APTERAGIA-PURSGLOVEI SP-N (TRICHOSTRONGYLOIDEA, TRICHOSTRONGYLIDAE) FROM THE WHITE-TAILED DEER, ODOCOILEUS-VIRGINIANUS

Two species of Apteragia were found in white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) from 152 counties in 13 southeastern states [USA]. Specimens previously reported as Skrjabinagia odocoilei were reidentified as belonging to 2 similar species of the genus Apteragia, A. odocoilei and A. pursglovei sp. nov. A. pursglovei is differentiated primarily by the length, conformation and degree of sclerotization of the spicules. Of the 824 deer, A. odocoilei occurred in 76.5%, A. pursglovei in 13.8%, both species in 5.0% and neither in 4.7%. Reassessment of distribution data revealed that only A. odocoilei was present in deer from 99 counties, only A. pursglovei in deer from 25 counties, and both species in deer from 28 counties. Both A. odocoilei and A. pursglovei were found in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. A. odocoilei also occurred in Maryland, Tennessee, West Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, New Jersey and the Virgin Islands.