Five new species of Eimeria (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from lizards

Abstract

Five new species of Eimeria are described from lizards. Eimeria baltrocki n. sp. was found in the berber skink, Eumeces schneideri, from Egypt. The oocysts are cylindroidal, averaging 38 × 18.3 μm, with a single thick oocyst wall. Most oocysts possess a single polar granule; a micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 11.5 × 8.1 μm, each with a large, globular sporocyst residuum; the Stieda body is absent. Eimeria anolidis n. sp. is described form the common anole, Anolis carolinensis, from Florida, USA. The oocysts are cylindroidal and average 31 × 15.8 μm with a thick, single-layered oocyst wall. Two polar granules are usually present; a micropyle and oocyst residuum absent. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 9.4 × 7.5 μm with a globular sporocyst residuum; the Stieda body is absent. Eimeria guyanensis n. sp is recorded in the ameiva, Ameiva ameiva, from Guyana, South America. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, average 19.0 × 17.8 μm and possess a thick, single-layered oocyst wall. Numerous polar granules are present (n > 5); a micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are spherical to subspherical, average 7.5 × 7.8 μm and possess a compact globular sporocyst residuum; the Stieda body is absent. Eimeria phelsumae n. sp. was recovered from the giant day gecko, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis, from Madagascar, which harboured a simultaneous infection of E. brygooi. The oocysts measured 32 × 15 μm and are cylindroidal without polar granules, a micropyle or oocyst residuum, or a Steida body. The sporocysts are ellipsoidal and average 9.8 × 7 μm, with a loosely clumped, granular sporocyst residuum; the Steida body is absent. Eimeria leiocephali n. sp. was discovered in the faeces of the ornate ground iguana, Leiocephalus barahonensis, from Haiti. The oocysts are spherical to subspherical, 21 × 19 μm, and contain a number of polar granules (n > 5); a micropyle and oocyst residuum are absent. The sporocysts are spherical, 8 μm in diameter and lack a sporocyst residuum. Eimeria turcicus and E. lineri were found in faeces of Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus from the host's country of origin, Turkey.