Heterospinus
Heterospinus is a monotypic genus of acanthocephalans containing a single species, Heterospinus mccordi.
Taxonomy
The species was described by Rothman, Hill-Spanik, Wagner, Kendrick, Kingsley-Smith, & de Buron in 2024. A phylogenetic analysis has been published.Description
Based on a sample of cystocanths only, Heterospinus mccordi consists of a proboscis covered in hooks and a trunk.Distribution
The distribution of Heterospinus mccordi is determined by that of its hosts, which is unknown. Cystecanths were found in the red swamp crayfish in South Carolina.Hosts
The life cycle of an acanthocephalan consists of three stages beginning when an infective acanthor is released from the intestines of the definitive host and then ingested by the invasive red swamp crayfish the intermediate host. When the acanthor molts, the second stage called the acanthella begins. This stage involves penetrating the wall of the mesenteron or the intestine of the intermediate host and growing. The final stage is the infective cystacanth which is the larval or juvenile state of an Acanthocephalan, differing from the adult only in size and stage of sexual development. The cystacanths within the intermediate hosts are consumed by the definitive host, usually attaching to the walls of the intestines, and as adults they reproduce sexually in the intestines. The acanthor is passed in the feces of the definitive host and the cycle repeats. There may be paratenic hosts for Heterospinus.The definitive host for Heterospinus mccordi is not known, only the intermediate host red swamp crayfish. There are no reported cases of Heterospinus mccordi infesting humans in the English language medical literature.