Exogenous Stages of Eimeria bemricki n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the Great Gray Owl, Strix nebulosa (Foster)

Abstract

Exogenous stages of a new species of Eimeria are described from feces of a captive great gray owl, Strix nebulosa, held at the Gabbert Raptor Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota. Oocysts (n = 100) of Eimeria bemricki are spherical to subspherical, 19.2 x 19.0 (21.5-16.0 x 21.0-16.0) microm, with ovoidal sporocysts (n = 100), 10.0 x 6.5 (12.0-7.0 x 7.0-5.5) microm and sporozoites (n = 20), 8.2 x 3.2 (6.8-10.1 x 2.5-3.9) microm. Stieda bodies, substieda bodies, polar bodies, and sporocyst residua are present, but micropyle, oocyst residuum, and parastieda bodies are absent. Three refractile bodies are contained in each sporozoite.