Protostrongylus shiozawai

Protostrongylus shiozawai is a parasitic nematode that belongs to the family Protostrongylidae. Japanese serows (Capricornis crispus) are the only animals known to be infected with Protostrongylus shiozawai.^[1] P. shiozawai is a parasite that targets the bronchioles, alveolar ducts, and alveoli of the Japanese serow.

Protostrongylus shiozawai
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Nematoda
Class:	Chromadorea
Order:	Rhabditida
Family:	Protostrongylidae
Genus:	Protostrongylus
Species:	P. shiozawai
Binomial name
Protostrongylus shiozawai Ohbayashi & Ueno, 1974

Morphology

Adults forms of P. shiozawai are found in the lungs of Japanese serow. The nematodes are thin, long, and delicate. Specimens of P. shiozawai have been often found in fragments in their hosts. Dissection of Japanese serows to obtain samples of the nematode are very carefully done as to not break the worm.

Male forms of P. shiozawai have a body length 24.3-28.4 mm and a maximal width of 0.084-0.104 mm. The esophagus is approximately 0.248-0.280 mm long and 0.028-0.036 mm wide.^[2] The males have a short bursa.

The female forms of P. Shiozawai have a posterior body measuring 19mm in length, and a width of approximately 0.104-0.125mm long. Its esophagus measures 0.318-0.326mm long.^[2]