinety is characteristic of other Entodinium species but vestibular polybrachykinety differs from other Entodinium species. Vestibular polybrachykinety of E. rostratum is straight and contains transverse, parallel, and short vestibular fibrils. Because of these features, the E. rostratum-type infraciliary band pattern is considered as more primitive than the Entodinium-type and could be ancestral in the family Ophryoscolecidae.